Please send all address changes to the Executive Office in Hayward.
Call the CALIFORNIA CONNECTION at 800-221-6359 for an update on legislation and CCB events Monday through Friday after 4 p.m. and all day on weekends. You may listen to either English or Spanish versions.
Members are requested and nonmembers are invited to pay a yearly subscription fee of $10 toward the printing of THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN.
If you or a friend would like to remember the California Council of the Blind in your Will, you can do so by employing the following language:
"I give, devise, and bequeath unto the California Council of the Blind, a nonprofit charitable organization in California, the sum of $____ (or ____) to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons."
If your wishes are more complex, you may have your attorney communicate with the Hayward office for other suggested forms. Thank you.
President's Page: Looking Back and Moving Forward, by Jeff Thom
Safeway News, from the Connection
2007 Fall Convention Report, by Roger Petersen and Mike Keithley
Hamilton Beach Talking Microwave, from the Desk of Day Al-Mohamed
Retirement of DOR Director Dr. Catherine Campisi
Summary of Resolutions, Fall Convention, 2006, by Winifred Downing
New Resource Guide, submitted by Mike Keithley
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, by Winifred Downing
A Call for Award Nominations, by Catherine Skivers
New Internet Access by Phone, by Jane Kardas
Board Meeting Summaries, by Rhonda King
Animals Need Rigorous Training Before They Can Be Service Animals, by Deborah
Kendrick
Membership Incentive Award and Ideas, by Ardis Bazyn and Rhonda King
Career Connections: The Interview and Social Cues, by Dr. Catherine
Schmitt Whitaker
California Audio Describers Alliance Formed, Teri Grossman
Accessible Voting: An Explanation, by Mike Keithley
CCB Recipe Corner, by Sylvia Lopez
On the Lighter Side, by Evelyn Drewry
Eye Research Excerpts, by Dawn Wilcox, BSN RN
Solitary Sojourn, by Teddie Joy Remhild
Bulletin Board, compiled by Keith Black and Mike Keithley
CCB Officers and Directors, 2007
In accepting material for THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN, priority will be given to
articles concerning the activities and policies of the California Council of the
Blind and to the experiences and concerns of blind persons. Recommended
length is under three pages; if space constraints make it necessary to divide an
article, every effort will be made to discuss the matter with the author before
publication.
The deadline to submit material for the spring, 2007 issue of the BLIND
CALIFORNIAN is March 1, 2007.
Please send all address changes to the Executive Office in Hayward.
One morning not too long ago, I needed cash; so I walked up to the ATM in the
Nob Hill store where I shop, plugged in an audio cable to my CI processor and
heard: "Welcome to the Wells Fargo ATM." Wow, speech! This accessible ATM
has been around for at least a year, but I'm still thrilled that I can really interact
freely with it and other ATMs, and I want to express a heart-felt "thank you" to
those who worked so hard to make this possible.
I remember the first ATM I saw in 1985. It was at HP where I worked and, of
course, wasn't accessible. With sighted help, I learned which keys to press (they
had hollow squares you touched your finger into) to get cash; but I always needed
help making deposits. This ATM had a door at the cash slot that rattled up,
money was stacked and the gate rattled down--a distinctive sound.
Things have advanced quite a bit, and now we are in a position where ATMS
might soon become accessible to deaf-blind people. It hasn't happened yet as far
as I know, but I think the tools are at hand. There are now small portable braille
displays that might be interfaced with an ATM through Bluetooth, with the braille
device being smart enough to properly display what is on the ATM's screen. It's
probably unrealistic to have a braille display built into the machine as this would
be a rather high expense and some means of protecting the braille cells would be
needed when it's not in use.
So much for dreaming. In a project concerning accessible voting, I was exposed
to the complexities of this issue, and struck by an interesting philosophical
notion: we might be too impatient acquiring access to voting machines for our
own good. Rather than slowly working to make systems truly accessible (as with
ATMs and the ongoing point-of-sale projects), we're clambering for access, as if
we're starved, from vendors apparently reluctant to accommodate our needs and
who would rather not bother if it weren't for the perceived money they'll make. I
think striving for access in a starved mode will likely result in endless
frustrations and poor access overall. We'd be better off working with truly-
interested vendors on the next generation of voting machine, where access is
designed from the ground up and other current issues (like security) have been
resolved. In short, patience will result in a better experience for all of us.
Another philosophical problem I see affixed to voting-machine access is the
thinking that all disabilities must be addressed by a single type of machine.
Although we have the HAVA mandate that all disabled people must be able to
vote now, the one-machine-accommodates-all notion results in complexity and a
product that isn't usable to its full potential by anyone. Maybe it's time to re-think
the single-machine-meets-all-needs idea and embrace the usage of similar
equipment addressing specific disabilities. I've heard this idea termed "blended
access."
In conclusion, let me tell you that I'm writing this while flying across the U.S. (my
wife is working on a story for her creative writing class) on my BrailleSense, and
it will be ready by the time we reach home. Talk about access and productivity;
it's a waking dream!
Return to the Table of Contents EDITOR'S PAGE
By the time you read this, we will all have made it through another holiday season, and I hope your season has been full of joy.
I sometimes struggle with what I will write in these columns, just as you may struggle with the labor of reading them. This time, however, I did not have any difficulty deciding what to discuss. With the coming of the new year, it seemed absolutely essential that we look back at what we have done and forward to what we must try to accomplish. Some of you will recognize portions of my meanderings from convention speeches or more informal discussions we may have had. Nonetheless, I hope that this article not only piques your interest but also leads you to use the Blind Californian as a vehicle to let the membership know what your ideas are for the future of CCB.
Let's focus on two areas: membership and advocacy. Here comes that old chicken and egg dilemma. Increased membership enables stronger advocacy, and our advocacy victories give us the relevancy to recruit and retain members. Thus, it's almost a waste of time to talk about one without the other.
First, a note about the geographical make-up of our organization. Although the large majority of this state's population is found south of Fresno, only about 55% of our membership live in that geographical area. I am not even going to attempt to analyze why this is the case. After all, every chapter faces a myriad of different problems when it comes to recruitment and retention. Suffice it to say, we need to work harder, both at the local and state levels, to reverse this trend. If you have thoughts about this matter, let me, or our membership co-chairs Rhonda King or Ardis Bazyn, know. We are lucky to have Ardis, as ACB's membership chair, amongst us so let's rely on that committee as much as we can.
Every one of us must work hard on membership recruitment and retention if we are to thrive as an organization. We need to seek out potential members and get them to come to one of our meetings. Even more importantly, we need to treat our members as we would expect them to treat us. Obviously, the President and the other chapter officers have an essential role in the membership process as they need to work with each member as an individual and avoid confrontation with other chapter-members, unless avoiding confrontation destroys the harmony of the chapter.
Let's now look at something I talked about at the Fall 2006 convention, and that I think in the long haul can strengthen this organization immeasurably. It is no news to you that those over 55 constitute more than half of the blind and visually impaired population. We have tried, and with limited success, to attract persons from this group into our ranks. Because I'd probably skip a few luminaries, I won't mention all of those seniors who do such hard work in CCB, but this organization would not be what it is today without them.
We need to garner resources on developing and implementing a strategy to recruit, retain, and utilize the tremendous pool of individuals that constitute the senior blind and visually impaired of California. It is high time that we did this! Development and implementation of this initiative will neither be easy or rapidly completed. Moreover, it will require a multi-pronged approach. It takes work from individuals at the local level, from local chapters, and from CCB committees. We need to look at those chapters who have been successful at not only recruiting seniors, but where those members have been utilized in our advocacy and other efforts. Such best practices need to be communicated around the state, and thought must be given to how they can be adapted to the different local circumstances each chapter faces. We need to make better use of our outstanding "Failing Sight and the Family Plight" brochure, such as making sure that it is provided to senior centers and similar facilities throughout the state. In addition, we must consider whether we need to create a brochure specifically geared to seniors with vision loss, themselves. The Membership Committee, the Seniors with Vision Loss Committee and other committees must not only be proactive in working on this initiative; but those committees must be given the support they need to enhance their ability to achieve their goals in this regard. I don't necessarily see this initiative showing dramatic results during my final two- year term as President, but I feel that continued focus on the senior blind population can pay tremendous dividends for this organization over the next five to ten years.
Before leaving my discussion of membership, I'd like to take a moment to comment on one of the best aspects of being President of CCB, the visitations I make to various chapters. I have been fortunate enough to visit some 20 chapters, but I really want to get to know more of you through chapter visitations. If your chapter has any desire for a visitation, especially, but not just, if I've never been there, pester me until we can work out a date. I think every past President will agree with me that we gain as much, if not more, than the chapter members themselves.
For me, and I hope for you, it's all about the work we do to improve the lives of blind and visually impaired Californians. Give yourselves a collective pat on the back for all that CCB accomplished during 2006, or perhaps in today's vernacular you might want to make it a virtual pat! We may not routinely make the national headlines for what we do. Fortunately, an exception came in November when ACB President Chris Gray, ACB Executive Director Melanie Brunson and others were deluged with interviews on ACB's incredible first step toward making currency accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired with the landmark federal court ruling against the United States Treasury Department. There is hope that, in the not-too-distant future, our country will finally join the club of 180 nations that have currency with features that are accessible to persons who are blind. We in California also have a great deal to be proud of. You can bet that without the constant advocacy efforts by CCB members such as Barbara Rhodes, Kaiser wouldn't have decided to use talking prescription bottles throughout California. Our members work hard on private, independent voting, both to ensure that we have the opportunity to vote in this manner and that the voting machine companies know when their products aren't cutting the mustard. We have clearly become a leader in this state among the disability community on disaster preparedness. On the state level, we sponsored SB1451, which will require that state committees on disaster preparedness have members with disabilities, including visual impairments. Just as importantly, for this is where the rubber meets the road, CCB members in many parts of the state are active in designing and providing input on local disaster preparedness plans.
Most of you are familiar with the great work of our attorneys Linda Dardarian and Lainey Feingold on issues such as web access, installation of talking ATMs and tactile point-of-sale machines, and the ability to obtain bills and other materials in accessible formats. The success in these endeavors, which has helped all blind and visually impaired Americans, would, however, not have been possible without the assistance that many CCB members have provided.
As tempting as it is to continue trumpeting all of our accomplishments, and so many of you deserve mention for what you have done, resting on our laurels has never been, and hopefully never will be, the way we operate. Let's look ahead to future battles.
One battle we lost this year, with the failure to pass SB1114, is to require state- funded agencies primarily serving persons who are blind or visually impaired to have a minimum percentage of persons with visual impairments on their boards of directors. Some say that government shouldn't be telling these agencies what to do. We say that if they want government money then they should be willing to follow reasonable rules that allow for sufficient consumer representation on the body that runs the agency. We will continue to fight this battle until success is ours. I applaud the many CCB members who work on the boards of these private agencies and urge others to get involved.
Another skirmish that we've had a time or two is over the need to expand in- home-supportive services benefits to include reading services for those whose disability severely limits their ability to read print. In my view, there is no more important social service for someone whose sole disability is blindness than having someone to read the mail and fill out the bills. When Governmental Affairs Director Dan Kysor asks you to let your state legislators and the Governor know how important this is, we need every one of you to deluge them with letters, e- mails and phone calls. It will be an uphill battle, but then what are mountains made for?
Another issue confronting us is the state's decision to take the authority for the provision of large print textbooks for students in kindergarten through high school out of the hands of the Department of Education, which had been generally doing an outstanding job, and placing it into the inept control of the Department of General Services.
Stay tune as the new year unfolds, for you'll definitely hear about many other issues. You would be surprised at the relatively low number of letters our legislators receive. If all of you, your family members, and friends, combined to generate one or two thousand letters or calls on an issue, eyebrows would definitely be raised. It wouldn't assure victory, but it would get the ball rolling in a positive direction. The same is true about your local county board of supervisors or city council. So, to borrow a phrase from the State of California, let's flex our power in 2007. When the next holiday season comes around, let's be able to look back and know that we've done the very best we could to improve opportunities for Californians who are blind or visually impaired.
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In a move praised by state and national blind organizations, Safeway (NYSE:SWY) has announced that it has begun installing equipment to protect the privacy and security of Safeway shoppers with visual impairments. The new devices plug into existing point of sale payment machines and have tactile keys arranged like a standard telephone keypad. They will allow Safeway shoppers who have difficulty reading information on a touchscreen to privately and independently enter their PIN, telephone number, and other confidential information.
Safeway operates stores across the country under the banners Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Genuardi's, Dominick's, Pak'n Save Foods and Carrs stores. Every Safeway store in California has already been equipped with several of the devices, and they will be installed across the country over the next 12 months.
This settlement is a result of collaboration between Safeway and several blindness organizations including ACB and CCB. If you have any questions about this settlement or encounter any problems at any of these stores, you can contact Lainey Feingold or Linda Dardarian by e-mail at lfeingold@earthlink.net or by phone at 800-332-6177.
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Come join the party! Damar Travel and the California Council of the Blind have scheduled a cruise for May 11-14, 2007, from Long Beach, CA to Ensenada, Mexico. See old friends and make new ones, and help support CCB at the same time. For each cabin booked on the cruise, Damar Travel and Carnival Cruise Lines will make a donation totaling $90 to CCB. We will depart on Friday, May 11, from Long Beach and travel to the wonderful city of Ensenada, Mexico, where we will have a full day to enjoy Mexico. Prices start at $525 for an inside cabin and $565 for an ocean view. Prices include three-day cruise, port charges, government fees and gratuities. An initial deposit of $50 is required and final payment is due on or before February 1, 2007. Everyone is welcome. Tell everyone you know about it. We'd love to see your family, friends, and potential friends. For reservations and additional information, please call Dave Kronk with Damar Travel and Cruise at 800-999-6101 x422.
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[This report is in two sections: the general sessions, banquet and business meeting (covered by Roger) and affiliate meetings, Presidents' Dinner and exhibits (covered by Mike).]
From Roger:
The convention was held at the Four Points Sheraton at the Los Angeles
International Airport, October 26 through 29. Committee and affiliate meetings
were interspersed between the general sessions, which took place on Friday and
Saturday afternoons, Friday evening and Sunday morning. There was also the
usual open board meeting on Thursday evening.
A highlight of the Friday afternoon session was Sebastian Thrun of the Stanford University Artificial Intelligence Laboratory speaking about self-driving cars. His team won a race among computer-guided cars on the southern California desert and we heard tantalizing conjecture about cars that we may be able to operate in the future. One of our own members, Brian Higgins, talked about organizing a company, InteliSight, aimed at marketing such a thing when it becomes feasible. We also heard from an insurance expert who is vision impaired, Dominic Daddario, about blindness as a selection factor in underwriting insurance. He said that blindness in and of itself is not an adverse selection, i.e., a factor that would lead to you being refused insurance or charged a higher rate. This session also included a discussion of progress in getting accessible pedestrian signals, with Linda Dardarian, one of our attorneys, and Patrick Sheehan, our ACB guest and President of ACB of Maryland.
After I presided over a meeting of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and attended the Presidents' Dinner, it was time for the Friday evening session. Notable here was an address by the President of HumanWare, Dr. Richard Mander, all the way from Christchurch, New Zealand. He promised increased attention to technical support and customer service. After reports by Jeff Thom, CCB President, and Patrick Sheehan, our national guest, we held elections. Jeff Thom and Mitch Pomerantz were re-elected president and first vice-president. Peter Pardini chose not to run for re-election as treasurer and Chris Gray was elected to that position. Board members re-elected were Barbara Rhodes, Gabe Griffith and Louis Preston. David Jackson was newly elected to the Board and Peter Pardini was chosen for a one-year vacancy created by the resignation of Al Biegler.
The Saturday afternoon session featured updates from Frances Blend School, a day school for blind children in the Los Angeles Unified School District; Department of Rehabilitation; and the American Foundation for the Blind's San Francisco-based Employment Center. This session was followed by more committee meetings, the pre-banquet reception and the banquet, emceed by Vince Calderon, president of the San Gabriel Chapter.
The banquet featured the scholarship recipients, always impressive. After the banquet was an auction of donated items to benefit CCB. As usual, some bargains were obtained and some items were bid up to prices that defied all reason.
The Sunday morning business meeting featured reports from the treasurer, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and the Resolutions Committee. Resolutions summaries appear later in this issue.
The convention adjourned well before noon and we all wended our way homeward.
From Mike:
As with the spring convention, some affiliate meetings (and all general sessions
and the banquet) were recorded and will be available on the CCB website at
www.ccbnet.org or can be ordered by calling the Hayward office at 800-221-6359.
Thursday afternoon featured the combined presentation of the Rehabilitation Services and Technology committees. A panel on GPS systems, moderated by Ken Metz, was presented. We heard from Mike May from the Sendero Group, which makes GPS software for the BrailleNote; Damian Pickering from Freedom Scientific describing the StreetTalk program for the Pacmate; Peter Cantisani presenting WayFinder, a European product that works on the Symbion cell phone platform with web and GPS access; and Mike Gibson from HumanWare discussing the new version of Trekker, a standalone system not requiring a notetaker or cell phone.
We learned that these GPS packages all do more or less the same things (tells you where you are, helps you plan routes from point A to point B, and shows you "points of interest" such as restaurants, etc.) with varying degrees of success. Which product you'd want to use often comes down to which notetaker you're using or whether Trekker or WayFinder will work. According to what we heard, WayFinder is the least developed of the GPS packages for the blind community as it has only been recently that the European developers became aware of our needs.
Gary Moulton from Microsoft discussed Windows Vista, the new operating system soon to be released from Microsoft. Barbara Manipod, from Sensory Access Foundation (SAF), demonstrated Windows Vista with the Window-eyes screen- reader (Freedom Scientific will have a version of JAWS soon); and we were introduced to the concept of "ribbons," a replacement for the menu bar and pull- down menus, and the new search-tool (the traditional start menu is gone) for finding and launching programs. We also heard glowing reports from Louis Herrera on improvements made to Narrator (a basic screen-reading tool originally bundled with Windows XP) and the voice-recognition software, which now is a part of the operating system rather than a separate application.
I attended the Braille Revival League of California (BRLC) meeting and program Friday morning. Cari Stieglitz (Marketing Manager, View Plus Technologies, Corvallis, OR) discussed the Emprint (a new addition to the Tiger line of braille embossers) that can print ink and braille at the same time, allowing simultaneous braille and large-printing in one pass; and this at less than $6000--quite a bit cheaper than other components of the Tiger line. It can also make braille dots at various heights, which can be used to denote shading or color. As with all the Tiger embossers, printing/embossing can be done in Windows with standard Windows drivers.
The CLUA (California Library Users of America) and BRLC luncheon featured a very tasty salad and a presentation by Dr. Henry Chan (Director of Library Services, Braille Institute, Los Angeles), where he passed around a mockup of the new "basic" NLS digital player soon to be distributed to readers. This player had controls you'd expect: volume up/down, play, stop, fast-forward and rewind. I understand there is to be an "advanced" model that includes buttons for setting bookmarks and moving between them. We also learned that the digital media for these players will be in the form of a credit-card shaped cartridge that slides into the machine. A flash card is installed inside the cartridge, and it appears that most of these cards will have a capacity of 256 Megabytes (equivalent to 2 NLS tapes) but I couldn't determine if books requiring more storage would come with additional cartridges or as one cartridge with a large-capacity flash-card.
The Publications committee met after the first general session, and we spent our time discussing such issues as the font size and style used in the large-print Blind Californian. A "writing workshop" and "philosophy of editing" discussion was suggested as an activity at the spring convention. We agreed that more contributions from CCB members are needed as it is now becoming difficult to distribute awards for best lifestyle and issue-oriented articles.
Rob Turner was the Master of Ceremonies at the Presidents' Dinner, held Friday evening. Again, the food was delicious; it seems that the best food is served at these dinners and luncheons. Chapter- and affiliate-Presidents described what encouraged them to become active in the blind community and CCB.
I wandered around the exhibit rooms for an hour Saturday morning: bought a CCB fleece-lined jacket (which is surprisingly warm for its light weight), checked out other fund-raising products that chapters and affiliates were selling, and examined items to be auctioned off after the Saturday-evening banquet. I tried using the hotel's ATM: it wasn't accessible and insisted I was "ineligible." The CCB office has two jackets left so hurry and get yours.
While questing to get a sample-page from the Tiger embosser, I stumbled into the Access Ingenuity table, where the K-NFB reader was being displayed; and I took the time to check it out. I thought it performed quite well and that it would be a natural for reading handouts on the fly without fuss, or reading menus (assuming they can be read). There is the issue of holding the camera just so to acquire the complete image, but I found the auditory feedback usable. I was quite disappointed to learn that, although it was under consideration as part of a distant-future upgrade, no provisions are present for using a braille display, which should be easy through a Bluetooth interface. I also hope competition brings the $3500 price down.
I was able to get that sample page from the Emprint embosser. I've never seen dots packed so densely and the variable dot-height is a helpful aid to understand maps, etc.
I attended the GDUC luncheon and was happy to find that I wasn't the only one there using a white cane. Again, the food was excellent. Among the presentations, we heard about "cross-training" where a blind guidedog user also had epileptic seizures and the dog was trained to be attentive to them. We also learned that Guide Dogs for the Blind has a new website: www.guidedogs.com, and that an improved harness is being used where the harness handle somehow compacts into itself so it doesn't bump into things.
After Saturday's General Session, I attended the CCB Website Committee meeting, which was not announced in the program. There were spirited discussions about how accessible www.ccbnet.org actually is and how to improve the site's visual appeal. As an aside, Dan Kysor, our webmaster, tells me that the CCB site ranked sixth in a national poll for content; and that, in an informal viewing by sighted CCB office staff, the site ranked second of four sites viewed for visual appeal.
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No doubt many of you have seen or heard of the Hamilton Beach Talking Microwave (Product # 87106 and #87108): a 900 watt, 0.9 cubic foot capacity microwave. This machine is available at retail stores such as Walmart for under $100, a remarkable achievement considering that most of its predecessor talking microwaves averaged well over $300.
ACB recognizes that it is rare to find commercially developed appliances and electronics that are fully, or even partially, accessible. Industry as a whole has been less than enthusiastic about embracing design concepts that include considerations of accessibility and universal design, and we are quick to point out the failings of industry. It is uncommon that a company steps forward and actually creates a machine that is more accessible than most, and the sale of the Hamilton Beach Talking Microwave gives us the opportunity to give positive feedback to a corporation. ACB members have the opportunity to let Hamilton Beach know that their effort is a move in the right direction and to encourage them to continue to develop their products with an eye towards access and usability.
All too often, we as advocates get caught up in fighting for rights and access and legislative issues. We forget that it is just as important, if not more so, to give positive reinforcement. As such, we should let Hamilton Beach know that this product is particularly useful to us as blind people because it talks; and we appreciate it and hope this is only the beginning. As advocates, this positive feedback is perhaps one of our most powerful, yet often least-used tool when working with commercial retailers and industry. Seeing us as viable customers offers them incentive in creating products useful to people who are blind and visually impaired. As with all other advocacy initiatives, let us make sure our voice is heard.
Please feel free to pass this message on to your friends, family or anyone else interested in supporting increased access. Thank you.
Below is the contact information for Hamilton Beach:
Customer Service Telephone: 800-851-8900. Email uses a webform at: www.hamiltonbeach.com/contactus/hbfeedbk.html. Address for written correspondence: Hamilton Beach; 234 Spring Road; Washington, NC 27889.
[Editor's note: The manual for this microwave oven can be found at www.icanworkthisthing.com under "misc consumer electronics." In addition, rumor has it that this microwave has been discontinued, which does not dampen in the least the need to praise manufacturers trying to make their products accessible to us.]
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Dear Colleagues, Partners and Friends in the Disability Community:
After a great deal of thought, the time has come for me to make a major life- transition. It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to tell you I have decided to retire as Director of the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), effective December 22, 2006.
This decision has not come easily and I have spent countless hours talking it over with my closest confidant, my husband. The reasons the decision has been so hard to make are numerous. Among them is my deep commitment to DOR's mission; my regard for the wonderful people working in the department, especially my Executive Leadership Team and my outstanding assistant, Georgianna; and the fact that so much good work remains to be done. Yet, despite these factors, it is time for me to make this life-change.
When I became DOR Director in December 1999, I planned and hoped to be able to stay in the assignment until the end of 2006. As of that time, I will have worked fulltime nearly 30 years and will have lived 48+ of my 58+ years as a person with a significant disability. While I am thankful for many years of good health, it has become clear to me that it is time to rest more; lessen my stress some; and find more, heretofore elusive, time for myself and my husband to simply enjoy life's quiet and simple moments.
The seven years I have served as Director have been incredibly challenging, enriching and fulfilling. It has been the culmination of a career dedicated to changing the physical, programmatic and social landscape for persons with disabilities so that one's hopes, dreams, abilities and motivation are what determines one's future--not stereotypes and prejudice, discrimination, lack of accommodations, or low expectations. We have come a long way, but have SO far yet to go.
When I think of myself at age 27, newly graduated with a Ph.D. in social psychology, a person with a significant disability on Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) and In-home Supportive Services (IHSS), and a DOR consumer, all I wanted was a good job that would enable me to be off public benefits. Most of all, I wanted to use my skills and knowledge to benefit others and make the world a better place. Never in my wildest imagines did I think I would become the Director of the world's largest public vocational rehabilitation agency!
So many people made the journey possible. They include a) my wonderful parents, who loved, supported, and nurtured me, and expected the best from me no matter what; b) my partner in our shared mission to make the world a better place, my counsel in the truest sense of the word, and personal support for nearly 20 years: my husband, Ralph; c) my initial supervisors, Beverly McKee and Emmett Casey, who hired me in my first career-level, fulltime position at the San Diego Community College District; d) Bill Tainter, who hired me in my first Career- Executive Assignment at DOR and Brenda Premo who offered me the opportunity to serve as Deputy Director; e) Governor Davis who appointed me as Director in 1999, and Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Secretary Grantland Johnson, who assisted us to protect and advance disability civil rights; f) Governor Schwarzenegger, who supported my continued service as Director and HHSA Secretary Kim Belshé, whose support has been invaluable and who is one of the most dynamic and brilliant people for whom I have ever worked; g) our DOR Executive Leadership Team and the dedicated DOR staff statewide, who fulfill our mission on a daily basis; h) and all the rest of you who guided, supported, assisted, and worked with me over these nearly three decades.
Without a doubt, it has been a shared commitment to partnership and finding common ground that has allowed us to accomplish some of our shared goals over the last seven years. It is because we have worked in partnership--DOR, the disability community, and public and private partners at the local, state, and national levels--that, together, we have made a difference.
As I transition from the Directorship, please know that I hope our paths will continue to cross. My plans are to work part-time, travel, rest, and of course, continue to advocate for persons with disabilities.
With Godspeed and great regard, Catherine Campisi
P.S. Please feel free to share this message with anyone you think may be interested.
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The Resolutions Committee worked with 10 resolutions. Seven were passed, two (B5 and B6) were defeated in committee, and one (B7) was withdrawn by the authors for further work.
Co-Chairs of the committee were Lucy Greco and Gabe Griffith. Other members: Mitch Pomerantz, Winifred Downing, and Ken Metz. Eugene Lozano, Jr. could not attend the convention because of illness but participated by telephone regarding resolutions in which he was particularly interested.
Resolution B1-06 recognizes that persons charged with the responsibility of addressing architectural and transportation issues affecting disabled persons, especially blind and visually impaired persons, lack the knowledge and experience to determine matters like white cane and guide dog regulations, pedestrian signals, curb ramps, and elevators. It directs the California Council of the Blind (CCB) to strongly urge decision makers in "architectural/transportation access issues to attend in-service disability awareness training to include ... time spent experiencing what it is like to travel as a person with a visual, mobility, hearing or cognitive impairment in the built environment." Should such training not take place voluntarily, this organization will seek legislation to mandate it.
Resolution B2-06 calls upon CCB to urge the directors of "the Department of Rehabilitation and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to immediately explore methods that will ensure that counselors are not required ... to perform additional functions with respect to the purchase of equipment for clients." Complicated and time-consuming practices for procuring even small items like white canes threaten to diminish services to clients. A copy of this resolution will be sent to the Department of Rehabilitation.
Resolution B3-06 states that CCB should "seek legislation which would amend Section 19630.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to permit money in the Blind Vendor Revolving Loan Fund to be used to guarantee loans made to blind vendors by private financial institutions" and that "this organization work with the Department of Rehabilitation to ensure that, immediately after consideration of this legislation in the 2007-08 session, loans be made pursuant to Section 19630.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code." The amendment is necessary because the law passed in 2001 was so structured that few loans have been made to assist vendors to purchase equipment and inventory.
Resolution B4-06, Background: In the early 1990s, a textbook task force met to establish guidelines for the production and preparation of large print books for California's low vision students, guidelines which set forth "standards for font size, book pagination, and size and color of formatting" that have become a model used throughout the country. The Clearinghouse for Specialized Media and Technologies (CSMT) provided materials according to these standards in a timely manner until March, 2006 when the California Department of General Services assumed that responsibility. The procurement of these materials, no longer protected by the established standards, is cumbersome and time consuming so that, along with other problems, books are not provided when they are needed, sometimes not arriving until the end of the term in which they were ordered. The resolution requires CCB to "seek legislation to restore responsibility for procurement of large print materials to CSMT under standards consistent with those used by that entity" and, in the interim, to "explore the possibility of seeking legal action to prevent untimely delays in the receipt of textbooks by students who are visually impaired."
Resolution B8-06, Background: In 2005, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) began installing Automatic Vehicle Annunciators (AVA's) on its fleet to call all stops on the fixed route system, but members of the California Council of the Blind "have learned that MTA Chief Executive Officer Roger Snoble has taken steps to limit the calling of all stops to only those mandated under the Americans with Disabilities Act, major transfer points and points of interest." Since this step would leave calling stops to the discretion of the drivers, who may or may not respond, it would seriously limit the convenience of blind travelers. This resolution gives CCB the responsibility of sending "a strong letter to Roger Snoble expressing its unequivocal opposition to any proposal to reduce the number of stops announced by AVA's" and of sending copies of the letter to the members of the MTA Board of Directors and the members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Resolution B9-06 expresses CCB's "deepest gratitude and sincerest thanks to those who made the convention possible."
Resolution B10-06 states that CCB "appreciates the services that were provided during its Fall, 2006 convention by the staff of the Four Points Sheraton LAX Hotel." The CCB president is asked to forward this resolution to the hotel management.
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Through the Looking Glass and its National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities are proud to announce the release of the first comprehensive resource guide for visually impaired parents. The new 212-page "Hands-On Parenting: A Resource Guide for Parents who are Blind or Partially Sighted" provides a wide range of practical information, adaptations and resources.
The guide addresses many situations a visually impaired parent might face, such as: How do you diaper, feed, or give medications to your baby? How will you know where your toddler is? How do you choose the colors for your child's clothes? How can you help your children with homework? What types of toys or games are available? How can visually impaired parents educate the general public about how they manage parenting tasks?
This guide is one of several projects of the National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities, which is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education.
The resource guide was developed by blind parent specialist Debbie Bacon, who is a blind mother of three adult children. Ms. Bacon compiled the resources and suggestions from discussions with visually impaired parents across the U.S. as well as in several other countries. Parents with a wide age-range of children describe their parenting experiences, noting barriers, strengths, adaptations and suggestions for other visually impaired parents. Because these people are often geographically isolated from each other, there are many explanations of how they managed a variety of routine parenting tasks on their own.
This resource guide is intended to pass along successful adaptations and strategies so that new parents don't have to keep re-inventing the wheel. Topics covered in the guide include such issues as: newborns, when your child is sick, feeding, toilet training, transportation, monitoring your child, child safety, toys and games, and working with professionals. Each of the 14 chapters includes parent discussions as well as contact information for a wide variety of resources, many of which are available through the Internet.
This Resource Guide is currently available in regular- and large-print, and on CD- ROM (text version). We are working on producing braille and audio versions as well, and we will post ordering information when it is available. The Guide can be ordered online from Through the Looking Glass for $40 (includes shipping and handling for orders within the U.S.). To order this guide or other publications regarding parenting with a disability, please go to www.lookingglass.org and then to our Publications page (under the "Parents with Visual Impairments" category). You can also call 800-644-2666.
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That was a popular song during the Great Depression, the event that sparked the development of so many of the programs that have made life livable for people with disabilities, experiencing poverty, or otherwise disadvantaged. A very different Congress from the ones that adopted those measures easily passed several years ago the law regarding car donations that had the result of severely constraining this type of fund-raising. The new law, which went into effect at the start of 2005, allows the donor a charitable tax deduction (in relation to vehicles worth more than $500) that is limited to the confirmed amount ultimately received by the charitable organization it's donated to. Also, the charity has 30 days from the date of sale to provide a confirmation letter to the donor, and until this occurs, no tax deduction is allowed. There was some evidence that previously the large number of donations was being fueled by allowing the donor to set the value, though this was supposed to be based on a detailed consideration of the car's accessories and condition, as well as its age and mileage. The predictable decrease in vehicle donations means that CCB and many other groups can no longer afford the cost of advertising, decreasing this source of income even further.
In an effort to provide a monetary solution on both a state and national level, ACB has devised a plan which, if followed by enough members, will assure a dependable amount of money for both levels. It is called Monthly Monetary Support (MMS), and this is the way it functions.
An interested member fills out a brief form which directs his/her bank to withdraw a stated amount monthly from an account, that money to be sent to the American Council where the portion requested by the member on the original application form is deducted and sent to the state affiliate. That amount can be up to one half of the total contribution. The process takes only about five minutes to complete, and the private information furnished is just a voided check.
There are, I know, members of CCB who cannot afford even as small a monthly contribution as $10; but I believe that most of us could make that sacrifice without ever knowing it. Some can, and do, allow deductions of $20 or more. When, some years ago, ACB was really struggling to survive, people I knew loaned their retirement funds to assist in its preservation. All those loans were repaid.
Suppose that only five people in each of the more-than-twenty CCB chapters and affiliates signed up for $10 a month. If the amount were divided between the state and national organizations, that would mean $6,000 a year for each group. It is easy to see what this plan would mean if the several thousand people associated with CCB were to enter the plan.
The American Council has some incentives to offer. While the supply lasts, new donors will receive a tiny scanning radio, and the name of everyone who signs up is entered for a drawing conducted at the next national convention, the prize being a talking Hamilton-Beach microwave. Should it be necessary for a member to withdraw from the plan, just notifying the bank and ACB will terminate the arrangement. The process is the simplest and least painful way I know of to donate to the organizations we know support our needs and respond to our requests.
Several chapters have members who are part of the national MMS committee, and anyone who needs a form can request one from me: Winifred Downing; 1587 38th Avenue; San Francisco, CA 94122; 415-564-5798; wmdowning@mindspring.com.
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Through the years, I have had the privilege to serve on many committees and projects for CCB and other organization of and for the blind, but none have been as pleasurable than my current assignment as Chair of the Awards and History Committee. Not only do I work with an outstanding committee, but I have the opportunity of reading great letters in recognition of contributions made to CCB and the community.
Please review the following award descriptions and nominate someone you think is deserving of our thanks and appreciation.
The Hall of Fame Award is given to those who have made significant contributions and sustained effort to advance the goals of CCB. As many as five persons per year may be nominated.
The Community Service Award is presented annually to a blind or visually impaired individual who, through his/her association and activity, has demonstrated integration into and interaction with the life of the community.
The Distinguished Service Award is given periodically to an outstanding blind or visually impaired person who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind people in general. The recipient of this award need not be a member of CCB.
The Legislator of the Year Award is bestowed periodically on a state or federal legislator who has introduced and successfully directed enactment of legislation in behalf of persons who are blind or visually impaired.
The Humanitarian Award is granted to an individual or organization that has assisted blind people in general or CCB and its affiliates in particular to an extraordinary degree. The recipient may be blind or sighted.
The Merit Award (formerly the Certificate of Merit) is given to any individual who provides outstanding volunteer service to CCB, its chapters or affiliates.
The Chapter of the Year Award is presented by the Membership Committee to the CCB chapter that conducts a group effort to make a significant difference in the life of an individual and/or the community.
The Publications Awards are granted by vote of the Publications Committee to the person who has prepared the best article of the year appearing in the "Blind Californian" or in newspapers or periodicals. There are two categories: an article related to an issue of importance and an article concerning lifestyle.
The Awards Committee hopes you know someone deserving CCB's recognition and that you will contact us on his/her behalf. Please send nominations by February 15 to: Attention Awards Committee; California Council of the Blind; 578 B Street; Hayward, CA 94541-5004. We look forward to hearing from you and hope your submissions will be as great as those we received last year.
Award Committee members are Roger Petersen, Gussie Morgan, Bernice Kandarian, Joe Smith, Chris Gray and Don Queen.
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Do you feel lost in cyberspace? Do you feel lost in the shuffle? Do you feel that everyone you know is on the Internet and has tremendous expertise except you? Well, let me introduce you to two other options to accessing the Internet by simply using your telephone. Sounds impossible, doesn't it? I, personally, have used Yahoo by Phone using just voice for the past few years. Unfortunately Yahoo, as of January 1, 2007, will no longer be offering email by telephone; so let me tell you about my research to find a replacement.
I am aware of two companies that currently offer telephone Internet access. They are InternetSpeech NetECHO and If by Phone. As the director of Optometry and Assistive Technology at the Center for the Partially Sighted, Dr. Bill Takeshita stated: "I was introduced to InternetSpeech NetECHO a couple of months ago; and I can honestly say that this is the easiest and most efficient method of accessing the Internet to send and receive e-mail, access research articles ... , and surf the Internet. Most importantly, this is a product that is easy to use and affordable. At our center, over half of the patients we serve come from families with household incomes less than the national poverty level. Many do not have computers nor are they able to afford specialized software programs such as [the] ZoomText magnification software or [the] JAWS screen reading program. InternetSpeech NetECHO enables patrons to access the Internet from various locations at a cost less than the price of dial-up Internet access."
InternetSpeech, a privately held company founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Jose, California, develops and markets Voice/Audio Internet technology. The company's patented Voice Internet technology, NetECHO, provides consumers, businesses and governments complete, anytime, anywhere voice-based access to the Internet. For your consideration, the following NetECHO plans are available:
If you have unlimited local and long distance, such as I have with AT&T, the cost is $14 per month for unlimited use. You call a Toll number in the 408 area code. If you don't have a flat-rate phone plan (which I encourage you to get--my plan costs just $60 a month for unlimited local and long-distance), there are the following two plans: Plan B: $23 per month for five hours of paid usage plus five cents per minute thereafter, and you use a toll-free number. Plan C: $78 for unlimited usage through a toll-free number. These plans are for US and Canadian subscribers.
There is a one-time setup fee of $20 for all three plans. Streaming audio is $6 additional. For more information or to sign up for this service, the number to call is 877-312-4638 or 408-532-8460. You can also visit their website at www.internetspeech.com.
The second company, If By Phone, offers three programs, as well. This company does not offer a flat rate plan. The first plan is $6.95 per month for 75 minutes. Their second plan is $12.95 for 250 minutes. The other option is $19.95 for 750 minutes. They also offer games such as pinball and blackjack, which don't interest me but perhaps you might find them amusing! You'd really have to keep track of those minutes! They did not state what the penalty would be for going over your allotted time. However, you can contact them at 866-574-1521.
I hope you find these services helpful. It is my understanding that less than 50 percent of blind and low vision people have access to the Internet and email. There are no contracts to sign. These services are month to month. So why not give them a try? You have nothing to lose!
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Pre-Convention Board Minutes: April 6, 2006
This meeting was called to order by President Jeff Thom, and Rhonda King took
the roll. Gabe Griffith and Richard Rueda were absent. After brief introductions
and announcements, the agenda was read; and minutes for the February 13 Board
teleconference call followed with one correction: Durward McDaniel's first name
was misspelled.
Jeff explained that the Central Coast Low Vision Council chapter and the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of California affiliate had met all the required procedures and would be present at the spring convention.
Peter Pardini gave the treasurer's report of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities. CCB's Net assets are $1,630,743. He also discussed the audit due for 2003, stressing that strict timelines would be placed on subsequent audits. Mitch Pomerantz followed with a report on the proposed budget for 2006.
Rhonda King reported on CCB fund-raising activities planned for spring and fall, and Jeff gave an update on the grant-writing project conducted by Pat Borison: no funding has been realized, but grant proposals are still being submitted in several areas of interest to CCB. The CCB office has invested in a digital camera so pictures of blind and visually-impaired members can be used on the CCB website and in other public-relations projects.
CCB will send two students to the ACB convention in Jacksonville, Florida, with the stipulation that they attend the general sessions. An article will also appear in the “Blind Californian” describing their experiences. As President of CCB, Jeff is the delegate to the ACB convention; and he has chosen Gene Lozano to serve as alternate delegate.
The Board voted to subsidize the cost of rooms and meals at the 2006 CCB fall convention in L.A. Gene reported on the 2007 spring hotel bids received from the Capital Plaza Holiday Inn and the Hilton Arden West, both in Sacramento. The convention committee recommended the Hilton Arden West. Contributing factors were the costs of rooms, meals, meeting and exhibit rooms, transportation, and various amenities. After lengthy discussion, this recommendation was accepted.
Mike Keithley, the new BC editor, was introduced. He thanked Winifred Downing for coaching him and the Publications Committee for the opportunity of working as editor. This committee is trying to coordinate the production of the different formats of the magazine such so that all readers will have their BC at the same time.
The issue of the Vehicle Donation Donor List was revisited as ACB has requested that CCB release its donor list to be used for a capital campaign it is hoping to inaugurate. The subject was tabled until it could be determined if ACB would be willing to reciprocate by releasing this CCB's donor list--[perhaps the names of California residents]--back to CCB.
Cathie Skivers reported on the Newel Perry Endowment Fund. The bulk of investments in this fund are in mutual funds but it also includes one money market account. The trustees will discuss transference of some of the fund's proceeds for like projects [such as scholarships, crisis prevention, etc.]; and report to the Board at a subsequent meeting. Cathie also reported on the Ellen Murphy fund, whose investments are split between short-term CD's and mutual funds. This fund is used for visually impaired women over age fifty. Ideas to increase this fund are being explored. It was suggested that guidelines for application to the Ellen Murphy and Newel Perry endowment funds be placed in the “Blind Californian” once a year. In addition, It was suggested that the Committee on Employment Assistance Loan Funds, as well as the Crisis and Advocacy committees, submit information to the BC. Mike Keithley (the BC Editor) and committee chairs will be contacted to discuss this.
Jeff Thom discussed when a chapter's charter may be withdrawn. The CCB Constitution states that a chapter must retain ten or more members for two consecutive years or be deemed inactive; and the Board may, at that time, choose to withdraw that chapter's charter. The Bay Area Council, previously known as the Berkeley chapter, has paid no dues or held any meetings for over two years; and the Board voted to withdraw the chapter's charter. Gene Lozano emphasized the necessity of developing a strategic plan for CCB. He suggested that a facilitator might be hired to help the Board outline its goals and objectives. A subcommittee was approved by the Board to take a retreat, where a strategic plan would be devised focusing on where CCB wants to focus its energies, and bring this plan to the Board to discuss how it can be achieved.
The CCB office lease was discussed. Jeff had appointed a committee to explore moving the executive office to Sacramento as well as contacting a realtor specializing in commercial leasing. Information and/or a recommendation to move the office will be brought to the Board at a future date.
Board Minutes, April 18, 2006: Teleconference Call
President Jeff Thom called the meeting to order at 7 p.m., and the roll was taken
by Rhonda King: Gene Lozano, Al Biegler, Ardis Bazyn, Gabe Griffith, and Louis
Preston were absent.
The only item on the agenda was to discuss a cruise offered by Damar Travel as a CCB fund-raiser. Damar Travel will donate $45 for each cabin booked, and Carnival Cruises will match the donation. The cruise is scheduled for May 11-14, 2007, and departs from Long Beach. Transportation to and from Long Beach is not included in the package. A deposit was necessary to reserve a block of cabins, and the Board voted to reserve fifty cabins and approved a $2500 deposit.
Summary of CCB Board Minutes: June 7, 2006, Teleconference Call
President Jeff Thom called the meeting to order at 7:39 p.m. Secretary Rhonda
King called the role and Ardis Bazyn, Al Biegler and Peter Pardini were absent.
Mitch Pomerantz reported on the status of the statewide Respectability Coalition regarding disability rights, part of the Disability Rights Legal Center. A decision to join this group formally was delayed to a later date.
The Board approved Gene Lozano's request that parking fees be paid for volunteers at the fall convention. The Board also approved the renewal of its membership to America Walks/California Walks.
Jeff planned to have emergency evacuation on the fall-convention program; and, as a result of Resolution 2006 A-7, the Technology and Rehabilitation Services committees were hoping to present Freedom Scientific and HumanWare executives. Jeff said he was making headway with these people.
Barbara Rhodes discussed proposed changes for transportation agencies. She, Jeff and Gene will discuss the revamping of Paratransit regulations.
It was discovered that ACB has been receiving funds from vehicle donation programs in all fifty states. ACB claims no knowledge of this, but said the issue would be visited and resolved. The CCB Board recommended that Mitch Pomerantz, ACB's 2nd Vice President, place this item on the ACB Board's agenda so a full disclosure could be made to ACB Board members and state affiliates.
The meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
Summary of CCB Board Minutes, September 6, 2006: Teleconference Call
President Jeff Thom called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Rhonda King
called the roll and all board members were present. Jeff then read the agenda.
Discussion commenced regarding scholarship recipients attending conventions. As only a few of the twelve or thirteen recipients would be attending, it was thought that the issue could be revisited next year. There was some concern about the low number of scholarships awarded this year, even though the deadline date and advertising attempts were extended.
Peter Pardini gave a brief treasurer's report of revenue and expenses. Revenues: $229,123; expenses: $271,645; showing a negative $42,542. Other revenue and expenses: investment revenues: $38,852; miscellaneous expenses: $165; showing a final negative $3,854. The biggest shortfall in revenue this year was the vehicle donation program. Jeff will inquire into how the program is advertised.
Mitch Pomerantz reported on the vehicle donation program snafu between ACB and the several state affiliates. ACB President Chris Gray is appointing a national committee to look into matters. This committee will consist of three board members and three state affiliate presidents.
Peter reported that the financial audit for 2003 was completed and scheduled for delivery within the week of the meeting. The engagement letter for the 2004 audit was received with a promise for completion by December 31 of 2006. An addendum to include a performance clause was approved. The Board is apprehensive to commit to a 2005 audit if 2004 is not completed by the expected date. Monthly progress reports may also be required. This year's audit cost $10,000 and it will be $11,000 next year.
Rhonda King reported on CCB fund-raisers currently underway such as the CCB Fall Sweepstakes, CCB jackets, Carnival cruise to Mexico, and a live auction (rather than a silent one); and Mitch encouraged members to join ACB's MMS (monthly monetary support) program, where a percentage of an individual's donations can be designated to a state affiliate.
The 2007 ACB Legislative Seminar was discussed, and the Board approved sending eight CCB members to this meeting. This was done early so people could sign up and, possibly, get flights at more reasonable rates. Announcements will be placed on the California Connection and in the “Blind Californian.”
While in executive session, the Board approved a motion that allows CCB to participate in litigation against the California Department of Transportation, including specific access issues (lack of curb cuts, ramps, and illegal access barriers, etc.) of concern to those who are blind or visually impaired.
The meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
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[The Columbus Dispatch, Sunday, October 15, 2006 (Reprinted with permission)]
I read a story the other day about a student in Texas who filed a civil-rights claim with the U.S. Department of Justice because her college wouldn't allow her to bring her ferret into the dorm as a "psychiatric-support" animal. Don't roll your eyes and dismiss this as irrelevant. Since the early 1980s, there has been a steady groundswell of people with a variety of physical and mental disabilities availing themselves of the inclusion afforded service animals by the Americans with Disabilities Act. In restaurants, on airplanes and on college campuses, the number of cats, dogs, ferrets and snakes seeking entry and acceptance under the heading of "service animal" is on the rise.
There's no question that animals can do all manner of amazing things to assist people. Dogs have been guiding blind people safely across streets and around construction sites (even out of the collapsing World Trade Center) for 75 years. Monkeys have been trained to open refrigerators, turn out the lights and retrieve magazines for people who are quadriplegic. Dogs have been trained to signal a deaf person that the baby is crying or the doorbell ringing. Animals can soothe distraught emotions, sense the chemical predisposition of insulin shock, epileptic seizure or depression, and alert the affected human to prevent disaster. But there is one enormous chasm lying between the animal that has been specifically bred and trained to do a job and one that has earned itself a highranking position in its human's heart.
At a conference 20 years ago, I was astonished one night in the restaurant when a dog began persistently yelping and whining. Its owner was a woman using a wheelchair who had tied the dog to a table leg while going off to hang out at the bar. At an art exhibit, my daughter admired the work of one man and wanted to introduce me. As we approached, the 100-pound German shepherd beside the wheelchair commenced a menacing growl followed by deep staccato barks. Shouting loudly over his dog's ruckus, the artist told me not to come closer with my dog. In addition to being a nuisance, his "service animal" wasn't helping business. I ran into a woman who has psychiatric disabilities at the mall. The same little dog that used to stay home was now in her arms, sporting a vest that magically elevated it from pet to service animal.
I understand loving your pets and wanting to take them along for a good time. But this kind of duplicity insults and discounts the extensive certification process that guide dog and some other assistance schools have developed. I'm not saying that only people with visual impairments should be allowed to bring their service animals into public places. I am saying that only dogs who have been specifically trained to do a particular job and who have been certified by some authoritative and objective body should do so.
When I go to the airport, my dog guides me in the security line, through the terminal and onto the plane. Once there, she curls up at my feet, and rarely lifts her head again--despite the length of the flight--until that noisy clunk of landing gear brings her to attention. She can guide me past the farm animals at the fair or down the street through the chorus of neighborhood dogs woofing her name and never seem to notice. This isn't a refrain of "My dog's better than your dog." There is a rich tradition of rigorous training and standards of excellence that has launched thousands of pairs of guide dogs and their blind handlers into the world. That history of excellence has led to hard-won rights of inclusion in public places.
Any person with any disability who wants a service animal to perform some task should be required to have the same level of training and accountability that has been demanded of guide dogs for decades. At Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, Calif., dogs are bred for their intelligence, initiative and eagerness to please. They live with families where they are taught their manners and social skills. Even after enormous investments of time and money, only 50 percent actually make the cut to graduate with a blind person. No matter how lovable or sensitive your cat or pony or ferret might be, it should not be granted access to public places until it has been subjected to similarly rigorous training and scrutiny; and physicians asked to write notes to placate patients wanting to take a fluffy (or smelly) critter to work or school should think long before picking up the pen.
Deborah Kendrick is a Cincinnati writer and advocate for people with disabilities-- dkkendrick@earthlink.net.
Copyright 2006, The Columbus Dispatch.
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Congratulations to the Greater San Joaquin Valley Chapter for winning the Fall Membership Incentive Award! This award is presented every fall to the CCB chapter or affiliate having the highest percentage of growth between the spring and fall conventions. We want to remind all of you that the Spring Membership Incentive Award will be given to a chapter or affiliate with the largest increase in membership between spring, 2006 and spring of 2007.
The CCB fall Convention's membership focus meeting had a lot of enthusiasm, and participants suggested ways to interest seniors in the California Council of the Blind and its local chapters. Jeff Thom called for ideas of how we can best reach seniors and explained that all chapters can use the brochures developed by the Seniors with Vision Loss Committee, particularly those for family members. One suggestion was to ask local senior centers if they'd be willing to host an event with eats and entertainment; and another was asking seniors with some vision loss what issues they felt were most important to their peers, so your chapter could address these issues when visiting a senior center. Encouraging members to visit senior centers in pairs (one senior and one young) seemed to generate some comments. Your Chapter might investigate starting a low-vision support group at a local senior center after learning if there are clients to warrant the effort. Finding ways to assist seniors in retaining their skills in various hobbies after losing their vision could be a great opening for senior-center activity. Consider talking about "How to continue quilting, knitting or crocheting with vision loss?" Find some topics or activities that bridge the gap between young and old members. Mentoring projects can often be funded through local grants.
Next there was discussion about encouraging young people to attend conventions and participate in local chapter activities. Have events of interest to young people such as pool and pizza parties; technology or career fairs; and seminars on related employment issues like finding readers and drivers, resume hints, interview challenges, and Internet help searching for jobs online. Remember that students can join the Blind Students of California CCB affiliate, and the first year is free! Chapters and affiliates can sponsor students as well, either through free membership or to events like Christmas parties. More information needs to be sent to colleges and high schools about local and statewide vision-loss events of interest to students.
Hopefully, these ideas will help your chapter develop programs that will generate interest to members and visitors alike. Good luck in the coming year! If your chapter would like assistance from the CCB Membership Committee, please contact either Ardis Bazyn or Rhonda King. The CCB Hayward office, 800-221- 6359, has our contact information.
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The old adage "first impressions are lasting impressions" is especially true in job interview situations. There are behavioral cues employers expect to see exhibited by interviewees and behaviors that are not considered socially appropriate. As blind and visually impaired people, we may not have learned these socially acceptable/non-acceptable cues because they were not seen or pointed out by others to us. Either consciously or unconsciously, employers get first or lasting impressions based upon these social cues. So it is important for us to understand them. In this article, some of the social cues that can have positive or negative impacts on employers will be presented.
Even before the interview is scheduled, it is not too early to decide on what you will wear. Clothing is very important. Dress professionally. Try on your outfit and ask for feedback from a sighted friend a couple of days prior to the interview. You want to be clean shaven (men) and groomed.
When the interview is scheduled, be sure to confirm the day, date and time of the interview. Ask for the name and title of each person that will be interviewing you. Also, ask for specific directions to the interview location, even if you think you know where the place is located. Arriving late because you did not know the company moved locations will not start you off in a positive light, whether you have a disability or not.
Additionally, ask about the interview length and format. For example, will the time be spent with one interviewer for an hour or will there be three different interviews with various people in the company. If the person invites you in for a "discussion" or "conversation" with a few people, do not be fooled. While the employer is attempting to put you at ease, you still need to prepare and present yourself professionally.
Travel independently to the interview. "If you do require sighted assistance, be certain that you take the lead and ask for and accept only the help you need. Many employers will never have encountered an applicant who is blind, and you must demonstrate that you are capable and efficient."
When you arrive at the interview, enter the building/room with a smile and a warm, normal-talking volume level "Hello" or "Good Morning." If there is silence, ask "Is there someone I may talk with?" Hopefully, you asked for and received specific directions to know whether you have entered an office with a reception area or a building lobby that leads to another office. Remember, your interaction with the receptionist is just as important as your interaction with the employer.
If the receptionist acknowledges you, share your name and that you have an interview. Often, you will be asked to have a seat. While you may like to stand, it is typically more appropriate to take a seat. If you are not sure where the chairs are, ask if they are to your right or left. Most of the time, the interviewee will take a seat. If you remain standing at the reception area, you may be perceived as invading upon another person's space because you will be standing too long.
When the employer enters the room and begins to introduce him-herself to you, stand up, face the person and extend your right hand to shake the employer's hand. By extending your hand first, the employer will naturally gravitate to meet your extended hand and this will avoid what can be an awkward moment of trying to find the other person's hand.
The employer will probably indicate that the interview will take place in another room. If this is the case and the employer offers to show you to the room, and you have enough vision to follow the person, you can say "no thank you, I would like to follow you to the room." If you do not have enough vision to navigate this walk successfully on your own, ask "May I hold on to your elbow while you guide me back to the room?" The specific information provides guidance to an employer who is interested in assisting, but does not know what to suggest, and will be seen as natural for an employer who is familiar with sighted guide techniques.
When you enter the room and there are additional people, extend your hand and introduce yourself to the other individuals before sitting down. If a chair has not been pointed out, you can ask where you should sit. If possible, try to sit across from the person in the middle, if there is a panel of interviewers.
Your goal is to establish a rapport with every interviewer in the room, irregardless of position or title. Smile and project a friendly tone of voice. As the interview questions are asked, be sure to try to look in the direction of each interviewer for a minute or so. You want to have a smooth movement from looking at one person to another so that everyone feels included in the conversation. However, be careful not to stare at the person.
Sometimes blind and visually impaired people have not received the feedback that rocking, swinging the head, speaking without looking towards a person and sticking the fingers in the eyes are not appropriate social behaviors. It is important for people who will be interviewing for jobs, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, to participate in a mock interview with the other person acting as an employer. The mock interview is a practice interview that is videotaped. Review and feedback are provided by the person who served as the employer. Prior to beginning the mock interview, share with the person that you really would like feedback on your social cues and things that seem to be more "blindisms." Ask the person to be candid and provide constructive suggestions. Then practice the suggestions several times.
Think positively about the interview experience. It is a growth opportunity. The more confident and self assured you are, the more comfortable the employer will be with you.
For additional information and resources on the topic of job search and interview process, read the book JOB HUNTING RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WITH VISION IMPAIRMENTS, by Karen Lynn Thomas with Carol M. McCarl and Nolan Crabb (Blindskills, Inc. 2003; Salem, Oregon).
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The California Audio Describers Alliance (CADA) is proud to announce our creation! This momentous formation occurred at the California Council of the Blind's fall convention in Los Angeles on October 28th. We wish to thank the CCB for providing the space for the principals to meet and formally found our organization.
By adopting standards for audio description, the newly formed organization joins two description schools: that of the late Gregory Frazier, professor at San Francisco State University, who developed the concepts underlying description in the 1970's and founded AudioVision; and that of Margaret and Cody Pfansteil who, in the 1980's, helped develop audio description for the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Additionally, two members participated in the development of video description standards.
The mission of CADA is to ensure that people who are blind or visually impaired have equal access to cultural and other public events and venues. By embracing a shared set of standards, the members also seek to promote the highest quality description. CADA will allow describers to workshop problems and challenges they've experienced in describing both live and recorded events. It also will push for greater awareness of the service to both consumers and cultural venues to increase the opportunities for description.
The founding members combine to bring over 50 years of description experience to the fledgling Alliance. CADA is comprised of Margaret Hardy and Diane DiSalvo of AudioVision; Kathleen O'Neil of the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Opera and Broadway San Diego; Angela Kanish of the San Diego Opera; Jolie Mason of the Los Angeles Radio Reading Service (LARRS); Rick Boggs of We See TV; Deborah Lewis of the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation; and Teri Grossman of Audio Description of Los Angeles. Under their leadership, the organization has been formed to be a professional association, able to provide support and training as well as advocacy for description everywhere.
Margaret Hardy is president of AudioVision, Inc., founded by Gregory Frazier in 1972. While working at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, she invited Gregory to introduce description there; and she continues his work at AudioVision since his death in 1998. Margaret has also served as a board member of Audio Description International, raising funds, awareness and constantly advocating for description.
Diane DiSalvo was trained by Gregory some 15 years ago in his method of scripted description. While serving as a member of the Audio Description International Board, Diane was also a member of their committee to formulate standards. A seasoned describer and trainer of describers, Diane is currently Manager of AudioVision.
Angela Kanish serves as Associate Director of Education for the San Diego Opera. Prior to this, she worked with the Non-Traditional Casting Project in New York City, an advocacy organization seeking to increase access by performers of color and with disabilities in theater, film and television. Upon moving to San Diego in 1997, she and her husband Bob discovered audio description led by Shari Lyon at the La Jolla Playhouse and were thrilled when the Civic Theatre purchased the equipment to make production possible for the San Diego Opera. Angela approached several volunteers to provide the description; and in 2002, the program began at the Civic Theatre. Use of the service at the Civic has increased each season, and San Diego Opera is pleased to offer this form of outreach to its patrons.
Kathleen O'Neil was trained four years ago by Shari Lyon and provides description for the San Diego Opera, La Jolla Playhouse and Broadway San Diego. Kay brings a rich musical background to her work, having sung opera for 20 years, and is developing guidelines for opera description. She also volunteers extensively for the educational outreach programs of the San Diego Opera and as a reader for the past six years in the local radio reading service at KPBS.
Jolie Mason served two terms on the WGBH National Consumers Advisory Board to develop the standards for video description. She founded, and serves as the Project Director for the Los Angeles Radio Reading Service, and brought description to Los Angeles in 1994 with a live description of the Tournament of Roses Parade. She can be heard weekly on Access Unlimited, a radio show she co-hosts on KPFK FM that covers news, issues and events relating to disabilities.
Rick Boggs is a music producer, voice over artist, actor, and audio engineer. He also served on the advisory board for WGBH's DVS. He founded a video description company, We See TV, in 1999, which has aired over 60 movies with description on FOX and ABC, as well as Seasons Five, Six, Seven and Eight of "That '70s Show," Season One of "Blind Justice", and Season Seven of "Malcolm in the Middle." He produced the description on Fox Home Entertainment's DVD release of "Daredevil", advancing progress toward inclusion of description on standard commercial pressings of movie titles. His commitment to delivering quality description to visually impaired consumers spawned a policy within his company that every described product from We See TV is reviewed by persons with vision impairments. He was commended by the state of California for ground-breaking employment practices: hiring visually impaired individuals and persons with other disabilities as writers, voice over artists and audio engineers.
Deborah Lewis began her description career in Ohio in 1988 with training by Alan Woods, who in turn was trained by the Pfansteils. She then brought description to the state of Georgia through her work with "Special Audiences" in Atlanta. Deborah currently serves as Executive Director of the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation in California and provides training for describers nationwide. She began, and provides, description at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura. A regular participant of the Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Conferences, Deborah and Teri presented a training session "Train the Trainers" at the 2005 LEAD Conference in Arizona.
Teri Grossman began as a volunteer at LARRS. She first described the 1998 Rose Parade. At Jolie's instigation, she became trained in audio description by Deborah Lewis and has gone on to describe fine art exhibits, Long Beach's Aquarium of the Pacific and at theaters throughout the Southland. In 2002, she joined We See TV as its first video describer. She apprenticed her son, Micah, in description and, with him and Rick, taught a series of description-writing courses through the Media Access Office (MAO): an organization founded by the California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and administered by the State Employment Development Department.
Future plans of CADA include a web site where patrons can find information about described events in California, a standardized training program with certification, continuing professional development for describers, and advocacy for description statewide.
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In this article, I attempt to explain what voting machines are and the accessibility and security issues surrounding them, and list some opinions of my own.
In attempting to understand the rather complex issues surrounding accessible voting, I talked to Ardis Bazyn and Noel Runyan, both strong advocates for accessible-voting systems. Ardis has worked on several committees developing California's HAVA plan under Secretaries of State Shelley and McPherson, stressing the need for voting machines to be accessible. Noel has has been studying and testing accessibility features and usability of all the major voting systems used in this country; has worked with the Voter Access Advisory Committee, voting rights advocates and manufacturers to make voting systems more accessible for all folks with disabilities; and has donated his time as a voting-systems consultant, giving testimony as an expert witness in six separate court cases challenging the shoddy access features of many of the voting systems and pressing for meaningful, rather than token, accessibility.
A civil right and duty we have as American citizens is voting for people who represent us in the affairs of local, state and national governments. Further, our act of voting is to be done privately with no one knowing how we mark our ballots.
We can vote by absentee ballot and send it in the mail or have someone come to a polling place and assist us. Until recently, privately casting a vote in any form was quite difficult or impossible depending on one's vision. Technology, however, has developed to the point where it is now possible to use "voting machines" that allow visually-impaired and other disabled persons to vote privately (as everyone else does) without assistance from friends or poll workers. "Accessible voting" is the quest to advocate for the use of these devices, work to remove present problems and bring these devices to widespread use in the disabled community.
The basic electronic voting machine is a touch-screen device similar to an information kiosk you might see at the airport. A sighted person reads an on- screen ballot and "touches" the appropriate response. Obviously, this technique doesn't work for many disabled people; and other input-output mechanisms are needed to allow them to use these machines. In the current generation of these machines, accommodations for disabled people are added as "afterthoughts" and are quite constrained by machine design and conflicting feedback that vendors get from disabled people.
What is the ideal accessible voting device? First, you need to be able to tell who the candidates are, get feedback (large-character screen, auditory or braille) on who you're voting for, what you are doing to implement your decision, a confirmation that you've successfully made it, and a confirmation that your vote has been registered. All the voting devices do these things with various degrees of success. Reports I've read indicate that a sighted person can cast a complex ballot in five minutes, but visually-impaired people take upwards of an hour. Part of this time is consumed by confusion amongst poll workers as to how to set up a machine for a disabled person; but the largest fraction of time is consumed by the kludgey operation of the machine itself.
Before going further, let's get acquainted with HAVA. Inequities in the 2000 elections demonstrated that unreliable equipment was in widespread use and that disabled people were largely not able to use this equipment.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), passed by Congress in 2002, contained language that at least one voting machine at a polling place be accessible to disabled people; and that implementation and acquisition of accessible voting devices must be in place by 2006. Voluntary voting-machine standards were published in 2003 and updated in 2005. The voluntary nature of these standards means that vendors can implement what they wish and in a manner of their choosing. At present, there are no federal HAVA standards with which vendors must comply.
HAVA also provided limited-time funding for purchase of DREs. Consequently, there was a rush to register and purchase voting machines in whatever accessible form vendors could supply. In addition, the ease of tampering with some of these machines demonstrated shoddy design. Since HAVA created an environment where things had to be done quickly and without rigorous standards, questions about security (always an issue surrounding elections) are to be expected; and I think they'll be resolved in time and when new federal requirements are adhered to. It is the view of some disability groups that, although security is important, accessibility is more so.
Types of machines
In appearance, a voting machine of any type is a touch-screen terminal plus the
appendages needed for special access and, possibly, generating paper ballots.
The major difference between machines is how records are handled.
DRE machines
Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines keep an electronic record of
completed ballots. This record lives on a "memory card"; and at the end of
election day, these cards are collected and votes are tallied. Access issues
aside, serious questions have been raised concerning these memory cards: their
ease of unauthorized access and tampering resulting in contaminated votes. A
prominent view in the disabled community, including CCB, ACB and NFB, is that
DRE machines are the most accessible devices and that "kinks" can be worked
out in time. The Diebold and Sequoia machines are registered for use in
California, DRE machines from other manufacturers are registered for use in other
states.
Most DRE machines are made by the Diebold company (in their Elections Systems Division), ES&S and Sequoia. DRE machines have great potential: electronic records can be cheaper to maintain (currently this is not true) and don't require paper. The big problem is security: keeping unauthorized hands out of the system. (All this assumes the machines themselves operate properly--a question some people are very concerned about.)
Machines That Leave a Paper Trail
A solution to the immediate problems of DRE-machine insecurities could be the
use of a "paper trail," a mechanism by which a paper ballot is generated. (Some
DRE machines have added printers that do this as the electronic record is laid
down.) This paper ballot that is turned in to a poll worker as the "official" vote.
Alternatively, with some systems, the paper version may be kept behind a
transparent window, not touchable by the voter, and completely inaccessible to
people who are blind; and there may not be any requirement for its use at any
step of counting or recounting votes.
The Automark is a voting machine that records a paper ballot, and works the user through the production of this ballot. Some disabled groups feel that the fact that the paper ballot needs to be given to a poll-worker is an accessibility block because some motor impaired people cannot handle the ballot.
On the Automark, a sighted person uses a touch-screen terminal, but a keyboard is also included. Components providing access to disabled people get their information directly from the terminal--not always the case with DRE machines.
The VotePad
The VotePad is a template of rectangular windows and guide-buttons that is
placed over an official ballot, and the user votes by using a pencil after reading
instructions (in braille or audio) on how to identify these windows. Checking the
accuracy of your choices is done with the aid of a special light-probe that
vibrates when it is held over a solid ballot mark, and it can even be used to
confirm erasure of an incorrect choice. When you're finished, you can remove the
ballot and give it to the poll-worker or put it in the ballot box yourself.
At this time, the VotePad is the only voting-access device that deaf-blind people can use; and is a mechanism whereby anyone can privately cast votes on an absentee ballot. The VotePad was rejected for use in California because its method of indicating "write-in" choices was deemed unusable. However, this tactile ballot is being used in Rhode Island.
What Does the Future Hold?
Reports of problems in either the use or operation of voting machines in the
2006 November election indicate to me that we are still on the wild frontier of
electronic voting and that design problems, and other issues surrounding the
implementation of HAVA, have painted a rather grim, perhaps unfair, picture. As
with anything new, I think taking a long view helps to resolve problems quietly
and in a coordinated manner. There is the view that the way voting is currently
done is inefficient, time consuming and unnecessarily labor-intensive; and that
voting into a central location, where ballots are recorded and tallied, is the "wave
of the future." Voting exclusively by mail or by a telephone, or TTD, are examples
of this. The bulk of current problems are with DRE machines and a new
generation of these devices is needed where the design philosophy focuses on
accountability and reliability rather than profits. With luck, it may even turn out,
as has happened with other design issues, that a voting system that is designed
from the start to be accessible is intrinsically more accurate and secure.
To summarize, we must exercise our right to vote; and hopefully we'll soon be able to, privately. Although voting machines are new, and the DRE variety appear to be in serious trouble, our access needs are known and will be addressed if we keep advocating for them.
Resources
800-253-3931: The Department of Justice line to register complaints after the
November, 2006, election. Use this number if you encountered voting-related
problems that were not resolved and you either couldn't vote or the process was
very difficult.
www.voteraction.org: This site is an interesting source for reports on current problems surrounding electronic voting machines such as "undervoting" (where a ballot was cast but not recorded) to "meltdowns” (where computer servers did not keep up with demand, thus causing long delays).
www.verifiedvoting.org: Another, similar website.
www.brennancenter.org: Brennan Center For Justice. There are reports on the usability of electronic voting machines and security issues.
The Braille Forum, November, 2006: "Primary 2006: My First Secret Ballot" and "From Your Perspective: The Truth About E-Voting.”
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A belated Merry Christmas to you. By the time you read this, Christmas has likely come and gone and you're resting from a hectic season; but the 2007 season is just around the corner. Let these recipes be the start of your future Christmas season.
To help you get greater enjoyment from cooking, I want to tell you about three new "mini" cooking courses now available from the Hadley School for the Blind. This school designs tuition-free correspondence courses for visually impaired people and provides materials for the cooking courses in braille, large print and cassettes. You are paired with a teacher with whom you correspond in the medium of your choice; and you complete assignments, return them to Hadley and proceed to the next assignment. You work at your own pace and keep the course-material for future reference. Not bad, eh! You can get more information by calling student services at 800-526-9909.
Now let's move on to my recipes for this column. I've made them all, so you can do it, too. Please let me know how you fare.
Christmas Snowballs
Ingredients: 2 cups confectioner's sugar; 6 cups crispy rice cereal; 1 cup raisins;
1 cup pecans, chopped; 4 cups miniature marshmallows; 1/4 cup butter or
margarine; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.
Instructions: Place confectioner's sugar in a large bowl. In another large bowl, combine cereal, raisins and pecans. In a medium saucepan, combine marshmallows and butter; stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until smooth; remove from heat and stir in extracts. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal mixture; stir until well coated. Using greased hands, shape mixture into 1- 1/2 inch balls. Coat with sugar.
Smucker's Cherry Glazed Ham
Try this quick and easy dish from SMUCKER'S. It's delicious!
Preparation: 5 min., Serves: 10-12, Cooking time: 90-105 minutes.
Ingredients: 1 10-pound fully cooked whole ham, 1 cup Smucker's Cherry Preserves, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons light corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/3 cup toasted slivered almonds, 3 tablespoons water.
Directions: Place ham on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 325º oven about 1-1/2 hours (or until thermometer registers 140 degrees). Meanwhile, in a saucepan combine the cherry preserves, vinegar, corn syrup, and spices. Cook and stir until boiling. Reduce heat; simmer two minutes. Stir in almonds. Remove from heat. Set aside 3/4 cup of the glaze. About 15 minutes before the ham is done, spoon some of the remaining glaze over the ham, basting occasionally. Remove from oven; place on a heated serving platter. Stir the water into the reserved 3/4 cup of glaze; heat and serve along with the ham.
Marie Callender's Cake-Like Corn Bread
Ingredients: 9 ounces corn muffin mix and 9 ounces yellow cake mix.
Directions: Prepare corn muffin mix just as box directs. Set aside. In another bowl, prepare yellow cake mix per box directions. Pour prepared cake mix into prepared corn muffin mix and stir well. Turn batter into greased 9 x 12 x 2 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm with honey butter.
Cherry Chocolate Pie
I use Splenda wherever sugar is mentioned, and there isn't much difference.
Makes 1 pie, serves 8.
Directions: For the topping: combine the cherries, sugar, 1/4 cup water, and the
cornstarch in a medium saucepan; stir well to dissolve the cornstarch; cook over
medium heat, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened and clear; add the
almond extract and stir to blend; refrigerate the sauce to chill and firm. For the
filling: combine the cream cheese and chocolate chips in a small pan or in the top
of a double-boiler; cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until the chips are
melted; add the milk and stir until the mixture is smooth; pour the chocolate
filling into the baked pie crust; let cool at least 10 minutes, or until the pudding
sets. Gently spread the cooled cherry topping over the chocolate layer. Chill the
pie at least 2 hours before serving. At serving time, cut into 8 equal pieces.
Nutritional information per serving (1 slice): Calories: 265, Fat: 11 g, Cholesterol:
4 mg, Sodium: 274 mg, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 23 g,
Protein: 7 g.
Diabetic Exchanges (per slice): 2-1/2 units carbohydrate, 1-1/2 units fat.
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Hello everyone! This was sent to me by Winifred Downing, and along with the
smile it brought to my face, there were a couple of thoughts to ponder.
Before I share her story, I just want to say that I hope you have all had an
enjoyable holiday season and are looking forward to a great year ahead. Now
here's Winifred!
At our table at the banquet, several of us ordered vegetarian plates and the rest
had the prime rib that was the prescribed banquet item. When the salads were
delivered, the waitress said that the dressing was on the table, and a partially
sighted person went around putting dressing on people's salads, but she
commented that it was so thick that she had a hard time spreading it around.
She suggested that we mix the greens to spread it. When I ate mine, I wondered
what kind of dressing it could be since it had so little taste.
Well, then the prime rib plates were delivered; and there on each was a baked
potato for which sour cream was appropriate. You guessed it! We had only salad
dressing in a bowl just like the one that had contained the sour cream. I often
think that a person with partial sight at a convention like ours is required to use
his or her sight full time as if the amount was without limit. The generosity of
these folks is something we are all grateful to experience, but little glitches do
occasionally occur.
Until next time, stay safe and always remember to look on the lighter side. Also,
please remember to share some of your "lighter" experiences with us by
contacting me at mixed.up@cox.net .
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[For further information, contact Dawn Wilcox at
thl@vistacenter.org or call the
Health Library at Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 650-858-0202
ext. 132; from 408 area codes: 660-2009 or 800-660-2009; from 831 area codes
800-705-2970 (use ext. 132).]
I recently read this book and you may find it of interest: "Health Care Meltdown:
Confronting the Myths and Fixing Our Failing System" by LeBow, Robert H., 2005.
"A Physician, now a quadriplegic, criticizes U.S. health care system flaws that
leave millions uninsured or underinsured...." BR 15770 or RC 58068; also
available from Web-Braille as a contracted braille digital file, three volumes. I
was unable to locate this on bookshare.org.
Medical News Today: Researchers Pave The Way for Earlier Diagnosis and
Treatment of Retinal Degenerative Diseases
EurekAlert: Light-sensitive Photoswitches Could Restore Sight to Those with
Macular Degeneration--October 31, 2006.
One major goal of the lab is to equip cells of the retina with photoswitches,
essentially making blind nerve cells see, restoring light sensitivity in people with
degenerative blindness such as macular degeneration.
"We're asking the question, 'Can you control biological nanomolecules--in other
words proteins--with light?'," said the center director. "If we can, then we could
develop treatments for eye or even blood diseases that can be activated by light.
This challenge lies at the frontier of nanomedicine."
The nanoscience breakthrough involves altering an ion channel commonly found
in nerve cells so that the channel turns the cell on when zapped by green light
and turns the cell off when hit by ultraviolet light. The researchers have injected
photoswitches into the eyes of rats that have a disease that kills their rods and
cones, and have restored some light sensitivity to the remaining retinal cells.
The team will develop viruses that can carry the photoswitches into the correct
cells, and strategies for achieving the desired control of cell processes. "The
research will focus on restoring the response to light in the eyes of people who
have lost their photoreceptor cells. We plan to develop the tools to create a new
layer of optically active cells for the retina.
"The chemistry at the core of the photoswitch is a molecule (azobenzene) that
changes its shape when illuminated by light of different colors. The researchers
created a channel by attaching this compound to a broken potassium channel,
which is a valve found in nerve cells. When attached, one end of the compound
sticks in the channel pore and blocks it like a drainplug. When hit with UV light,
the molecule kinks and pulls the plug, allowing ions to flow through the channel
and activate the nerve cell. Green light unkinks it and replugs the channel,
blocking ion flow. This same photoswitch could be attached to a variety of
proteins to push or pull them into various shapes, even making a protein bend in
half like a tweezer. "Now we have photochemical tools for an on-switch and an
off-switch for nerve cells."
EurekAlert, 11/3/2006: Genetic Testing Helps Physicians Zero in on Retinitis
Pigmentosa
Some clues to treatments are beginning to emerge in animal models, and
scientists expect future therapies to be very specific to the type of RP. "Perhaps
one patient will benefit from dramatically limiting exposure to sun or artificial
light, and another will use certain vitamins or supplements to stop progression of
the disease. Obtaining a molecular diagnosis is going to be very important in
helping to guide gene-based treatments for patients in the coming years," the
lead author concludes.
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Here in this place of peace and solitude,
I am drawn to the source of my being,
And there, I reflect on my solitary sojourn,
From innocence to knowing.
As the seasons come and go,
A path is forged which only I can know.
I pause in this peaceful place
And revisit memories of long ago.
Cycles of success and loss,
Grief and joy.
It was solitary sojourn,
sculpted by the tides of time
The source of my being soothes the wounds of strife,
And I celebrate the journey, which is my life!
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Audio E-mail
Search Bars
Recipe Book
Achievement Awards: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
New Talking Meter Now Available, by Daniel Trecroci, Diabetes Health Magazine,
November 17, 2006
"Before Prodigy, patients needing an audible glucose report had to purchase an
expensive [approximately $600], bulky and complex module for use with a
personal computer," says DDI. The Prodigy talking meter is available through all
Durable Medical Equipment providers. Patients can purchase a Prodigy talking
meter for under $30.
Prodigy AutoCode calibrates itself to Prodigy test strips automatically. In
addition, Prodigy Duo combines the features of the Prodigy glucose meter with an
easy-to-use, audible blood pressure monitor.
"The convenience, affordable price, and superior accuracy of the Prodigy talking
meters make them ideal for all persons with diabetes, and especially for those
who are visually-impaired," says DDI. "The Company already has been selling
meters that speak English/Spanish and English/Portuguese, and is adding
English/French meters to the product line in the near future." Visit
www.prodigymeter.com.
Trekker Training
The Guide Dog Foundation has taken a unique approach to Trekker training.
Trekker classes are conducted at our facilities by Guide Dog users who have
been trained as Technology Instructors for Trekker. Certified Guide Dog
Instructors observe the work on routes to assure that guide dog teams adjust
well to using Trekker.
If anyone is interested in more information about this, please contact Barrie
Madasu at barrie@guidedog.org or
by phone at GDF: 866-282-8047, ext 1171.
HumanWare releases Concise Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus for BrailleNote
Family
The Concise Oxford Dictionary on BrailleNote gives the meaning of a word,
speaks it aloud with correct pronunciation, and much more. It includes the
word's full definition of entries with additional advanced search features.
The Concise Oxford Thesaurus provides convenient lookup of synonyms and
antonyms. The Dictionary and Thesaurus combination is available in either US
English or UK English.
KeySoft is the software which powers all models of BrailleNote. From any
KeySoft application, whether you are in the KeyWeb Internet Browser, the Book
Reader or Word Processor, the Dictionary and Thesaurus are easily accessed by
one easy key stroke.
Running on the BrailleNote family of products, the Concise Oxford Dictionary and
Concise Oxford Thesaurus can be accessed by QWERTY keyboard or braille input,
and read and heard by both braille and auditory output.
The entire contents of the Concise Oxford Dictionary are automatically integrated
and expand the functionality of the KeySoft Spell Checker, from which the user
can easily reference the Dictionary.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary and Concise Oxford Thesaurus are available today.
They run on the latest version of HumanWare's industry-leading software for the
blind, KeySoft 7.2 Build 47, on BrailleNote mPower, VoiceNote mPower or
BrailleNote PK, as well as other BrailleNote Classic models. The price is $195.
To order, call 800-722-3393; also access
www.humanware.com/Products/Notetakers/ConciseOxfordForKeySoft.asp
Research Study
We plan to recruit about 240 (120 females & 120 males; ages from 13 to 85 years)
blind or visually impaired individuals for the study. We developed a survey for the
study deliverable via different methods: online, audio questionnaires on CD or
MP3, braille, or large font (16 or 24 point) printed out or in a Microsoft Word file.
The survey is available at the following address:
www.disability.uiuc.edu/survey_public/index.php?sid=145.
The website was developed at the Rehabilitation Center at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was pilot-tested with a small sample. Please
note that the online survey will be available only for individuals 18 years or older
due to the complexity of obtaining the form.
I would like to talk to you in person about the study if you can find the time.
Please let me know when you are available, if possible.
Thank you very much for your consideration and precious time. We look forward
to hearing from you soon. Contact me as follows: Miyoung Lee, Ph.D. Candidate;
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign; 161 Rehabilitation Education Center; Champaign, IL 61820; Office:
217-265-6726; Email: milee@uiuc.edu.
Digital Answering Machine
The Jitterbug Cell Phone
Unique Low Vision Aids
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[Editor's note: We are indebted to Bernice Kandarian who updates
and corrects the list of CCB officers and board members, including the
number of the term each is presently serving, the year elected to that
term and the year next up for election. Terms actually begin on January 1
following election. We shall publish the list this way at least in
issues just preceding and following elections and routinely if
members wish. The presence of an asterisk means that the individual
served a partial term before the first full term.]
President, Jeff Thom (06-08 3rd term)
1st Vice President, Mitch Pomerantz (06-08 3rd term)
2nd Vice President, Eugene Lozano, Jr. (05-07 1st term)
Secretary, Rhonda King (05-07, 1st term)
Treasurer, Christopher Gray (06-08 1st term)
94 Ramona Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94103-2215
415-252-9320
chrisg@tsoft.com
Immediate Past President, Catherine Skivers (2002-??)
Gabe Griffith (06-08 2nd term)
1490 Bel Air Drive #G-205
Concord, CA 94521-2899
916-505-8780 C
gabe@griffith.net
David Jackson (06-08 1st term)
210 Evelyn Way
San Francisco, CA 94127-1712
415-239-1873 H
Jane Kardas (*05-07, 4th term)
Ann Kysor (05-07, 1st term)
Louis Preston (*06-07 partial term)
Louis Preston (06-08 2nd term)
17129 Antonio Avenue
Barbara Rhodes (06-08 4th term)
Richard Rueda (05-07, 3rd term)
Mike Keithley, Editor
Cecile Betts
Julie Cantrell
Winifred Downing
Evelyn Drewry
Brian Hall
Daveed Mandell
Louis Preston
Bonnie Rennie
Richard Rueda, Moderator, CCB-L and BC Email Edition
Catherine Schmitt Whitaker
Dan Kysor, Webmaster
Return to the Table of Contents
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
EYE RESEARCH EXCERPTS
Researchers have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce images of
the eye's retinal layers in an animal study. The research has the potential to
revolutionize the way retinal degenerative diseases, such as RP, glaucoma, AMD
and diabetic retinopathy, are diagnosed and treated. "Current technologies for
capturing images of the retina, such as fundus photography, allow doctors to
view only surface vessels and structures," said the lead researcher. "The most
serious retinal diseases that cause vision loss, however, attack various cellular
levels within the retina. For example, glaucoma causes gradual degeneration of
cells of the optic nerve layer, which carries visual information from the eye to the
brain. Consequently, these diseases often are diagnosed only in the late stages
after irreversible damage has occurred," he continued. To penetrate the deep
layers of the retina and produce clear images, the research team made
significant improvements in spatial resolution and sensitivity using state-of-the-
art MRI technology. These improvements enabled them to image structural
oxygenation and functional changes and detect layer-specific changes in an
animal model. "Because MRI technology is noninvasive and currently is used on
people worldwide, extending this technology to imaging the retina should
advance rapidly. Moreover, MRI has the unique advantage that it can provide
useful physiological information, including structure, blood flow, and function in a
single setting." The long-term goal is to bring this technology from the laboratory
to the clinic.... The next step is to test MRI retinal imaging in people. One of the
challenges will be to find a way to reduce eye movements that can distort the
MRI image. "We need to develop imaging protocols that capture information
faster than the human eye can blink..."
A research center newly created by the UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory (LBNL) aims to put light-sensitive switches in the body's cells
that can be flipped on and off as easily as a remote control operates a TV.
Optical switches like these could trigger a chemical reaction, initiate a muscle
contraction, activate a drug or stimulate a nerve cell--all at the flash of a light.
Scientists have created a first-of-its-kind test on a microchip array that will help
physicians hone their diagnoses for patients with RP. The new sequencing array
is the first technology to screen simultaneously for mutations in multiple genes
on a single platform. It is nearly impossible to identify which form of the disease
a patient has through a clinical examination alone. Identifying the precise
genetic mutation responsible for an individual's disease will allow doctors to
provide a precise diagnosis and allow them to apply genetic therapies as they are
developed.
SOLITARY SOJOURN
BULLETIN BOARD
The Web-based e-mail service Mail.com has added Audio Webmail, a new feature
that enables users to have their messages read out loud in 11 languages within a
Web browser and without installing additional software. The service is available
for free to all Mail.com users on the company's site. Audio Webmail supports U.S.
and U.K. English, German, Italian, French, Japanese, Spanish, Danish, Swedish,
Portuguese, and Dutch; and plans to add more languages.
Two new tools make it easier for visually impaired people to do searches on the
Internet. The Web Magnifier will enlarge the text and graphics of any HTML Web
page. The magnifier is on a free downloadable toolbar that works with Internet
Explorer. Visit
www.big.com/toolbar/. The Accoona
Talking Search Bar can be installed for $24.95, after a 60-day free-trial
period. Visit
www.accoona.com.
"Our Favorite Recipes" is a collection of more than 200 mouth-watering recipes
compiled by members of the East Bay Center for the Blind, a nonprofit
organization. The book is available in braille (two volumes with easy wipe-off
covers) or in large print for a donation of $25 plus $3 shipping. Send a check or
money order for $28, made out to East Bay Center for the Blind Inc.; 2928 Adeline
St.; Berkeley, CA 94703; or call 510-843-6935.
RFB&D invites applications for its 2007 National Achievement Awards (NAAs),
an annual program for college seniors with visual impairments and high school
seniors with learning disabilities. Awards totaling more than $50,000 are given to
individuals who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, leadership, enterprise and
service to others. Previous winners have been honored at the White House. The
NAA program is open to active RFB&D members who have been registered for at
least one year prior to the March 1, 2007, deadline, as individuals or through their
school. To find out if you are eligible or to download an application, visit
www.rfbd.org or call 866-732-3585.
Distributed by Diagnostic Devices (DDI), Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina,
Prodigy is a talking glucose meter. According to DDI, the Prodigy line of glucose
meters all are "affordable, accurate, and easy-to-use."
The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind strongly believes that Trekker is a
natural companion to guide dogs and that Trekker enhances the mobility of guide
dog users. The Guide Dog Foundation is offering Trekker and Trekker training to
qualified GDF graduates at no cost for either the Trekker or training. Additionally,
GDF is extending its services at no charge to blind and visually impaired US
Veterans, in honor of their service to our country.
Both children and adults who use HumanWare's industry-leading BrailleNote
family of products now have the option of the world's most popular dictionary and
thesaurus at their fingertips.
I am Miyoung Lee, a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology and
Community Health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My advisor,
Dr. Weimo Zhu, and I are conducting an online survey of "Exercise/Physical
Activity and Barrier Study for Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals," which is
funded by the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance (AAHPERD).
An AT&T answering machine, model 1738, at $20 is available at
Www.101phones.com/flypage/4087/none/ATT_1738#fpmap4 or by calling
888-708-0874. This is a talking unit with Caller ID support.
Introducing the easy-to-use Jitterbug phone, a cell phone made simple with
personalized services for keeping in touch when you're away from home. What's
unique about Jitterbug Phones: The buttons are big, the screens and text are
bright and easy to read, the sound is loud and clear, call direct or a Jitterbug
operator can call for you, you choose the features you want, t's easy to use for
emergencies, service as low as $10 a month. For info, call 800-767-8745 or
access jitterbugphones.com.
Richards Vending & Supply features low-vision aids such as pop-up cell phone
magnifiers. Contact them at
www.RichardsVending.com or
614-406-9793.
CCB OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE ROSTERS,
2007
7414 Mooncrest Way
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Dan Kysor, Webmaster
1519 P Street #36
Sacramento, CA 95814-6061
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dan@kysor.net
Please send all address changes to the Executive Office in Hayward.
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