Welcome to the California connection for May 27.
Council Office Notice
The Council office will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of the Memorial holiday.
ACB Auction
From the President:
This year, at the annual ACB Conference and Convention, we will be holding our 10th annual ACB auction, entitled "A Decade of Dreams Auction."
If you would like to donate anything to a California basket, let me know prior to May 30, either by e-mail jsthom@comcast.net or by phone at 916-995-3967.
You can bring your item to me if you are attending the convention or send it to the office ahead of time, but I need a description of what our basket will hold by May 30. Even gift cards are very welcome additions, as is anything original or that has a California flavor to it.
Thanks again for all that you do in this regard.
From The President
As many of you are aware, CCB, along with individual plaintiffs, settled a case with Alameda County to better enable voters in that county to vote privately and independently.
Pursuant to that settlement, a taskforce was created specifically to deal with Alameda County issues concerning voting by persons with vision impairments.
Through our outstanding taskforce representative, Mr. Noel Runyan, we are working hard to make the system better for Alameda County voters who are blind or have low vision.
In order to ascertain whether the county is making positive efforts to remove barriers faced by Alameda County voters with vision impairments, we urge those of you in Alameda County to vote in the primary election using the accessible voting machines and provide us with information as to their experiences. We will make sure that our taskforce representative is provided with this information.
You can email this information to the CCB office at ccotb@ccbnet.org or telephone CCB administrative assistant Ed Branch at 800-221-6359.
Below are questions that we hope you will answer in this effort.
- Were there any barriers when you arrived at the polling place?
- Were there any barriers when using the voting machine?
- Could you vote independently?
- If there was a problem, how long did you have to wait to vote?
- Did you notify a poll worker of the problem?
- Did the poll worker call the help desk?
Legislation
SB1331, relating to the Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind, including provisions modifying the composition of the board and easing restrictions on staff from out-of-state schools to provide follow-up instruction in California, passed the Senate unanimously.
We can anticipate needing your help in the Assembly and with the Governor's office, and we will let you know as events unfold.
Executive Director Recruitment
The California Council of the Blind is seeking applicants for the position of executive director.
You may read or download a copy of the recruitment announcement at:
http://www.ccbnet.org/execdirtr.htm
or find a link to the material on the CCB home page at: http://www.ccbnet.org.
In addition, you may obtain a copy of the recruitment announcement by calling the CCB office at 800-221-6359 or by email ccotb@ccbnet.org
Greater Los Angeles Chapter Fund Raiser
The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the California Council of the Blind is going to have a fundraiser on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at Chili's Restaurant located at 17240 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA, cross street being Louise.
You will be able to order off the menu, and the Chapter will receive 15 percent of the proceeds from each check, including the bar tab, as long as you present a coupon which can be obtained by calling Ken Metz at (818) 882-3610-HOME, or (323) 793-1805-CELL.
The time will be anytime from 11 AM until 9 PM although most of us will be there from 5-9 PM.
We are running late with the announcement as we were negotiating for a higher percentage, but we are hopeful for that for next year.
We look forward to seeing many of you, your family, and your friends in the Los Angeles Area, and will appreciate your support.
Glendale-Burbank Chapter Meeting
The Glendale-Burbank Chapter is having a special speaker at our next monthly meeting on Saturday June 4 at the Days Inn restaurant at 450 W. Pioneer in Glendale, CA.
Our meeting starts at 11 am and ends at 1 pm.
The speaker will be Walter Morosko. He is an amateur Egyptologist and will speak on ancient Egypt. He will bring items for members to examine.
For more information, please email Anthony Signoriello at blinddude1@gmail.com
East LA CCB Chapter Event
Save The Date June 11th For Our Mexican Annual Fiesta Luncheon: Start your summer off with a party!
Please plan to join the East LA CCB Chapter for the annual June Mexican fiesta Luncheon on June 11th from 10:30 AM to 2 pm.
At the Garcia home located at 1226 S. McBride Ave in East Los Angeles. The cross street is Olympic.
Come join the East LA CCB family and enjoy friends, food and drink.
Our own bartender Rafael Enriquez will be serving up spirits, soda and water.
Soledad will have some of her delicious baked goods including some sugar free goodies as well for sale. Come early or they will be sold out. Her baked goods sell out every meeting.
Your $12 meal ticket will get you in for the three item plate of enchilada, taco, tamale, rice and beans. You will get a free soda or water with your meal. Take home meals will be $6 each. You may purchase additional drinks.
Your meal ticket puts you in the drawing for door prizes including the grand prize of a desktop running windows 7 with open source software comparable to office, NVDA (screen reader) and illuminate (screen magnification) software will also be preloaded for and ready use. We will have the basket of joy (spirits) drawing and a 50/50 drawing.
We look forward to seeing old and new friends.
Please RSVP to Stephanie Rood at 818.321.4205 or email east.la.ccb.chpater@gmail.com or Mona Craig at 310.930.6929 or preshusdelight@gmail.com with the number of individuals who will be attending. This will insure that there will be enough food to go around for all.
Please pass this email along to anyone who wants to come enjoy good food, drink and conversation on Saturday June 11th at 10:30am.
I look forward to seeing everyone and new friends.
Cordially,
Stephanie Rood Acting President
ACB Roommate Request
I am seeking a third person particularly a male to room with Joe Lopez, and I at convention. I will be arriving on July 1, and departing on July 10. I will be financially unable to attend the convention without you.
Please call me at 951 4547586, or email me at jordanmirander@icloud.com
1Touch Self-Defense For The Blind Hands On Workshops
When: June 10th, 2016
Time: 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Where: Silicon Valley Community Foundation 1300 S El Camino Real #100 San Mateo, CA 94402
When: June 11th, 2016, 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Where: Orientation Center for the Blind 400 Adams Street Albany, CA 94706
To register info@1touchproject.com or 319-759-8980
Pre-Register by June 3rd - $35.00 ($45 at the door)
1Touch is a nonprofit organization that provides an adapted self-defense program for people who are blind. No experience is necessary and everyone is welcome no matter their physical abilities or age. Half of all 1Touch Coaches are blind and working to making their communities safer!
TVI's & O&M's can receive 5.5 ACVREP CE hours for this workshop.
LightHouse Grand Opening
LightHouse for the Blind is planning a Grand Opening celebration and we'd like for you to join us.
We have spent the last few years and much creative energy to construct our new, innovative headquarters at 1155 Market Street. We are excited to welcome our community to experience the unique design features and the expanded potential of this new facility specifically created by the blind for the blind and low vision community.
To kick off the day of celebration, we are starting on the steps of the San Francisco City Hall with some special guests who would like to honor the LightHouse and our big move.
Then we will take to the streets with a parade full of fanfare on our way to the new building!
March with us at the "Blind & Proud" Parade!
Please save the date and plan to be a part of the Parade! We would be honored to have you or your organization, along with other allies and supporters from all over the state, as a strong contingent in the grand march along Van Ness and Market Streets in the center of San Francisco.
We welcome banners and other festive ways to show your support of and partnership with the LightHouse. Our marching band will lead the way so we hope you are there alongside us for the excitement!
Grand Opening Celebration Schedule:
June 10 San Francisco Civic Center
11:00 AM: Welcome Remarks at City Hall
12:00 PM: "Blind & Proud" Parade from City Hall to 1155 Market
1:00 - 3:00 PM: LightHouse Open House
Questions?
To RSVP and get more information about participating in the Blind & Proud Parade and attending the LightHouse Open House, please contact Megara Vogl at mvogl@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7335.
From The office Of The CA Secretary of State
The audio version of the Official California Voter Information Guide for the June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election is now available.
To obtain copies of cassettes or compact discs (CDs) free of charge, please call the Secretary of State's Elections Division at (916) 657-2166.
For a downloadable version of the Voter Information Guide please visit www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/audio
Student Resource Guide
ACCESS to Resources for Students with Disabilities, known as ACCESS, is designed as a user-friendly guide to resources to empower the readers with relevant knowledge and information.
ACCESS will provide resources for people with various abilities and disabilities along the journey toward independent and meaningful living.
ACCESS includes information on; Education and Training, Daily Living Skills Assistive Technology, Laws and Rights, Specific Population Resources, and an Appendix.
Expert Peer Review covers the following disability populations; Autism Spectrum, Intellectual /Cognitive, Communication, Deaf-Blind, Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, Mobility, Learning, and Multiple disabilities.
This ACCESS Resource Guide is fully searchable. Use terms or phrases to locate information. 'Control' 'F' will bring up screen that asks for your search request.
Please share this URL to the ACCESS Guide at: http://www.catransitionalliance.org/content.aspx?id=1561&title=Resources
Thank you for reading, Have a nice day
