THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN
Quarterly Magazine of the
California Council of the Blind
Summer 2025
Volume 69, No. 3
Published in Email (bc+subscribe@ccblists.groups.io) and online in readable and downloadable text and audio media.
Guillermo Robles: President, Culver City, CA
president@ccbnet.org
Executive Office
California Council of the Blind
8880 Cal Center Dr. Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95826
916-441-2100 voice; 916-441-2188 fax; 1-800-221-6359 Toll Free
Email: ccotb@ccbnet.org
Website: www.ccbnet.org
Governmental Affairs Committee
Joshua Sanders and Alice Turner, Co-Chairs
800-221-6359 Toll Free
governmentalaffairs@ccbnet.org
Webmaster
webmaster@ccbnet.org
Mike Keithley, Editor
650-714-5971
editor@ccbnet.org
Susan Glass, Associate Editor
408-257-1034
editor@ccbnet.org
Deb Runyan, proofing and large print production.
Andrea DeKlotz, CCB Courier Editor
Email submissions for the CCB Courier to:
submit.courier@ccbnet.org
The CCB Courier is a weekly news service provided:
By phone: at 800-221-6359 Monday through Friday after 5 PM and all day on weekends and holidays.
By email subscription: send a blank message to:
courier+subscribe@ccblists.groups.io
Or on the web at:
www.ccbnet.org
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 people who are blind or have low vision. Recommended length is 900 words, 1800 max.
Article deadlines for the Blind Californian are:
Winter: November 15 of previous year
Spring: February 15 current year
Summer: May 15 current year
Fall: August 15 current year
Non-members are requested and members are invited to pay a yearly subscription fee of $10 toward the production and support of The Blind Californian.
Please send all address changes to the Executive Office.
***
Table of Contents
Editor's Corner, Susan Glass and Omni Glass
Governmental Affairs Report, Regina Brink
I Broke Through Uber's Wall of Invincibility, Linda MacLeod
Save The LightHouse
New Disability Rights Bureau Publications
CCB, Let's Just Quit, Christy Crespin
Eat More Veggies, Yes You Can, Deborah Armstrong
CCB Housing Committee Update, Frank Welte
One Year Together & Counting, Shirley Manning and Bonifay
Get Active: Resources And Variety Are the Keys, Connie Bateman
List of Resolutions Adopted at the CCB 2025 Convention
Why Appliance Accessibility Is More Than Just Adding an App, Lucy Greco
CCB Officers and Directors
***
Editor's Corner
By Susan Glass and Omni Glass
Happy summer, Omni. Are you gearing up for lots of healthy summer fun?
Oh yes, and so are the people and dogs who contributed articles to this issue of the BC. For instance, Connie Bateman wants us to exercise in as many innovative ways as possible, and she shares many resources that make doing it easy. And Debbie Armstrong urges us to eat our veggies. She makes them sound good even to me.
Omni, you eat everything, even things that aren't necessarily food.
Don't pick on me. I'm trying to write a serious column here.
Okay. What else is in store for our readers?
Regina Brink shares a vigorous Governmental Affairs report.
Vigorous?
Yeah. It makes even the laziest dog eager to advocate.
Speaking of advocacy, everyone will want to read Linda MacLeod's article on how she broke through Uber's wall of invincibility.
Yeah, I like that one. I get tired of ride share drivers turning away well groomed, well-mannered service dogs like me.
I see that Frank Welte has provided readers with a Housing Committee update.
Yes, and Lucy Greco tells us why appliance accessibility is more than just adding an app.
So, what's your favorite article, Omni?
That's easy! The one where Shirley Manning and her dog Bonifay share their first year of guide work adventures.
I love that one. As soon as we've all read the BC, let's go for a summer hike.
***
Governmental Affairs 2025 Report
Submitted at the 2025 California Council of the Blind Convention
By Regina Brink, Ardis Bazyn, and Joshua Saunders
2025 started out with AB 1902, sponsored by Juan Alanis, concerning accessible prescription labelling going into effect. CCB began a major educational campaign, spreading the word that people who are blind or have low vision (or are otherwise print disabled) can request their medications be labelled using an audio tag, large print, or Braille.
When the legislative session opened, we looked for authors for two bills, one concerning state-owned audio pedestrian signals and one concerning Paratransit eligibility for people with disabilities that are considered permanent.
SB 671 was carried by Senator Sabrina Cervantes and proposes to specify that signals that need to be replaced, repaired, or newly installed and are owned by Caltrans would be touch-free audio pedestrian signals currently identified in the uniform code. We thought the Paratransit bill would not find an author, but at the last minute, Assembly Member Diane Papan agreed to carry that bill. This would mean that redeterminations after one qualifies for Paratransit due to a permanent disability diagnosed and defined by a medical doctor would not be required by transit agencies, saving staff time, money, and the time and resources of riders across California.
Both bills have passed out of 2 committees in the Assembly on consent. We will continue to do all we can to get these bills passed and signed into law.
Alice Turner, after many years of dedicated service, stepped down as co-chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee. The Governmental Affairs Committee values her contributions and wishes her well as she embarks on her new CCB journey as a CCB Board Director just elected. Ardis Bazyn remains co-chair along with newly appointed Joshua Saunders, who was also just elected to the CCB Board.
Joshua shared with us that he has been attending the meetings of the SSI Coalition regularly. The SSI coalition is still pushing to have the SSI/SSP grant raise so that it exceeds the poverty level. Although cuts to MediCal and In-home Support services have been proposed in the Governor's May Revised Budget, SSI/SSP has not been cut this time.
CCB, along with many partner organizations, continues to fight cuts to other vital programs. One bill, AB 246, has just passed out of the State Assembly Budget Committee. This legislation would provide that renters reliant on Social Security or SSI to pay their rent could not be evicted for failure to pay if the flow of these funds were suspended by the federal administration. The Western Center on Law and Poverty asked CCB to speak on behalf of this bill during the recent committee hearing, where it passed with unanimous support.
Additionally, Regina Brink has moved into the position of Director of Governmental Affairs with Jeff Thom remaining as Assistant Director for the committee.
Together Regina and Jeff have joined the California Disability Leadership Alliance, a network of disability rights organizations. The Alliance is working to oppose and negotiate proposed state Notice and Cure bills, revitalize the fight for web accessibility, and fight against the numerous threats to hard-won disability rights in our state and beyond. CCB will join the organizations in this alliance on June 16 on the steps of the Capital in Sacramento to urge California to remember us and not balance the state budget on the backs of people with disabilities, people who are low income, and people who are marginalized.
On the national level, CCB's Targeted Approach this year included our members visiting local district offices, and members going to DC to meet with key committee members.
ACB has 3 imperatives this year and numerous other bills and issues to advocate for and against. Here is a list that is by no means comprehensive:
• Medical Device Accessibility Act
• Website and Applications Accessibility Act, reintroduced in early May
• Communication, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act update, last passed in 2010
• Concerns about blindness-related programs
• SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which raises the SSI asset level to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples. Currently, the asset limit is only $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for married couples. This has bi-partisan support.
• Several disability and aging programs in Washington DC are facing funding cuts. The programs include the Protection and Advocacy programs, Councils on Developmental Disabilities, and long-term care ombudsmen.
• Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) (HR 22): Passed the House on April 10, 2025, now before the Senate. This would require voters to have a passport or original birth certificate to vote and poses significant barriers for people with disabilities.
• Connect for Health Act (S.1261): Introduced on April 2, 2025, this would require health plans to continue tele-health.
• Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act (H.R.2527): Introduced on March 31, 2025.
• Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act: Waiting to be reintroduced, originally introduced as S.4776 on July 25, 2024.
• We Can't Wait Act: Waiting to be reintroduced.
• Raise the Wage Act: Waiting to be introduced.
• Cogswell-Macy Act: Waiting to be reintroduced.
It should also be noted that attacks on the Randolph-Sheppard Program have been diverted thus far.
A few regulation changes are also worth noting. Those who receive benefits from the Social Security Administration or IRS in check form will have to update their accounts with either checking or savings account information to receive payments electronically. This needs to be done by September.
1. You will likely need to contact your SSA office to set up an appointment if you do not have an online SSA account. You can set up an online SSA account to provide the information as well.
Lastly and certainly not least, The Braille Institute, The Braille and Talking Book Library, and our two regional libraries in San Francisco and Fresno, face debilitating cuts that could negatively impact library services across the state. CCB is leading the fight against these cuts and proposing that the state fully fund these vital reading services for Californians with vision loss and print disabilities.
Our members have been making phone calls to federal and state legislators, writing letters and submitting public comments whenever possible. The Governmental Affairs Committee urges you to continue to contact your Congress members and state legislators often about your concerns. For our part, we will continue to empower Californians who are blind or have low vision through persistent and steadfast advocacy.
***
I Broke Through Uber's Wall of Invincibility. You Can Too.
By Linda MacLeod
[Linda is a member of SVCB, and we're glad to have her!]
"How did I get here?" I wondered as I sat alone at my kitchen table one November night a couple of years ago. I had just spent the last hour painstakingly submitting complaints to Uber about Uber's ride share denials that I had just experienced, and was exhausted. A few weeks earlier, I had independently flown alone across the country and back with my first Guide Dog, a Black Labrador Retriever named Gideon. Even though I am blind, with knowledge and preparation, the trip to Boston had gone off without a hitch. And yet, here I was, stuck in my kitchen, emotionally drained because I was unable to get a driver from Uber Technologies to take me just six miles to get a haircut.
Earlier that night, three Uber drivers, one right after the other, in the space of 30 minutes, had refused to take me where I needed to go because of my guide dog. The second driver was automatically assigned to me after the first drove off, but cancelled the ride after I texted him that I was blind with a service animal. The other two showed up, but refused to take me, claiming that Gideon was a "pet", and insisting that I had to use Uber Pet. I calmly explained that I was blind, that Gideon was not a pet, but a trained guide dog. I also explained that Uber Pet was more expensive and had fewer available drivers and longer wait times. To no avail. None of them cared. They were adamant, indifferent, even hostile to my disability.
As anyone with a guide dog knows, this experience is not uncommon. A 2023 survey conducted by Guide Dogs for the Blind found that 83% of respondents had experienced ride share denials. Respondents also reported experiencing negative psychological, social and economic impacts as a result of the denials. The fact that this happened in front of my driveway, that I was trained as an attorney to advocate for myself and others, and that I was an experienced traveler surprisingly did not reduce the emotional distress that I felt. The rejection of my guide dog felt like the rejection of my very self. And it angered me that other blind individuals, many less well equipped to advocate for themselves, had suffered through the same experience and felt powerless to accept anything but empty, scripted expressions of sympathy and a $5 credit on their account.
It's true. Uber tries to confuse and intimidate users with long contracts, full of dense legal jargon, and a non-responsive complaint process that is difficult to navigate. Even worse, Uber undertook a careful public relations campaign in California to pass a proposition that makes every Californian believe that Uber is not responsible for their drivers' discriminatory behavior because they supposedly have "no control" over their drivers. It is all smoke and mirrors.
What I discovered, after doing my research and reading Uber's contract, was that it is entirely doable to hold Uber accountable for their drivers' behavior and get a not-insubstantial amount of money to compensate us for the harm that ride share denials cause our blind community.
Here is what I discovered in the process of suing Uber:
1. You don't need an attorney. While I would recommend sighted assistance to make the process easier, you can sue Uber—or, for that matter, Lyft—in Small Claims Court. Because the most you can recover is $12,500, Small Claims Court is relatively informal and less procedurally complicated (at least compared to other types of court), and a procedure that does not allow attorneys to represent the parties. This means that Uber may not appear with an attorney, either.
2. Under California's civil rights law, called the Unruh Civil Rights Act, you are entitled to a minimum of $4,000 for each violation of the ADA. Yes, you read that correctly. That is a minimum. In California, once you prove an ADA violation, like a ride denial for having a guide dog or using a cane, you get no less than $4,000.
3. You do not need videotapes, witnesses, or photographs to prove that the drivers denied you. Though these things can be helpful as evidence, I was able to win without them. Why? Because my testimony alone was enough to prove an ADA violation. Remember, Uber is not likely to bring the Uber driver or drivers to court to testify against you because you have only sued Uber.
4. Uber's purported "no control" argument doesn't relieve them of liability from the ADA, and even if it did, your own experience with the Uber App (and mine) shows that Uber really does have control over the whole process. They are not "just an app". Through the App, they control the means of obtaining the ride, the payment amount and method of payment, the route taken, the tipping system, the communication methods with the drivers, the investigations of complaints, and the discipline—if any—of the drivers. Uber's marketing and website materials also tout Uber's safety procedures, screenings of vehicles, and screening checks of its drivers. Visit this link:
https://is.gd/1nawO9
I argued, successfully, that Uber's legal and factual arguments were without merit.
5. Your personal story is powerful and more persuasive than Uber's. Uber argued that it requires drivers to comply with Uber's written policy to take riders with service animals, but it was not responsible for the drivers' violations. Even worse, Uber argued it was not required to enforce its own rules because it had "no control" over its drivers, and the drivers had discretion whether to choose to comply with the policy or not. Indeed, in my case, Uber reinstated one driver's privileges even though they did not deny that they had refused me a ride due to my guide dog. Another driver's privileges were reinstated even though he refused to talk to Uber. In my opinion, not only are Uber's arguments legally and factually incorrect, they don't make for a very good story. I believe that our stories of bewilderment, anxiety, and emotional harm as a result of ride share denials are moving and powerful. They are so powerful, I believe, that it is the reason Uber fights so hard to keep such cases out of the public eye and out of the courts.
Some folks have expressed concerns that suing Uber does not punish the drivers that discriminate and so it does not solve the problem. Uber should absolutely have a "no tolerance" policy for drivers who discriminate against or harass people. While I don't disagree that a single case will not cause systemic change, I do believe that if enough of us sue Uber and Lyft for ride share denials based on our disabilities, it will get Uber's attention, and it may result in the only way to truly hold the drivers accountable: terminating drivers from the platform quickly and consistently when they fail to accept blind riders. Even more importantly, irrespective of whether we can get a change in the behavior of the drivers, we are suffering real and substantial harm as a result of these denials. We are entitled to be made whole under California law to get compensated for that harm. And ultimately, we will gain a sense of empowerment and satisfaction knowing that we advocate for ourselves.
There are many other lessons I learned. If you would like to learn more, I will be speaking about my experience along with attorney Tim Elder at a Zoom call on June 2nd. Here is the link:
https://is.gd/y4THjG
No need to register, just put it on your calendar and click on the link above.
In addition, there is a toolkit that has been created about the Small Claims Court process in Santa Clara County, where I sued Uber, that is coming soon. Here is the link to the website that will host the toolkit when it is ready:
www.trelegal.com
Note that my experiences occurred in California; laws vary in other states.
***
Save The Lighthouse
Protect Blind and Low Vision Services
Demonstrate with us on Thursday, June 12, 2025, Noon to 2:00 PM, outside the front of Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1155 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
For more information call Margie:
916-293-9505
Tony:
510-693-8014
Tricia:
415-310-8871
***
New Disability Rights Bureau Publications
as seen on the ccbl email list by Jeff Thom
Hello Disability Rights Advisory Group,
We hope you are all doing well. The DOJ Disability Rights Bureau has recently published four additional publications related to disability rights, including Access to Public and Private Buildings and Facilities for People with Disabilities, Access to Telecommunications for People with Disabilities, Benefits and Services for People with Disabilities, and Service Animals. Below is a short summary of each:
Access to Public and Private Buildings and Facilities for People with Disabilities
This publication provides an overview of state and federal laws that set requirements for physical accessibility of both public and private buildings and facilities. This publication also describes an individual's options when they have experienced discrimination regarding physical accessibility.
Access to Telecommunications for People with Disabilities
This publication describes the state and federal laws that ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to telecommunications services.
This publication also describes an individual's options when they have concerns about the accessibility of a products or services.
Benefits and Services for People with Disabilities
This publication highlights some state and federal benefits, programs, and services that are designed to assist people with disabilities.
Service Animals
This publication discusses the rights of people with disabilities to use service animals and emotional support animals under both federal and California laws. This publication also provides the various complaint options people have when their rights regarding service or emotional support animals have been violated.
These new publications can be found alongside the Disability Rights Bureau's other publications at:
https://oag.ca.gov/civil/disability-rights
As with other publications, we invite you to share these publications with others in your network who might have an interest in these topics.
Sincerely,
Tong Thao
Bay Area & Northern CA Community Outreach Manager
Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement (CARE)
Office of Attorney General Rob Bonta |California Department of Justice)
Direct:
(510) 882-3705
tong.thao@doj.ca.gov
***
CCB, Let's Just Quit!
By Christy Crespin
"In the news headlines, founded in October, 1934, the California Council of the Blind called it quits today. This 90-year-old organization lost its nonprofit status because of failure to turn the proper paperwork into the IRS in 2017. Although members were concerned and talked about getting out of suspension, and the new treasurer worked hard to secure the nonprofit status by completing and turning in paperwork, the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board addressed nothing, and members struggled to no avail."
"Further, its membership has been steadily shrinking each year. As per the usual, 80-20% rule, existing members have decided to leave things to a few active members, saying, 'someone else will do it,' and 'it will get done'. Well, it has not gotten done; CCB has lost funds and cannot raise funds due to its nonprofit status suspension, and draconian measures have been taken, yet it was not enough."
Wow, what if this was true? As a friend or member of the California Council of the Blind, how would you feel? Would you say to yourself, "I could have/should have done more", or "I wonder how I could have saved the CCB". Would you be one of the active members or friends who worked hard to do everything possible to save CCB?
Some may say this is a negative article. I agree; it could be. But what if, after reading this article and feeling your heart pound erratically, your stomach drop, and the lump in your throat, and the tears in your eyes, each one of us stepped up to ask what we could do to save CCB? What if, when the chapter president asked for volunteers, each one of us said "yes", or "what would you like me to do", or "How may I help"? What if members heard from chapter officers who actually asked about chapter members' hobbies, interests, gifts, and talents? If each of us had a task, job, assignment, and followed through, how different would our California Council of the Blind be!
So how may this happen?
First, chapter officers could each team up and call its members and ask:
1. What are your hobbies, expertise and the things that help you thrive?
2. Have you thought about what you would like to take on as a task or assignment to help out your chapter?
3. If you could create a job for yourself in the Council, what would you do, no matter how little or much time might be involved?
4. What would you like to change about CCB and how would you do it?
Second, if each member attended the CCB Board Meetings, members would understand how the Board works and have more stock in how the Board is to serve at the pleasure of the membership. Members influence what happens in CCB by speaking up and recognizing the work of the Board. If members do not understand, ask questions. If they do not agree, speak up. It is OK to agree not to agree in all things.
Third, who in your chapter could attend the various committee meetings and report to your chapter? That way your chapter will have a voice and a better understanding of the committee and planning process.
By no means are these the only things that could happen, but they are a start. If you care, then share and step up, or CCB will vanish just like the headlines stated above.
Finally, be kind and develop and maintain pride of membership in CCB. Share it with your family and friends, and care for it as if you are protective of a fragile pet, a garden, priceless jewel, or treasure. CCB is a priceless, fragile treasure.
CCB, let's not quit!
***
Eat More Veggies, Yes You Can
By Deborah Armstrong
We all know the importance of healthy eating. And though weight loss advice disagrees about whether to reduce fat or carbs, there's one thing all nutritionists and dieticians agree on: eating more vegetables. But often, tips on getting more vegetables into your meals seem completely impractical. So, let's examine the barriers to healthy eating one at a time.
"You are blind so it's hard to get to the store."
You're right; you cannot just hop into your car and run out for fresh produce. But there's a great deal of proof that frozen vegetables actually have more minerals and vitamins than fresh. They are picked and frozen directly in the field. Fresh produce often travels by plane, train or truck before it arrives at your local store, thus losing some of its nutritive value. So, when you do get to the store, stock up on the frozen stuff.
More and more evidence shows not only vitamins and minerals improve health but vegetables contain as of yet undiscovered micronutrients that reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. And more of these micronutrients are preserved with modern flash freezing techniques.
When I bring home bags of frozen vegetables, I divide them into serving-sized containers and freeze all the containers. This way they become grab and go veggies I can easily pop in to my microwave at lunch time.
You can also mix and match in your individual containers; one can be peas, spinach, peppers and broccoli; another can be cauliflower, carrots, zucchini and corn.
When I was low income and had to take a long bus ride to get to a store, I always carried a small cooler with me. This kept things frozen until I got home.
Because going to the store by myself is difficult and my husband isn't fond of vegetables, I grow many of my greens. In my climate, chard, lettuce and arugula do particularly well.
And some vegetables last longer so focus on those. For example, iceberg lettuce lasts a few days, while properly sealed, Romaine lettuce can last three weeks.
You can invest in one of those packaging systems that vacuum seals food at home. And you can learn techniques for ensuring your vegetables last longer. For example, potatoes should not be stored in plastic, and green beans do best when slightly sealed but still able to breathe. Lettuce, once opened, lasts longer if wrapped in paper towels and sealed in a zip-lock bag. And don't wash any vegetables ahead of time; they last longer if you wait to wash them until you are ready to use them.
"You don't know how to look and don't have the time or desire to learn."
The advice for sighted people is to buy fresh salad fixings at your store's salad bar. That's a problem for us blind folks, but other methods can be just as effective. If you shop weekly, you can buy tightly sealed fresh green salads, often sold under the brand "Fresh Express" and, due to vacuum sealing, will last for up to five days in your fridge. Their little plastic bowls even include a plastic fork and a dish of dressing on the side.
Another thing you can do is practice microwaving produce. Fresh veggies can be diced, poured into a microwave safe dish with a tight lid, after you've added a little water, and microwaved for around ten minutes. I've never found a vegetable that doesn't taste delicious after simply steaming it in the microwave.
In the past, vegetables tasted awful because they were boiled in water, and became limp and overcooked. Adding just a tablespoon of water, sealing the dish and microwaving on high, steams the vegetables, leaving them tender-crisp.
And of course, frozen vegetables are also easy to microwave, also on high for around 8 minutes.
Bell peppers, celery, tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers can be good served raw with some dip. Buy store-bought dip if you hate cooking and all you need to do is a bit of chopping.
Remember, when chopping vegetables, that there are tough parts that don't seem appetizing. Simply throw them out. Serious cooks will turn them into soup stock, but you need not feel guilty if you aren't that dedicated. Keep the peeling, however. There's absolutely no need to peel most vegetables as the peeling contains many nutrients you don't want to miss out on.
And when you go out to eat, choose salads, especially if you haven't eaten many vegetables lately. Or pick a side of steamed vegetables instead of fries. Fast food joints have salad too.
Don't forget vegetables also come in cans.
"You like cooking, but still don't really know how to prepare vegetables."
Don't go overboard, buying more than you have time or energy to prepare. If it's a busy week, stick to frozen and canned. But do try to buy a few perishable veggies each week so you can begin to learn.
Vegetables are cheap. Consider your exploration of vegetable preparation to be a science experiment. You can roast, stir-fry, steam and even bake. Both NLS and Bookshare have tons of books on preparing vegetables. Skip any recipe that seems too elaborate, or simplify it and see if you like the results.
For example, roasting vegetables is dead easy. Dice them, toss them with some oil, drop them on a cooky sheet, spread them out flat and bake them. Try 350 degrees for 30 minutes and see how they taste. If they are burnt, you need to cut the time; if they need more roasting, you need to extend the time. Thicker vegetables cook longer, of course, than thinner ones. Try with small batches first. Once you get the hang of roasting, you can use different oils, herbs and spices to change the flavors.
I particularly love rutabagas and brussels sprouts but only if I roast them. I think they taste vile when cooked any other way.
I enjoy being creative. Though yams are often candied with brown sugar and maple syrup, I tried layering them with sliced pineapple and baking them. That was equally yummy and healthier.
I'm now eating the chunky parts of Bak Choi, which I previously threw out. This time I microwaved them for 17 minutes, then added some butter, microwaved another minute, and they are now delicious. Experimenting is the only way to learn.
"You still think vegetables taste boring"
Butter, olive oil, vinegar, nuts, dried fruit, grated cheese, herbs, spices, all these things will improve the taste. I keep onion powder and cinnamon, plus salt and pepper at work. I sprinkle the cinnamon on fruit I bring to work and have the other spices handy for any vegetables I microwave. I sometimes mix a packet or can of tuna in with my vegetables, or dump the vegetables into a can of soup I've heated up. I also keep a shelf in my office stocked with canned vegetables so I won't be tempted by all the lunch room goodies when my real problem is hunger. Throwing in a handful of peanuts makes even a bland can of vegetables taste better.
One trick with green salad is to toss olive oil with the greens first, let them sit a few minutes, and then drizzle on a bit of vinegar. Coating the greens with oil, rather than slathering on dressing makes them taste richer, and you can use very little oil.
Don't forget that condiments, chopped olives, canned mushrooms and even diced lunch meat or diced pre-cooked sausage can enhance the flavor as well. I crumble freshly-cooked bacon slices into green beans. I add green beans and spices to canned beans or stir-fry some summer squash with onions to make myself a quick, tasty meal. It's easy to grab a bag of potato chips if vegetables are boring so ensure they aren't.
"You are still hungry after eating vegetables."
Make sure you have some fat or protein with your vegetables depending on which diet method you favor. Grated cheese, chopped sausage or butter that keep vegetables tasty also help increase satiety.
And eat a larger portion than what you'd typically have as an American family side dish. A full stomach triggers the hormones that tell your brain to stop that hungry feeling!
"Your family hates vegetables."
You're not alone. When I'm preparing dinner, if my husband happens to see me chopping something, he complains I'm adding too much green stuff to the meal.
I've learned to sneak finely chopped green peppers into chili, peas into tuna casserole and diced zucchini into pasta dishes. I gradually increase the amount and take care to chop the veggies when he's not watching. Chopped scallions or regular onions can be fried with ground meat. Anything you'd put inside a bun, like a sloppy Joe or pulled pork, can be served over a baked potato, which most people will eat.
You also should ensure that what you prepare for your family actually does taste good. Save the experiments for your personal meals.
You can also forget your family and eat your veggies on your own. It's just as easy to microwave a sweet red pepper and some carrots as it is to heat a frozen dinner.
Post Script
I would like to dedicate this article to my Dad, a baker by profession, who taught me to love vegetables as a child. He experimented with a variety of cooking methods, always asking us kids to critique the results, rather than nagging us to eat them. We saw our role as helping Dad's vegetable skills improve, and rather than rebelling, we were eager to see what he'd cooked up next time.
Unfortunately, his love of baking did not do my weight any favors, but at least I am just as happy to eat spinach as I am to scarf down a donut.
***
CCB Housing Committee Update
By Frank Welte, Chair, CCB Housing Committee
The CCB Housing Committee strives to improve housing conditions for blind and low vision Californians through advocacy, assistance and information.
Our current priority is to gather information about housing resources and programs in as many counties in the state as we can and to partner with our chapters to share this information with blind and low vision individuals in our local communities. Committee members are currently gathering lists of resources for several counties, and we will continue to compile resource lists for more counties as time permits. We are planning to contact leaders of chapters in those counties for which we have housing information, to determine how we can work with each chapter to get this information to those who need it.
We were pleased to present a program about housing rights during the 2025 CCB Convention, and we intend to present future programs to educate CCB members and others about our state's complex housing support system in order to empower as many of us as possible to improve living conditions for ourselves and others.
You can support this effort.
1. The Housing Committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM. All interested individuals are welcome to attend. Contact me for the Zoom meeting link.
2. We need representatives of more counties and regions of the state to join our committee. If housing availability and affordability is important to you, you are willing to learn more about this topic, and you want to share this knowledge with others who need it, please contact me to discuss your participation as a member of the committee.
3. If members of your chapter are interested in working on housing issues, I encourage you to organize a chapter housing committee or to designate a chapter housing coordinator to work on this matter in conjunction with the CCB Housing Committee.
Finally, here are a few resources to help you learn more about this important subject.
California Department of Housing and Community Development
www.hcd.ca.gov
This is a good website to find out what the California State Government is doing on the housing front and to begin your search for housing resources in your community.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
www.hud.gov
Find out what the federal government is doing on housing.
Tip: What is a housing element? The Housing Element is one important part of a city or county's General Plan, which serves as the blueprint for how a city or county will grow and address changing needs for development. Every eight years, every city, town, and county must update their Housing Element and have it certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
A Housing Element is a local plan, adopted by a city, town or county that includes the goals, policies and programs that direct decision-making around housing. State law does not require that jurisdictions build or finance new housing, but they must plan for it. You can find out about your county's housing element by making a Google search on "[your county] housing element". For example, I searched on "Alameda County housing element" to find out about the housing element in my home county of Alameda.
For more information, contact Housing Committee Chair, Frank Welte, by email at:
Frank.A.Welte@gmail.com
or by phone at:
510-541-1442
***
One Year Together & Counting
By Shirley Manning & Bonifay
Written in December 2024
A year ago, Bonnie (Bonifay) and I were in training on the Oregon campus of Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB). After eighteen months of waiting, the call finally came, "Shirley, this is GDB and we have a match for you!" With smiles and tears and goosebumps I listened and recorded details for what to expect in the weeks before training was to begin. From that point on I was prone to goosebumps for any positive reason as never before. As I write I have a big smile and, yes, goosebumps.
Only a week before training was to start another call came to say that the water pump in the dormitory was out. Parts were ordered but would not arrive in time. I had two options: take an opening in the next class (only two weeks more of waiting), or receive home training. Class training was recommended because there were two dogs that fit my needs with a little difference in pace. I took the opening in the next class. That was the longest three weeks I can remember.
After arriving and settling in, the class Manager let me know I would meet and walk with the two possible dogs that afternoon. Goosebumps were becoming a bit of an irritation—"What's up with this?" I met both dogs already in harness, and we did not socialize. Dog "A" seemed smaller but peppy. I was told the pace was a bit faster than the usual for that dog. Dog "B" was taller and just as peppy, and I was told the pace was a bit slower than the usual for that dog. Both walks were along what is called the Oregon Trail. It is a path along one edge of the campus which winds through trees and shrubs. Both dogs were amazing, but Dog B had a nice steady pressure in the harness, so Dog B was my choice.
Later that evening I met Bonifay (I now call her Bonnie). She was silly and wiggly and loved to be stroked. It took several days before she gave me her tummy to pet, and I praised and thanked her for tummy time. Her coat was black and glossy and very plush. I continue to get comments from the public about her shiny coat.
All of my three classmates were retrains, meaning this would not be their first guide. We were two men, two women; two seniors, two under forty. Throughout class we enjoyed socializing at meals, in the vans and during down time. I was always paired with the same young man under the care of a trainer and an intern. The other two trainees were similarly paired.
Oregon can be a very wet place in November/December, but we lucked out. We had only two days with rain heavier than drizzle. It was unusually cold, with ice on the van doors and on the sidewalks. The class which followed ours got drenched. Surprising to me was the nighttime sounds of tree frogs even in the damp and cold.
The food was amazing, with a few options at each meal. We gave our choices for the next day at one of the current day's meals. Early on I complained at having to choose between two delicious meals. I was told I could have half & half if I wanted. Good thing we were doing a lot of walking (smile).
Graduation was filled with hellos and goodbyes. Meeting Bonnie's puppy mom was especially nice. So much care, time, love and dedication are invested in our guides by the amazing volunteers who raise them. Bonnie was the seventh puppy that family raised and number eight was in their home at the time of graduation. Unknown to me, my nephew, who lives outside of Portland, was in the audience, so we got to spend time together after the celebration in my room. Another person involved with Bonnie somehow, who also worked at GDB, also spent time with Bonnie and me so she could say goodbye.
I was anxious about our flight home given the many reports of flights denied to folks with guide dogs, but all went well. I was more nervous during takeoff and landing than Bonnie. Once at home, as advised, Bonnie was kept on a leash most of the time, but not for as long as recommended. Her house manners are amazing (thanks to the puppy family). She loves her Nyla bones, squeaky balls and a large rope ball. To save the neighbors from being wakened at six in the morning by that horribly loud squeaky ball, I bought a large ball made of heavy rope. She is ready to play at any time, but especially in the morning. I never allow the rope ball to be left down unsupervised as Bonnie would have it torn up and possibly swallowed bit by bit. She is uninterested in playing tug with anything. Bonnie has finally convinced me that trying to teach her to fetch is useless. What she wants is far more physically interactive play. We are both happier now that I understand a thing or two.
Bonnie is my first black lab. One of the things this impacts is my ability to determine whether she is leaving a puddle or a pile. With the yellow labs I could almost always see the shape of their backs. Not so with her. I have to trail the leash and touch her back. I know I miss the puddles sometimes because Bonnie finally gets disgusted and sits. I think she is peeing, except that she takes way too long. Then I discover that my sweet little lady has been sitting, waiting for me to get a clue.
The other area where her black coat makes a difference is her energy level when it is hot. All of my dogs were affected by heat, but Bonnie is more so than the others. If possible, we travel early or late if it is hot. If not avoidable, we take a route where shade is available more than not. She, like me, is invigorated by chilly air blowing in her face.
Bonnie snorts! She does not growl or groan; she snorts. It is similar to the sound humans make when trying to sound like a pig. She does it when she wants attention. About six weeks before the time change, I began to change her feeding time so we would not be on busses when her tummy was expecting food. She sometimes spits up bile if dinner is late. So, I am sitting on the couch with a snorty dog staring. She, for the first and only time, barks. I was so startled that I said, "Bonifay?" She immediately laid down. Then I felt bad. We snuggled for a bit until dinnertime.
With my three previous guides, if I was on the floor, it was snuggle time. They would lie down with their backs along my side. If I am on the floor Bonnie wants to wrestle or chew her Nyla bone next to me. Sometimes when she stares and snorts, I sit down on the floor to visit and she leaves, gets her Nyla bone to bring close, and chews it happily.
My son and his family recently adopted a young dog. They agreed to foster a dog when the shelter in their area needed space for evacuated dogs due to a wildfire. As I expected, they fell in love and kept him. I was worried as the youngster (13 months at the time) is a pit bull with unknown history. My daughter-in-law was out in front when we arrived so Bonnie and Squid (no, they did not choose the name) could meet on neutral ground. Squid was timid, but interested and silly. We kept the dogs on leashes until later that evening. Since all had gone so well, we let them off leash for a while. They both ran like maniacs, first one in the lead and then the other. The last time Bonnie and I visited, the dogs were off leash but supervised most of the time and all went nicely.
We are working well as a team, learning from each other and having lots of fun doing so. This Summer we went camping three times. Bonnie loves learning to target new landmarks along the route to the bathrooms. She does a little rear like a pony when she successfully finds something I asked her to find. Being able to get to the bathroom quickly, and especially without getting lost, makes camping a far more positive experience. We went hiking four times. I do not ask my guide to work on a trail unless it is more like a fire road. I have an old white cane to use when hiking. Bonnie wore her harness and stayed close to a heal position, and had a blast.
Life does not get much better than this.
***
Get Active: Resources And Variety Are the Keys
By Connie Bateman
Several years ago, when I was much younger and had low vision, I participated in dance classes, aerobics classes, and step aerobics classes. All I had to do was talk to the instructors in advance to explain the nature of my sight loss and the need for me to stand near them in front of the class to follow their routines. I also asked them to be as verbal as possible.
When I transitioned from low vision to blindness 16 years ago, I thought my exercise days were over. Then I heard about a program called Eyes Free Fitness which offered audio described workouts. I purchased the easy workout set which consisted of workouts for stretching, upper body core, lower body and balance, and cardio. I downloaded this workout set onto my Victor Reader Stream and was able to do the workouts at home. Later, I purchased a balance routine and a cardio workout on thumb drives and was able to play them on the NLS player.
A couple of years ago, I heard about wellness and lifelong learning classes offered by a senior center called A Community of Caring (ACC) here in Sacramento, California. One of the classes that interested me was a dance aerobics class called Moving On. I contacted the coordinator of the program, and she connected me with the instructor through e-mail. The instructor and I met on Zoom a few times so he could show me some of the routines and make sure I was doing the movements correctly. Then I signed up with the ACC Rides program so I could get rides to the class every Friday. The drivers get me to the class 15 minutes early. This gives the instructor time to show me what routines we'll be doing that day. When I lost all of my sight, I realized that I'm not able to stay in place because it's difficult to know where I am in space, so I use a chair to anchor myself in place and to line myself up when I need to move forward and backward and right and left.
ACC also has a walk program in which they pair up visually impaired people and seniors with senior escort volunteers. This decreases isolation and loneliness, gets us out of the house, makes us visible in our neighborhoods, and helps us to stay active.
A resource I heard about from the ACB community healthy living support group is the Northwest Association of Blind Athletes. This group has audio described workouts online which you can follow from the comfort of your home. I've done a few of their dance aerobics workouts, and the audio description is very clear and easy to follow.
Speaking of the ACB community, there are several exercise classes available on these zoom calls which are sponsored by ACB's Get Up and Get Moving campaign. I attend the resistance classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays using resistance bands, and the happy hour cardio class on Wednesdays. The instructor does an excellent job describing the movements, and the people who attend her classes are fun and motivated.
Although we are blind or visually impaired, we can have active lives when we choose to take advantage of the many resources available to us. Find a variety of activities that you enjoy doing, get together with other people, and get moving!
***
List Of Resolutions Adopted at the CCB 2025 Convention
Editor's Note:
I thank Regina Brink for providing me with this list of resolutions passed at the Spring CCB Conference and Convention. The Fall issue of the BC will feature summaries and descriptions of these resolutions.
Resolution 2025-01, Upholding Blind Services and Competitive Employment at the California Department of Rehabilitation
Resolution 2025-2, Reasonable Accommodations for State Employees
Resolution 2025-3 Transportation for Department of Rehabilitation Consumers
Resolution 2025-4. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Resolution 2025-5 Honoring Volunteers
Resolution 2025-6: CCB Support for unionization of Blindness Service Agencies
Resolution 2025-7 Administration of the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Resolution 2025-8 Funding Support for the Braille Institute and the Braille and Talking Book libraries
***
Why Appliance Accessibility Is More Than Just Adding an App
By Lucy Greco
https://tinyurl.com/more-than-adding-an-app
I have been so frustrated lately with how so many things are adding complexity in the name of security. I am a firm believer in security but lately it's been sending me on a rampage.
The Internet of Things
Any of you that follow me on a regular basis know that I have a home full of the internet of things. Frankly how can we not all have at least a few of these items in our homes. These connected devices all come with their own apps, and/or belong to larger extended ecosystems. So many companies today tend to think that creating an app is the way to make their products and/or services accessible, but I am here to tell you no! And STOP IT!
An APP Does Not Equal Accessibility
I think it's very important to start by saying having an app is not making your product accessible no matter how good that app is. Too many products have jumped on that ship and I need to tell them no, that is not accessible. Having an accessible app might make your product usable by a person with a disability but in no way does it make it accessible! And definitely not universally accessible. If someone needs an app to be able to use your product, you are putting a condition on the use of your product that may be impossible for the person to fulfill. What if the person does not have a smartphone? Many people are still not able to afford a smartphone and may not be able to upgrade the phone they have.
Some Of the Reasons Why
Let's think about this. A new smart phone can cost upwards of $1,000 US and/or a commitment to pay upwards of $140 per month So a family that is barely able to make ends meet is not able to afford that phone and the expensive plan to use it. Maybe the phone that the person has is a special phone that only lets them call 2 or 3 numbers, in case of emergency, and is not a smart phone at all. Why would any manufacturer want to exclude these cases from their customer pool?
OK, so the things above are extremes but they do happen, and some people do not have a phone that can run the app needed to use the Internet of Things device you're selling them, so now what? How can a person use this device that the manufacturer says is the way for a person with a disability to access the device? They can't! Most people can go online or into a store and buy an appliance that meets their budget and does the tasks that they need it to do. But what happens if that person has a disability? Far too often the choices they have are at either extreme: they have to buy the low-end crappy model with no bells and whistles or the top-of-the-line model that needs an app to do everything in an accessible way. This is commonly referred to as the disability tax. People with disabilities have to give up everything to get a usable device or pay top dollar just to be able to wash their clothes in hot or cold water.
The other problem with this situation is that, if the disabled person needs an app for the device, there is no guarantee that the app is accessible. Even the apps that say they are the way to access the device have glaring accessibility problems. Even the best of the apps I use have unlabeled buttons that not even image recognition can tell you what the button should do. Sadly, there is often no way to know if the app itself is accessible. No stores ever have the apps paired, or even know how to pair the device. This is one of the reasons I want to spend more time on my Know Before You Buy project. Because, if I can spend the time to test the app and show how to use it, others can buy the appliances and electronics they want or need with confidence that they work. Or more precisely, it worked at the time I did the video! Many, many times I find that the app works partially, but a few months later they push an update and break the accessibility. I feel that the app is being pointed at when the manufacturer does not know how to make the item accessible.
Are Apps Really There to Make It More Accessible
Sometimes the apps are there to make the Internet of Things device a little more geeky and I bet no one uses the features. For example, some of the lower cost apps for robot vacuums offer the ability to use your phone as a remote control for the robot. Well, if you wanted to steer the robot around the room, why not just use a cheaper vacuum, why spend money to steer the robot around your house? I let my robots do the work when I am not there. Why should I care about steering the robot? I can pretty much guess that the robots that offer the remote-control feature are probably not accessible in any way.
Why The Internet of Things Doesn't Work for Anyone
I have also had a recurring frustration with my Internet of Things devices, and this is driving me nuts. It seems like every time my phone updates or the app itself updates, all my data is lost and I have to sign in again. Frankly this trend is driving me mad. In today's world we are encouraged to use different passwords for every account, and I try to do that, but I have so many things to keep track of. I just can't remember all those passwords. Also, passwords are getting harder and harder to remember and of course this is essential for keeping the account safe. But I would love to know why my pressure cooker needs to be safe. Would someone want to break into my house and cook me dinner? If so please do so, I would love that. Why should my many robot vacuums be behind all these passwords? Does someone want to come over and watch them clean? Again, please? It's not like I am being protected from someone walking into the house and taking the devices to their home because these endless passwords don't stop that. If someone wants to steal my pressure cooker, the fact that I have a password on the account means nothing. They can set it up again with their own info and then they have the same problems I do. I have a few stories of how bad these problems make it for me.
A Few Examples
The other day I wanted to make a stew for dinner. My husband was sick in bed and I wanted to make something that he and I could eat. I pulled my instant pot out and grabbed my iPhone that is just for these Internet of Things. And even though the damn app for my instant pot had sent me an advertising alert earlier that same day, to my frustration, the app was logged out and needed me to sign in again. Well, I lost it. I had no idea what that password was and no idea even how I had logged in. Did I log in with google, log in with apple app, did I create an email address just for the device, which I often do, how in the world could I get into this account. I tried a few things and then had a minor temper tantrum because I really needed that damn app to work. The instant pot I have is completely unusable for me without the app. I can't even find the start button on my own. So basically, I was faced with a $200 device that was as useful as a brick on my counter. Actually, a brick would have at least been something I could throw to vent my frustration.
After having a bit of time to yell at the world, I did more investigating and found the email address and went through the process of resetting my password. The first time I did this I had no idea what the password requirements were so it failed. I then found the requirements and created the new password. And damn if when I tried to use the new password to get in it failed. So back to changing my password, getting an email and all that again. I reentered the same password and finally after the third time I was at last in. Over all I spent about 2 hours fighting with the app in one way or another. Frankly having to do all this just to cook dinner is way too much but my old instant pot died so what can I do.
I am about to record a video on another device that is also 100 percent reliant on an app for blind people to use it. It has its own interface on the unit but the only button a blind person can use is the start button. The interface is really geeky and even has cameras so that someone not blind can watch the food cook. But, if the app fails, I can't use the device. And yes, the app also logged me out last week. So, once again, I had to do the what is my password and how do I log in again. This stuff is just starting to wear me out. I want to use the new toys. I want to record videos for my subscribers that tell them about accessible products but how can I do this if most of the time I am blocked by apple or android logging me out and making me do the password dance.
Even More Reasons Why Passwords Might Make Something Inaccessible
I truly hate passwords but I am a fairly technical person. What about someone that may not be as tech savvy as me? What about someone with a brain injury that may not be able to remember these endless obscure passwords. Again, adding the app to the mix to get accessibility also makes the device less accessible.
Times Were Better Before We Had Apps
I can't help but think that in this day and age with the high-tech tools we all have we are going backwards. I remember my mother teaching me how to use the stove and showing me that, if I turned a dial counter clockwise I would have the heat on low and if I turned it clockwise it would be on high. And this was so universal that, even though my mother was not able to read, she knew these things and could teach her blind daughter how to use the stove and many other devices in our home.
There are still many people today that are not able to read due to a disability or just a lack of access to school, so, do these people not count? Why should they not use your device?
I have never found any device that really needed that app to work for an able-bodied person, so why are manufactures putting this restriction on all the groups I have mentioned here. I am sure for every example I have given there must be so many others out there. So, let's talk about how these problems could be solved.
What Is the Answer
There are so many, many ways these problems can be fixed. First just put real buttons on your device. Make the buttons tactile and, hey, why not shape these buttons in a way that indicates what they do. Don't create buttons that do different things depending on the mode or state of the device. Don't create menus that scroll forever and back around once you get to the top. And if you are creating a knob that changes the state, keep the choice on that button clear and defined. Don't have that knob control an on-screen menu, but create the menu based on where that knob's tactile arrow points. Like my childhood stove, you could even make one that has firm stops like Hi on my first stove so that I could always be sure it is on that setting.
Nowadays getting speech synthesis is so easy and cheap, add a voice to your device. If you already have tones on the device, make the tones mean something. My LG has the ability to change the tone it does when I turn the machine on and off but it never uses any of the tones it can play except for On and Off.
What About Braille
Some devices actually ship with braille on them and I think that is absolutely the best. However, not everyone can read braille. Statistics show that approximately only 10 percent of blind people can read braille. And some people may not be able to use it due to physical limitations, i.e., maybe they have neuropathy in their hands. Or maybe they don't have hands. But definitely put on braille if you can.
My very first appliance review was my washer and the manufacturer sent me some braille templates that were excellent. However, over the years since I got these templates, no one else has ever been able to get them for their washer. For years now, every time someone tries to get these templates, they are sent in circles. Someone had this happen to them just a few weeks ago. He found mention of the template on the Company web site but there was no information on how to order them. And in the end, when he called support, the accessibility help desk had no idea. He kept pushing them and finally someone said that they found what he was looking for and would have it out to him in 2 weeks. It's now been over a month since that call and nothing has arrived. When he called back after three weeks, they clarified that what they were sending was not a template but a braille manual. Even the manual has not shown up yet. I have actually seen the manual, it's massive and also written in the new Universal English braille code, but I don't read UEB. It was released long after I was in school and I never learned how to read it. The person that is still waiting for his manual also does not like UEB. More importantly, the company never asked if he could read UEB. I find this so frustrating as everyone I tell about the template wants to buy the unit with a braille template. They can't even pay for that template because it only seems to exist on my unit. The person that tried to get a Braille template that he found on the website has also repeatedly said to me that "buying this unit is a risk if one day the app breaks", i.e. the update does not have accessibility, he will then not be able to use the unit at all because this newer machine has no buttons at all, and yes, no template. It turns out that the unit he bought is, of course, the top-of-the-line model.
In closing, I will never tell you that a device that requires a person with a disability to use an app is accessible. I will tell you it might or might not be usable depending on the accessibility of the app. But ultimately, if the device can't work without that app, it's not necessarily a good buy. Manufacturers need to think about stand-alone accessibility I say over and over again. The accessible device is everyone's favorite.
Published February 4, 2025
Categorized as Uncategorized
By Lucy Greco
Lucy is a technology enthusiast that is passionate about getting people with disabilities the best access to the same technology as their able-bodied peers.
David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
www.DavidGoldfield.com
Director of Marketing, Blazie Technologies
www.BlazieTech.com
Am Yisrael Chai
The Nation of Israel Lives!
[JAWS Certified, 2022]
NVDA Certified Expert
Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive blindness technology news, events and information.
Email: tech-vi+subscribe@groups.io
***
CCB Officers and Directors
July 1, 2025
Officers
President: Guillermo Robles, (2025-2026, partial term), Culver City
310-896-8525, president@ccbnet.org
1st Vice President: Regina Brink, (2025-2027, 1st term), Sacramento
916-393-0662, Regina.Brink@ccbnet.org
2nd Vice President: Rob Turner (2024-2026, 3rd term), Sunnyvale
408-203-9300, Rob.Turner@ccbnet.org
Secretary: Steve Bauer (2023-2025, 1st term), Culver City
310-558-4500, Steve.Bauer@ccbnet.org
Treasurer: Lisa Presley-Thomas (2024-2026, 3rd term), Fresno
559-250-6760, Lisa.Thomas@ccbnet.org
Immediate Past President: Gabe Griffith (2024-2026), Concord
925-222-5762, Gabe.Griffith@ccbnet.org
Directors
Andrea DeKlotz (2024-2026, 2nd term), Orange,
714-921-0289, Andrea.DeKlotz@ccbnet.org
Nelly Emerson (2024-2026, 1st term), Santa Maria,
951-237-2960, norconelly11@gmail.com
Larry Gassman (2024-2026, 3rd term), Fullerton,
562-706-7710, Larry.Gassman@ccbnet.org
Joe Green (2023-2025, 1st term), Sacramento,
916-317-7957, Joe.Green@ccbnet.org
Daveed Mandell (2023-2025, 1st term), Berkeley,
510-504-3211, Daveed.Mandell@ccbnet.org
Pamela Metz (2023-2025, 1st term), Chatsworth,
818-388-4995, Pam.Metz@ccbnet.org
Phill Obregon (2025/2026 Partial Term),
909-675-7415, phill.obregon@ccbnet.org
Joshua Saunders (1st Term, 2025-2027),
510-685-3371, joshuaesaunders@gmail.com
Linda Samulski (2025-2027),
760-702-0879, lindahoney050@gmail.com
Alice Turner (2025-2027 1st term), Sunnyvale,
650-388-0095, alicem1957@comcast.net
Publications Committee
Mike Keithley, BC Editor, 650-714-5971, editor@ccbnet.org
Susan Glass, Associate BC Editor, editor@ccbnet.org
• Susan Glass and Andrea DeKlotz co-chairs
• Lynne Nishihara
• Daveed Mandell
• Steve Bauer
***
