Welcome to the CCB Courier for October 16, 2026
Update From Hearing Request Letter Campaign
Thank you for taking action! Since launching at the end of August, dedicated advocates have generated over 1,560 constituent letters to California state leadership regarding ongoing service breakdowns at the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).
Securing a Joint Interim Oversight Hearing takes sustained pressure. To prove systemic failure and hold DOR fully accountable, we must back up our stories with hard proof.
Here is how you can help right now:
A group of community advocates created an in-depth survey to capture the exact ways clients and applicants are being affected by service delays and cuts. Please complete and share it so concrete data can be presented to legislative committees.
Details on privacy and optional fields are listed right at the top of the survey.
https://forms.gle/paXarWvb9o9ssV6S6
Please forward our campaign link to at least one friend, colleague, or family member. Adding your own personal story makes these letters especially powerful, but sending the pre-written message as-is works great too, every letter counts:
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hearing-request?source=direct_link
Reaching out to your local Assembly Member or State Senator in your district makes a huge impact. You can make a quick 30-second phone call or request a short meeting with their district Office.
Progress takes persistence. Contact Regina Brink with any questions.
Order of Selection, California’s Rehabilitation Crisis: A Call for Action
Californians with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision, face growing uncertainty as the Department of Rehabilitation’s funding crisis threatens access to essential services, employment opportunities, and independence. On August 31, the Department announced the implementation of Order of Selection. With new applicants being turned away, including those with the most significant disabilities, delays in critical services and funding reductions affecting blindness service agencies and assistive technology vendors have far-reaching consequences. We are calling for legislative oversight, greater transparency, and sustainable funding to ensure Californians with vision loss receive the services they need to live independently and participate fully in society.
The California Council of the Blind (CCB) and the National Federation of the Blind of California (NFBC) are holding a joint information sharing session to learn about Order of Selection and our plans to act through the legislature and provide resources for self-advocacy. Join us at 7PM on Wednesday, October 28th, to get your questions answered and learn how you can help! For the Zoom information, contact Regina Brink at regina.brink@ccbnet.org or call (800)221-6359 option 3.
Some Good News! CCB wins important court victory
,
upholding the right to cast a ballot privately and secretly. This is a step toward our long-term voting goals here in California. That remedy will be handed down on October 19. We’ll keep you informed. Here’s hoping the court continues to listen to us! This took many voices and many years to get this far.
From California Council of Citizens with Low Vision:
October 15 marks White Cane Day. California passed its first White Cane Law in 1935, and today Vehicle Code Section 21963 grants the right-of-way to every totally or partially blind pedestrian carrying a predominantly white cane or using a guide dog. Drivers who withhold that right face jail time or fines up to $1,000. Members with low vision sometimes treat the cane differently; CCCLV sees it as a declaration: we belong here. Carry it proudly.
From the Greater LA CCB chapter:
Join the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the California Council of the Blind on Saturday, October 17, from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM via Zoom.
Renee Leask of the League of Women Voters will provide a 90-minute nonpartisan presentation covering California state ballot initiatives and Los Angeles County measures. Renee has presented to both the Greater LA and Glendale-Burbank chapters and is known for her thorough, informative presentations.
For questions or additional information, write to ccbgreaterla@gmail.com, or call (310) 558-4500.
From Inclusive Diversity of California:
IDC Social and Games Committee
welcomes everyone on October twenty-three at six thirty pm for a night
of games and camaraderie. We will be playing games such as trivia,
hangman and name that tune. Hope everyone can join us!!!
For the Zoom information Email Joe
at Joe.green@ccbnet.org or
Call Allie at 559-351-4797.
Courier submissions:
In order to submit an item, please provide the message either to the office or to Andrea DeKlotz directly at 714-921-0289 or
submit.courier@ccbnet.org by 5:00 pm on Wednesday before the Courier is recorded. Also, please make sure your message states in the subject line that it is for the Courier, or it may be missed.
In the interest of providing as much information to our members as possible, we ask that you limit submissions to 75 words or less.
Please note that any ads will run for no longer than three weeks, and CCB is not responsible for any transactions between persons resulting from these ads.
Thank you for reading.
