The Blind Californian
Quarterly Magazine of the
California Council of the Blind
Winter 2026
Volume 70, No. 1
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, Ardis Bayzun, and Regina Brink, 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
408-429-9567
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:
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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.
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Table of Contents
Editor's Corner, Susan Glass and Omni Glass
2026 CCB Virtual Conference and Convention: "Beyond Barriers", Alice Turner and Andrea DeKlotz
California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, Join the Fight, Jeff Thom
California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss: Potential for Growth, Nelly Emerson
California Diabetics in Action: Come Join Us for Free, CDA Outreach Committee
Walking the Camino de Santiago Blind, Richard Rueda
Book Corner and Commentary: Outside Myself, Kristen Witucki, Reviewed by Susan Glass
Services for Older Blind Adults: How a Local Senior Center Has Worked Collaboratively with the Blind Community, Connie Bateman
What We Want, Regina Brink
Sierra Regional Ski for Light, Nelly Emerson
Advice From My Dogs on Enjoying the Holidays, Vita Zavoli
Special Announcements Bulletin Board
CCB Officers and Board of Directors
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Editor's Corner
By Susan Glass and Omni Glass
Hello CCB family, and Happy Holidays to all! Let's extend especially warm wishes to our esteemed friend and senior editor Mike Keithley, who is recuperating just now from a broken ankle. Ever the cheerful optimist, he writes that the place where he is recovering feels more like a home than a rehab facility. He says the food there is awesome, and a mockingbird sings outside his bedroom window. Mike, may your ankle mend in time for you and your beloved wife Star to spend Christmas and New Years together. Hurry back for my sake too: As the BC's Associate editor, I yearn to have you at the helm of our magazine.
We begin this issue of the BC with a 2026 CCB Convention preview written by Alice Turner and Andrea DeKlotz. It is followed by two complimentary perspectives on our CAABL affiliate, prepared by Jeff Thom and Nelly Emerson. Next, learn about our California Diabetics in Action Affiliate, and then lace up your hiking boots as Richard Rueda leads you along the Camino de Santiago. Susan Glass reviews the novel Outside Myself by Kristen Witucki, and Connie Bateman shares how a local senior center collaborates with a blind community. Regina Brink invites us to ponder "What we Want," in her poem bearing the same title. Nelly Emerson invites us to "Ski for Light," and several dogs offer advice on enjoying the holidays: Turns out that what works well for them works well for human beings too. Our "Bulletin Board" column shares new hope for people with Stargardt disease, and AIRA's extended help for job seekers. Happy reading.
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2026 CCB Virtual Conference and Convention: "Beyond Barriers"
By Alice Turner and Andrea DeKlotz, 2026 Convention Co-Chairs
The 2026 Convention Planning Team has been diligently working since June 2025 to bring CCB members and the broader community a dynamic, engaging, and meaningful Conference and Convention experience. Our theme, "Beyond Barriers", sets the tone for a wide range of pre-convention and main-event activities designed to educate, energize, and inspire, and the theme sparks a conversation about how CCB is moving forward in the year ahead. We are excited to share an early glimpse of what you can expect and how the Convention Planning Committee (CPC) will keep you informed, involved, and ready to register.
Conference and Convention Dates
Pre-Convention: Saturday, April 18 through Sunday, April 26
Main Event: Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 3
Beginning in late January 2026 and continuing throughout both the pre-convention and main event, the CPC Communications Committee will distribute session teasers and reminders. These announcements will feature easy-to-use links and a clear, accessible format to help all members stay engaged and prepared to participate.
Pre-Convention Highlights
• Keys to Convention event is planned as a practical session to help attendees learn how to join and get the most from their virtual Conference and Convention experience. Recordings and a live Q&A segment will offer guidance on CCB Business Meeting protocols and practical tips for effective participation. A FAQ handout will be included in the 2026 Conference and Convention Program.
• California Library Users (CLUA) and Inclusive Diversity of California (IDC) affiliates will host a leading blind film maker, and participants will view one of the films. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the film maker.
• Affiliate Programs: Affiliates across CCB are actively planning their sessions, promising a diverse lineup of topics and activities to enrich the pre-convention schedule.
Main Event Preview
Panels and presentations during the main event will spotlight the achievements of blind and low-vision individuals across multiple fields. Each session is designed to spark conversation, inspire action, and encourage all of us to continue moving beyond barriers in our own lives.
"Beyond Barriers: The Art of Expression"
A conversation featuring three remarkable artists—a blind filmmaker, a low-vision photographer, and a low-vision visual artist—who challenge conventional ideas about creativity.
"Real Journeys to Employment Success for Blind and Low-Vision Individuals"
Panelists will highlight diverse employment paths across generations, industries, and career stages, highlighting real barriers to success and how they overcame those barriers.
"Fall Prevention for the Blind and Low-Vision Community"
This virtual workshop will be presented by a representative from the Fall Prevention Foundation to help us learn practical tips for building balance and preventing falls.
American Council of the Blind Update
We will hear from ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill, who will update us on key ACB initiatives for 2026.
"The Blind History Lady" Returns. Peggy Chong returns by popular demand to inspire us about blind individuals throughout history.
Ever wonder about the mission and work completed by the Blind Advisory Committee (BAC)? The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) benefits from advice on policy and program development from several statutorily-created bodies, including the BAC. BAC is chaired by CCB President, Guillermo Robles and CCB is well represented in the group. You will hear from the CCB representatives in a panel discussion outlining the key initiatives facing the Department of Rehabilitation, and blind and low vision consumers, for this fiscal year.
Look for Updates to keep you informed of additional sessions, including backgrounds about presenters.
Virtual Banquet Speaker
We are honored to welcome Dr. Joshua Miele, 2021 MacArthur Fellow—a blind scientist, designer, author, and disability scholar—as our virtual banquet speaker. Josh's insight, humor, and groundbreaking work make him an ideal voice for our theme. His life and career exemplify what it means to live and thrive beyond barriers.
The 2026 CCB Virtual Conference and Convention promises to be engaging, with innovative programming, timely topics, and opportunities to learn and connect, along with CCB Business and Elections. We look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for all participants. Stay tuned for more updates from the CPC and get ready to join us as we go Beyond Barriers together.
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California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, Join the Fight
By Jeff Thom
Whether you are a senior with vision loss, a family member or friend, or just a supporter, the California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (CAAVL) is for you.
As long as you are 18 years of age or older, we'd love to have you. To sweeten the pie even more, you can join CAAVL for the 2026 calendar year without even paying the normal dues of $20. Due to a generous donation from Helping Hands for the Blind, anyone joining prior to February 14, 2026 will have their dues paid. If you join you will not only be a member of CCB, but also a member of Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. To join, all you need to do is contact CAAVL treasurer, Denise Weddle by telephone at 310-306-8149 or by email at
deaniew21@verizon.net.
However, if you are like me, you are probably asking "but why should I join?" Before I give you the long answer, the short one is that whether currently or at some point in the future, you are likely to be a senior who has at least significantly limited vision and you will want programs and services that meet your needs.
Whether you are living on your own, with family, or in an institutional setting, funding for services specifically designed to address vision loss is woefully inadequate, as is education concerning how those needs can be met. This is the case whether you are struggling with recent vision loss or your vision loss is of long duration, but your needs are changing due to age or disability. Moreover, services funding under the Older Americans Act that are designed to assist all seniors, such as Meals on Wheels, Health Insurance Counselling, and Caregiver Resource services, often do not reach those with vision loss because of the failure to perform necessary outreach to our population. Perhaps the most disturbing problem for our population is the lack of employee education and training and the failure to provide essential services to the thousands of nursing home residents with vision loss.
So, what are we in CAAVL doing to work on what often seems insurmountable obstacles to the well-being of seniors with vision loss. Let me cite just a few examples. The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL) has led a national fight to have the Older Americans act changed to specifically recognize the problem that our population has and the need to provide better outreach at the local level to ensure that blind and low vision seniors are served. In addition, AAVL is leading an initiative under which blind and low vision seniors will reach out to entities serving seniors at the local level, including senior centers and area agencies on aging, to educate them about the need to interact with and serve our population.
Likewise, CAAVL has several projects. For over three years, CAAVL has held a support group for those struggling with vision loss, under which discussions are held in confidence to allow participants to express their greatest fears and concerns in handling their vision loss journey. Our newest initiative is to compile and disseminate educational materials to the nursing home industry about the needs of, and the best practices in, working with residents with vision loss. In addition, we expect to provide materials to seniors with vision loss who are either in these facilities or potentially may be entering them so that they can more easily advocate for themselves.
CAAVL relies on our members to determine what our future projects will be, and the more we grow, the more we can do. For both CAAVL members and those interested in CAAVL, we advertise our meetings through various CCB lists and we invite you to listen and participate.
Again, to join contact CAAVL treasurer, Denise Weddle by telephone at 310-306-8149 or by email at
deaniew21@verizon.net. Join the fight!!!
***
California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss: Potential for Growth
By Nelly Emerson
The California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss was established as an affiliate of California Council of the Blind in 2020. Since then, affiliation with AAVL was achieved.
The purpose of CAAVL is to build an active, inclusive and supportive community of older persons who are blind that fosters each person's self-acceptance and self-confidence, helps each person to access information, resources, products, services and opportunities that will enhance his or her experience with vision loss and provides opportunities for each person to share his or her unique personality, life experiences, talents and friendship on behalf of others in the community.
CAAVL strives:
To promote the acceptance, accommodation and full inclusion of older blind individuals by all agencies, employers, educational institutions, businesses, and by the general public; and
To work to improve the scope and quality of educational, cultural, rehabilitation and employment opportunities in order to enhance the quality of life for blind persons in general, and for older blind individuals in particular in the state of California.
Another goal of CAAVL is to influence providers of products and services to address the specific needs of older blind individuals, including those with multiple disabilities, in the designs of those products and services.
If the above language sounds familiar, it is because these points come directly from the CAAVL constitution and bylaws. Since CAAVL was established, much work has yielded progress in participation with entities responsible for funding and development of services for older Americans including persons with low vision or blindness. The reauthorization of the Services to Older Americans Act is critical. It will take substantial action to advocate for inclusion of older blind and low vision services nationally and locally. This sounds like a tall order, but success can be accomplished if each of us does something. Each CCB chapter can invite representatives from your local Area Agency on Aging to speak about their programs. We can visit local senior centers and become familiar with what programs are available and work towards making them accessible to us.
About 16.2% of California's population is age 65 or over, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many older individuals are experiencing vision loss. CAAVL offers a weekly peer support group. For further information on the support group please contact either Margie Donovan at 916-293-9505
or Nelly Emerson at 951-237-2960.
You can join CAAVL for free. A generous grant was provided by Helping Hands for the Blind, Inc. Membership dues for new and renewing members will be covered by this grant. In order to join please contact Denise Weddle, Treasurer by email
deaniew21@verizon.net or phone 310-306-8149.
The potential for growth is great. We can share our power and achieve necessary outcomes for the senior blind population.
***
California Diabetics in Action: Come Join Us for Free
CDA Outreach Committee
California Diabetics in Action, an Affiliate of the California Council of the Blind (CCB) since 2022, welcomes you to the CDA Affiliate.
Our elected board for 2026 consists of Patty Nash, President; Olivia Ostergaard, Vice President; Dharini Dobbins, Secretary; Nelly Emerson, Treasurer; Christy Crespin, Past President; Bob Acosta, Board Position 1; Nancy Ungar, Board Position 2.
After you read the reasons to join CDA listed below, Members of this Affiliate look forward to meeting you on a Zoom or traditional phone call.
1. You can keep abreast of equipment and medical breakthroughs needed to manage your diabetes
2. You can learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle (sleep, diet, and exercise).
3. You will be in a supportive and caring environment where you can share your concerns and challenges related to your low to no sight and diabetic journey and any problems you may be experiencing, with no judgment.
4. You will find recipes, helpful hints, and up-to-date information in our newsletter—The Glucose Gazette, a perc of joining CDA.
5. By attending CDA educational programs, you will learn about the diabetic experience from peer experiences and experts in the field.
6. Peer Support Calls provide an opportunity for you to ask questions, share your diabetic experience with others in a supportive and safe environment, and to network with CDA members.
7. The California Diabetics in Action (CDA) email serve list will provide you with an opportunity to directly connect with other CDA members.
8. If you join California Diabetics in Action between now and February 14, 2026, your membership will be paid via a scholarship. For individuals who prefer to pay their membership in full, dues are $20. Contact our Treasurer, Nelly Emerson, to discuss your membership dues arrangement. Nelly's phone number is 951-237-2960 and her email is
norconelly11@gmail.com.
9. Leadership Opportunities: By joining CDA Committees, you can learn and develop new talents and leadership skills. Our current committees include: Membership, Peer Support, Constitution and Bylaws, Outreach, Sunshine, Newsletter, and Education & Programs.
10. Joining the California Diabetics in Action Affiliate will provide an opportunity for you to meet new friends who are like you.
In summary, by joining the California Diabetics in Action Affiliate, you can learn how to embrace your diabetic identity as well as become a mentor to prospective CDA members. As you share your diabetic and low to no sight journey with other CDA members, your diabetic lifestyle will become invaluable to Affiliate members.
Welcome to the CDA Affiliate!
***
Walking the Camino de Santiago Blind
By Richard Rueda
We often call the things we yearn to do in life "items on our bucket list". For some, that list may be full of adventures; for others, it might be a single dream that lingers quietly in the background. At 51, I admit I had never clearly defined mine, yet I knew that when opportunities for travel or new experiences arose, I would always jump at the chance.
In mid-October 2025, one of those long-held aspirations came to life as friends and I walked the Camino de Santiago from Sarria to Santiago, Spain. This is the minimum 116 kilometers that one must complete by foot to be considered a pilgrim. Over five days, we crossed city streets, forest paths, open farmlands, and quiet villages, ending our sixty-two-mile journey in the heart of Santiago before the magnificent cathedral.
In preparation for this journey, I walked three to six miles daily, sometimes on the treadmill, but more often around my neighborhood and downtown Sacramento. I preferred the quieter residential routes, where there were fewer obstacles and less wait time at crossings, allowing me to maintain a steady pace. As the departure date neared, I planned to walk the Camino using my white cane. However, I soon discovered that the changing terrain, gravel roads, uneven hills, and rocky trails- made the cane less effective. Walking with a trusted friend familiar with my stride and blindness, we decided that hiking poles would serve better. They not only supported balance and endurance over seven to eight hours of walking each day, but also proved invaluable for navigating natural terrain. When crossings or boulders presented challenges, I would lightly hold my friend's backpack as we worked our way through. The experience reminded me that adaptation is a form of independence, not a limitation.
When I took my first steps on day one, I wasn't sure if I could truly complete the journey. Carrying only a backpack and the essentials, I felt a sense of liberation. The simplicity of what I carried forced focus and intention. It reminded me how much lighter we travel, both physically and mentally, when we let go of what no longer serves us.
As a professional and leader, this lesson resonated deeply. We often carry too much in our work lives, worry, outdated habits, or resistance to change. The Camino reminded me to move forward with clarity and trust, taking only what is essential to purpose and progress.
Throughout the walk, I met fellow pilgrims, each with their own story, challenge, or hope. Some sought healing, others renewal, and many simply wanted to reconnect with themselves. Listening to their stories gave me perspective on my own path. It reaffirmed that empathy, patience, and shared experience are what strengthen teams, friendships, and understanding.
By the time we reached Santiago, I felt both humbled and renewed. The walk helped me slow down, reflect on challenges at work, and uncover new possibilities that had been obscured by the noise of daily life. It reinforced a quiet truth: when we show up with purpose and consistency, clarity follows.
The Camino gave me faith in people, in process, and in persistence. It reminded me that leadership, like pilgrimage, is not about speed or perfection, but about endurance, humility, and trust in the path ahead.
What path is calling you to take your next step?
***
Book Corner and Commentary: Outside Myself, By Kristen Witucki, DB9111
Reviewed by Susan Glass
I love reading Young Adult Fiction, especially when I find a book that features a blind or low vision young person who is mentored by a blind adult. And when the mentoring seems incidental, almost unconscious, when it reflects the lives of people for whom blindness is but one strand in the complexity that makes them who they are, I like the book even more. Here, in my opinion, is a recent gem published in 2018 that accomplishes all of this:
Outside Myself, By Kristen Yitucki, DB 9111. The book is also available through Book Share if you'd like to read it in braille.
Library of Congress Annotation "When Tallie, a girl struggling to adjust to her blindness, calls Adult Reader Services at a library for the blind, she connects with Benjamin, an older man working in Customer Service. The two bond over the phone and create a special relationship. (Strong language. For senior high and older readers).
This annotation is too bland for my taste. Here's what a recent reviewer and novelist had to say:
"Outside Myself" interweaves the story of a young girl and the older customer service representative she connects with on the phone by chance one day, experiencing blindness—and its confluence with race, religion, education, illness, friendship, and family—in separate, yet intersecting ways. Witucki's use of music and literature as conduits for her characters' development and her clean, clear prose, full of interiority and insight, give the reader an immersive and engaging picture of these two remarkable lives." (Nicole Haroutunian, author of Speed Dreaming)
This story is told from both Tallie's and Benjamin's points of view, a choice that immediately seems right as you read the opening paragraphs of the first two chapters. Tallie's voice begins the telling:
The Fall, May 1994
"I fell the first and last time I climbed the tires in public. The climb was ill-fated from the beginning. I was eleven, almost twelve, in sixth grade, the last year at our elementary school. Sixth grade is too old for elementary school and definitely too old for recess. Recess should be about having fun, however you choose to have it. But in sixth grade, recess is only about rejection. And while I get that we need to save the Earth, recycling car parts into playground equipment might be carrying the whole Idea a little too far."
Tallie, totally blind since birth, falls while climbing the tires, scraping her knees and covering herself in sawdust. She feels "awkward", "humiliated", and "patronized" by her peers, especially her "friend" Erin who "laughs derisively" when she falls, and then helps Tallie to her feet and offers her arm to guide her toward their classroom.
Here is the much older Benjamin whose voice begins chapter 2:
The Fall, September 1953
"When I was younger, I did have some vision, but it was just enough that I didn't really fit into the sighted world. And I didn't fit into the visually impaired world either, because I was out there on my own, trying to have more sight than I did. Everyone was in denial about the vision problem, even me. I could see things if they were big or right in front of me. I could focus on one object at a time, one print word at a time. I could see just well enough to fake it. Or try to."
Benjamin remembers how as a boy he was given a newly painted bicycle by his father. His first ride starts out well enough, but just before arriving home, he makes a sharp left-hand turn that he believes will allow him to glide across a strip of lawn between the sidewalk where he is riding, toward the street where the big kids ride. But he fails to see a huge, thick tree, and slams headfirst into it.
"I looked up to find my mother standing over me. She asked me if I could stand up, then grabbed the bike in one hand and my shoulder with the other, hustling me along as though I were a bike, as though I couldn't walk without her support. She only let me go once we had gotten inside our house. Dad arrived home, hot and tired after having helped to put up beams for a new store building downtown, and my mother regaled him with the story.
"Are you sure Benny can see well enough to ride that bike?"
"He can see", Dad said. "He just doesn't look sometimes."
Benjamin continues: "The incident puzzled me. That tree had come at me out of nowhere. I had been watching where I was going, and I hadn't seen a tree. Would I have seen it if I had been more careful? I couldn't help wondering how other people managed to turn quickly and not slam into things."
"It will get better with practice", Mom assured me, and I believed her. "I didn't know then not to believe my parents."
Please don't assume based on what I've quoted here, that this book focuses exclusively on frustration and humiliation. Tallie and Benjamin are tenacious, spicy, and smart. Benjamin comes of age before IDEA and the ADA, Tallie: after. Tallie is Caucasian, well educated, a non-practicing Christian, and middle class. Benjamin is African American, working class, and a Baptist who converts to Islam in the 1960s. Both Tallie and Benjamin's parents love them, sometimes in ways that overprotect, sometimes in ways that support. Witucki who is blind herself, handles these details deftly, not forgetting to address the differences in a life where one is born blind, (Tallie) and a life where one becomes so over time: Benjamin. The mentor-mentee relationship of these two remarkable people lasts for over a year, during which time both characters deepen and change in surprising and delightful ways.
About The Author
Kristen Witucki has been totally blind since birth. She was raised in New Jersey. She earned a BA in English from Vassar College in 2004 with a minor in German and certification to teach students in grades 7-12. She followed it with three Masters degrees: an MA in teaching gifted students from Teachers College, Columbia University (2006); an MFA in the creative writing of fiction from Sarah Lawrence College (2008); and an Ed.M. in teaching students who are blind or visually impaired from Dominican College (2011). While in school, she earned her living at Learning Ally, where she helped people with visual impairments, dyslexia and other disabilities to access technology related to reading audio books.
***
Services for Older Blind Adults: How a Local Senior Center Has Worked Collaboratively with the Blind Community
By Connie Baitman
Many people complain that senior centers are not welcoming to people who are blind or visually impaired. Materials are not accessible, activities are not adapted, and transportation issues are not addressed. This article will show that it is possible for this trend to be reversed when a local senior center is willing to work collaboratively with the blind and visually impaired community. I will tell you how this positive working relationship started, how it was developed, and the current results of this ongoing collaborative effort.
The agency I'm going to tell you about is called A Community of Caring Senior Services Center. It was previously called Asian Community Center because when it was established, the agency primarily provided services to seniors in Asian communities. The agency currently provides services to seniors from a diversity of cultural backgrounds. While the agency provides such services as Meals on Wheels, information and referral, and senior living services, I will primarily focus on the agency's lifelong learning and wellness program. The agency is located in Sacramento. We refer to it as ACC.
The best way for me to show you how ACC has been willing to work with us is to give you examples of various situations and experiences. The coordinator of the Lifelong Learning and Wellness program attended the meetings of ACB Capital Chapter California Council of the Blind and Organization for Macular Friends to inform the members of both organizations about the programs and services available from ACC. A couple of people from the ACB Capital Chapter approached an ACC staff member about starting a game day for blind and visually impaired and other seniors. Now there is a game day once a month on Mondays at ACC where blind and visually impaired seniors have an opportunity to engage in outdoor games such as Frisby, Corn Hole, golf, tee ball, and ring toss. Each participant is paired with a volunteer. A few ACB Capital Chapter members also participate in an activity called Filipino stick fighting on Wednesdays.
When I transitioned from low vision to blindness, I thought I would no longer be able to participate in exercise classes. When I received the ACC class schedule by e-mail, I saw a class called Moving On which was a dance aerobics class. I called the Lifelong Learning and Wellness coordinator to tell her I was interested in the class. She connected me with the instructor by e-mail. The instructor and I exchanged phone numbers so we could discuss the accommodations I needed to participate in his class. We met on Zoom a few times so he could describe the routines and watch me do them to make sure I was doing them correctly and safely. Then I signed up for the ACC Rides program and began attending the class. I'm usually dropped off at ACC 15 minutes early. This gives the instructor some time to show me what routines we're going to do that day.
Shortly after the COVID crisis, ACC started a Senior Escort program. Volunteers walk with us on days and times that we have scheduled with ACC staff. This is a wonderful way to get out of our houses, walk safely, stay active, and be visible in our neighborhoods.
Some of us have participated in special events at ACC. Every September, ACC has an event called the Ohana Walk. Ohana is a Hawaiian word which means an extended family unit. Participants must register for this event and receive a special ACC Ohana Walk t-shirt. Participants can walk 1, 2, or 3 miles on specific routes. Senior escort volunteers walk with us and assist us at the picnic which occurs after the walk. Asian food is usually served at the picnic, and there are entertainment and a raffle. There is a registration fee for this event, and people can make donations for the walk on the ACC website. Funds raised from this event benefit the Lifelong Learning and Wellness program. At the beginning of the year, there is usually a Lunar New Year event which includes Asian food and entertainment done by the musical and dance classes at ACC. Volunteers are available to assist us in finding seats at tables and getting food.
I brought up a few issues with senior centers at the beginning of this article, and I would like to summarize how ACC has addressed these issues. The first issue was inaccessible materials. Newsletters and announcements are sent to us by e-mail and can be read with a screen reader on a computer or with voiceover on a smart phone. The ACC website can also be read with these methods. The next issue was adaptation of activities. The experiences and situations I shared showed you how activities have been adapted. The next issue was transportation. Most of us receive rides from the ACC rides program along with Paratransit.
I hope this article has encouraged you to get involved with your local senior center. Invite staff from these agencies to speak at your chapter meetings, and offer to speak at their meetings. Develop a collaborative working relationship with the staff. Courteously explain the accommodations you need to participate in classes and activities. Find out if the senior center has a transportation service, but also use other transportation services available to you such as Paratransit or public transportation. It is time to stop complaining and to start connecting with local senior centers.
***
What We Want
By Regina Brink
This poem is offered as I reflect on the divisions in our country. It was written just after the death of George Floyd, which I beg all of us to never forget. As immediate past president of Inclusive Diversity of California and a member of the American Council of the Blind Multi-Cultural Affairs Committee, recent events are at the front of my mind and hurt my heart. I offer this poem as a way to understand feelings of people who might have different experiences than you. I have framed it in the context of race/ethnicity, but the feelings could now easily be applied to people with disabilities as Law 504, Special Education, and the Americans with Disabilities Act are all under threat or, at the very least, face uncertainty.
We want to believe in America too!
When we hold our babies and suddenly realize
There is no way to protect them, to shield their eyes
And they see and hear and feel the hatred all around them and you,
Then we know why we want to believe in America too!
When we feel the fear emanating from our boys and grown men
Like a recurring nightmare over and over again
And it's our blood and sweat that flows to privilege you
Still, we want to believe in America too!
Like flowers that bloom from between the cracks in the street,
Our girls blossom with beauty so heart-warming and sweet.
I know they are only cheap labor to you,
But they want to believe in America too!
The fear that grips a mother in a terrifying way
When you see another assault, another death, another tragic day
And you realize the mother crying unconsolably could be you,
Oh God! We want to believe in America too!
We try to offer wise counsel and kernels of hope,
To fight for what's right and teach our children and grandchildren to cope
And then we see human life ebbing away while a strong man begs you.
Perhaps he believed in America too.
Perhaps if you saw three black or brown men kneeling on a white man's neck
For 9 minutes and 29 seconds with their hands in their pockets,
Perhaps you would feel the rage, the pain, the horror haunting you
And you would lose faith in America too!
You imagine us plotting revenge and rampaging battle
And know you don't deserve your life when you can still hear his death rattle.
"I can't breathe! I can't breathe" plagues you
Because it's so hard to believe in America like you do.
It's hard to watch our children slammed to the floor like sacks of trash
And to walk or drive or sleep or read or work or burn and crash,
To realize our humanity is up for debate
While you chant "Make America Great!"
Our blood cries out from the very earth
And our dreams are shattered almost as soon as we give birth.
The justice we demand is for us and for you!
The justice we seek is God-given and true!
The sun shines on us all equally when the sky is clear and blue.
We cherish our families with the same fervor you do.
The time has come when we must challenge you:
Get up off our neck! Extend a hand of understanding.
Let love heal our nation as holy books are demanding.
Let go of the fear that corrupts you!
We just want to believe in America like you do!
***
Sierra Regional Ski for Light
By Nelly Emerson
Sierra regional Ski for Light provides cross-country skiing and snowshoe experiences for people who have low vision or no vision. Participants are paired with sighted volunteers with skiing or snow shoeing experience. A three-day event is held annually at the Taho-Donar ski venue. Day trips are also conducted year-round.
Summertime brings us to the three-day hiking adventure. There are many excellent hiking trails in the Taho area. participants may do novice, intermediate, or advanced levels of hiking with their assigned guides. catered dinners are available while on the three-day trips. lodging is at Best Western in Truckee. Transportation to the venue is provided via charter bus from Sacramento.
I have attended both the Winter and Summer events for several years with my husband and guide dog. Dog guides are welcome. It is amazing to be in the mountains surrounded by pine trees, snow, and fresh air. The company is good and so is the food. For more information about the upcoming three-day trip and the application, please click on the following link
https://srsfl.org/skier-information/.
Come join us!
***
Advice From My Dogs on Enjoying the Holidays
Submitted by Vita Zavoli
Hello, All,
I am on a mentoring list and this is the message for this week. I love it!!
A very happy Thanksgiving to you, your guides and pets, family and friends. More than ever, we need to stay close and support where we can.
Vita
From: Ann Tardy & The MentorLead and LifeMoxie Team
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 4:01 AM
Subject: [Flash] Advice from my Dogs on Enjoying the Holidays
Share with a Friend
[previously published in 2020]
Thanksgiving can be fabulous and fierce, soulful and stressful.
I've observed my dogs masterfully navigate the fickleness of this holiday for years. And here's the advice I'm confident they would offer all of us to ensure festivity and folly:
1. Greet everyone eagerly.
My dogs welcome each person as they arrive, barking excitedly, jumping enthusiastically, and wagging their tails with great anticipation. (Of course, they assume the feelings are mutual.)
2. Be incessantly curious.
Everyone is interesting and intriguing to my dogs, so everyone gets thoroughly (and regularly) sniffed.
3. Harbor no ill will.
My dogs don't stew over unresolved arguments or upsets. Instead, they forgive and forget quickly.
4. Provoke play.
Everyone is a potential ball thrower or rope tugger to my dogs. So, they constantly bring old toys to new people, encouraging them to engage immediately. And soon enough, play ensues. Success!
5. Ignore what others think.
My dogs ignore judgment and criticism. They never feel incompetent or insignificant in the presence of others. They couldn't care less what my holiday guests think of them.
6. Never compare your life to others.
My dogs don't waste a moment judging themselves or others. It's unimportant and foolish because it would distract them from what's most important: eating, playing, peeing, and sleeping.
7. Don't try to solve every problem.
My dogs don't fret, fear, or fix. Rather, they stay maniacally focused on their priorities (eating, playing, peeing, and sleeping).
8. Create the environment.
My dogs wouldn't dare ruin the holiday with negativity or a contentious debate about politics or religion. Instead, their playfulness lifts spirits, and they know it.
9. Take breaks regularly.
My dogs go outside for fresh air (and to do their business). This momentary pause rejuvenates them physically and emotionally.
10. Nap without apology.
As soon as they're feeling tired, my dogs curl up in one of their favorite beds without excuses or justifications.
_________________________________
To all my readers, I'm grateful for our weekly connections. You inspire me with your commitment to making a difference in your roles as mentor, mentee, boss, peer, and human being.
Wishing you a happy-as-a-dog holiday!
© 2025. Ann Tardy and MentorLead. www.mentorlead.com. All Rights Reserved.
***
Special Announcements Bulletin Board
Compiled by Mike Keithley and Susan Glass
[Tech-VI] Announcement of Podcast Release 2025 ACB Conference and Convention
From: ACB-Conversation@acblists.org
We are proud to announce that all recordings from the 2025 ACB Conference and Convention are now available in podcast format.
A total of 133 podcasts have been published, organized into 12 distinct podcast feeds. Each feed features podcasts grouped by similar topic areas, allowing you to more easily find content that matches your interests and needs.
Each podcast feed is accompanied by a dedicated website that lists all the podcasts published within that feed. On these websites, you will find Show Notes for every episode, offering detailed descriptions and context. Additionally, each site provides direct links to listen to or download individual podcasts, making it convenient for you to enjoy content on your preferred device or platform.
We will soon release a comprehensive directory of each individual podcast, complete with direct links organized in the order they occurred during the conference. Until that directory is available, you may access the podcasts through each feed's website.
Below are the links to each feed's website, along with the RSS Feed URL for those who wish to subscribe and receive updates directly.
Feed
Website
RSS Feed
ACB Business
https://acb-business.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-business
ACB Conference and Convention
https://acb-convention.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-convention
ACB Convention: Audio Described Tours
https://acb-ad-tours.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-ad-tours
ACB Convention: Exhibits
https://acb-exhibits.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-exhibits
ACB Focus: Advocacy
https://acb-focus-advocacy.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-focus-advocacy
ACB Focus: Audio Description
https://acb-audio-description.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-audio-description
ACB Focus: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
https://acb-diversity-inclusion.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-diversity-inclusion
ACB Focus: Education
https://acb-focus-education.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-focus-education
ACB Focus: Employment
https://acb-focus-employment.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-focus-employment
ACB Focus: Entertainment
https://acb-entertainment.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-entertainment
ACB Focus: Guide Dogs
https://acb-focus-guide-dogs.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-focus-guide-dogs
ACB Focus: Health and Wellness
https://acb-health-wellness.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-health-wellness
ACB Focus: Leadership
https://acb-focus-leadership.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-focus-leadership
ACB Focus: Literacy
https://acb-focus-literacy.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-focus-literacy
ACB Focus: Technology
https://acb-technology.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-technology
ACB Focus: Transportation
https://acb-focus-transportation.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-focus-transportation
Podcasts en español de la ACB
https://acb-espanol.pinecast.co/
https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-espanol
Stay tuned for the Master Directory of all podcasts coming soon!
Rick
Rick Morin
ACB Media and IT Manager
American Council of the Blind, Inc.
+1 (860) 426-9161
rmorin@acb.org
Advancing Hope for Stargardt Disease
From: Foundation Fighting Blindness
Date: 11/16/2025 10:16
To: mlkeithley@comcast.net
Subject: Partner News: Advancing Hope for Stargardt Disease
Stargardt disease clinical study opportunity.
https://tinyurl.com/FFB-Reasearch
BELITE BIO
Join the DRAGON II Study
About Stargardt Disease
Stargardt disease is a rare inherited retinal disease that causes progressive vision loss, often beginning in childhood or adolescence. There is currently no cure, but new treatments are being studied to help slow its progression.
About the DRAGON II Study
Sponsored by Belite Bio, the DRAGON II clinical study is evaluating an investigational oral medicine called Tinlarebant, which may help protect the retina and slow vision loss by reducing harmful vitamin A byproducts in the eye. Locations: Japan, the UK, and the US. Study Drug: Tinlarebant 5 mg tablets taken once daily. Duration: 24 months. Visits: Every 3 months for eye exams, safety checks, and other assessments. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either tinlarebant or a placebo (inactive pill).
Main Criteria To Participate
You (or your child) may qualify if you: Are 12 to 20 years old. Have been diagnosed with Stargardt disease. Have at least one known ABCA4 gene mutation.
Additional eligibility checks will be done by the study team to ensure the study is a good fit for you.
About Tinlarebant
Tinlarebant has received multiple regulatory designations worldwide, recognizing its potential to address a significant unmet medical need in Stargardt disease: Breakthrough Therapy, Fast Track, and Rare Pediatric Disease Designations by the U.S. FDA. Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Sakigake (Pioneer Drug) Designation in Japan.
Learn more at
https://belitebio.com
Expanded Scope of the Job Seeker Offer
Subject: [Tech-VI] From AIRA: Access Offer Update: Expanded Scope of the Job Seeker Offer
From: main@aira.groups.io On Behalf Of Jenine Stanley via groups.io
Access Offer Update: Expanded Scope of the Job Seeker Offer
Since the launch of the Job Seeker offer in February 2018, Aira has worked to reduce barriers in the job search process for countless Explorers, from application to interview. Grounded in our belief that Access is a Human Right, this Aira-sponsored program was created to help improve equitable employment opportunities for the Blind and Low Vision community.
In response to Explorer feedback and the evolving landscape of employment access, we're excited to announce that the scope of the Job Seeker offer has been expanded. Explorers may now use the offer through the completion of onboarding activities for a job they have accepted. This includes tasks such as completing new-hire paperwork and filling out tax or benefits forms prior to their official start date. The offer remains focused on the employment journey and does not include training or job duties once employment has officially begun.
As with any of our access offers, you can activate the Job Seeker Offer by tapping on "Browse Access Offers on the Home Screen or letting your visual interpreter know you would like to use that offer.
If you have any questions about the Job Seeker Offer, please contact our Customer Care team. They are available between 6:00am and 6:00pm Pacific team at 1-800-835-1934 or via email at
support@aira.io.
***
CCB Officers and Board of Directors
April 18, 2025
Officers
President: Guillermo Robles, (2025-2026, partial term)
310-896-8525
President@ccbnet.org
1st Vice President: Regina Brink, (2025-2027, 1st term)
916-393-0662
Regina.Brink@ccbnet.org
2nd Vice President: Rob Turner, (2024-2026, 3rd term)
408-203-9300
Rob.Turner@ccbnet.org
Secretary: Steve Bauer, (2025-2027, 2nd term)
310-558-4500
Steve.Bauer@ccbnet.org
Treasurer: Lisa Presley-Thomas, (2024-2026, 3rd term)
559-250-6760
Lisa.Thomas@ccbnet.org
Immediate Past President: Gabe Griffith, (2024-2026)
925-222-5762
Gabe.Griffith@ccbnet.org
Directors
Andrea DeKlotz (2024-2026, 2nd term), Orange, CA
714-921-0289, Andrea.DeKlotz@ccbnet.org
Nelly Emerson (2024-2026, 1st term), Santa Maria, CA
951-237-2960, norconelly11@gmail.com
Larry Gassman (2024-2026, 2nd term), Fullerton, CA
562-706-7710, Larry.Gassman@ccbnet.org
Joe Green (2025-2027, 2nd term), Sacramento, CA
916-317-7957, Joe.Green@ccbnet.org
Pamela Metz (2025-2027, 2nd term), Chatsworth, CA
818-388-4995, Pam.Metz@ccbnet.org
Phill Obregon (2025-2026, partial term), La Verne, CA
909-675-7415, Phill.Obregon@ccbnet.org
Linda Samulski (2025-2027, 1st term), Menefie, CA
760-702-0879, lindahoney050@gmail.com
Joshua Saunders (2025-2027, 1st term), El Cerrito, CA
510-685-3371, JoshuaESaunders@gmail.com
Alice Turner (2025-2027, 1st term), Sunnyvale, CA
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
