Beyond Barriers
California Council of the Blind
8880 Cal Center Dr. Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95826
916-441-2100, 800-221-6359
President Guillermo Robles
Convention Committee Co-Chairs Alice Turner and Andrea DeKlotz
Pre-Convention Activities
Thursday, April 16, Keys to the Convention
We will dive into the "Keys to the Convention." Learn about officers and board elections, accessing the event via Zoom, and essential Robert's Rules of Order. Do not miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and have fun with your fellow community members. Your voice matters – be part of shaping our future, breaking barriers.
Click here to listen to the recording of the Keys to the Convention presentation.
Saturday, April 18, California Diabetics in Action (CDA) Program
Weighing In: A Day In the Life Of a Diabetic; Living, Managing, and Thriving with Vision loss.
Presented by California Diabetics in Action
During this Pre-Convention event, we take you through the day of a blind or low vision diabetic. We’ll discuss morning routines, managing glucose measurement, meal planning, what could happen in the morning, before you’ve even gotten up., and the importance of having a team and support.
Click here to listen to the CDA presentation, on the day of a blind or low vision diabetic.
Sunday April 19, Housing Committee Presentation
California Housing Rights and Resources
Learn about our housing rights, resources and how the CCB Housing Committee can partner with your chapter to help members of your local blind community who are seeking assistance with housing.
Click here to listen to the CCB Housing Committee presentation on housing rights and resources.
Thursday, April 23, Accessibility Update from Spectrum
Petr Kucheryavyy, Director with Spectrum’s Accessibility team will update us about all of the Spectrum accessibility products and features, including the free Spectrum Access app available to anyone in the US, providing access to over 1300 Audio Description titles. Learn about Spectrum’s Disability Support Team, available 24/7. Not a Spectrum customer? You may still be able to benefit from some of the Spectrum offerings and learn more about the expansion of Spectrum services that may be in your area soon.
Click here to hear about the many Spectrum accessibility products and features.
Click here to download the Spectrum Large Print Products Sheet.
Saturday, April 25 California Council of Citizens with Low Vision Program and Business Meeting
Our speaker was Stephanie Zabitz from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Orientation and mobility immersion program.
This program assists clients who have an eventual goal of owning a guide dog but need additional O and M experience before applying for a dog. Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) is pleased to offer a free Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Immersion Program for people interested in learning orientation and mobility skills for safe, independent travel, including those skills that are most relevant to guide dog mobility.
Our week-long O&M Immersion courses are held throughout the year. All courses start on a Sunday afternoon and conclude the following Saturday. The classes are conducted by O&M specialists on location at either one of our campuses (San Rafael, California or Boring, Oregon), or at one of our partner organization facilities. Each partner O&M specialist has undergone training with Guide Dogs for the Blind to prepare them to instruct clients who have a guide dog mobility goal.
Click here to be redirected to the biography for Stephanie Zabitz
Sunday, April 26 Golden State Guide Dog Handlers, INC. Program
Linda MacLeod, a retired attorney, spoke about her experience suing Uber Technologies, Inc in Small Claims Court for discrimination due to ride share denials involving her guide dog, Gideon.
Linda spoke about the process of filing her claim in Small Claims Court, going to Court, presenting her case to a judge, and then collecting damages. She also answered questions regarding the process and what others need to know if they want to pursue their rights against Uber or Lyft when they are denied a ride share due to their guide dog.
Click here to be redirected to the biography for Linda MacLeod
Main Convention Sessions
Note:
The Main Convention recordings are being edited by our audio editing group.
Please come back soon. This Convention archive webpage will be updated as the recordings become available.
2026 Convention Presenter Biographies
Linda MacLeod
Linda MacLeod is a retired attorney who practiced litigation in the areas of personal injury, probate, employment and business law. She retired 10 years ago after suffering significant vision loss from Usher Syndrome. She and her first guide dog, Gideon, resides in the Bay Area.
Click here to return to the Convention presentation with Linda MacLeod
Stephanie Zabitz
Stephanie Zabitz joined Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) as an apprentice guide dog instructor in 2007 while pursuing her master’s degree in special education at San Francisco State University (SFSU). She advanced to the role of Master Guide Dog Mobility Instructor before returning to SFSU in 2018 to attain her O&M Specialist certification (COMS). Since graduating from that program, she has worked as a teaching assistant and a part-time faculty lecturer for SFSU’s O&M program. She is now the Senior Orientation & Mobility Program Specialist for GDB’s O&M Immersion Program. She really enjoys being able to utilize both her COMS and GDMI qualifications. Her highest motivation comes from interacting directly with the clients and helping them have the best experience with all parts of the O&M Immersion Program. Stephanie resides in San Rafael with her husband, Spencer, and rescued Australian Cattle Dog, Finca which means small farm in Spanish. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, and kayaking.
Click here to return to the Convention presentation with Stephanie Zabitz
