PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - August 2026

By Alice Turner

July has been a busy month for our members who participated in the American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention, both in-person and virtually. We will have a discussion at our August meeting and hear about the ACB Inspire Mentorship program. I am keeping this message brief as Rob and I are on vacation at a beach house in my home state of Rhode Island.

MEMBERSHIP CORNER - August 2026

By Mike Keithley

"Well, master, you did it. They installed your new carpet, and all the old smells are gone. It's enough to give a poor dog the blues."

Well, King, sing an album. Everyone will love it. The SVCB X-Dog Blues! And after you're finished, just come round and roll around. The carpet sure won't mind, and I won't either.

Let's wish happy August birthdays to Cathy Cassetta, Bev Clifford, Elizabeth Kelley, and Nancy Prior; plus the chorus on the X-Dog Blues album.

Heads up! This is likely the last Round for the September SVCB picnic.

From Rob Turner: The 2026 SVCB picnic will take place on Saturday, September 19, at the Edith Lester picnic site in Martial Cottle Park. Maps and driving directions will be available as we get closer to the event.

Options to sign up and pay are listed below.

We are doing things a little differently this year in an effort to make the event run more smoothly, and to make sure both guests and volunteers can enjoy the day. The cost of the event is $20 for SVCB members and $25 for nonmembers.

As usual, if non-members join SVCB when signing up for the picnic by paying their dues of twenty dollars, their membership is valid through 2027 and they have paid for the picnic.

The cost of the picnic includes the choices of 2 proteins: hamburgers, hot dogs, or veggie burgers. If anyone wants more than 2 of these, they can pay an extra $5 for two additional proteins and have the choice of taking the extra home.

After you sign up and pay, someone from the picnic committee will contact you to get your choice of proteins, condiments, and side dishes.

We are offering the following condiments: sliced American cheese, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and chopped onions.

Your choice of side dishes will be any or all, of the following: potato salad, coleslaw, and fruit salad.

For snacks, we will provide the usual individual containers of things like Pringles.

For beverages, we will provide the usual regular and diet soda, bottled water, unsweetened iced tea, and if you have a particular beverage you like, you are encouraged to bring it with you.

The deadline for signing up will be Friday, September 11. Payment can be made as follows, and please, if at all possible, do not wait until the last minute to register. We know life gets busy and we will be as flexible as possible.

Pay by check or cash in person at an SVCB meeting. Announcements will be made at each meeting so you know who to give your payment to. Make checks payable to SVCB, and write in the memo line what the payment is for.

Payment through PayPal can be made to the following address:
SVCB@SVCB.CC.

Please make sure you enter this correctly in PayPal, as money sent to incorrect recipients cannot be retrieved in most cases.

You can also mail your check to our PO Box. Again, write in the memo line of the check that it is for the 2026 SVCB picnic, and make the check payable to SVCB. It is also very important to address the envelope to Silicon Valley Council of the Blind, so the check reaches our PO Box.

Our mailing address is:
Silicon Valley Council of the Blind
P.O. Box 4116
San Jose, CA 95125

MY REMARKS AT THE DAY OF ACTION RALLY - August 2026

Submitted by Mike Keithley

Hello All,

I was asked if there was any audio or video of the rally at the Capitol. To my knowledge, I am not aware of any such video. However, for those that were not able to make it, I am sharing the text here for your convenience.

Guillermo Robles

Good morning, everyone!

My name is Guillermo Robles, and I'm proud to serve as President of the California Council of the Blind.

It is an honor to stand here today with so many advocates, allies, organizations, and community leaders from across California. I want to thank the California Disability Leadership Alliance for bringing us together for this important Day of Action.

And I also want to recognize our partners and friends across the disability community, including the National Federation of the Blind of California and so many other organizations represented here today. While we may have different approaches at times, we are united in the belief that disabled people deserve equality, dignity, and full access to society.

When you look around today, you see something powerful. You see people who understand that disability rights are civil rights. You see people who are tired of barriers, tired of being overlooked, and tired of accessibility being treated like an afterthought.

And most importantly, you see a community that knows how to organize, advocate, and push for change.

The California Council of the Blind has been advocating for blind and low vision Californians for more than 90 years.

For more than nine decades, we have worked to advance independence, accessibility, equal opportunity, and dignity for blind Californians in every part of this state.

And today, CCB is more than just one organization. We are a statewide movement made up of more than 25 local chapters and statewide special interest affiliates across California.

Our members are seniors adjusting to vision loss later in life. They are students preparing for college and careers. They are parents, workers, veterans, guide dog users, Braille readers, technology users, and people from every background and community imaginable.

What brings us together is the belief that blind people deserve full and equal participation in society.

That means fighting for accessible transportation. It means fighting for accessible technology and digital access. It means fighting for employment opportunities. It means protecting braille literacy. And it means making sure people with disabilities are treated with dignity and respect at every stage of life.

That is why AB 2135 matters.

AB 2135 would help ensure that residents in long-term care facilities receive critical notices—including eviction and discharge notices, in accessible and translated formats when needed. And honestly, this is about something very basic: human dignity.

No one should receive a notice, that impacts their housing, care, or future in a format they cannot independently read or understand.

As blind people, we know what it feels like to be handed information that everyone else can access except us. We know what it feels like when accessibility is treated like an afterthought. And when that information involves your housing, your healthcare, or your ability to remain in the place you call home, the consequences become very real.

That is why our voices matter so much.

Because real stories from real people touch legislators and their staff in ways that paid lobbyists never can. Our lived experiences matter. Our stories matter. And during times of uncertainty like these, our voices are more important than ever.

Every person standing here today brings a story. A story about barriers. A story about perseverance. A story about fighting to be treated equally.

And those stories have power.

They have the power to change minds. They have the power to influence policy. And they have the power to remind lawmakers that the decisions made in this building affect real people and real lives every single day.

So today, I want to encourage everyone here: keep speaking up. Keep telling your story. Keep showing lawmakers how these issues affect your employment, your health, your housing, your independence, and your future.

Because your voice is important. We need all hands on deck.

The disability community is strong, organized, and paying attention.

And as long as barriers continue to exist, organizations like the California Council of the Blind will continue showing up, speaking out, and fighting for change.

Thank you.

USING GEMINI TO GET HELP WITH TRIP PLANNING - August 2026

by Deborah Armstrong

Many of the examples we see of folks using AI involve drafting or summarizing documents, or answering questions and doing research. Blind folks can ask for picture descriptions or live information about an area they are traveling through.

I also like to use AI for help planning a trip, especially since I cannot read maps, and though I can read bus schedules, the ability for an AI to summarize and consolidate information makes travel much more predictable.

Below is a conversation I had with Google's Gemini regarding Waymo. For each item, Gemini lists its sources, so, if I wanted to see where that information came from, I'd just need to activate those links. I've removed them from this transcript of the conversation to make reading easier. It's my hope you will find it as helpful as I did. Try for yourself, asking your favorite AI for help planning your next trip, whether it is just across town or across country.

Conversation with Gemini

You said:

I am blind, live in Milpitas, and want to ride Waymo for fun and to ensure I know how to use it. I cannot read the Waymo map, so help me by telling what the closest place to Milpitas is where I can ride Waymo. A shopping area with restaurants would be good because I could take Lyft or Uber there, eat something, and ride Waymo to another shopping district. Please offer several suggestions with destination addresses to the areas where I can easily hop on a Waymo.

Gemini said:

Waymo's Bay Area service area extends down into the South Bay, covering parts of San José (including Mineta San José International Airport, Diridon Station, and the West San José/Rose Garden areas). However, it does not yet operate directly in Milpitas. To bridge the gap, you can take a traditional ride-share (like Uber or Lyft) from Milpitas to a nearby shopping and dining destination that sits squarely inside the active Waymo zone. Once there, you can enjoy a meal and then use the Waymo app to hail your first autonomous ride to another spot within the coverage zone.

Suggested Destinations in the Waymo Zone:

1. Santana Row

Address: 3777 Stevens Creek Blvd, San José, CA 95117

Why it's great: This is an upscale outdoor shopping, dining, and residential district. It features a high concentration of popular restaurants, cafes, and retail shops all within a very walkable, pedestrian-friendly main street layout.

Waymo Experience: Because Santana Row is a primary hub for Waymo in the South Bay, it is an ideal location to find plenty of pickup and drop-off spots right by major dining areas.

2. Westfield Valley Fair

Address: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050 (Directly adjacent to Santana Row)

Why it's great: A massive, premier shopping mall featuring extensive indoor shopping alongside a massive array of high-end dining options and outdoor eateries.

Waymo Experience: Valley Fair shares the bustling commercial hub with Santana Row, making it simple to request a Waymo right from the mall property to transition to another neighborhood or transit hub like Diridon Station.

3. San José Mineta International Airport (SJC)

Address: 1701 Airport Blvd, San José, CA 95110

Why it's great: While it isn't a traditional shopping district, SJC is fully integrated into the Waymo network, with dedicated pickup zones at Terminals A and B. If you want a unique test run, you can take an Uber to the airport terminal, grab a bite at one of the airport restaurants, and then explicitly book a Waymo to take you out into the city.

Tips for Your Trip

Before You Go: Download the Waymo app ahead of time while you are at home to set up your account, payment method, and accessibility preferences. Accessibility Note: Waymo vehicles announce their approach and unlock via the app. For blind and low-vision travelers, the app provides features to honk the car's horn remotely to help identify which vehicle is yours when it arrives.

Chaining Rides: Once you finish eating at Santana Row or Valley Fair, open your Waymo app and set a destination within the active zone (such as Diridon Station or another spot in the West San José/Rose Garden area) to experience your first driverless ride.

Would you like advice on how to configure accessibility settings in the Waymo app before you head out?

You said:

Sure, give me more tips, including configuring accessibility.

Gemini said:

Preparing your technology and customizing your settings beforehand will make your first autonomous trip smooth and stress-free.

1. Configuring Accessibility in the Waymo App

The Waymo One app is fully compatible with mobile screen readers like iOS VoiceOver and Android TalkBack. To tailor your ride preferences:

Navigate to Accessibility Settings: Open the Waymo app, go to your Account menu, and select Accessibility.

Minimize Walking Time: Turn on the Minimize walking time option. This instructs the vehicle to pull up as close to your precise location as possible, and ensures it stops on the same side of the street, minimizing complex street crossings.

In-Car Announcements: Choose your preferred audio detail level. You can set it to Descriptive (full narration of the journey and surroundings), All (standard updates), or reduced. This feature lets you hear audio announcements regarding what street the car is on and when intersections are clear.

2. Wayfinding and Finding Your Car at Pickup

Locating a vehicle without visual cues can be challenging, but Waymo built specific tools into the app specifically for blind and low-vision riders:

"Find My Pickup" (While waiting): If your car is on the way, tap the Find my pickup button in the app. Your screen reader will give you spatial, turn-by-turn guidance (such as distance and directional cues like "100 feet to your right").

"Play Melody": When the car arrives, tap Play melody in the app. Instead of a standard car horn, the vehicle will play a distinct, high-pitched electronic chime or melody to help you aurally home in on the correct vehicle among a busy strip like Santana Row.

"Find My Destination": The app provides turn-by-turn haptic, audio, and visual cues from the moment you exit the vehicle to guide you safely to your final destination.

3. Step-by-Step Plan for Your Practice Day

1. At Home in Milpitas: Download the Waymo app, complete your account profile, and set your preferences under the Accessibility menu.

2. The First Leg: Take an Uber or Lyft from Milpitas directly to Santana Row (3777 Stevens Creek Blvd) or Westfield Valley Fair to grab a bite to eat.

3. The Waymo Test Run: Once you are finished eating, open your Waymo app, set a short destination within the coverage zone (such as a nearby spot in West San José or Diridon Station), and request your ride. Use the "Find My Pickup" and "Play Melody" features to seamlessly locate your car, and enjoy your first independent ride!

SNACK SHACK - August 2026

Recipes contributed by Suzanne Smith

From Simple Perfect Italian One-Family Favorites, Start to Finish in 30 Minutes

-Pizza-Style Salad

Ingredients

• 1 (10-ounce) package Italian-style torn mixed salad greens
• 1 (3-1/2-ounce) package sliced pepperoni
• 1 cup onion-and-garlic-flavored croutons
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan or Mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
• 1 (2-1/4-ounce) can sliced pitted ripe olives, drained
• 1/2 cup bottled Italian salad dressing

Directions

1. Combine torn mixed greens, pepperoni, croutons, cheese, and olives in a salad bowl. Add dressing, and gently toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 main dish servings.

-Spumoni Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 cup finely ground pistachios
• 3/4 cup finely crushed Graham crackers
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 3 (8-ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons amaretto
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup grated semi-sweet chocolate
• finely chopped pistachios
• sliced strawberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Grease the bottom and 1-1/4 inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside.
2. For the Crust: Combine ground pistachios and graham cracker crumbs in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in melted butter or margarine. Press crumb mixture onto the bottom and about 1-1/4 inch up the sides of the prepared pan. Cover and chill.
3. For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until combined. Add eggs and yolk all at once, beating at low speed just until combined, stirring in milk and amaretto.
4. Pour filling into crust-lined pan. Place pan in shallow baking pan in the oven. Bake cheesecake for 35 to 40 minutes, until center appears nearly set when shaken.
5. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, loosening the crust from sides of pan, and cool for 30 minutes more. Remove sides of pan, and cool cheesecake completely. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.
6. Before serving, beat whipping cream with electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Sprinkle cheesecake with 3 tablespoons grated chocolate. Pipe whipping cream on top of cheesecake. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon grated chocolate and the finely chopped pistachios. Arrange sliced strawberries on top.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.

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