THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN
Quarterly Magazine of the CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
Spring, 2010, Volume 54, No. 2

Published in Braille, Large Print, Cassette, email (bc-subscribe@ccbnet.org), Diskette, Online, and Email and Online in readable and downloadable text and audio media

Jeff Thom, President
7414 Mooncrest Way
Sacramento, CA 95831
916-995-3967 cell
jeff.thom@ccbnet.org

Executive Office:
California Council of the Blind
1510 J Street Suite 125
Sacrament, CA 95814
916-441-2100 voice
916-441-2188 fax
toll free 800-221-6359
Email: ccotb@ccbnet.org
Website: www.ccbnet.org

San Francisco Bay Area Office:
Catherine Skivers
836 Resota Street
Hayward, CA 94545-2120
510-357-1986
cathie.skivers@ccbnet.org

Los Angeles Area Office:
Donna Pomerantz
1115 Cordova Street
Pasadena, CA 91106
626-844-4388
donna.pomerantz@ccbnet.org

Frank Welte, Director
Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
800-221-6359 toll free
650-576-4177
frank.welte@ccbnet.org

Joel Isaac, Webmaster
webmaster@ccbnet.org

Editor: Mike Keithley
191 East El Camino Real #150
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-386-6286
editor@ccbnet.org

The CALIFORNIA CONNECTION is a weekly news service provided: by phone, in English and Spanish at 800-221-6359 Monday through Friday after 4 p.m. and all day on weekends and holidays; For email subscription, send a blank message to connection-subscribe@ccbnet.org; or on the web at www.ccbnet.org Submissions for the California Connection can be emailed to gabe.griffith@ccbnet.org.

Non-members are requested and members are invited to pay a yearly subscription fee of $10 toward the production of THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN.

If you or a friend would like to remember the California Council of the Blind in your Will, you can do so by employing the following language:

"I give, devise, and bequeath unto the California Council of the Blind, a nonprofit charitable organization in California, the sum of $____ (or ____) to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons."

If your wishes are more complex, you may have your attorney communicate with the Executive office for other suggested forms. Thank you.

In accepting material for THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN, priority will be given to articles concerning the activities and policies of the California Council of theBlind and to the experiences and concerns of blind persons. Recommended lengthis under three pages or 1800 words.

The deadline to submit material for the summer, 2010 issue of THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN is noon, June 1.

Please send all address changes to the Executive Office.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Grade II braille Version

• Editor's Page, by Mike Keithley  
• President's Page: Of Children and Those Who Act Like Them, by Jeff Thom
   
• Accessible Social Security Notices Available Thanks to Major Court Decision, by Steven Mendelsohn
   
• My Very First ACB Convention Experience, by Tuan Nguyen
   
• Caltrans: Disabled Rights Advocates Applaud Agreement to Improve Access to Pedestrian Facilities for the Disabled, press release
   
• Historically Speaking: A Statement of Principles, by Catherine Skivers
   
• New CCB CCB Fundraiser, by Jeff Thom
   
• Blindness Organizations and Arizona State University Resolve Litigation Over Kindle, press release
   
• Report On State and Federal Legislation, by Frank Welte
   
• Not for Seniors Only, by Bonnie Rennie
   
• Louis Preston Sr. Dies of Gall Bladder Complications, by Judy Wilkinson
   
• Traveling Abroad: It's Easier Than You Think, by David McElroy
   
• Career Connections, by Dr. Catherine Schmitt Whitaker
   
• On the Lighter Side, by Evelyn Drewry
   
• Changes Make It Easier to Qualify for Extra Help Reducing Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs, edited press release from SSA
   
• Recipe Corner, by Sylvia Lopez
   
• Bulletin Board, compiled by Judy Wilkinson
   
• Officers, Directors and Publications Committee 2010
   

EDITOR'S PAGE
by Mike Keithley

Spring is the time for renewals, and I think you'll find new goings-on in CCB and the blindness community in this issue of the BC.

First, we have Jeff's President's Message, where he tells us about his "last week in February." Then, in another piece, we learn about a new CCB fund-raiser, where you're simply buying food at participating grocery stores.

We have a great article from Tuan Nguyen about his very first ACB convention. Dave McElroy tells about his European adventure. Cathie Skivers describes how the Associated Blind of California was formed in 1960 and lists the principles that helped that organization (and CCB) prosper. You'll also read about the preliminary settlement of the Caltrans suit and how communities can take advantage of funds from this settlement to repair damaged streets belonging to Caltrans.

We also have an informative article by Steven Mendelsohn detailing alternative formats of materials from SSA. Career Connections is back along with On the Lighter Side and the Recipe Corner, and you'll want to check out Frank Welte's legislation report.

And don't forget the spring convention in Burlingame from April 15 to 18. The theme of the convention is education, and we'll have panels on schools for the blind plus a short jazz performance from the Jazz Ensemble from CSB.

Also of note is the sweepstakes raffle for the production of the BC. The grand prize is $500 cash, with runner-up prizes including round trip airfare for two (up to $800), $100 cash, $75 in gift cards, and more prizes in the works to be announced at a later time. Tickets are just $5 each and there are only one thousand tickets available. Remember that the sweepstakes is open to the public; and although your chapter or affiliate will have tickets to sell to members, they can also be purchased at the convention. Check the Connection for updates.

In closing, I want to thank Judy Wilkinson for her work behind the scenes to produce this issue. Sit back and enjoy!

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: OF CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO ACT LIKE THEM
by Jeff Thom

There are times when thinking about CCB members and the future of our organization does not give me very pleasant thoughts. Times are hard for many of us, jobs harder than ever to come by, programs being cut or eliminated, the organization constantly clawing for every dollar it can find to maintain its service levels, and there being far too much work to do for the number of people we have to do it. But just when I am starting to feel the blues coming on, events take place that restore my faith in the future, and that's what this article is about.

The last week in February was a very eventful one. I began it by attending the ACB President's meeting and Legislative Seminar and ended it as a judge at the Northern California Braille Challenge. Both of these events bring out the best in blind and low vision people, and that's why I thought I'd briefly discuss each.

Along with second vice president Donna Pomerantz and myself, our legislative seminar delegation included Alice McGrath, Rob Turner, Linda Porelle, Ardis Bazyn, Ruben Armenta, Leena Bandy, David Hanlon, and Roy Harman. Moreover, we were able to steal ACB President Mitch Pomerantz away from his presidential duties to work with us on Capitol Hill. Because of our own resource limitations, the delegation would have been quite small had not various chapters stepped up to the plate, and I want to thank heartily those chapters who donated funding to help send some of these individuals to Washington, D.C. As always, the CCB legislative seminar delegation bonds together and works hard on your behalf. Every year it changes to some extent, but the CCB camaraderie is a constant.

This year we worked to persuade our Congressional delegation to support HR734 and S541 (dealing with hybrid cars) and HR3101 (concerning various aspects of telecommunication, including video-description requirements for TV networks, audible TV emergency notifications, accessible user interfaces such as for Cable TV menus that we can't use, and accessible wireless devices). However, my primary goal in mentioning the ACB Legislative Seminar in this article is not to discuss the bills that we supported. Rather, it is to underscore the fact that the seminar annually provides a time that CCB members work closely with one another to achieve a common goal. Every year, almost without exception, CCB members participating in the seminar for the first time come back feeling far more committed to the organization than they did prior to the event. The results we achieve on Capitol Hill can be very mixed, but the increase in commitment that participants feel is something that has a very long-lasting impact on this organization. Whether it's an event like the ACB Legislative Seminar or a local fund-raiser where everyone pitches in and does his or her task to make the event a success, it is this type of event that really helps to tighten the bonds within the CCB family and make us the type of organization that we need so desperately to be if we are to continue to achieve positive change for blind and low vision Californians.

As some of you may have guessed, the reference to those who act like children refers to our national political leaders we visited up on Capitol Hill. As to the real children, they really made my day at the Northern California Braille Challenge.

They ranged from kindergartners to high school students, but they shared a love of braille. Four of the five judges were CCB members, and some of the proctors that gave the test were CCB members as well. Every child participating received a certificate and a round of applause. We should be incredibly proud that the heritage of Louis Braille lives on not only in our organization, but through the blind children in our great state.

The CCB leaders of today and the CCB leaders of tomorrow are truly doing great work. Dark clouds may sometimes appear on the horizon, doing everything they can to blot out the sun. Rest assured, however, the present and future for CCB is very, very bright.

ACCESSIBLE SOCIAL SECURITY NOTICES AVAILABLE THANKS TO MAJOR COURT DECISION
by Steven Mendelsohn

In September, 2009 the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California decided the class action lawsuit "ACB v.Astrue." The court ruled that the Social Security Administration's (SSA) provisions for making notices accessible to persons with visual impairments were inadequate. As a result, you will be able to get notices and other important communications from SSA in braille, on MS Word CD (in MS Word files on CD) and possibly in other alternative formats that meet your needs.

Who is covered? The people covered by the decision include all benefits recipients, applicants for benefits and representative payees who are blind or have visual impairments. They include people receiving or applying for benefits or serving as representative payees under all of the Social Security programs: old-age and survivors insurance, SSDI and SSI.

If you are a person with a visual impairment that interferes with your ability to read standard print notices, you are eligible to receive your notices in alternative formats, even if SSA records don't currently categorize you as a visually impaired person. Anyone applying for benefits under any of the SSA programs in the future who needs an accessible format will also be eligible.

What are the alternative formats? In the past SSA has operated the Special Notice Program (SNP) under which people with visual impairments could request their notices either to be sent to them by certified mail or to be read to them aloud in a phone call from SSA. But based on the evidence presented at trial, the court found that these measures were not adequate for providing meaningful and equal access to all people with visual impairments, and that they violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. To remedy this, the court ordered SSA to make notices available in braille and on Microsoft Word data CDs, and SSA will continue to use the SNP system as well. But people who want their notices in these new alternative formats will need to file a request.

How to request? If you are known to SSA as a person with a visual impairment, you should have received a call informing you of the new options, but that call is only for the purpose of informing you. You do not make your request through the representative who calls you and you do not need to wait for the call in order to make your request. You make your request (for braille or Microsoft Word data disk) either by going on the SSA website, www.ssa.gov/notices, and follow the instructions there; by calling or visiting your local SSA office; or you can make the request by calling 877-708-1776 (TTY: 800-325-0778).

What about other formats? Many people's needs may remain unmet by braille, data disk or the SNP. They may need audio cassettes, audio CDs or large print. Although the court has not ordered that any of these formats be made available, a procedure has been established for people to request them and there is hope that SSA will respond to these needs as well. If you need to request one of these options, you can do it in one of three ways. Again, you can go on the SSA website as noted above and apply there, or you can go through your local SSA office. Or you can call SSA, but at a different number. To apply by phone for these other formats, including large print, you call SSA at 800-772-1213. Be prepared for the possibility, as some callers have reported, of reaching a representative who is unfamiliar with the program and who may therefore not understand what you are calling about. If that happens, persevere until you are reasonably certain that your request has been noted, and if that means talking to someone else then ask to do so. In making this call, and in any contacts with SSA about alternative formats, be sure to keep a record of who you talk to, when and what is said.

What happens after you make your request? If you request braille or data CD, you won't be re-contacted about that by SSA. By no later than September 30, you should start receiving your notices in your format of choice. Between April 15 and September 30 you may still receive your important notices in standard print, but you will at least receive a cover letter in your format of choice telling you that you have received an important notice.

If you have requested another format such as large print, the process will be different. SSA will call you back within 30 days to get more information from you about your request. After verifying your name and SSN (and make sure it is SSA that is calling before giving out any personal information), they will ask about what format you are requesting and why the formats they automatically offer won't work for you. For someone who doesn't read braille, or who doesn't have the means for enlarging or listening to the information from a data disk on a computer, the reasons for needing large print or some other type of audio aren't difficult to understand. And you shouldn't ever need to say that you have no one to read it to you, because you have a right to privacy that should not be questioned.

Within 45 days of your receipt of this follow-up call, SSA will contact you with their decision. They are permitted to deny your request for two reasons: because they think another format is effective for you or because granting your request would impose an undue financial or administrative burden on the agency. DREDF plans to make resources available should you need to appeal a denial of your request.

What else can you do? In addition to requesting the alternative format you need, you can do a great deal to make sure this historic decision benefits as many people as possible. The first thing you can do is help to make sure that the availability of these important new resources is made as widely known and as fully understood as possible. Many people who can benefit from alternative formats and who would be entitled to them may not be closely involved in the blindness community and may not hear of this decision. Be sure to make it known in all the groups or settings where you are affiliated, so that all those who can benefit (particularly older Social Security recipients with limited vision) can be made aware of the opportunity.

The second important thing you can do is help ACB and its legal counsel monitor SSA's implementation by giving feedback or discussing a particular difficulty you are having. You can do this by contacting the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) by phone at 800-348-4232, or email at ssaclassaction@dredf.org. Of great benefit in this regard, you can also respond to the questionnaire established by DREDF to monitor recipient experience and agency response under the program. It can be found on the web at www.surveymonkey.com/s/68jkvw5. You can read SSA's official notice of the alternative formats project either in PDF at www.dredf.org/programs/notice-of-relief.pdf or in text format at dredf.org/programs/ssa-notice.txt. For those who would like to access the SSA notice by phone, it is available in a recorded format on the 877-708-1776 number.

What's next? The Federal Court has retained jurisdiction over the case. This means that further rulings or orders are possible, depending on what happens. It is hoped, for example, that if enough people who need large print ask for it, SSA will agree to provide it routinely or the court will be moved to order its inclusion among automatically available formats. Continuing monitoring by counsel and supervision by the court also ensures that problems of implementation encountered by recipients will be noted. Your cooperation in keeping counsel informed of your experience, good or bad, will therefore remain vital.

Major court decisions not only represent the end of one process, but as importantly, the beginning of another. Through the hard work of counsel and of the ACB members who came forward, testified and assisted in the prosecution of the case, a landmark victory has been won, but it remains for all of us to turn that legal victory into meaningful improvement in the quality of life for potentially millions of Americans in the months and years to come.

MY VERY FIRST ACB CONVENTION EXPERIENCE
by Tuan Nguyen

[Editor's note: I'm indebted to Judy Wilkinson for editing this work. She writes:

"Here's a special treat. It's a story we all know: the thrill of attending our first national convention. The story never gets old; another person learns, explores, grows, makes new friends.

This account comes from Tuan Nguyen, a CCB scholarship recipient. He was born in Viet Nam and educated in the U.S. from age eight. He is currently finishing his studies at community college and plans to transfer this fall to Sacramento State, majoring in physics."]

Oh boy, it was pretty humid and warm when I caught a taxi from the Orlando airport to the Rosen Centre Hotel. As I entered the hotel, I opened my world to attend my very first ACB national convention. This year's theme was "Galaxy of Possibilities". I came to this convention not just because I wanted to go but because my friends and associates strongly urged me to attend to gain new experiences and ideas. My many thanks to Gabriel Hojman, Eric Newborns, and Mario Rose for their encouragement and enthusiasm. Of course, the week-long convention was such a wonderful experience for me. Some folks who know me, especially those in the CCB family, might wonder why I'm writing this article for the BC. I'm writing not only to report my personal experience, but to inspire others who have never attended the national convention to travel to Phoenix or Reno in 2010 or 2011 respectively.

When I picked up the two braille volumes of the convention program from the ACB registration table, I read them over and could not imagine the countless programs, events, and activities packed throughout the week I thought, "This is really something for me to look forward to." On my first evening, after a delicious dinner at a nearby Denny's restaurant, I just relaxed in my hotel room: exhausted after sitting on the plane for about six hours.

The general sessions of the ACB convention were unquestionably fascinating with respect to several topics given in the agenda that I could not imagine, and I learned a great deal of valuable information. Every morning I got a nice, warm coffee from the Convention Cafe and picked up a braille copy of the newspaper published each day (The Orlando Orbiter) before heading to the ballroom for the general session. Can you understand how everything I've mentioned so far helped set my mind in motion for the attention and mental analysis for the daily tasks, including the enjoyable but sometimes frustrating general session? The general sessions covered a lot of topics ranging from the ACB president's report to an update on quiet cars presented by Eric Bridges. I personally found all of them equally interesting and amazing due to the impact on the lives of blind and visually impaired individuals across the country.

During the middle of the week, two speakers at two separate general sessions were very fascinating. First, Shakila Maharaj, from Durban, South Africa, talked about South African perspectives on the integration of blind people and the importance of sighted people living in harmony with visually disabled persons. Second, a panel of two speakers, Theresa Ronnebaum and Holly Salmons, talked about protecting against identity theft. Although not a victim of identity theft myself, I found their professional advice indispensable in reducing the chances of becoming a victim. Some of the tips given by these motivational individuals that I never will forget are keeping important, sensitive documents (such as social security cards) at home in a safe, proper place; also be careful when using credit cards in public.

Friday's general session was really long, covering various issues such as elections, amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, and proposed resolutions. Congratulations to President Mitch Pomerantz for your re-election, and I wish you the best in the next two years of your administration. During the final general session, Dr. Otis Stevens read the proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, and Judy Jackson read proposed resolutions; speakers from the floor provided comments and suggestions and expressed their support or opposition to the respective issues. While listening to people expressing their views, I mentally analyzed the facts and opinions, and in the end, I cast a number of voice votes on the proposed issues, both in favor and against. Overall, spending time in the general sessions was such a wonderful experience and simultaneously gave me the opportunity to learn about new ideas and issues that have a profound impact on people who are blind and visually impaired.

During the week, I went on two wonderful tours. First, upon getting off the ferry, I visited the magnificent Disney World Magic Kingdom. Filled with lots of fun and imagination, it was such a fabulous day for me and my fellow conventioneers. Throughout the afternoon and evening, I enjoyed a number of really incredible rides such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (to see a gold-mining Old West town) and the musical boat ride, called "It's a Small World," which took us to foreign lands. Finally, I visited Cinderella's Golden Carousel. I was so excited to discover Mickey, Snow White, Dumbo, Peter Pan and some pirates, circling the rivers of America on an authentic 3-tiered paddlewheeler, and to meet the country's leaders in the Hall of the Presidents. Audio description in the theater hall was clear and fantastic. The whole thing was such a gigantic experience in my life!

On the last day of the convention, I went on a second tour called Daytona 500 Experience. As with the previous tour, it was fun, interesting, and fantastic. I even got to feel the NASCAR racetrack. In addition, I had a wonderful experience driving a simulated race car; it was so much fun! Even though I couldn't see the screen directly in front of me to follow the track and keep up with the other drivers, I just pressed on the accelerator and bumped into the wall or the embankment countless times, signaled by slightly violent shaking of my simulated car. When the race was over, a sighted gentleman told me I finished third in the victory line: absolutely amazing!

The exhibit hall was great, filled with lots and lots of innovative technology products, brochures, clothing, toys, goodies, and so much more. I spent over fifteen hours in three days, browsing from booth to booth and enjoying the companies' representatives who demonstrated their products. For example, at GWMicro's booth were fascinating items such as Braille Sense, Book Sense, Voice Sense, a portable CCTV, etc. A nice lady from this company showed me how to use both models of the Braille Sense.

At the booth for Perkins School for the Blind, I examined a new Perkins Brailler, which is much lighter and more portable and makes less noise than the old model. But to me the most exciting booth was Apple's, where I put my hands on the unbelievable new talking iPhone. Since I had lots of trouble using and navigating iPhone by touching and sliding my fingertips across the screen, a representative demonstrated its proper use, explaining its features and functions, and discussing its technological development for blind users. At other booths I obtained information and brochures, all of which were filled with lots of fun and innovations, including HumanWare, Freedom Scientific, Guide Dog Users, Maxi-Aids, ACB Radio, ACB Store, American Printing House for the Blind (APH), Dolphin Computer, Duxbury Systems Inc., Enabling Technologies, Hadley School for the Blind, National Braille Press, Navi-Tech, Sendero Group, Serotek Corporation, among others. Finally, I bought myself a nice, light-orange shirt with the name "American Council of the Blind" in a circular pattern located on the left side of the chest with the letters "ACB" in braille in the center of the pattern.

Also during the week when I had no meetings, general sessions or other activities, I explored the city of Orlando. Typically, I took the trolley bus, traveling up and down the lengthy International Drive. At the south end, I explored the enormous outlet stores, where I bought a number of nice articles of clothes, gifts for friends, and personal accessories. While at the market, I went to the food court for lunch, a tray of spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs; it was so delicious. At the drive's north end and in the vicinity of our hotel, I visited more places such as Walgreens, gift shops, luxurious restaurants for personal dinners, Starbucks, and a few other charming spots in the surrounding areas. On a couple of occasions, I took a public bus (better known as the Lynx) for further exploration. While riding throughout the beautiful, humid city, I met and talked to a number of local folks on the bus who gave me interesting and valuable insights into the life of Orlando. At one stop, I walked around and explored the downtown area, visiting numerous churches, small shops, the spectacular Orlando public library, the Orlando County courthouse, the county jail, remarkable museums, small restaurants for appetizers, a local park, and other nearby attractions. A little further from the downtown area, I stopped at the small Chinatown for some Asian food, and visited an Asian market which sells clothing, tropical fruits, and various household items. I jumped back on the bus and headed to the huge Orlando Mall. Walking in there was incredible and quite crowded. I browsed from store to store, looking at all brands such as Tommy, Nautica, Polo, Nike, and much more. The food court in the mall was absolutely amazing, offering a wide variety of ethnic items ranging from Asian to European to Latin American dishes. I ended up having a hot spicy Japanese dish, consisting of soft noodle, wild mushrooms, chopped garlic and onions, baked chicken strips, hot shrimps, and hot red peppers. After the fabulous meal, I continued my exploration of the mall before heading back to the hotel.

Near the end of the week, I attended two luncheons, including the Guide Dog Users and the ACB Lions. What a warm atmosphere and so many people. I talked to my fellow conventioneers from all over the country and made new blind friends. The speakers at each luncheon were very engaging, enthusiastic, and outgoing; they talked about a variety of issues such as guide dog safety and becoming a local Lions club member.

Finally, on Friday evening, I attended the ACB banquet, a fun, gigantic event. The keynote speaker, Maryanne Diamond, president of the World Blind Union from Kooyong, Australia, was appealing and informative. I was sitting at a table with fellow ACB members, most from California, and we had a nice time eating and socializing, enjoying each other's company.

After all the meetings, seminars, general sessions, tours, and numerous other activities, all extraordinarily magnificent and outstanding, the convention officially ended on Saturday, the eleventh of July. Everybody headed home and brought back great memories, and so did I.

CALTRANS: DISABLED RIGHTS ADVOCATES APPLAUD AGREEMENT TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED
press release

Caltrans has reached an agreement on the settlement of a class action lawsuit filed by Californians for Disability Rights (CDR) and California Council of the Blind (CCB) to improve access to pedestrian facilities, such as curbs and sidewalks, for persons with disabilities.

The proposed settlement agreement was submitted to the federal court. The court must preliminarily approve the terms of the agreement and then conduct a hearing before it is binding. There will be a public notice period, and all interested parties and the U.S. Department of Justice will be given an opportunity to review the settlement and provide input to the court. Final court approval of the settlement is not expected before April 2010.

"This settlement is a win-win. It is a victory for all Californians: taxpayers and the disability community who have a right to equal access to all walkways," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "It would be inexcusable to continue to delay these modifications. Instead of debating this through the legal process for the next decade, costing millions of taxpayer dollars, we are taking action to get this work completed."

"Caltrans is committed to addressing the mobility needs of all Californians and takes seriously its responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act," said Caltrans Director Randy Iwasaki.

The terms of the settlement include the following:

Caltrans will spend $1.1 billion for barrier removal work and other improvements on sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities over a 30-year period.

Caltrans will ensure that all pedestrian and park and ride facilities under its jurisdiction, which are newly constructed or altered after the date the settlement is approved by the court, are fully compliant with federal and state access requirements.

Caltrans will ensure that temporary routes, which are provided around and through construction along pedestrian facilities under its jurisdiction, are accessible to persons with disabilities when provided.

The action, filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), alleged that Caltrans discriminated against persons with mobility and/or visual disabilities by denying them full and equal access to sidewalks, crosswalks, park and ride lots and other pedestrian facilities owned or maintained by Caltrans. The lawsuits were filed in both federal and state court in 2006 and 2008.

To view a copy of the settlement agreement, visit www.dot.ca.gov/documents/master_stipulation_and_settlement_agreement.pdf. [Editor's note: The following comes from the California Connection:]

Instructions are found near the last page of the main settlement agreement on how to request state highway sidewalk repairs/gap closures and curb ramps. Most main streets and many large arterials (such as San Pablo Ave and Ashby Ave in Berkeley; Lombard, van Ness and 19th Ave in SF, etc) remain state highways.

Each local community that sends in its requests early (and identifies any other priority qualifiers from the request list) improves its chances of getting early Caltrans investment in its state highway sidewalks, curb ramps and street crossings.

Since our communities all have long-neglected state highway infrastructure, which transportation equity and environmental justice require remedy, they are well positioned to gain substantial Caltrans investment with early requests. Even though the settlement is not yet finally approved by the court, Caltrans is accepting and prioritizing requests.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
by Catherine Skivers

In recent Issues of this magazine, you have read about a time in which some members left the council and eventually established the Associated Blind of California. For almost a year after 1960, people talked about forming another organization, but some were so discouraged at what they had just been through that they felt they didn't want to belong to any organization at all. But we all knew that there must be a continued effort to improve conditions for the blind living in California and the nation. So, we had a meeting and established the Associated Blind of California.

We felt that it was important to think about what we could do to make sure that the new organization would not run into some of the difficulties previously experienced in the Council and other organizations for the blind. We decided to draw up a statement of principles. While many people had a lot to do with the preparation of this document, John Hebner was the principal author. For those of you who have been around our work for a long time, you may remember that his name is on a scholarship in the American Council of the Blind. This scholarship was established by his wife Audrey and family. Here is the statement:

"We believe that the organization of the blind should be established on the principles on which America was founded. We believe in the dignity of the individual, and that our clubs, councils, and federation should be dedicated to respect this principle. We believe that we must have respect for the rights of minority opinions within our organizations. We believe that the state council must respect the integrity and autonomy of the local clubs, and that the National Federation must respect the integrity and autonomy of the state affiliates. We believe that local clubs should have autonomy over local affairs; the state council should have autonomy over state affairs; the National Federation should deal exclusively with national affairs. We believe that the members must support but not be controlled by their clubs; we believe that the clubs must support but not be controlled by the state council; we believe that the state councils must support but not be controlled by the National Federation. We stand firmly dedicated to the principle that the members and delegates of each organization--local, state and national--shall have the right to express their views and cast their ballots without fear of reprisals.

"We believe in the principle of representative government. We believe that the delegates to the state council and to the National Federation should be selected for their intelligence, judgment, responsibility, and fairness; and that they can represent their constituents better by determining the best course of action on any issues before any convention, only after consulting with other delegates, hearing points of views of any of those who wish to speak, and weighing all factors in the light of the best interest of the blind as a whole. Delegates must, of course, convey any resolution passed by their organizations to the Resolutions Committee and make every effort to see that it is brought before the convention for consideration. We believe that the instructed delegate is hampered in his effectiveness, reduced to the status of a messenger, and that the swaying of local opinion can be too easily accomplished by a strong national or state organization willing to spend the funds to do so.

"We believe in the secret ballot for all elections. This principle is firmly established in our American system of government. It reduces the opportunity for reprisals and for personality clashes, which would hamper the effectiveness of our organization.

"We believe that a basic responsibility of our organizations--local, state and national--is to promote goodwill among the blind and on behalf of the blind. Wherever our influences can be promoted by the practice of good public relations, this is to be preferred to coercive methods of establishing and enforcing laws guaranteeing the rights of the blind. We believe that we have all of the rights guaranteed American citizens under the Constitution and that unnecessary legislation merely helps to isolate us and build resentment as a group seeking favored consideration. This is not intended to mean that special legislation is not needed by the blind, but rather to prevent a few of the blind from achieving control of all blind organizations and representing themselves as the complete voice of the blind, and thus further entrenching the idea that all of the blind are alike and depriving us of our dignity as individuals. We believe that any organization representing the blind speaking for themselves must grant this right to its members: any special organization denying this right contains within it the seeds of dissension and disunity.

"A healthy and a true blind movement must be rooted in the principles of respect for its members. A loyal, organized opposition is a natural step in our growth towards maturity. We pledge ourselves to work for a unified democratic organization of the blind; and since the prolonged and continued suppression of expression would lead to the setting up of parallel state and national organizations, we pledge ourselves to work towards reunification under democratic leadership."

If you were around at the time our difficulties arose in 1960, it would be interesting to know what you think about these principles today. Unification did take place, and we are all together again. With this came term limits for the Council and the American Council still has the six-year term limit it had when it was founded. Term limits sure have been a good thing for California, especially where work for the blind is concerned. But in organizations for the blind, we don't need education about us; we already know what is needed for blind people.

Please watch and listen to communications from Frank Welte, our great new advocate. He is doing a great job representing us, but he needs all the help we can give him. If you listen to the news, and if you happen to rely on some of the programs for the blind, I don't have to tell you how much work there is ahead of us. If we each do what we can, we will continue to make the positive difference that the California Council of the Blind has always made. I guess it is still up to you and me.

NEW CCB FUNDRAISER
by Jeff Thom

Short on time and money these days? Here's a great way to help CCB that won't require you adding any extra chores to your list while shopping at Save Mart, Lucky, Food Maxx, Ralphs, Foods Co and Food 4 Less. Three percent of your purchase can go back to CCB as a donation from these participating grocers. This is an easy and excellent way to show support for the Council, whether you are a member or a helpful community friend.

There is no cost to participate in this program; all donations are given to CCB from the participating grocers. For more information or to sign up, contact your chapter president or the CCB office at 800-221-6359 or lily.mccray@ccbnet.org.

BLINDNESS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY RESOLVE LITIGATION OVER KINDLE
press release

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the American Council of the Blind (ACB), and Arizona State University (ASU) announced a settlement agreement resolving litigation filed by NFB and ACB against the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) and ASU. The lawsuit arose from the university's participation in a pilot program using the Kindle DX, a dedicated device for reading electronic books, or e-books, developed by Amazon.com, Inc. The NFB and ACB alleged that the Kindle DX was inaccessible to blind students and thus violated federal law. ABOR and ASU denied and continue to deny any violations of the law.

The settlement agreement among the parties was reached in light of several factors, including: (1) ASU's commitment to providing access to all programs and facilities for students with disabilities, including students who are blind or have low vision; (2) the fact that the pilot program will end in the Spring of 2010; (3) Amazon and others are making improvements to and progress in the accessibility of e-book readers; and (4) the university's agreement that should ASU deploy e-book readers in future classes over the next two years, it will strive to use devices that are accessible to the blind.

The United States Department of Justice is also a party to the agreement, which does not involve the payment of any damages or attorney's fees or costs. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "The National Federation of the Blind is pleased with this settlement, which we believe will help to ensure that new technologies create new opportunities for blind students rather than new barriers."

Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the Blind, expressed support by commenting: "I believe this settlement between Arizona State University and the two major national consumer-advocacy organizations of blind and visually impaired persons will encourage the industry to develop fully accessible e-book readers in the near future."

REPORT ON STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION
by Frank Welte, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs

State Legislation

The California Council of the Blind is sponsoring two bills this year in the state legislature. We encourage you to contact your state legislators and ask them to support these bills.

The first bill is AB 1787, and the author is Assemblyman Sandre Swanson. Currently, notices of proposed state regulations are formatted so that it is difficult for a person using screen reading software to read these documents to determine which portions of the regulations are being revised. This is because modified language is indicated typographically. Changed text is printed in Italic or underlined characters and deleted text is printed in strike-through characters. AB 1787 would require the state to make notifications of proposed regulations available in a format that is more readable for blind and visually impaired Californians by using narrative text to explain modified language.

We have re-introduced our bill that would require agencies that serve the blind, as a condition for receiving state funding, to reserve at least 20% of the seats on their boards of directors for people who are visually impaired. The bill is AB 2430, and the author is Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro. CCB contends that an agency that receives state funds to provide services to the blind community is accountable to that community and to the rest of California's taxpayers as well. Accountability can best be achieved when the boards of directors of agencies serving the blind include meaningful representation from our community. A nonprofit agency serving primarily women or ethnic minorities would lack credibility if its board of directors consisted mostly of white males. Even so, a blindness service agency board made up almost entirely of sighted people, no matter how well intentioned or professionally qualified, will not have the direct community input that is necessary to insure the trust of the community and the relevance of the agency's programs to that community.

We have received numerous complaints of mismanagement of the Business Enterprise Program in California. CCB will be working hard to promote positive change in the BEP program, so that more opportunities can be opened up for Californians wishing to operate food service businesses in government facilities.

Regular readers of The Blind Californian are aware of the problem of discrimination against people with visual impairments in the entertainment industry. This industry is a significant segment of our state's economy. If blind people are to attain employment parity here, the entertainment industry must remove the existing barriers to the employment of blind entertainment professionals. CCB will work to bring about these necessary changes.

Once again, the state legislature is facing a very large budget deficit, $20 billion for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. The Governor's proposed budget includes a variety of harsh and disproportionate cuts to essential state services. CCB will stand with other groups to resist further budgetary attacks on California's most vulnerable citizens. I encourage each of you to contact your assembly member and your state senator to let them know how various state programs touch your life and how important it is that these programs be preserved.

Federal Legislation

Congratulations are in order for the contingent of CCB members who, mostly at their own expense and with help from several CCB chapters, Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of California and Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, participated in the 2010 ACB Legislative Seminar in Washington, D.C. CCB's team included first-timers: Ruben Armenta, Leena Bandy, Alice McGrath, Linda Porelle, Rob Turner; and veterans: Ardis Bazyn, David Hanlon, Roy Harmon, Dan Kysor, Donna and Mitch Pomerantz and Jeff Thom. The group shared information about issues of concern to blind and visually impaired Californians to staff members in the offices of both of our senators and of the majority of California's 53 members of the House of Representatives.

We are making progress in persuading our members of Congress to cosponsor bills that we are supporting. See my column in the winter issue of The Blind Californian for descriptions of them. H.R. 734, the quiet car bill, now has 200 cosponsors, including 17 Californians, and the Senate version, S 841, has 26. The Video and Communications Accessibility Act, H.R. 3101, has 38 cosponsors, including seven Californians. The car donation bill, H.R. 571, has 138 cosponsors, 15 from California. Finally, the bill that would eliminate the Medicare waiting period, H.R. 1708, has 105 cosponsors, including 13 Californians, and the Senate version, S 700, has 20 cosponsors, including Barbara Boxer.

We encourage you to call your congressional representatives and U.S. senators in support of all of these bills. You can reach the office of your member of congress by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

You can get detailed information about CCB's legislative activities by reading my legislative reports, which will be posted regularly on CCB's website, www.ccbnet.org, and distributed on our various email lists. You can listen to the reports by calling CCB's toll-free phone number, 800-221-6359, on evenings and week-ends. Read the California Connection to find out when my next legislative report will be updated. For federal legislative information, please check with the Washington Connection: 800-424-8666 or on the ACB website, www.acb.org

NOT FOR SENIORS ONLY
by Bonnie Rennie

I was thinking about how many beloved CCB and ACB friends we have lost in the last two years or so. Then too, many of us have also grieved for other friends and family who have left us during that time period. No matter how you slice it, it's just no fun! Call it the social worker in me or my attempt to do something constructive with my own sadness. I wanted to do one small thing to try to help.

In the face of complicated emotional matters or life's dilemmas, one coping skill I have found useful is the writing of poetry. The following poem expresses my opinions and values as they bear on this aspect of life. I started writing it just before learning of the recent passing of our brother and my colleague on the Seniors with Vision Loss Committee, Louis Preston. I hope you find such reflection helpful. Perhaps it will encourage you to consider your own opinions and values regarding this important topic. And maybe you'd like to share them with our community.

Loss: The Pain and the Hope
Grief and loss are subjects people so often don't want to talk about.
Maybe saying it will make it more true, or get worse,
The mere mention brings discomfort and doubt.

Yet losses start way back in our childhood.
Your favorite toy broke, the rest of the day felt all wrong.
When Grandpa was gone, you still looked for him,
And wondered how you'd get along.
Then your beloved family pet passed away.
They explained, but you didn't understand.
A cardboard box coffin, solemn words, a group cry,
You wanted someone to hold your little hand.
The broken romance, the severed ties, departures of adult friends and family,
Yes, you've already had much practice in the Tournament of Loss,
Now you imagine how much harder it's going to be.
Loss hurts, we don't like that, but must get through it.
These are life lessons we all know too well.
How to sort out the mystery of attachment and loss?
Who will truly listen to our story we must tell?

Fortunate are those who confess a faith
Giving them context, world-view, meaning, a refuge place.
How happy are those with a circle of support,
Friends, loved ones to whom to run,
When the trauma is so difficult to face.
How comforted they with the internal strength
And a perspective to better bear the pain.
To carry forward in their hearts the beautiful essence of the one lost,
A vibrant reminder that that one did not live in vain.
For the memories of the fun,
Things we learned,
How we felt because we knew them,
Can accompany, cheer, as we do move on.
Though speaking of our loved one may hurt,
The remembrance, like fragrant flowers says
In a sense, they're not entirely gone.

LOUIS PRESTON SR. DIES OF GALL BLADDER COMPLICATIONS
by Judy Wilkinson

Louis Preston "didn't know a stranger," remembers Catherine Skivers, recalling long-time CCB member Louis Preston. His close friend Martin Jones first met him in a professional organization for counselors years before Preston lost his sight. They had lost touch, but hearing of Louis's blindness, Martin reconnected with him, learning that he was working hard to cope.

Jones invited his friend to a CCB convention. "All blind folks?" Jones recalls Louis asking, "How we gonna get around by ourselves?" "We'll take care of that," his friend assured him. And that began Preston's long association with the CCB.

In a letter to Preston's family, Jones recalls that first convention: "At that time, my roommate was Domenic Martinelli. I in turn, gave Louis my bed, and I slept in a chair. Because of the camaraderie and making positive connections with a newly blind individual, I had no reservations about giving Louis my bed. I introduced him to a number of individuals on the convention floor, and we had long conversations that would go to 2, 3, and even 4 o'clock in the morning; and on the turnaround, we had to get up by 7 o'clock for breakfast and the next workshop."

Preston participated actively in the organization: hard-working member of the Publications Committee and Board member up until the day he died. Martin recalls convincing a reluctant Louis to run for the Board. When Preston wondered about how he might manage, his friend told him he'd be there to support him: "I'll be like the shirt on your back," Martin assured him.

With an undergraduate degree in music, he sang and played the trombone. After receiving advanced degrees in counseling, he taught many years at Long Beach State, ending his career working mostly in its counseling center. He was involved in numerous community activities: the NAACP, Toastmasters and devoted commitment to his church.

Later in his letter Martin Jones states, "Louis was a very kind, understanding and compassionate individual. His loss is very painful and regrettable to me. There will be a severe emptiness having to re-adjust to a new roommate and not having him to assist with the prayer and a song in our devotional services. Louis had assisted me with mentoring of younger CCB members for leadership."

Speaking of Toastmasters, another longtime friend, "Dr. Pat", (Patricia) Adelekan (Dtm: a degree as coveted and hard to come by for Toastmasters as any advanced university degree) speaks of that great passion in his life. She got him involved, and together they founded a new Toastmasters "Inner Strength" chapter, where people who celebrated diversity gathered to carry on Toastmaster business.

"Dr. Pat" told me Louis never missed a chance to educate people about blindness: what blind people were and were not. When making a point to someone new about a blindness-related issue, she says Louis always asked, "You got that on tape?"

Louis is survived by his wife, Dr. Essie French-Preston and two children. A scholarship "The Legacy of Love Fund" has been established by the family. For more information, contact Mrs. Preston at 17129 Antonio Ave., Cerritos, CA 90703 or call 562-404-7935. More information about a possible CCB scholarship in his name will be forthcoming at the spring CCB convention.

TRAVELING ABROAD: IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK
by David McElroy

[Editor's Note: Dave and his wife Pam Drake are both totally blind. This was their first trip to Europe though both had traveled internationally with their families.]

Traveling to international destinations as a blind person is fun. It can be challenging, rewarding, informative and frustrating, but through it all, it's just plain fun! Start with a bit of planning, and you're on your way. It all started over dinner one night early last summer. I mentioned that with a significant birthday coming up for Pam, we should think about going somewhere neither of us had been before. This led to some thought as both of us have traveled throughout our lives. I had been to continental Europe in my youth, she to Nicaragua some years back; but neither of us had been to the UK, Ireland (where Pam had family), to Strasbourg, France (where my brother-in-law lives) nor to Spain.

So the planning stage was on. Using advice from my Internet contacts as well as such (mostly accessible) websites as Travelocity and expedia.com, we booked airfare, hotels and trains, though some arrangements such as the Eurostar were made by phone from England. London was our first stop, Madrid our endpoint; we figured on just over three weeks.

Our first taste of Europe, London, proved initially to be much like any other large city. One positive difference was that help getting through and out of the airport was easily accessible. The Tube, their subway, was clean and quite comfortable as we rode into the city for our initial stop, RNIB, where we met a friend and contact.

Now we've all heard about how in Britain automobile traffic drives on the left rather than the right side of the road. How is a person's mobility affected when using a guide dog or cane? Most of us probably think of automobile traffic in the abstract and we know, somewhere down deep in our psyche, that if we are standing at a corner, vehicles approaching us from the left will be closer to us than traffic coming from the right. In countries where vehicular traffic drives on the left side of the road, vehicles approaching from the right are closer to us than those coming from the left. Hopping on and off a bus is disconcerting at first because it approaches from the right and after boarding, you turn right (because the door is on the left side) to find a seat instead of turning left. Essentially, we must adapt to these traffic patterns in the same way that drivers do. We spent much of our first day getting used to the rhythm of the city and the overall traffic patterns. One area which I can honestly say we had some difficulty coping with was roundabouts--like our traffic circles but much more ubiquitous in the UK. We did not cross these independently.

London has its share of attractions, and we visited some, such as Parliament Square and the Greenwich Observatory: home to Greenwich Mean Time and the "prime meridian." There are lots of other attractions; but one thing is clear, time waits for no one, and our itinerary included other stops and other experiences. Ah, but England does have one custom that I'm not sure we'd ever become accustomed to: baked beans for breakfast. But oh, the easy availability of Indian food made up for this.

Next stop: Rochford, Essex. This is a small village east of London which boasts having been the home of Anne Boleyn and for a time of Henry the Eighth. We went there to take part in an Internet radio broadcast and, unexpectedly, to initiate a true and enduring friendship that will last for a long time.

Next, off to County Leitrim, where Pam wanted to look up family. Our research showed that Leitrim, located in the Republic of Ireland, is the least populated county in the whole of Ireland. The luck of the Irish was with us because frequent train service from Dublin met our needs. Speaking of the luck of the Irish, not only did we find a train to take us to the exact spot where Pam wanted to go, but we also came into contact with the owner of a Bed and Breakfast who was willing to transport us from the train station to her facility; heck, all we asked her for was the number for a taxi. Most of our travel was via train and taxi with the odd bus or trolley thrown in.

We arrived during a weekend of real celebration: the local schools were having a multi-year, multi-religion reunion. We were invited to some of the festivities, the theme of which was unification. This part of the Republic, quite close to the border with Ulster, was the focal point of religious strife over the years; so it was fitting that efforts were made to unify the population. Initially there had been two schools, one Catholic and the other Protestant, which had been merged some years ago. A truly touching moment was after the reunion dinner when a cake was cut by a nun and a local Protestant representative. The Irish are very hospitable people, and we were welcomed enthusiastically.

Next, we wound our way south and east to Hereford, about halfway back to London. This entailed a ferry ride across the Irish Sea and then a train through Wales and on into Hereford. This relatively small community happens to be the site of a "college" for the blind, and one outgrowth of this was that at least some of the restaurants had braille menus. Hereford is also home to an impressive cathedral, which we toured as well as looking at a medieval map known as the "mapa Munde," a depiction of the way the world was viewed in the fifteenth century. Not surprisingly, Jerusalem was the center point. We were pleased to find a braille guidebook available. We got a true feeling of the antiquity of the cathedral when our tour guide allowed us to touch a statue which, he said, had not been painted since before our own Declaration of Independence.

Next came what for me was one of the highlights of the trip: our ride through the "Chunnel" on the Eurostar. This train leaves from London, attaining speeds of up to 200 miles per hour as it traverses southern England, the English Channel and then one of two routes in France and Belgium. Our audible gps did indeed record speeds of 190 mph through the French countryside. Here we really noticed the language change. Upon leaving London, the train's trilingual announcements were notably modified. On the French end of the channel, English suddenly went from first to third in line. A brief stop in Lisle and then on to Strasbourg, where my brother-in-law served as our tour guide.

Though Strasbourg is not the largest city in France, it is the secondary seat of power for the European Union, and so is an international city. A modern streetcar system traverses the city along with numerous pedestrian and bicycle paths; so non-drivers are not at a significant disadvantage. The pedestrian pathways are on the center islands of the streets, which was unsettling at first.

Strasbourg was the one portion of this trip where neither of us spoke the language well. However, a smile can go a long way, and we found our way paved with our halting French and the limited English of those with whom we came into contact. Again, history was alive and well, as in the main cathedral stands an organ that was played by Mozart. Yes, I managed to reach over the balustrade to touch it. I could tell that it was not in playable condition: oh, well. On Sunday morning, only half awake, Pam leaped out of bed, rushing to the window to record the sounds of the near and distant church bells.

Our final destination, Madrid, was a real treat and a great way to culminate our trip. We are both fluent Spanish speakers; so we were at far more of an advantage there than in France. Like London, Madrid has a clean comfortable subway system that made getting around relatively easy. One major difference between Spain and the rest of Europe is their "siesta" time. Essentially, most business activities shut down between two and five PM and then open up again until about eight.

Madrid has an attraction that exists nowhere else in the world. Tucked away in a suite of rooms in one of the buildings belonging to "ONCE" (the organization of the blind in Spain) is housed a museum especially designed for touch. There are three-dimensional tactile models depicting not only the great art treasures of the world but also some international symbols of note: the Statue of Liberty, Tower of London, the Kremlin, and the Taj Mahal, for example. ONCE has also made significant attempts to render the subways of Madrid accessible to blind persons by providing audible access to ticket machines and even braille signage on at least some of the railings leading down to the platforms. The ticket machines were the real winner though. Touch the bottom left hand portion of the screen and voila! A voice came forth with instructions.

Some final notes: International travel can change your life. In our case, we actually returned to England two months after leaving Madrid to spend some time with the couple we'd met in Essex and to celebrate my birthday, which happens to be a national day of celebration: Guy Fawkes Day. It's not often that a whole country erupts in fireworks displays and bonfires for your birthday! The second time around we were able to really concentrate on one area and were honored to be a part of the Rochford community, albeit for a brief time. I know I speak for both of us when I say that the story of our international travels does not end here. We look forward to new explorations and new adventures in years to come.

CAREER CONNECTIONS
By Dr. Catherine Schmitt Whitaker

As a blind or low vision person, have you thought about your "image"? This is a question that I continue to think about as I know my image makes a difference in the interactions I have with others.

Personal and professional image is important in our society. As blind and low vision people, we often feel challenged in this area. However, as ACB members we have a great resource to gain the information to be on an equal playing field with our sighted peers. Ms. Lynn Cooper, Founder and President of Lynn Cooper & Associates, Inc., presents regular segments on this topic for ACB Reports. Specializing in "Image communications and ability awareness" for women and men who are blind or who have low vision, Lynn shares information on fashion trends, classic looks and personal image tips. I have found her suggestions and tips to be useful and practical as I put my best image forward in the work world. For those who may be seeking advice on how to create a classic professional image with a few critical clothing pieces, caring for garments or the latest fashion looks, listen to Lynn.

There are several ways to access her segments. ACB Reports have regular (not necessarily monthly) features of Lynn Cooper as one of the program's speakers. These reports can be accessed on the Braille Forum's fourth side of the cassette version, by online download or on the ACB Reports web page at www.acb.org/acbreports/index.html. The segments she has presented for ACB Reports may also be found on her website at www.lynncooper.us/.

With an emphasis on motivation and personal transformation, Lynn Cooper has shared her knowledge with many companies and organizations, including the ACB National Convention. She is a lifetime member of ACB and serves on the Board of Directors of the Blind Services Association of Chicago. Recognized for her communications image work, she was honored as a finalist in the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award and by MIRABELLA magazine as one of the Most Influential Women in the U.S.

Take a step forward for your image: listen to Lynn Cooper today.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
by Evelyn Drewry

This story came to me from a coworker, and I'd be willing to bet that many of us have had similar mixups when we meant to use a particular product and discovered we had mistakenly used another.

One day my friend's boyfriend decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and finish a project in the backyard. Since this was quite an undertaking my friend, who shall remain anonymous, decided to also take advantage of the weather by lying in the sun. So she slipped into a bathing suit, grabbed a big towel and some lotion. Once she settled herself onto the towel in a perfect spot in the yard, she started slathering lotion all over her body. But she noticed the lotion wasn't rubbing in and, no matter what she did, she felt slippery all over. This was quite puzzling to her because none of her lotions had ever caused her skin to feel like this before.

Eventually her boyfriend walked by and asked how she was doing. She replied that she was just fine and that being out in the sun felt great, but that she didn't know why her lotion wasn't rubbing in and was making her feel slippery. He glanced at the bottle and gave her the shock of her life when he started laughing and told her she was using a personal lubricant. Needless to say her mystery was solved, and she made a hasty retreat to the shower.

OK everyone! I really hesitated to use this story since it might offend some people, but I'm having an increasingly difficult time coming up with material. So I urge you to send your stories to me at evelyn.drewry@ccbxet.org. I'm sure there are some great ones out there just waiting to be shared.

CHANGES MAKE IT EASIER TO QUALIFY FOR EXTRA HELP REDUCING MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN COSTS
edited press release from SSA

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, and Chubby Checker, Grammy Award winner and rock and roll legend, today launched a new campaign to inform millions of Americans about a new "twist" in the law that makes it easier to qualify for extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs. The extra help program currently provides assistance to more than nine million senior and disabled Americans, saving them an average of almost $4,000 a year on their Medicare prescription drug plan costs.

"The changes in the Medicare law that take effect in 2010 will allow hundreds of thousands of Americans who are struggling to pay their prescription drug costs to get extra help during these tough economic times," said Commissioner Astrue.

"Listen up, America! For 50 years, people of all ages and backgrounds have danced the Twist," Chubby Checker said. "Now it's important that everyone learn about this new twist in the law."

There is an easy to use online application available at www.socialsecurity.gov to apply for extra help. To qualify, people must meet certain resource and income limits. But the new Medicare law now eases these requirements in two ways. First, it eliminates the cash value of life insurance from counting as a resource. Second, it eliminates the assistance people receive from others to pay for household expenses (food, rent, mortgage or utilities) from counting as income.

There is also another important "twist." The application for extra help can now start the application process for the Medicare Savings Programs: state programs that provide help with other Medicare costs. These programs help pay Medicare Part B (medical insurance) premiums. For some people, the Medicare Savings Programs also pay Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) premiums, if any, and Part A and B deductibles and co-payments.

To learn more about the extra help program and to view the new TV spot featuring Chubby Checker, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp.

RECIPE CORNER
by Sylvia Lopez

Get ready for spring cooking and eating. With Easter just around the corner, it's time to give your kitchen a spring cleaning! But remember to take a break: sit down with a cup of something refreshing, take deep breaths, relax, and have fun. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.

Remove kitchen clutter, making as much room as you can for holiday preparations: after Easter come Mothers and Fathers Days and graduations; and Independence Day will be here before you know it! Pack away the chicken-shaped egg timer you haven't used since last Easter or consolidate the four crocks of whisks and wooden spoons into one. Get out a large box and fill it with all the things you won't need and stash it in the attic, or better yet, give it to a charity.

Attack the refrigerator. Discard everything that's past its prime, especially containers full of science experiments. To make the job easier in the future, clean as you go. Don't let dirty pots, pans, bowls, and utensils sit in the sink. Make a habit of washing, drying and putting away equipment as soon as you can after using it.

For that roasting pan with baked-on grease and gunk, fill the sink with hot water, add 2 tablespoons of dishwasher detergent, soak the pan overnight, then scrub it with steel wool. If you burn something and it sticks to the bottom of the pan, let it cool off; scrape out as much of the burned food as you can, then fill it with cold water and add three tablespoons of salt or baking soda. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, bring the water slowly to a boil and let it simmer for 20 minutes. The pan should just wipe clean. Now that your kitchen is spotlessly clean, let's get cooking!

Italian Meatball Heroes with Mozzarella and Provolone (makes four servings)

Ingredients: 1-1/2 lb. ground beef (85 percent lean); 1/2 C fresh bread crumbs; 1 egg, beaten; 1 tsp. Italian seasoning; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1 clove garlic, minced; 12 cubes (3/4 inch each) Mozzarella cheese (4 ounces); 4 pieces (6-inches each) French bread, cut open but not split; 1 whole roasted red pepper, cut into thin strips; 1 C (4 ounces) shredded Provolone cheese; 1/4 C sliced ripe olives.

Directions: Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, Italian seasoning, salt and garlic, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Divide into 12 portions; form each portion around a cube of cheese, sealing tightly. Place on rack in broiler pan so meatballs are 3 inches from the heat. Broil 12 to 14 minutes, turning frequently. Place 3 meatballs in each roll. Top with equal amounts of red pepper strips and Provolone cheese; broil until cheese is melted. Sprinkle on olives. Note that canned roasted red pepper packed in brine may be substituted for the roasted red pepper.

Cajun Avocado Dip (makes 1 ½ cups)

Ingredients: 2 medium avocados, peeled, seeded and cubed; 1 tbsp. lemon juice; 1 tsp. each dried thyme and basil; ground cumin, garlic salt and onion salt to taste; 1/2 tsp. dry mustard; dash cayenne; 1 lb. assorted cooked seafood ((shrimp, crab, etc.).

Directions: In a small bowl mash avocados with lemon juice and seasonings until well mixed. Spoon into a small serving bowl. Surround with seafood.

Almond Vegetable Stir-Fry (yield five servings)

Light and tasty: While broccoli florets and chunks of red pepper give this dish plenty of color, it's the fresh ginger root, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil that round out the flavor.

Ingredients: 1 tsp. cornstarch; 1 tsp. sugar; 3 tbsp. cold water; 2 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce (use lite); 1 tsp. sesame oil; 4 C fresh broccoli florets; 2 tbsp. canola oil; 1 large sweet red pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks; 1 small onion, cut into thin wedges; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tbsp. minced fresh ginger root; 1/4 C slivered almonds, toasted.

Directions: In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and sugar. Stir in the water, soy sauce and sesame oil until smooth; set aside. In a large nonstick wok or skillet, stir-fry broccoli in hot oil for 3 minutes. Add the pepper, onion, garlic and ginger; stir-fry for 2 minutes. Reduce heat; stir in the soy sauce mixture. Stir into vegetables along with nuts. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Easiest Ever Apple (Cherry) Crisp

Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix; 1 stick butter; 1 can apple pie (or cherry) filling.

Directions: Spoon apple or cherry pie filling into a 8 x 10 cake pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over top. Cover completely. Melt butter in saucepan or microwave. Spoon over entire top of cake mix, and gently spread with butter knife. Bake in a 350 degree oven until browned, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely. Can be served with Cool Whip or vanilla ice cream on top.

For any questions, ideas or recipe suggestions contact me at sugarsyl71@sbcglobal.net. Enjoy and remember to stay Sugar safe.

BULLETIN BOARD
compiled by Judy Wilkinson

Special Cruise for Visually Impaired Travellers

I believe this cruise will fill up fast especially for those on the west coast so don't wait; book early.

Cruise on the Carnival's Splendor: round trip from Long Beach, CA, October 17-24, 2010, visiting Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Rates start at $839 for an inside cabin, $939 for an ocean view and $1049 for a private balcony. All rates are per person based on double occupancy, single rates are available upon request and are subject to change without notice. Rates include 7-day cruise, port charges, government taxes and gratuities. To book your fun-filled vacation call 618-409-0143 or email dkronk@htc.net.

Braille Essay Contest

ACB's Kim Charlson forwards this information. She says:

"I served on the judging panel for the 2009 essay, and I'd like to see more ACB members submitting quality essays."

Onkyo Braille Essay Contest, Sponsored by Onkyo Corporation and The Braille Mainichi. Contest Period: February 1 to April 30, 2010. The submission deadline is April 30.

The Onkyo Braille essay contest is being administered by the National Federation of the Blind on behalf of the North America-Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union. Essays must be written by contest participants, in English or their native language, in braille, and must be completely original in nature. Entries should be no fewer than 800 words and no more than 1000 words in length. There will be two groups of competitors: one Junior group, aged 25 and under; and one Senior group, aged 26 and up. Prizes range from $500-$2000.

Essay topics: 1. How do you acquire knowledge and information through braille or audio devices? (Illustrate with some interesting personal stories or episodes.) 2. How can blind persons become independent by learning braille or music? 3. Individual concept about world peace from the viewpoint of persons with disabilities.

All essays must be received by April 30, 2010. For more information, visit www.nfb.org/nfb/onkyo_braille_essay_contest.asp, or contact Trisha Tatam at 410-659-9314 ext. 2510 or email her at ttatam@nfb.org.

Greater Bakersfield Chapter Facebook Page

If you're on Facebook, please visit our Greater Bakersfield Council of the Blind page. It may be a good resource for chapters and affiliates.

Kevin LaRose: Candle in the Window Conference

This small nonprofit organization of and for visually impaired people boasts Donna Pomerantz as a board member.

Why not make Candle in the Window part of your year's plans? The topic this year is "Transitions." We are working to make this year's conference a great experience for all who attend. Where: Wooded Glen, Henryville, IN; When: August 4-8.

We are interested in your input as well as your attendance. If you have ideas for presentations, or would like to present a session, please contact Becky Barnes ( beckyjimb@optonline.net) or Nancy Trzcinski (413-441-2305 or baxman@adelphia.net). If you would like more information, contact Nancy. Limit: approximately 20; cost: $485, double occupancy all-inclusive; fly into Louisville; transportation to and from the conference is included.

New Device, submitted by Ardis Bazyn for Dr. Luis Goncalves

I am part of a team of doctors, scientists, and engineers that are developing a new sensory substitution device that gives a person visual information in the form of sound. A camera that is embedded in a pair of glasses captures an image every second, and that image is transformed into sound. If a person learns to interpret the sound, he/she can gain information about the environment that would be available from looking at the image.

We have recently received a grant from the National Science Foundation to perform a study of the feasibility of the device, starting in February, 2010. The goals of the study are to determine how easily and quickly a person learns to interpret the sounds, and more importantly, how useful the device becomes in daily lives.

We are looking for 10 participants for the study. To participate you must have total blindness or light perception only, and must be able to come to our office in Pasadena for two hours of training twice a week. The duration of the study for each participant is three months. Participants will be compensated for their time and reimbursed for their transportation expenses.

If you are interested in participating in the study, or would like to find out more about it, please contact me at 626-252-0496 (cell); or email luis@metamodal.com.

Blind Grapevine, from Patti Matej, Public Relations Coordinator, Utah Council of the Blind

We are inviting members from neighboring state Councils to join the "Blind Grapevine," a Conference call for discussion about issues such as recent loss of vision or other topics that might help us aid each other. The "Blind Grapevine" is conducted from 5 to 7 p.m. PST on Saturdays. To join the conference, call 605-475-4500 with the ID 22377. For brochures about the "Blind Grapevine" contact Linda Lifsey (conference call moderator) at lindalifsey@gmail.com or phone 801-744-5555.

Also, the "Your Listening Ear" program is held Monday through Friday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST) for "one on one calls" as a support network resource for people experiencing recent vision loss or for other issues associated with vision loss. The out-of-state number for this program is 800-273-4769. I can be contacted at 801-268-0671 if you have any further questions.

CSU System Scholarships

The California State University system will be offering 44 $6000 scholarships for the next academic year to legally blind students who are enrolled full time at one of the 23 California State Universities. Applications are submitted through the Financial Aid Offices at each university and are due in various dates in April and May, 2010.

From the California Connection

Attention Southern California Edison Customers! Are your appliances a few generations out of date? Do your windows give your home a nice cool breeze, even when they're closed? Whether or not you answered yes, perhaps it's time you let someone assess the energy efficiency of your home. Subscribers to So-Cal Edison may qualify for replacement energy-efficient appliances, free of cost!

To sign up or receive more information, contact: Asian Rehabilitation Services; Doreen Wong; dwong@Asianrehab.org; 213-743-9242. Tell Doreen that you heard of the program through CCB. This way CCB will earn a credit for referring you to this great program. When you call, have the following information ready: billing name, physical address, phone number, information regarding disability status, and annual income. No other confidential information will be asked.

Mega Self Defense Program for the Visually Impaired at the San Francisco LightHouse

A self-defense curriculum specifically catering to the visually impaired has been developed by Stephen Nicholls and Alan Gutsell. The Mega Self Defense Program is uniquely different from other self defense programs. Most programs follow a general curriculum and slightly adapt it for a visually impaired class, but the Mega Self Defense program was designed from the ground up to teach techniques and cover issues specific to a visually impaired person. What do you do in a situation where you cannot make a quick getaway to safety? How do you defend yourself and target your attacker if you cannot see him? These are among some of the issues that a blind or visually impaired person must deal with in a potentially dangerous situation. The program has become successful in England and parts of Europe.

To find out when the next Mega Self Defense workshop will be held, contact Philip at 415-694-7372 or email pkum@lighthouse-sf.org.

The Fellowship for Leadership Development

Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind (NIB), this fellowship is a salaried, two-year program that combines business-focused, on-the-job experience with formal management training. Legally blind individuals who have an undergraduate degree, work experience and passion for business are invited to apply. Fellows are selected based on academic achievement, experience, motivation, references, and personal interviews. Fellows who completed the program have moved to management jobs, gaining financial independence and, as business leaders, have added value at all levels of the workplace and society.

If you have questions, contact Sandy Finley, NIB Business Leaders Program, at fellowship@nib.orgs or call 703-310-0506.

Seeking Executive Director/CEO at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center in San Jose, CA, From John Glass

[Editor's note: Paragraphs detailing duties are removed to save space.]

Experience: At least five years of business experience in a supervisory, administrative, or leadership capacity. Nonprofit management experience, grant writing, financial and fundraising experience preferred. Experience working with state and federal regulations desirable.

Inquiries should be sent to achew@visionbeyondsight.org.

Get Healthy with Yoga

Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a dynamic, inspiring five-CD set produced by Gretchen Hein, a certified Kripalu yoga instructor and Marty Klein, a blind author and workshop facilitator. The goal of the series is to "Help blind and visually impaired folks use yoga to reclaim and sustain strong, flexible bodies as well as help encourage students to find a yoga class in their local communities that will be suitable for them."

The packaging has bold, dark lettering with a contrasting background so folks with low vision can read it. Each CD has many different tracks to make future programming possible by combining different yoga postures. There are specific tracks on CD #5 to inform prospective yoga teachers how to be thoughtful toward a blind student.

The cost of the five CD package is $39.95 plus shipping and handling. You can order the set at www.blindyoga.net or by phone at 845-679-7532.

Frances Mary D'Andrea Seeking Students for Research Study

Students who are between the ages of 16 and 22 years who are braille readers and users of assistive technology are needed for a study. This study will explore how you use both braille and electronic information for classroom work, and how you learned these literacy practices. The purpose of this research will be to add to our understanding of the current role of both hard-copy (paper) braille and use of electronic access to information by people who are blind and your attitudes and perceptions about both braille and technology. This information will inform how we prepare pre-service teachers to instruct young braille readers.

If you are interested in participating in this study or getting more information, please contact me via email at fmd22@pitt.edu or by calling 412-521-5797 or by writing to me at 5513 Posvar Hall; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15260. If you are under 18, you MUST have your parents' or guardian's permission.

Accessible Tax Information, from Ardis Bazyn

The IRS Alternative Media Center wants you to spread the word about talking tax forms, available at www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=96151,00.html. These forms are the latest tools to aid those who are blind or visually impaired. The forms are easy to use with Microsoft Active Accessibility compliant screen readers and Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software. Tell your friends and neighbors--you could make tax preparation less taxing for someone.

The AMC provides alternative media resources for you and for taxpayers with disabilities. Popular products include accessible electronic files and hard copy braille and large print. Please visit the above website for these and other products.

CCB OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 2010

[Editor's note: We are indebted to Bernice Kandarian who updates and corrects the list of CCB officers and board members, including the number of the term each is presently serving, the year elected to that term and the year next up for election. Terms actually begin on January 1 following election. The presence of an asterisk means that the individual served a partial term before the first full term.]

• President, Jeff Thom (08-10 4th term)
  Sacramento, CA 95831
  916-995-3967 C
  jeff.thom@ccbnet.org
• 1st Vice President, Eugene Lozano, Jr. (*08-10 1st term)
  Sacramento, CA 95841
  eugene.lozano@ccbnet.org
• 2nd Vice President, Donna Pomerantz (*09-11 1st term)
  Pasadena, CA 91106
  donna.pomerantz@ccbnet.org
• Secretary, Gabe Griffith (*09-11 2nd term)
  Concord, CA 94521
  gabe.griffith@ccbnet.org
• Treasurer, Christopher Gray (08-10 2nd term)
  San Francisco, CA 94103
  chris.gray@ccbnet.org
• Immediate Past President, Catherine Skivers (2003-??)
  Hayward, CA 94545
  catherine.skivers@ccbnet.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Jerry Arakawa (09-11 4th term)
  Culver City, CA 90230
  jerry.arakawa@ccbnet.org
• Foster Brown (09-11 1st term)
  Riverside, CA 92501
  foster.brown@ccbnet.org
• Vincent Calderon (*08-10 1st term)
  Pasadena, CA 91106
  vince.calderon@ccbnet.org
• David Jackson (08-10 2nd term)
  San Francisco, CA 94127
  david.jackson@ccbnet.org
• Dan Kysor (09-11 1st term)
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  dan.kysor@ccbnet.org
• Ken Metz (*08-10 1st term)
  San Gabriel, CA 91776
  ken.metz@ccbnet.org
• Peter Pardini (*09-11 2nd term)
  Mill Valley, CA 94941
  peter.pardini@ccbnet.org
• Linda Porelle (*09-11 1st term)
  San Francisco, CA 94112
  linda.porelle@ccbnet.org

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

• Bernice Kandarian, Chair
  Mountain View, CA 94040
  650-969-3155
  bernice.kandarian@ccbnet.org
• Mike Keithley, Editor
  191 East El Camino Real #150
  Mountain View, CA 94040-2714
  650-386-6286 H
  editor@ccbnet.org
• Winifred Downing
  San Francisco, CA 94122
  winifred.downing@ccbnet.org
• Evelyn Drewry
  Ramona, CA 92065
  evelyn.drewry@ccbnet.org
• Donna Pomerantz
  Pasadena, CA 91106
  donna.pomerantz@ccbnet.org
• Bonnie Rennie
  Santa Ana, CA 92705
  bonnie.rennie@ccbnet.org
• Catherine Schmitt Whitaker
  Diamond Bar, CA 91765
  catherine.schmitt@ccbnet.org
• Susan Schulter
  Saratoga, CA 95070
  susan.schulter@ccbnet.org
• Judy Wilkinson
  San Leandro, CA 94577
  judy.wilkinson@ccbnet.org
• Joel Isaac, Webmaster
  Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
  webmaster@ccbnet.org
• Lynne Laird, Large Print Layout
  Berkeley, CA 94705
  lynne.laird@ccbnet.org

List Moderators

• Blind Students of California
  Leena.bandy@ccbnet.org
• CCB-L
  Greg.fowler@ccbnet.org
• CCB-Presidents
  donna.pomerantz@ccbnet.org
• CCB-Membership
  roger.petersen@ccbnet.org