Spring Convention Program
April 12 - 15, 2007
"Opportunity Through Advocacy"
JEFF THOM, PRESIDENT
HOSTED BY
CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
578 B STREET
HAYWARD, CA 94541-5004
510-537-7877
800-221-6359
HOST AFFILIATE
The ACB Capitol Chapter, Paul Patche, President
THE SACRAMENTO ARDEN WEST HILTON HOTEL
2200 HARVARD STREET
SACRAMENTO, CA 95815
916-922-4700
800-344-4321
For your convenience a textual description of the hotel floor plan and emergency evacuation procedures are included at the back of this program.
Donations of prizes to be given throughout the convention should be brought to the CCB registration table in the hotel’s main lobby.
If your chapter plans to make a contribution to our scholarship or general fund during the convention please feel free to have a representative from your chapter present it at the banquet.
If you would like to pay your member-at-large dues for 2007, you may do so at the CCB registration table.
If you require special meals, assistive listening devices for the general sessions or other special accommodations, please contact the CCB registration table.
You can either listen online to our audio archives using the .mp3 streaming links or you can download the audio podcast of a particular session or workshop.
Hotel check in time is 3:00 PM. Check out time is
12 Noon. Later check out time is subject to hotel availability. Please inquire at the front desk.
Hotel Guest Room Amenities:
Each guest room contains one bottle of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, mouthwash and a bar of facial soap located on the bathroom counter to the right of the sink. A bar of bath soap is located on the lip of the bathtub. Non-slip bathmats are placed in each tub.
Each room has a coffee maker, located on the bathroom counter to the right of the sink. 2 coffee mugs, pre-filtered coffee packets, sugar and creamer are also located near the coffee maker. Rooms located on floors 7 and above have small bottles of wine available for sale located on a round table near the window. The red wine is on the left, white wine on the right with two wine glasses and wine opener in the middle. Cost is $10 per bottle and is charged to the guest room account if consumed. All rooms have two bottles of water on a table to the left of the TV stand. Water is complimentary for Hilton Honors Members and $2.50 per bottle for all other guests.
Each room has a hair dryer located in a cubby hole under the bathroom counter to the right of the sink. Iron and ironing boards in all guest rooms are located in the closet on the right hand side.
Guest room clock radios have preprogrammed buttons for local stations. The buttons are located in semi circle on top of the clock radio. Moving clockwise, (left to right) they are Pop, Country, Jazz and News.
For your convenience here is a hotel telephone directory and instructions for reaching various departments within the Arden West Hilton.
The telephone on guest room nights stands does not have pre-programmed buttons, please use Hotel Operator: Dial “0" The Hotel Operator can help CCB convention attendees with most anything in the hotel to contact a specific department.
Requests for items such as extra towels, toiletries, etc. can be handled through the Hotel Operator instead of contacting the Housekeeping Department.
Housekeeping 1607
Engineering 1307
Front Desk 1300
Bell Stand 1303
Room Service 1406
Harvard Street Grill Restaurant 1404
Cameo Lounge 1314
To check Voicemail in your guestroom: Dial “61” to retrieve your voicemail messages. Also, the telephone located on the desk, there are two rows of 5 buttons each located horizontally below the standard keypad. On the row that is directly under the keypad, the Voicemail Retrieval button is the farthest button on the right. Once this button is pressed, the computer voice will alert you to any voicemail messages you might have. If you do have a message, the computer voice will guide you through the process of what numbers to press to retrieve your messages.
To dial another guest room in the hotel: For guest rooms on floors 2 through 9, press 7 and the room number, for guest rooms on floors 10, 11 or 12, just dial the four digit room number.
For your convenience here are the phone numbers for the CCB Registration table, 1708 and the CCB Volunteer table, 1981.
Hotel Transportation:
The Hilton Sacramento Arden West provides complimentary van transportation to the Arden Fair Mall.
Other Hotel Services:
The hotel has an outdoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and fitness facility as well as a self service business
center and same day dry cleaning service. Please check with the front desk, guest relations manager, or call the hotel operator for hours of operation and details about these and other hotel services.
THURSDAY, April 12, 2007
9:00 AM CCB Capitol Day, led by Governmental Affairs Director Dan Kysor, during which you will meet with your state legislators or their staffs to discuss CCB legislation and other legislation vital to persons who are blind or visually impaired. This is a great opportunity for advocacy on behalf of all blind and low vision Californians.
Pre-registration packets can be picked up at the CCB registration table in the main lobby from 12 Noon to 5:00 PM.
1:00 PM Technology Committee. CHARDONNAY ROOM
This spring the technology session will consist of a presentation on Window-Eyes. A representative from Gwmicro makers of the powerful speech program Window-eyes will be at our Technology session from 1:15 to 2:30 PM. Learn about features and capabilities that this speech program offers. Want to know about internet over the telephone? At 2:45 PM Emdad Khan of Internet Speech will talk about a service that he offers call Net Echo. From 3:20 until 4:00 PM the session will be open to questions or comments regarding technology from the audience.
Technology Committee. Louie Herrera, Chair. Roger Petersen, Vice Chair, Kenneth Frasse, Dan Kysor, Barbara Rhodes, Sylvia Munoz, Andy Baracco, Mike Keithley, Lillian Scaife, Stephanie Enyart.
1:00 PM Rehabilitation Services Committee. SONOMA ROOM (room yet to be assigned)
Patricia Leetz, Chair. “Rehab Questions and Answers 101”, bring all the questions for which you never found an answer.” Committee members: Pat LaFrance-Wolf, Richard Rueda, Connie Schoeman, Ed Crespin, Don Queen, Anita Arakawa, Ken Metz, Elmer Chapson, Brian Hall, Nelly Emerson,
Terry Almy, Alice Hackney, , Lucy Greco, Charles Nabarrete.
3:00 PM Welcome to Sacramento party! PENTHOUSE ROOM.
Hosted by the ACB Capitol Chapter, Paul Patche, President.
4:00 PM California Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCCLV) Program. CHARDONNAY ROOM
Bernice Kandarian, President. A representative from GW Micro will show us SenseView, their new video magnifier.
5:00 PM CCCLV Business Meeting. CHARDONNAY ROOM.
THURSDAY, April 12, 2007 continued
6:00 PM Braille Revival League of California (BRLC) Board meeting CHARDONNAY ROOM
Marlene O’Neill, President.
7:00 PM California Council of the Blind. EAGLE-BERRYESSA ROOM
Board of Directors meeting. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
The hospitality in the PENTHOUSE ROOM, hosted by the ACB Capitol Chapter, will be open from the close of the Board meeting to 1:00 AM.
FRIDAY, April 13, 2007
The CCB Registration Table in the MAIN LOBBY will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Name badges are available at the Registration Table. Please wear your badge at all times during the Convention (Required for Voting).
Convention Exhibits are on display from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday.
ATRIUM-SOLARIUM ROOM. Obbie Schoeman and Peter Pardini, Co-Chairs.
7:30 AM CQ CQ CQ to all amateur radio operators!
You are invited to attend the semi-annual CCB Amateur Radio breakfast to take place in the Harvard Grill. Remember, the official CCB call in frequency is 147.480 MHz.
8:00 AM CCB Credentials Committee. SONOMA ROOM
Frank Welte, Chair. Stephen Fort, Coletta Davis, Rob Turner.
8:00 AM CCB Resolutions Committee. CABERNET ROOM
Gabe Griffith, Chair. Lucy Greco, Mitch Pomerantz, Winifred Downing,
Ken Metz, Abbie Vincent, Eugene Lozano, Jr., Dirk Neyhart, Rhonda King,
Robert Wendt, Linda Porelle.
FRIDAY, April 13, 2007 continued
9:00 – 12:00 Noon Blind Students of California (BSC) Hayley Edick, President. MERLOT ROOM
9:00 AM BSC Business meeting.
10:00 AM BSC Workshop.
9:00 - 12:00 Noon BRANDYWINE ROOM
California Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCCLV) Bernice Kandarian, President and Committee on Access and Transportation (CAT), Eugene Lozano, Jr., Chair. Combined program –
A workshop on what are the new ADA requirements for transit
facilities and the public right-of-way presented by the US Access Board.
9:00 AM Braille Revival League of California (BRLC) CHARDONNAY ROOM.
Marlene O’Neill, President. Business meeting. Elections will be held .
10:00 AM BRLC Guest Speaker: to be announced
10:45 AM BRLC and California Library Users of America (CLUA) combined program.
CHARDONNAY ROOM. Marlene O’Neill, President BRLC. Jerry Arakawa, President CLUA.
CLUA business meeting and a discussion of issues of importance to CLUA and BRLC members.
12:00 NOON CLUA Luncheon. BERRYESSA ROOM
Jerry Arakawa, President. Be prepared to tell us about a book you have been reading that you would like to share.
FRIDAY, April 13, 2007 continued
1:30 PM First CCB General Session. EAGLE-BERRYESSA ROOM
Jeff Thom, CCB President presiding.
mp3 stream of first general session april 13, 2007
Download Podcast of 1st general session
Invocation: Rev. Cathleen McChane, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, J Street, Sacramento, CA.
Pledge of Allegiance. Jean Ackerman, President, San Mateo Chapter.
1:35 P.M. Welcome to Sacramento Comments from Don Nottoli, Chairman, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors: Supervisor 5th District.
1:45 P.M. “Where We Are Now and Where we Need To Be In The Implementation of AB422 ,“ Panelists; Mary Cheng, Director, Accessible Technology Initiative, California State University, East Bay; Michael Bastine, Director, Alternate Text Production Center, California Community College Chancellor's Office; Brad Neily, Disability Services Coordinator, University of California, Merced.
2:35 P.M. “Internet by any phone and your voice: Surf, search, email, e-commerce, streaming audio and more,” Emdad Khan, PhD, CEO, InternetSpeech Inc., San Jose, California.
2:55 P.M "Research at University of California, Davis, in the Prevention and Treatment of Blinding Eye Diseases," John L. Keltner, M.D. Professor and Chair Emeritus Director of Research and Faculty, Development Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science Neurology, and Neurological Surgery UCD School of Medicine.
3:30 P.M. "Section 8 Rent Increases: What People With Disabilities Can Do About It," Fred Nisen, Staff Attorney, Oakland Legal Office, Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
Background memo
MEMORANDUM
TO: Interested Persons
FROM: Fred Nisen, Staff Attorney
RE: Section 8 Rent Increases
DATE: February 8, 2007
Over the past several months, we have been getting several calls from people with disabilities who are having their portion of the rent substantially increased, by an average of $200-300 per month. After doing some research, we have realized the cause of the rent increases.
What is a Payment Standard?
Each Housing Authority establishes “payment standards” for its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8 program) that are based on the number of bedrooms in the unit to be rented. Thus, each Housing Authority has a zero-bedroom (or studio) payment standard, a one-bedroom payment standard, a two-bedroom payment standard, etc.
These payment standards are used to calculate the maximum subsidy the Housing Authority will pay for units rented through the Section 8 program. If the Housing Authority decreases the payment standard, the amount of the maximum rent subsidy automatically decreases, and vice versa.
Payment standards are used to calculate the maximum subsidy the Housing Authority will pay for units rented through the Section 8 program.
A Housing Authority has the discretion to establish its payment standard anywhere between 90% and 110% of the FMR. 24 C.F.R. § 982.503(b)(1)(i).
Most Housing Authorities, at least in the Bay Area, have established payment standards of 110% of the FMR.
How is a Section 8 Voucher Holder’s Portion of the Rent Determined?
• Maximum rent tenant can pay – first year in unit, 40% of adjusted income. After that, no maximum.
• Generally, under the Section 8 program, a participant pays 30% of his or her adjusted income for rent and the Housing Authority pays the remainder.
• This is true only if the total housing cost (rent that the landlord is charging plus the utility allowance) is at or below the payment standard.
• If the total housing cost is above the payment standard, the participant is responsible to pay the additional rent above the payment standard.
How Does the Utility Allowance Affect a Section 8 Voucher Holder’s Portion of the Rent?
• Utility allowance takes the average cost of any tenant-paid utilities.
• Added to rent charged by landlord to determine total housing costs
• If total housing cost is less than payment standard, the utility allowance is deducted from tenant’s portion of the rent
Example 1
A person has an adjusted income of $1000 per month and rents a one-bedroom unit with the rent of $1000. The payment standard for a one-bedroom unit is $1100. The utility allowance for the Housing Authority is $100.
Total housing costs = $1100 ($1000 + $100 utility allowance)
30% of adjusted income = $300
30% of adjusted income less utility allowance = $200 (tenant’s portion of the rent)
Housing Authority pays owner $800
Example 2
A person has an adjusted income of $1000 per month and rents a one-bedroom unit with the rent of $1000. The payment standard for a one-bedroom unit is $950. The utility allowance for the Housing Authority is $100.
Total housing costs = $1100 ($1000 + $100 utility allowance)
30% of adjusted income = $300
30% of adjusted income less utility allowance = $200
Difference between total housing costs and payment standard = $150
Tenant pays $350 (30% of adjusted income less utility allowance + difference between total housing costs and payment standard)
Housing Authority pays owner $650
If no utility allowance, rent would still be $350 because total housing costs would be $1000 because it would be 30% of adjusted income ($300) plus the $50 over the payment standard. Therefore, if a rent that an owner is charging is above or at the payment standard, the utility allowance does not help the tenant.
Why is the Section 8 Voucher Holder’s Portion of the Rent Increasing?
• In October of 2004, HUD reduced the FMR in many housing markets in the Bay Area, and probably around the country.
• In 2005, HUD issued Notice PIH 2005-9(HA), which says that Housing Authorities can apply a new payment standard resulting from a decrease in the FMR after the second redetermination following the decrease in the FMR.
• Essentially, existing Section 8 tenants received a two-year grace period.
FMRs in 2004
FY 2004 Fair Market Rents 0BR 1BR 2BR 3BR 4BR
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties 936 1132 1420 1947 2325
San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo 1084 1405 1775 2455 2577
FMRs Now
Current Fair Market Rents 0BR 1BR 2BR 3BR
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties 874 1055 1250 1695
San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo 1008 1239 1551 2071
Payment Standards FY 2004
FY 2004 Payment Standard 110% FMR 0BR 1BR 2BR 3BR 4BR
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties 1030 1245 1562 2161 2557
San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo 1084 1545 1952 2700 2834
Payment Standards Now
FY 2007 Payment Standard 110% FMR 0BR 1BR 2BR 3BR 4BR
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties 936 1132 1420 1947 2325
San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo 1084 1405 1775 2455 2577
Example 3
A person has an adjusted income of $1000 and rents a one-bedroom unit in Alameda County and the rent was $1050. The utility allowance is $100.
In 2004:
30% of adjusted income = $300
30% of adjusted income less utility allowance = $200
Difference between total housing costs and payment standard = $0 ($1050 + $100 = $1150, which is less than the payment standard of $1245
Tenant pays $200
Housing Authority pays owner $800
In 2007:
Difference between total housing costs and payment standard = $168 (total housing cost ($1300) – payment standard ($1132))
Tenant pays $368 (30% of adjusted income less utility allowance + difference between total housing cost and payment standard)
Housing Authority pays owner $632.
How Can You Fix the Problem?
For people with disabilities, there are two ways to fix the problem created by the lowering of the FMRs, individually (by requesting a reasonable accommodation) and systemic advocacy.
Reasonable Accommodation (Exception Payment Standard)
• Exception payment standard = higher payment standard
• The Housing Authority has discretion to grant exception payment standards up to 110% of the FMR.
• Requests between 110% and 120% of the FMR has to be approved by the local HUD field office.
• Anything above 120%, the request has to be approved by the HUD headquarters in D.C
Many of the calls that we have gotten are from people who either (1) need to live in the particular unit because of features that meet their needs (either accessibility features and/or other features); (2) cannot move cause of their disabilities. In either of these cases, they should request an exception (higher) payment standard as a reasonable accommodation.
How to Request An Exception Payment Standard
• In order to request an exception payment standard, you need to make a request to the Housing Authority that they will forward the request to either the HUD Field Office or Headquarters.
• Some Housing Authorities will only forward requests that they believe is necessary.
• You should file a Fair Housing Complaint with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity.
What You Need to Show in a Request for Exception Payment Standard
• A request for an exception payment standard as a reasonable accommodation needs to clearly explain why the person needs to live in his or her particular unit and/or cannot move because of disability.
• If you need a particular unit, you must:
– Prove what features of the unit your disabilities require (e.g., accessibility, security, close to family or other supports).
– Once there is a list of the unit’s features that your disabilities require, it would be extremely helpful to be able to show that there are no units with those features at or below the payment standard.
– This can be done by calling listings from any of the following non-exhaustive list of housing resources and keep track of why each unit listed would not work:
1. Section 8 apartment listings on the Housing Authority’s website;
2. Craigslist.org;
3. Local news papers.
• If you cannot move because of your disability, you must provide proof with medical documentation.
In order to request an exception payment standard, you need to make a request to the Housing Authority that they will forward the request to either the HUD Field Office or Headquarters. If they do not think that the exception payment standard is necessary, they may not even make the request to HUD. Even though, if the housing authority fails to make a request to HUD, they should file a complaint with FHEO.
A request for an exception payment standard as a reasonable accommodation needs to clearly explain why the person needs to live his or her particular unit and/or cannot move because of disability. But, you do not have to deal with whether it is an undue burden or fundamental nature of the program, as you do with other requests for reasonable accommodations, because the above regulations and HUD Notice PIH 2006-13(HA) recognize that exception payment standards can be reasonable accommodations.
If a person is requesting an exception payment standard because he or she needs to live his or her particular unit because of disability, there is a two-step process to prove necessity. First, there needs to be proof as to what features of the unit the person’s disabilities require (e.g., accessibility, security, close to family or other supports). Once there is a list of the unit’s features that unit the person’s disabilities require, it would be extremely helpful to be able to show that there are no units with those features at or below the payment standard. This can be done by calling listings from any of the following non-exhaustive list of housing resources and keep track of why each unit listed would not work:
1. Section 8 apartment listings on the Housing Authority’s website;
2. Craigslist.org;
3. Local news papers.
If a person is requesting an exception payment standard because he or she is unable to move because of disability, the analysis itself is pretty simple in that the person will have to prove with medical documentation that they are unable to move due to their disability. However, the analysis can get a little bit tricky if you consider that landlords, when they evict somebody, usually can use the undue burden defense when a person requests to stay as a reasonable accommodation. By contrast, though, the Housing Authority has an obligation to make its program accessible and, if making the person move would prevent them from benefiting from the program, you could argue that it is a reasonable accommodation.
There are some issues involved in getting exception payment standards as reasonable accommodations. First of all, you need to be aware of how much of an exception payment standard you need. Obviously, the more of an exception payment standard you need, the harder it is. If the exception payment standard is no more than 110% of the FMR, the Housing Authority has the discretion to grant it as long as it is necessary. If it is between 110% and 120% of the FMR, the HUD Field Office has to grant the exception payment standard. This takes longer than if the Housing Authority has the discretion.
If the exception payment standard needed is above the 120% of the FMR, the request need to be made to HUD Headquarters. They tend to take a long time to decide whether or not to grant or deny requests. The National Disability Rights Network kept track of the exception payment standards granted by HUD Headquarters in the last 18 months as listed in the Federal Register. However, there were no exception payment standards granted in 2006.
Examples of Exception Payment Standards Granted in 2005
1. May 24, 2005, Greenfield, MS - Approval of the waiver was granted to allow a disabled housing choice voucher holder with multiple chemical sensitivities to rent a two-bedroom unit so she can isolate problematic chemical and other items until they can be safely integrated into her living space.
2. May 9, 2005, Ukiah, CA - Approval of the waiver was granted to allow a disabled housing choice voucher holder to remain in his current unit because it is
in close proximity of the services he utilize and so that he can live independently.
3. July 25, 2005, Schenectady, NY - Approval of the waiver was granted to allow a disabled voucher holder to rent a three-bedroom unit that is disability accessible and in close proximity to her doctor's office, therapy provider, grocery stores, bus lines, and other amenities needed to maintain her health and independence.
4. July 25, 2005, Chicago, IL - Approval of the waiver was granted to allow a disabled housing choice voucher holder to continue to remain in her current unit because it is in close proximity of the services she utilizes and so she can live independently.
5. August 1, 2005, Baltimore, MD - Approval of the waiver was granted to allow a disabled voucher holder to rent a two-bedroom unit that is disability accessible and in close proximity to her parents, who assist in her activities of daily living, and is also located near her medical caregivers, grocery stores, bus lines, and other amenities.
6. September 14, 2005, Los Angeles, CA - Approval of the waiver was granted for an additional lease term of one year to allow a disabled housing choice voucher holder to continue to reside in his two bedroom unit, which is considered medically and emotionally necessary by his physician because of his developmental disabilities and severe autism.
7. September 15, 2005, Los Angeles, CA - Approval of the waiver was granted for an additional lease term of one year to allow two elderly, disabled voucher families to continue to reside in their one-bedroom units, which is considered medically and emotionally necessary by their physicians because of their complicated medical conditions.
8. September 19, 2005, Arlington, VA - Approval of the waiver was granted for an additional lease term of one year to allow a disabled voucher holder to continue to reside in her two-bedroom townhouse, which is considered medically necessary by her physician because of her severe multiple chemical sensitivities to toxins found in paint, cleaning fluids, and other substances.
9. November 28, 2005, Seattle, WA - Approval of this waiver was granted to allow a Housing Choice Voucher participant to rent a wheelchair-accessible unit due to an arthritic condition and upcoming surgery, as documented by the case manager.
Issues re: Exception Payment Standard
• Be aware how much of an exception payment standard you need.
• Below 120% of the FMR – faster because approved by field office.
• Above 120% of the FMR – headquarters must approve
• Headquarters did not approve any exception payment standards in 2006.
• Cannot request both below 120% of the FMR and, ultimately, above 120% of the FMR.
Systemic Advocacy
• The Housing Authority does not have the discretion to have a payment standard over 110% of the FMR.
• The Housing Authority can request permission from HUD for an exception payment standard for an entire area. But, it is very hard to get. In fact, the Berkeley Housing Authority’s request was denied.
• The only way to fix this problem is for HUD to raise the FMRs back to the FY 2004 levels.
• In determining the FMRs, HUD is supposed to use data from the rents in the housing market.
• Collecting updated data on the current rents in your housing market and presenting that information to HUD and your Congressional representatives might be one way to influence HUD to increase the FMR in your area.
• Any other ideas?
F:\DOCS\Fred\Anti-Discrimination WG\Section 8 memo-REVISED.doc
4:00 PM CCB Constitution and By-Laws Committee. NATOMAS ROOM
Gerry Konsler, Chair; Roger Petersen, Tom Treher, Audrey Hebner, Charles Nabarrete, Al Biegler, Mary Beth Randall, Abbie Vincent.
4:15 PM Committee on Access and Transportation Business meeting. ZINFANDEL ROOM
Eugene Lozano Jr., Chair. Barbara Rhodes, Vice Chair Tom Karnes, David Jackson, Dr. Flora Beck,
Glenda Castle, Warren Cushman.
4:15 PM Domestic Violence and Hate Crimes Committee meeting. CHARDONNAY ROOM
Melody Banks, Chair. We are having a guest speaker from the Inner-Tribal Council of California regarding abuse on Indian Reservations. Committee members: Dr. Martin Jones, Vice Chair, Linda Flores,
Herb Clayton, Barbara Kron, Norma Guerrero, Andrea Pitsenbarger.
4:15 PM First Timer's Seminar. SONOMA ROOM
Jerry Awkawa, President, California Library Users of America and Linda Porelle, President, San Francisco Chapter presiding. An opportunity for new members or those who have not attended a Convention in a long time to learn about the purpose and function of the CCB Convention. If you are a first time attendee at CCB or someone who has not visited with us for a long time, be sure to attend this meeting. If you would like to have a "buddy", someone to assist you in getting acquainted, please contact the CCB office and let the President know. We want all newcomers to feel welcome and to make their attendance at the CCB Convention worthwhile and memorable.
4:15 PM Publications Committee Meeting. MERLOT ROOM
Bernice Kandarian, Chair. Mike Keithley, Editor, Cecile Betts, Julie Cantrell, Winifred Downing,
Evelyn Drewry, Brian Hall, Louis Preston, Bonnie Rennie, Richard Rueda, Catherine Schmitt Whitaker, Dan Kysor, Webmaster.
5:30 PM Presidents' Dinner. TAHOE ROOM
Jeff Thom, CCB President presiding. This event will be of interest to all chapter and affiliate officers. We will have presentations by Peter Pardini, Ardis Bazyn, and Frank Welte to provide you with information on handling dues and credential requirements, and on completing the annual CCB fund raising forms.
FRIDAY, April 13, 2007 continued
7:00 PM Second CCB General Session. EAGLE-BERRYESSA ROOM
Mitch Pomerantz, CCB First Vice-President presiding.
mp3 stream 2nd general session april 13, 2007
Download Podcast of 2nd general session
7:00 P.M. Credentials Committee Report, Frank Welte Chair.
7:20 P.M. "Communications and Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Update"- Scott Windley, Team Leader from the US Access Board rights-of-way staff, will facilitate this distance presentation and Q&A session by the Board's 508/255 Accessibility Specialist David Baquis, connected by telephone to the CCB audience to address coverage, key issues, and the Board's current update effort
7:50 P.M. "The Future ACB: What Can It Be?" Christopher Gray, President, American Council of the Blind.
8:20 P.M. Federal Legislation Report, Frank Welte.
8:55 P.M. Report from the President of the California Council of the Blind, Jeff Thom.
The Resolutions Committee (CABERNET ROOM) will meet at the close of the General Session.
The Nominating Committee, Rob Turner, Chair, (SONOMA ROOM) will meet at the close of the General Session. Each chapter’s nominating committee representative is reminded to attend this important meeting.
Hospitality in the PENTHOUSE ROOM, hosted by the ACB Capitol Chapter, will be open from the close of the general session to 1:00 AM.
SATURDAY, April 14, 2007
7:30 AM Education Committee breakfast meeting. PENTHOUSE ROOM
Joni Patche, Chair. Dr. Dennis Kelleher, retired, will discuss an important update related to services for K through 12 blind and visually impaired students. Committee members: Jill O'Connell, Winifred Downing,
Keith Johnson, Leslie Thom, Erik Smiley, Ellie Wong, Warren Cushman
8:30 AM Guide Dog Users of California (GDUC) BERRYESSA ROOM
Ann Kysor, President. Business meeting.
10:00 AM GDUC Program. A panel discussion in emergency evacuations, sheltering and preparedness planning for people who use guide dogs.
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM U.S. Access Board focus group. EAGLE ROOM
Shared Streets- Scott Windley, Team Leader from the US Access Board rights-of-way staff, will gather CCB input to an upcoming Board technical assistance publication on wayfinding and safety in shared
streets.
SATURDAY, April 14, 2007 continued
9:00 AM Seniors with Vision Loss Committee, Bonnie Rennie, Chair. ZINFANDEL ROOM
Guest speakers from the Sacramento Society for the Blind, and a local support group, will discuss support for seniors with vision loss. Committee members: Gussie Morgan, Charlotte Criddell, Connie Schoeman, Keith Black, Janet Carmichael, Jane Kardas.
10:30 – 12 Noon CCCLV and Seniors with Vision Loss Committee for a joint meeting. ZINFANDEL ROOM The Internet for the technophobic and Techno-shy. All you need is a phone! Emdad Khan from Internet Speech will demonstrate NetEcho, a telephone-based internet access system.
11:15 Chris Gray will discuss his new company and the present and future of accessible blood glucometers.
10:30 AM California School for the Blind Alumni meeting. CHARDONNAY ROOM
Elmer Chapson, President.
10:30 AM CCB Membership Seminar. MERLOT ROOM
Come share ideas about efforts in your chapter. We will discuss possibly changing the seminar to a breakfast at future conventions. Some membership hand-outs will be available.
SATURDAY, April 14, 2007 continued
12 Noon GDUC Luncheon. BERRYESSA ROOM
Ann Kysor, President. We will hear reports from all of the major guide dog schools, and enjoy great camaraderie.
11:30 AM Orientation Center for the Blind Alumni (OCBA) BRANDYWINE ROOM
David Jackson, President. Business meeting followed at 12 Noon by the OCBA Luncheon. Mike Cole, OCB Administrator, will be updating us on the center.
12 Noon Randolph Sheppard Vendors of California (RSVC) Luncheon. SONOMA ROOM
David Hanlon, President.
SATURDAY, April 14, 2007 continued
1:30 PM Third CCB General Session. EAGLE-BERRYESSA ROOM
Chris Gray, CCB Treasurer, presiding.
mp3 stream of 3rd general session April 14, 2007
Download Podcast of 3rd general session
1:30 P.M. Invocation
1:35 PM Pledge of Allegiance Girl Scout Troop 460 of Sacramento. Introduction by Andrea Thom.
1:35 PM Memorial to Norma Schecter. Catherine Skivers.
1:50 P.M. "Synesthesia: The Basics and The Implications." Barbara Beard Stephan, PhD, Psychologist, Center for Integrative Medicine (CIM), San Jose, California.
2:20 P.M. "'Society for the Blind: New Programs, New Possibilities.' Kevin B. Duggan, Executive Director, Society for the Blind, Sacramento, CA."
3:05 P.M. Department of Rehabilitation Update.
4:15 PM Public Relations Committee. SONOMA ROOM
Ken Metz, Chair. Herb Clayton, Dr. Martin Jones, Lee Morton, Barbara Rhodes, Barbara Kron,
Ardis Bazyn, Alexa Golden, Brenda Emerson.
4:15 PM Fund Raising Committee. ZINFANDEL ROOM Rhonda King, Chair. Peter Pardini, Obbie Schoeman, Sharlene Ornelas, Stephen Fort, Chris Gray, John Ross, Jewel McGinnis, A.J. Sobieck.
4:15 PM Governmental Affairs Committee. CHARDONNAY ROOM
Catherine Skivers, Chair. Dan Kysor, Charles Nabarrete, Ahmad Rahman, Mitch Pomerantz, Ardis Bazyn, Andy Baracco, Doug Rose, Peter Pardini, Barbara Rhodes, Dirk Neyhart, Jane Kardas, Mike Lee, Stephen Fort, Louis Preston, Louie Herrera, Lupe Medrano, Lisa Greenfield, Allen Ramos.
SATURDAY, April 14, 2007 continued
6:00 PM No Host "Attitude Adjustment Hour" in the ATRIUM-SOLARIUM ROOM.
7:00 PM Banquet. EAGLE-BERRYESSA ROOM
Catherine Skivers, Immediate Past CCB President, Mistress of ceremonies.
Invocation.
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Keynote speaker: Mr. Michael Hingson, a survivor of 9/11, tells a truly riveting and uplifting story that you won’t want to miss. Also, CCB will be handing out its annual awards. Don't forget the winning tickets for CCB Scholarship raffle will be drawn at the Banquet, along with other raffles and prizes. All chapter and affiliate donations to the CCB general and scholarship funds will be acknowledged and a chapter representative may elect to present the contribution personally.
If needed, the CCB Resolutions Committee will meet directly after the banquet in the CABERNET ROOM.
The hospitality in the PENTHOUSE ROOM, hosted by the ACB Capitol Chapter, will be open from the close of the banquet to 1:00 AM.
SUNDAY, April 15, 2007
8:15 AM Devotional Services. PENTHOUSE ROOM
Gussie Morgan
9:00 AM CCB General Session. EAGLE-BERRYESSA ROOM
Jeff Thom, CCB President, presiding.
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9:00 AM Invocation: Gussie Morgan.
9:05 AM Fall Convention meetings, Rhonda King, CCB Secretary.
9:15 AM Treasurer’s Report, Chris Gray, CCB Treasurer.
9:20 AM Report of the Constitution and By Laws Committee, Roger Petersen, presiding.
9:35 AM Report of the Resolutions Committee, Gabe Griffith, Chair.
10:45 AM Committee reports and other business as time permits.
The convention will adjourn at 12:00 PM.
Exhibitors
A & E Low Vision Products- Sunnyvale, CA
Access Ingenuity, LLC- Santa Rosa, CA
Assistive Technology Center - Sacramento, CA
Enabling Technologies, Inc. - Jensen Beach, FL
Christian Record Services, Inc. - Lincoln, NE
Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc. - Grass Valley, CA
Internet Speech - San Jose, CA
LBunn Consulting - Union City, CA
Protection & Advocacy, Inc - Sacramento, CA
Society for the Blind – Sacramento, CA
Top Gunn & Associates - Sacramento, CA
Wholeself Care - Eugene, OR
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CCB Board of Directors
Jeff Thom, President
Mitch Pomerantz, First Vice President
Eugene Lozano, Jr., Second Vice President
Catherine Skivers, Immediate Past President
Chris Gray, Treasurer
Rhonda King, Secretary
Jerry Arakawa
Ardis Bazyn
Gabe Griffith
Jane Kardas
Ann Kysor
Louis Preston
Barbara Rhodes
Richard Rueda
Peter Pardini
Convention Committee
Eugene Lozano, Jr., Chair.
Ken Metz, Coletta Davis, Andy Baracco, Peter Pardini, Richard Rueda, Barbara Rhodes, Mary Beth Randall, Rex Ransom.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SACRAMENTO ARDEN WEST
HILTON HOTEL
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The hotel facilities consist of the main hotel building, the swimming pool area, the health club building and the volleyball court. These buildings and spaces are positioned in an in-line pattern with a west to east orientation in the order that they are listed. The hotel building complex is completely encircled by its parking lots and there is no direct or easy access to the public street by pedestrians.
MAIN HOTEL BUILDING
General
The building is a rectangular structure consisting of a single story (general circulation area) with a 12-story tower on the south side of the structure. The generally rectangle shaped first floor has its short sides in an easterly-westerly orientation and its long sides in a northerly-southerly orientation.
All of the hotel rooms, restrooms, exits, and spaces have raised print and Braille signs.
Primary Front Entrance
The primary front entrance is on the west side of the building. It opens onto a raised sidewalk with one curb ramp that is aligned with the doors. For guests to enter or exit the hotel's front entry, they must walk through a vestibule with a non-automatic single door and an automatic double door at either end.
First Floor Description
The first floor can be subdivided into three rectangles lying side-by-side with their long ends running in a west to east direction. From outside, facing the west side or front of the building, going left to right, the first rectangle consists of meeting rooms and the restaurant, which open into the middle rectangle. The middle rectangle can be subdivided horizontally into two squares. The first square being the lobby in the front of the hotel and the second square is the Atrium/Solarium, which is in the rear of the building. The third and right-most rectangle consists of meeting rooms, hotel offices, hallways, and elevators that go to the 12-story tower.
IN DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF FIRST FLOOR
When you enter the western or front entrance of the hotel you are in the lobby with its marbled floor looking toward the rear of the building. From where you are standing you are given two routes for accessing most of the hotel. The path of travel through the lobby is shaped like the print letter "U" with the front door at the bottom of the "U." The two upper ends lead to the entryways to the Atrium/Solarium at the rear of the building. A few feet in front of you in the inner portion of the "U" you will find a carpeted seating area with chairs, tables, and a fireplace, which faces the front door. Behind the fireplace is the Cameo Bar. It is on a raised platform that can be accessed by stairs or a wheelchair ramp (north side of bar).
From the west entrance, if go immediately to the left; toward the north wall of the lobby you will encounter a coffee bar, Café Expresso. After circling right around the coffee bar, Café Expresso and reaching the north wall you are given two options.
(a) turn left to enter the corridor leading to the Folsom Room entrance, Harvard Street Grill, telephones, restrooms, and a front exit (in a counter clockwise order) or
(b) turn right and walk toward the rear of the lobby.
As you walk to the rear of the lobby, along the north wall you will find the following: Folsom Room (two entrances from lobby; alcove with a grand piano, ATM & prepaid card vending machine; Brandywine Room (one entrance); Women's and Men’s Restrooms, and double doors leading into an employees’ only area. At this point, if you continue walking, you will leave the lobby and enter the Atrium/Solarium, which will be described in more detail later.
Back at the front entrance of the hotel if you turn right you will encounter the Bellmen's desk and will have to make a left turn to walk parallel with the south wall of the lobby. Along the south wall of the lobby you will find the following: a hallway leading to two (2) glass elevators to the tower rooms, front registration desk, Concierge's desk, 24 hour Business Center, gift shop and a hallway leading to the first floor of the tower (a.k.a. the third rectangle). At this point, if you continue toward the rear of the hotel, you will leave the lobby and enter the Atrium/Solarium area.
When you enter the Atrium/Solarium you will find yourself in a reasonably square shaped room that is carpeted and has movable planters. The Atrium/Solarium has exit doors at the east or rear side of the building, which open onto the swimming pool area. As you enter the Atrium/Solarium from the lobby area, the following rooms can be found on the north or left side: Shasta (one entrance), Tahoe (one entrance), Berryessa (one entrance) and Eagle (one entrance). When all the room dividers are retracted from these four rooms they are then considered the Grand Ballroom. On the south or right wall running from the common wall between the lobby and the Atrium/Solarium to the swimming pool area the following meeting rooms can be found: Chardonnay (2 entrances), Cabernet(2 entrances) and Zinfandel (2 entrances). As you pass the Zinfandel Room you will walk through a set of glass double doors and walk toward the exit that takes you to the swimming pool area, you will find a glass wall to your left that separates you from the remainder of the Atrium/Solarium. On your right-hand side is the opening to a hallway that leads to the east or rear elevators, and the first floor of the tower or the third rectangle.
Starting again at the front entrance and turning right, walk past the Bellman's desk and you will enter the third rectangle (a.k.a. the first floor of the tower). Immediately upon entering the west front elevator hallway you will pass the following on your right hand side: two glass elevators, a staircase, and a secondary front entry door.
If you make a left turn and walk eastward, you will find the following on the left hand side of the hallway: reservation desk door (which is locked), Women’s and Men’s Restrooms, the second hallway from the lobby, the Chardonnay Room (one entrance), Cabernet Room (one entrance), Zinfandel Room (one entrance) and the east rear elevator hallway. If you start down the hallway from the front of the hotel and walk eastward, you will find the following on the right side of the hallway: Executive Office (which is locked), Sales and Catering, hallway to south side exit, Sonoma (1 entrance), Napa (1 entrance), Merlot(1 entrance), Board Room (1 entrance), stairwell, and exit to delivery dock. At this point, if you make a left turn, you will enter the east or rear elevator hallway that also leads to the Atrium/Solarium. This completes the description of the first floor plan.
Tower
Except for the first floor, which was described in the preceding paragraph, the second through the 12th floors, have one corridor that is intersected at both ends by a short dead-end corridor. This is where the west or front and the east or rear elevators are contained with their accompanying stairwells. On the second through 12th floors are guest rooms and vending machine rooms (located at the end of the main hallway near the rear elevators). In addition, on the second and 12th floors you will find more meeting rooms. The second floor has three meeting rooms, the Eureka 219, Natomas 221, and Sierra 229. On the 12th floor, walking from the front of the tower to the rear, the first room on the right hand side is the Penthouse no room number assigned). Next comes the Presidential Suite, Room 1214 and Club Room, Room 1222. This is the end of the description of the main hotel building.
OTHER HOTEL FACILITIES
By using the exterior exit doors from the Eagle/Ballroom, the Atrium/Solarium, or hallway to rear/east elevators you can access the swimming pool area, health club building, volley ball court, and dog relieving area, which are east of the main hotel building.
Swimming Pool Area
The swimming area is a large concrete square patio with an hourglass shaped swimming pool in its center. When you are standing with your back to the main hotel building the north or left side of the patio is bordered with a fence and raised gazebo and a sidewalk leading to a parking lot. On the south or right side of the pool is a pay telephone on a wall and a flower bed. Directly in front of you on the opposite side of the swimming pool are the entrances into the various rooms making up the health club building. When facing the health club building going left to right you will find the following rooms and spaces: Boy's and Girl's Restrooms, weight room, dry sauna and aerobic room. The dry sauna is in an alcove and must be approached with caution due to the close proximity of an in-ground outdoor Jacuzzi positioned directly in front of the dry sauna.
Note: All the rooms and spaces making up the health club building are labeled with accessible signage.
Volley Ball Court
The volleyball court is at the rear of the health club building. The court can be accessed by following the walkways along the left/north or right/south sides of the Health Club building.
Guide Dog Relieving Area
Exit the rear of the main hotel building, find the south or right side of the swimming pool area, and walk toward and beyond the Health Club building. After passing the health club building you will find the volleyball court to the left of the walkway and the dog's relieving area to the right. There will be a large trash can and plastic bags at the corner of this area. When leaving the walkway you must step up to enter the grassy dog relieving area.
DISCLAIMER
The above narrative description of the Sacramento Hilton Inn is to be considered only as a general overview and not an exhaustive in-depth description of the facilities.
Emergency Evacuation Procedures:
Fire Exits:
For your personal safety, please note where each exit is located upon arrival. All floors/rooms are equipped with diagrams/locations of various fire exits, which are located at the end of each hallway. Each exit is labeled with a raised print and Braille sign. The two stairways are located on the East and West end of each hotel floor. The emergency exit on the east end of the hallways (higher room numbers) leads onto a small balcony. The staircase entrance is to the right of the Exit door. Both stairways exit outside the buildings on the main grounds. There are two (2) fire extinguishers located in each hallway. They are in white metal cabinets. All cabinets are located on the north-side (odd room numbers side) of the hallways. They are mounted on the wall to the right side of the 07 and 25 room entrances on each floor. The cabinet door handle is 40 inches above the floor on the right side of the cabinet opening towards the left. There are two (2) fire alarm manual pull stations, which are red in color, with the center point of the device mounted 52 inches above the carpeted floor; one (1) at each end of the hallway to the right of the stairway exit door.
Our Banquet rooms are located on the main level floor. The fire exits are located at each end and in the middle of the hallway that runs between the small meeting room entrances and hotel offices on the south side of the building, as well as at the back of the main ball room on the east side of the building and in front of the restaurant on the west side of the building. All exits are marked with illuminated green Exit Signs throughout the hotel. Each exit is also labeled with a raised print and Braille sign.
Alarm/Evacuation Procedures:
Our fire alarm makes a high-pitched sound. The elevators will not be in working order once the alarm is activated. If the alarm is activated, we recommend that you stay in your guestroom or in the meeting room. Our hotel staff will investigate right away the cause of the fire alarm. Our hotel staff will determine if it is a false alarm or if evacuation is necessary and will advise hotel guests accordingly through the PA system.
If evacuation is necessary, every attempt will be made for a member of our staff to assist you in exiting the hotel. All hotel guests with visual impairments will be noted by the front desk, and special assistance would immediately be deployed to their hotel room or meeting rooms.
If you detect fire or smoke, notify the operator by dialing “0”, or pull the nearest fire alarm manual pull station.
If you must leave the room, feel the door to see if it is hot. If it is not hot, open the door slightly to look and listen to determine if you can make it to the stairways. Stay low to the floor and take your room key.
Do not use the elevator. Proceed to the nearest stairway and exit on the ground floor. Then proceed to the meeting area in the front of the hotel.
If unable to exit your room because of fire or smoke: (a) Close the door and seal it with a wet towel (b) Notify the operator by dialing “0”. (c) Stay near the window until help arrives but do not open the window.
We ask that our guests assemble in front of the hotel in the parking lot facing the main entrance.
There will be members of our staff at this location to account for all guests and to inform our guests when it is safe to re-enter the hotel.
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