2025 Virtual CCB Conference and Convention Program | California Council of the Blind

The California Council of the Blind has been part of many incredible stories for so many of us.
This isn't just about an organization; it's about a community, a catalyst for growth, for connection, for discovering the power within ourselves. We've all been the "newbie" at some point, and someone reached out, offered a hand, shared their wisdom. Now, it's our turn.

Let's take this year's Virtual Conference and Convention theme and turn it into something real, something tangible:

Revitalize: Not just restore but breathe new life into ourselves and our community. Let's find that spark again, that passion that makes us feel truly alive.
Aspire: Let's dream big, set those goals high, and chase them with unwavering determination. Let's reach for our potential, and then some.
Inspire: Let's light a fire in others, share our experiences, and show them what's possible. Let's empower each other to be our best selves.

"Aspire to inspire" isn't about being bigger or striving for more in a competitive sense. It's about recognizing the incredible power we each have to make a difference, to uplift, to connect.
And here's the beautiful part: you don't need superpowers to do it.

Encourage someone to join a chapter, to find their place.
Volunteer your time, lend your voice to advocacy.
Embrace independence, learn something new, and share your knowledge.
Have those real, honest conversations. Listen, understand, connect.
Be a friend, a support system, a source of strength.
Lead by example, with kindness and passion.

This convention is a chance to ignite your curiosity, to ask those burning questions, and to take what you learn and put it into action. It's about building connections, fostering growth, and empowering each other to thrive.
Let's leave this convention feeling energized, inspired, and ready to make a positive impact, together.

Sarah Harris, Former President, California Council of the Blind

How to Participate in the 2025 CCB Virtual Convention

All pre-convention and main convention sessions will take place on Zoom, links and dial-in instructions will be provided to convention registrants.

The main convention sessions will also be broadcast on ACB media 8. To listen, set your internet browser to acbmedia.org/8, or use the ACB link app for your smart phone, your victor reader stream, or your Echo device. Say "Alexa, open ACB Media" then say "Alexa, play ACB Media 8". If you need assistance joining the convention, email convention.ccb@gmail.com

During the main convention sessions, you will be given opportunities to ask questions of our presenters. On Zoom, you can raise your hand to be recognized, or you can email your question to ask@ccbnet.org

The election of CCB officers and board members will take place Friday evening. Delegate votes will be cast by chapters and affiliates via Zoom, and All members will cast their individual vote by telephone. Regardless of convention registration status, all members will receive an email or phone call, containing the phone number they are to call when instructed to cast their individual vote Friday evening.

During our Sunday morning business meeting, voting will take place using the raise hand feature of Zoom. Members listening on ACB media will need to log into Zoom, if they wish to vote during this session. If you have questions email convention.ccb@gmail.com or phone (310) 558-4500.

Please Note: scheduled items listed in this program are subject to change.

Pre-Convention Activities and Schedule

Please use the following information to participate in all preconvention activities:
California council of the Blind is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: pre-convention 2025

Monday April 21 through Wednesday April 30.

Zoom connection information is being sent to the major CCB email lists. If you didn't receive the Zoom information, please email convention.ccb@gmail.com

Saturday, April 19

12:00 PM Resolutions Committee

CCB’s advocacy efforts are shaped by resolutions which come before the annual convention. Join this open meeting, where proposed resolutions will be crafted by the committee, before being voted on by the full convention.

Monday, April 21

7:00 PM Convention Kickoff

Come and kick off the 2025 Convention with a double helping of fun with your CCB Membership and Games Committees. Play trivia with us, 2 truths and a lie, and Chat with Your membership committee Co-Chairs Joe Green and Dharini Dobbins, who will share their vision for CCB’s member retention and growth.

Tuesday, April 22

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM Surviving and Thriving after Abuse, Shari Roesler, Executive Director, Sacramento Society for the Blind, Sacramento

7:30PM - 8:45 PM Credentials

Wednesday, April 23

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM Debi Armstrong Presents All About Groups.io

Come and learn about all the features of this list-hosting platform, with Debi as your experienced guide.

7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Hull Foundation Presentation

Come and learn about all the great programs available from the Oral Hull Foundation. You may think right away of the lovely camp in Oregon, but did you know they have all kinds of other programs and services available, including several ACB community calls each week?

Thursday, April 24

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM California Diabetics in Action Program

California Diabetics In Action is proud to announce our annual spring program, "Breaking Out For Breaking In," where we will have the choice of breaking into small groups to talk about Exercise/Movement, Nutrition/Hydration or Sleep/Wake Hygiene, and we will gather together to discuss our valuable finds and ask questions that will drive our affiliate’s future programs. Larry Gassman will regale us with his experience as president of American Council of the Blind Diabetics in Action. There will be door prizes, so come and join us.

7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Nominating Committee (restricted participation, Nominating Representatives only)

Friday, April 25

7:00 PM Game Night

Come and party with your Games committee members, there are sure to be surprises in store for you.

Saturday, April 26

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Resolutions Committee

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss

"Working with Your Area Agency on Aging and your Local Senior Center"
Learn all about the programs that area agencies on aging have to offer and ways in which you can approach and engage your local AAA. Also, find out how Sacramento’s blind community and a local senior center, A Community of Care, have forged an incredible relationship to the advantage of everyone.

Speakers: Larry Johnson, Board member, Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, San Antonio Tx, and Danyl Lee, A Community of Care.

4:30 PM - 5:45 PM California Council of citizens with Low Vision

Our special Guest Speaker will be Kathy Laird
Valley Center for the Blind Low Vision Clinic Coordinator

Kathy has worked for 25 years in ophthalmology as a certified Ophthalmic Technician. She has been working with patients who are blind or have low vision for almost 6 years. Kathy has a strong knowledge base of adaptive devices that can assist with Low Vision Patience.

Kathy will share knowledge on different types of lighting that are best for certain low vision eye conditions, as well as different colored lenses that can help reduce glare, enhance indoor and outdoor lenses, a few different portable electronic devices to meet personal needs and or benefits of the new Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM Golden State Guide Dog Handlers INC.

Join the Golden State Guide Dog Handlers on Saturday, April 26 at 6:00 PM PDT, for an important presentation about emergency preparedness with your guide dog or pet. Melissa Smith, Guiding Eyes west coast field representative, will speak to us about preparing for an evacuation, what to include in your to-go bag for your dog, and food storage. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask questions about the care of your dog in an emergency.

Sunday April 27

1:30 PM - 2:45 PM Shaun Welker, Visual Eyes.

Come and learn about an exciting new option for visual interpreting services.

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM California Library Users of America

Our special guest will be author Christine Kersey
Christine Kersey is an independent author known for writing in multiple genres, including dystopian fiction, romantic suspense, and contemporary romance.

4:30 PM - 5:45 PM California Diabetics in Action Business Meeting

CDA’s annual business meeting will continue with a summary of our activities and findings. Come shape the future of California Diabetics in Action by attending our sessions. There will be one door prize. For more information contact cda.ccb22@gmail.com

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM Inclusive Diversity of California

Self-Care during turbulent times
These days, for a variety of reasons, we can all agree that life is extremely stressful. IDC welcomes Sabria Charles, a mental health professional, to lead us through self-care so that we can be stronger advocates.

Monday April 28

7:30 PM - 8:45 PM CCB Bylaws committee

Join this meeting, open to all CCB members, where proposed amendments to our bylaws will be considered by the committee before they are voted on by the full convention.

Wednesday, April 30

7:30 PM - 8:45 PM CCB Housing Committee

CCB Housing Committee Workshop
Chair: Frank Welte

Many Californians are unhoused or in need of better housing. Blind and low vision Californians also experience housing challenges. Find out about housing rights and available housing resources and learn how your chapter can work with the CCB Housing Committee to improve housing opportunities for members of your local blind community.

Main Program Schedule

Thursday, May 1

6 PM - 7:45 PM Opening Session Presiding Officer: President Guillermo Robles, Culver City CA

6 PM Conference & Convention Report
Presenters: Guillermo Robles, CCB President and Convention Co-Chair, Culver City CA and Andrea DeKlotz; Convention Committee Co-Chair Orange CA
6:20 PM Credentials Committee Report
Presenter: Frank Welte, Credentials Committee Chair San Leandro CA
6:35 PM Nominating Committee Report
Frank Welte, Nominating Committee Chair.
6:50 PM First Reading of Bylaw Amendments
Presenter: Steve Bauer, Bylaw Committee Chair, Culver City CA
7:05 PM Other business including the approval of Convention Standing Rules

7:50 PM CCB Board Meeting

Guillermo Robles, CCB President

Friday, May 2

1 PM - 4 PM, General Session 2

Presiding Officer: 1st Vice-president Regina Brink, Sacramento CA.

1 PM President’s Welcome, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements, and National anthem
1:15 PM Update from the Department of Rehabilitation
Presenters:
Kim Rutledge, Director Department of Rehabilitation, Sacramento CA
Sue Pelbath, Deputy Director, Specialized Services Division Sacramento, CA
Plus, Other Department of rehabilitation Staff members
2:15 PM The Road Toward Statewide Paratransit Eligibility
Presenter: Gillian Gillett, Division Chief Caltrans and Program Manager, BA, Policy Analysis, San Francisco CA
2:45 PM, Emergency Preparedness Panel
Moderator: Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA
Presenters:
Georgianna Armstrong, Kern County Emergency Services Manager, Bakersfield, CA,
Vance Taylor, Chief, Office of Access and Functional Needs, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Sacramento, CA
Jackie Koci Tamayo, CEM, MSLM, CA-PEM Sr. Emergency Planning Coordinator, County of Santa Clara, Office of Emergency Management, San Jose CA
Jennifer Maradiaga, Emergency Planning Coordinator, County of Santa Clara, Office of Emergency Management, San Jose CA

6 PM - 9 PM General Session 3

Presiding Officer: Lisa Thomas, CCB Treasurer, Fresno CA

6 PM Announcements
6:10 PM, Former president Sarah Harris, CCB President Fresno CA
7 PM Elections
Other businesses if time permits

Saturday, May 3

9 AM - 12 noon, General Session 4

Presiding Officer: Secretary Steve Bauer, Culver City CA.

9:00 AM Announcements
9:10 AM In Memoriam
We remember CCB members who have left us during the past year.
9:30 AM ACB Update
Scott Thornhill, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind, Alexandria, VA.
10:15 AM Governmental Affairs Report
Presenters:
Ardis Bazyn, CCB Governmental Affairs Committee Co-Chair Thornton co
Joshua Saunders, Governmental Affairs Committee co-chair, El Cerrito CA
Regina Brink, Director of Governmental Affairs Sacramento CA
11:15 AM Financial planning
Presenter: Chris Peterson, CEO, Penny Forward, Minneapolis, MN
Penny Forward is a nonprofit organization founded and led by blind people. Through education, mentoring, and mutual support, we help each other learn to confidently navigate the complicated landscape of personal finance.

1 PM - 3:30 PM Session 5

Presiding Officer: Second vice-president Rob Turner, Sunnyvale CA

1 PM A Glimpse into Our Past, Peggy Chong, the Blind History Lady
Join Peggy as she takes us through key moments in our blind history.
1:45 PM, Panel on the Future of Advocacy
Moderator, Guillermo Robles, CCB First Vice President Culver City CA
Presenter: Tim Elder, President, National Federation of the Blind of California, San Francisco CA
2:30 PM Touching the Court, A Haptic Experience
Presenters:
Bree Fraser, Seattle, WA
Jerred Mace Seattle WA
Leslie Thom, Sacramento, CA
3:00 PM Could AI be your Sidekick To Daily Independence?
Presenters:
Gabe Griffith, Assistive Technology Instructor, Lighthouse For The Blind San Francisco CA
Eliezer Andres, Assistive Technology Coordinator, Resources For Independence, Central Valley Fresno, CA
Joe Xavier, Former Director of Rehabilitation Sacramento CA

5 PM Banquet

MC: Steve Bauer, CCB Secretary Culver city CA

Join us for our 2025 virtual banquet, celebrating CCB and its members. In addition to our traditional publications and community awards, the winner of the newly revamped chapter of the year award will be chosen, decided by you, the CCB members in attendance at the banquet. There will be an opportunity for chapters and affiliates to offer gifts to the state organization.

Sunday, May 4

9 AM – 12 Noon Business Sessions

Presiding Officer: President Guillermo Robles, Culver City, CA.

Business meeting: Minutes, Treasurer’s Report, Constitutional and Bylaw Amendments, Resolutions, Committee reports and other business

Table of Contents

7:30PM - 8:45 PM Credentials

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