DISCLAIMER: This publication contains announcements from the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind and is also a forum for opinions relating to blindness issues. Signed articles reflect the views, and research, of their authors.
STATUS: SVCB is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization under the California Council of the Blind.
CHANGES OF ADDRESS
Contact Julie,
database@svcb.cc.
MEETING LOCATION
SVCB's monthly meetings are held in the dining room of the Monte Vista Terrace Apts. at 1101 Grant Road, Mountain View. Meetings run 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday of the month and are open to all. Monte Vista Terrace is one block from the intersection of Grant Road and El Camino Real and is accessible bybus #22.
I love braille menus. They are so rare that when I discover that a restaurant has one, I want to visit it right away. I mean, checking out a braille menu sure beats trying to participate in conversations embedded in gobs of noise. So here are some brief notes on these rare, wonderful animals!
The nicest braille menu I've seen in the Northern Santa Clara Valley is at P F Changs (www.pfchangs.com) in Sunnyvale. It's a large print/braille booklet. I don't know how the large print section looks, but the braille section is very well done and captivating. Contrast this to the sad state of an Applebees large print/braille menu that I read, where brailled lines run together. But don't despair--check out www.applebees.com/menulanding.aspx. And Applebees gives Weight Watchers a nod, to.
And while we're considering online menus, I've found that many restaurant chains that have an Internet presence boast menus, some even with current prices. However, a bit of patience is needed to find the pearls. Many braille transcription companies, like www.brailleenterprises.com/menus.htm, will transcribe menus, but it's not apparent if they'll transcribe something you send in as a customer or if they work with restaurant owners exclusively.
So menus in braille are out there, and you might be in for pleasant surprises. When you go out, ask for a braille or large print menu--the quiet advocacy works, especially when they don't know what you're talking about.
Now let's talk about other news. I'm pleased to announce that SVCB made $179.87 from its hosting of the Hospitality Room at the spring convention. This will be coming around in 2012, and maybe we can make $180!
And don't forget the picnic on the 21st. It's gonna be lots of fun! I hear that in addition to the auctioning of a talking microwave oven, there will also be a BookSense XT player. And remember, bids start at one dollar! Check the Event Calendar for details.
In closing, let me remind you that amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws will be considered at the September membership meeting, and yours needs to be included in the September newsletter. So download the Constitution from www.svcb.cc/constitution.htm or ask Mike Keithley for a large print or braille copy, and then send your proposed changes to editor@svcb.cc or call Roger or Dawn.
Return to the Table of ContentsCORRECTION
by Roger Petersen
It has been brought to my attention that there were some wrong dates in the Event Calendar last month. Apparently it started by using a notice about the picnic that originated last year. I guess Mike and I were in a time warp or something. Suffice it to say that the picnic is indeed on August 21, the third Saturday in August and we'll try to do better.
Return to the Table of ContentsIt has been quite a week in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This morning I am very happy to report, H.R.3101, The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, was favorably reported out of committee and has tentatively been scheduled for House floor action early next week.
The blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind communities can be proud of what is contained in the legislation that will go to the House floor. The program to fund the purchase of communications devices for individuals who are deaf-blind has been added to the bill.
H.R.3101 Gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority to increase the availability of description of video programming. It will not limit video description to 7 hours per week on 9 channels. There will be a time-line for adding more hours and ensuring that description is available nation-wide and not just in the largest media markets. This bill makes sure that people who are blind or visually impaired can connect to and interact with the Internet when it is available on mobile, handheld, or other devices through accessible user interfaces.
There are also other very positive provisions that have been included in the legislation. We are actively reviewing the amended bill now to gain a full understanding of the technical language. I wanted to highlight these specific provisions as they have been the subject of several action alerts and have been discussed in various meetings at the 2010 ACB Conference and Convention.
We can be very proud of the advocacy efforts of individuals and affiliates of ACB. Our job isn't done, however. After the bill passes the House I will have more to say about strategy in the hopes that this bill becomes law. There is much more to come so please keep in touch.
Return to the Table of ContentsHi Silvana (SUNG) and Judith. This morning, I was informed by the American Printing House for the Blind that the California School for the Blind will be recognized by APH at their annual meeting in October with their "Creative Use of Braille Award" for our student run business, the Lucky Touch Braille Fortune Cookie Company.
This recognition of Judith's original idea and the hard work and creativity that both of you have demonstrated in the past 12 years (Can that be right?) implementing this vision of what is now an internationally known student run business which celebrates braille as well as Asian culture -- is richly deserved by our school and by you personally.
The award ceremony will take place in Louisville Kentucky on either Thursday, October 14 or Friday, October 15. I would love for both of you and a student or two to be there to accept the award with me — we'll have to see what we can do, and what APH may be able to do to help.
Below you will see information from the APH website regarding this award and previous award recipients. As you will see, we are in quite amazing company to receive this recognition:
APH's Creative Use of Braille Award: The award was established to recognize significant accomplishments in the development of products, ideas or promotional efforts that increase the availability of braille.
1998: Wayne Thommpson and Fred Gissoni for inventing a pre-cursor to braille notetaking devices; 2001: Dr. Abraham Nemeth for the Nemeth Code; 2003: Dr. Sally Mangold for the SAL (speech assisted llearning system); 2006: Braille Institute for the Braillle Challenge; 2010: CSB for creating the Lucky Touch Braille Fortune Cookie Company!
Congratulations and, by the way, be prepared for a huge order coming from APH in celebration.
Return to the Table of ContentsCCB sweepstakes tickets have arrived! The grand prize is $500 cash, with more prizes to be announced. The drawing will be held at the banquet at CCB's Fall Convention on October 30. Winners need not be present to win. Tickets are $1 each. SVCB will receive 50 percent of the funds we raise, with the rest going to CCB to cover daily operating expenses. For tickets, please contact at fund.raising@svcb.cc.
I plan to place our calendar order for 2011 after our August picnic. These large print/braille calendars feature artwork by blind and visually impaired people of all ages. I currently expect to order 50, but if you plan to purchase or sell five or more calendars, please be sure to contact me as listed above to preorder your calendars. This information is helpful so I know how many calendars to order.
We expect to receive Entertainment coupon books for 2011 in early August. They typically cost $30 each. However, an anonymous donor has generously offered to subsidize our entertainment coupon book sales, so people who purchase these books from SVCB may purchase them at a special price of $20 each! To purchase or help sell entertainment coupon books, please contact Mike Keithley at mkeithley@pobox.com.
Wow! I've been hearing of some neat items to be auctioned at our August picnic! So far, I've heard that two talking alarm clocks, a talking Hamilton Beach microwave oven, and a Book Sense XT are up for grabs! Plus, I hear we're also planning to have our annual raffle! So, be sure to join us at our picnic!
Do you shop at Lucky's in Santa Clara County or have friends or family who do. If so, you may want to consider participating in the "S.H.A.R.E.S." grocery rewards program. CCB has enrolled in grocery rewards programs offered by two statewide grocery chains (one of which includes several participating Lucky's stores). Each shopper who requests a "grocery rewards card" will receive a card that looks like a credit card. When making purchases at a participating store, the cardholder will slide "/her rewards card through the debit reader and then make "/her payment using whatever method they choose. Participating stores will then donate three percent of the purchase price to CCB. If you and/or your friends or family are interested in participating in this program, contact Lily at the CCB office to get your "S.H.A.R.E.S." grocery rewards cards. Or contact me at fund.raising@svcb.cc to find out which Lucky's stores are participating.
In case you haven't already heard, SVCB did not have a booth at the Disability Pride Parade in San Jose in July after all. Several of our members who typically staff booths for us were unable to do so because they were staffing booths for other organizations. And, unfortunately, others did not volunteer to help with this project. However, we did contribute the donation to the event as agreed at the June SVCB meeting.
We still have cookbooks and T-shirts available! If you would like to order or want more information about our "Twenty Years of Favorite Recipes" cookbook or our "reading is for everyone" T-shirts, contact me as listed above.
Remember to save your recyclable aluminum cans. Charlie Stein redeems them for funds which are then used to support SVCB activities. You may give cans to Charlie at an upcoming meeting to make other arrangements.
See you at our August picnic!
Return to the Table of ContentsHappy August birthdays to our members Bev Clifford, Fahimeh Eghtessadi, Claudia Gulasch, Jerry Howard, Marsha Marciano, Judy Polatchek, and Charlie Stein.
I've just returned from the American Council of the Blind National Convention in Phoenix Arizona. The entire experience enthralled me, but what excited me most was the program presented by the Braille Revival League (BRL). As Chair Person of SVCB's Braille Literacy Committee, I'd like to share what I learned.
One of the BRL's keynote speakers was Dr. Jane Erin, Professor of Education and Coordinator of the Visual Impairment Program at the University of Arizona, Tucson. She is currently a participating researcher in the National Alphabetic Braille and Contracted Braille Study (ABC), which has explored the use of braille with young blind readers. (More on this study shortly.)
In her speech for the Braille Revival League program, Dr. Erin addressed the national trends and concerns regarding the teaching and learning of braille, and the overall health of braille as a literacy medium for the future. She reminded us that up through the 1960s, most braille readers had come to their blindness through Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), and most had no other disabilities. In 1975, Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act now known as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which mandated the education of children with severe and multiple disabilities. The result is that the current population of visually impaired students has expanded to include students with multiple disabilities who were formerly not a part of the educational structure, and not a part of braille literacy statistics. She therefore cautioned us to be wary of current statistics regarding the abysmally low numbers of people who read braille. The braille literacy movement, she argued, has made a profound and positive educational difference for 3 distinct groups of learners: (1) dual readers: those who read print and braille; (2) students with multiple disabilities; (3) people who are progressively losing their vision.
Dr. Erin disagrees with the adage learned in her MASTERS program which asserted that visually impaired students shouldn't start learning braille until they need it. Research now shows that for visually impaired students, the teaching of exclusively one reading/writing medium (braille or print) tends to impede literacy. If reading large print causes eye strain and lowers a child's reading speed, success and enjoyment, why not teach that child to read braille as well as print? Visually impaired students who are given the opportunity to read both large print and braille, excel more in their academic courses than do those visually impaired students who learn only print or only braille. Dr. Erin recommends that as soon as possible, visually impaired students be given a "learning media assessment." If the student does not display a clear affinity for reading print, then he or she should be taught to read and write both print and braille.
To the surprise of many educators, braille literacy is positively changing the lives of blind and visually impaired children who also have cognitive disabilities. Data now shows that children with IQ scores of under 80 can read contracted braille, and when taught to recognize words that are especially germane to their lives, can become "functionally literate." Dr. Erin told the story of one blind and developmentally disabled girl who was obsessively curious about what kinds of shampoos people were using. Her visual impairment instructor taught her to read and write all of her favorite shampoo names in braille. Eventually the girl began writing simple stories involving the shampoos. She learned to recognize the braille names for other grooming products like tooth paste and soap. Soon she was labeling all of her personal hygiene products in braille. Need enabled her to read. She now reads and writes braille well enough to correspond with blind friends.
The third group to benefit from braille literacy consists of people who are progressively losing their vision. The earlier these individuals can be exposed to proficient braille readers, the better. In classrooms where sighted, blind and visually impaired students play math games, word games and card games using braille, everyone involved is likely to feel positively toward braille: It's not weird; it's one more "cool" way of reading and writing. Early exposure to braille helps eliminate strangeness.
Here are a few other interesting facts about braille reading. These were gleaned from the ABC Braille Study:
Teaching blind students to recognize braille letter by letter is far less effective than teaching them to recognize words first. Children who learn contracted or grade 2 braille earlier tend to be better braille readers. People who read braille with two hands rather than one, are ultimately faster readers. Some two-handed readers have a lead hand and a follower hand; some have a lead hand and a tracking hand; some can lead with either hand and are equally proficient at reading braille with all fingers. - With chagrin, this writer realizes that she does not belong to the final category of two-handed readers. She now knows what her goal for the coming year must be.
Return to the Table of ContentsThe following was taken from the Cactus Courier, the daily newspaper circulated at the ACB Conference and Convention.
Author Needs Your Input for Book on Blindness Education: Susan Schulter is a blind full-time English teacher at West Valley Community College in Saratoga, CA. She is writing a book about blind people's educational experiences and how these shaped their personal and professional lives. She would like the book to be a compilation of our stories told in our own voices. If you are interested in sharing your story, please contact Susan at 408-429-9567 or e-mail her at susanschulter@att.net.
Return to the Table of ContentsEvents at the San Francisco Lighthouse: For info, contact Philip Kum at 415-694-7342 or pkum@lighthouse-sf.org.
Every Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m.: Hatha Yoga and ballroom dance classes at the LightHouse for the Blind.
Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors: Departs every Sunday at noon from Pier 40 in San Francisco. Call 415-281-0212 for information and reservations or visit www.baads.org.
Bowling: every Saturday at 11 a.m. at Moonlight Lanes in Santa Clara. Contact Tom Keiser.
The theater production of Wicked has an open-ended run with a built in description recording. For more info, contact Margaret Hardy at katiemags@aol.com.
August: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco. Contact Margaret Hardy for info.
Aug 3, 5:30-8 P.M.: Breast cancer support group teleconference. Call-in 219-509-8222, ID 1920325. If you don't have free phone service, email loris1@optonline.net or call 516-887-1336, or leave a message for Lori at the ACB national office with Sharon Lovering at 800-424-8666 extension 2044.
Aug 4, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB board meeting. Call-in: 800-662-6992, ID: 1184109. If you are not on the Board but wish to attend, contact Mike Keithley.
Aug 6 and 7, 8 p.m. and 8 at 2 p.m.: TheatreWorks presents AUCTIONING THE AINSLEYS at Lucie Stern Theater, described by the Visual Voice.
Aug 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: SMCCB's 9th Annual Picnic in the Park; Twin Pines park, 1 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont. It is the very first group of tables as you enter the park and is across from the children's playground and the bathrooms. The cost for the full meal and bingo is $8 for members and $10 for guests. Local dignitaries will be there, and a video will be on YouTube.
Aug 14: Deadline to sign up for SVCB picnic.
Aug 17, 5:30-8 p.m.: Lets Talk Low vision with Dr. Bill. Call-in: 218-339-2699, ID 764516. For more information, contact Bernice Kandarian at 650-969-3155.
Aug 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: SVCB summer picnic. Come and join us for our summer picnic to be held at the San Jose History Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose; 408-918-1040, www.historysanjose.org. Tables will be set up under large spreading oak trees to keep us cool! The park is located on the #73 VTA bus line. Parking is available, and Outreach can drive directly to the picnic site via the service entrance. Docent tours of the historic buildings are being arranged in groups of 12-15 persons and will last about 60 minutes. You are also free to roam the facilities, which includes a printing press that can print braille, on your own. The cost will be $20 for adults and $12 for children under twelve, which covers BBQ and History Park. Send payment, payable to SVCB, to: Vic Clifford; 8499 Grenache Court; San Jose, CA 95135-1420. We need people to volunteer to bring drinks, appetizers and desserts, so call Bev Clifford to sign up. If you have questions, call Lupe. This year we will again be conducting SVCB's infamous Raffle in addition to an auction: items include a Hamilton Beach Talking Microwave and a BookSense XT. Bids start at one dollar. Contact Naomi Grubb to donate additional items.
Aug 27, noon: September SVCB In Touch newsletter. Publish amendments to Constitution and Bylaws.
Aug 29, 1:30-3:30: Ye Olde Towne Band free concert; Shoup park, 480 University Ave, Los Altos.
September: DREAM GIRLS, Curran Theatre, San Francisco. Contact Margaret Hardy for info.
Sep 1, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB board meeting.
Sep 8, 5:30-8 P.M.: breast cancer support group teleconference.
Sep 17 & 18 at 8 p.m. and 19 at 2 p.m.: TheatreWorks presents THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA with descriptions by the Visual Voice.
Sep 18, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB monthly meeting; dining room, Monte Vista Terrace Apartments, 1101 Grant Road, Mountain View. Lunch orders must be made by 9:45. 9:30: Coffee and conversation, 10: Program, 11: Business, 12: lunch and mingling. Program: Naomi and friends talk about their visit to HKNC. Business: Consider amendments to Constitution and Bylaws published in the September newsletter, elect delegates for CCB fall convention, announce Nominating Committee, begin planning for Braille Literacy Month in 2011, and remind members to acquire door prizes for holiday party.
Sep 21, 5:30-8 p.m.: Lets Talk Low vision with Dr. Bill.
Sep 24, noon: October SVCB newsletter deadline.
Sep 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Ye Olde Towne Band free concert.