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The White Cane Bulletin November - December 2024

Articles for the White Cane Bulletin must be submitted to Sally Benjamin no later than the 15th of the month before it is published.  Sally’s email is: editor@fcb.org.

If you do not have access to a computer and email, please find someone in your chapter to help you. We want to hear from anyone who wants to contribute to our newsletter, so if you cannot find a way to submit your article, call Sally and she will be glad to assist you.

Articles published in The White Cane Bulletin are in compliance with Public Law No. 104197, Copyright Law Amendment of 1996. This law allows authorized entities to distribute copies of previously published non-dramatic literary works in specialized formats, including Braille, audio or digital text that are exclusively for use by Blind people or those with disabilities. Any further distributing of such articles in another than a specialized format is an infringement of copyright.

Those much-needed contributions, which are Tax-deductible, can be sent to the Florida Council of the Blind Treasurer, Mark Lear, at  P.O. BOX 214235, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32121.

To remember the Florida Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose in your Will or Trust. If your wishes are complex, please contact the FCB at 800-267-4448.

The FCB is a 501(c)(3) organization.

For other ways to support the Florida Council of the Blind, visit our Fundraising page found at www.fcb.org.

ARE YOU MOVING? – Sally Benjamin

If you are moving, please notify me of your new address so you will continue to receive your White Cane Bulletin. Also, if you know of anyone interested in joining FCB and who would like to receive the White Cane Bulletin and the Braille Forum, please contact me at: (850) 980-0205 or E-mail: membership@fcb.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Goodbye Summer! by Mikey Wiseman
FCB Convention 2025 by Kati Lear
Florida Happenings! by: Cachet Wells
My Experience Attending Live Shows with Audio Description by Greg Lindberg
On The Road Activities! by: Cachet Wells
November-December 2024 Book Review Submitted by: Sheila Young
An Insightful Project! by: Cachet Wells
Appropriate Access for Guide Dog Handlers? Not Anymore by Sila Miller
Jottings from Jacksonville by Paul Edwards
Recipe Corner
Chapter News
GOCB Update November-December 2024 by Martha James
Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind (CCTB) by Patricia Lipovsky
Why I Joined FCCLV by: Paul Lewis
Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee
Poetry Corner Submitted: by Shelley Sawyer
FCB OFFICERS, 2024 – 2026
2024-2026 FCB Chapter & Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons
Handy Telephone Number References
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Goodbye Summer! by Mikey Wiseman

Hello to all the White Cane Bulletin readers !
I am writing this article and some nice cool and moderate weather, I welcome change from the scorching heat of this last summer. I figured it was a good time to reflect on some of the scares, near Mrs. and direct impacts of the last couple of months. As many of you know, Florida Has shared the brunt of having a bull’s-eye on it from the nuts so nice side of mother nature. I would like to thank all the members of the executive committee, chapter and special interest affiliate presidents for activating the phone tree and helping check in on all of our members throughout the state. For the most part, it seems that most of our members have much to be thankful for and extremely happy when all the electricity was reconnected. It is a moment of happy reflection, recognizing how lucky we were and taking into account that there are still individuals throughout the country who are suffering impacts from bad storms.

By the time most of you are reading this, we as Florida Council Of The Blind would have conducted our virtual board meeting so hopefully that will have been put to bed in a timely manner and with a tight agenda. I want to thank everyone in advance for their participation and collaboration on continuing to do the good work that we do.

A few random thoughts from my head to share with all of you:
My latest book reads have been by an author named Plum Sykes. She is a best-selling author most recognized for her book Bergdorf blondes. I find her writing absolutely spectacular! She is smart, very current, very fashion forward, and just irreverent enough that I would consider her books a light read and, provide me the disconnect that I need in order to face the next day.

Here are a few things to look out for us.
Our Tallahassee day is fast approaching, the date has been selected as 29 January. For information about that opportunity please reach out to Paul Edwards or Debbie Grubb.

The FCB activities committee will be hosting a call whose purposes for our members to get to know the executive committee. I hope you will all join in on November 17.

For many of us throughout the state it is time to vote and I encourage all of you to exercise your right to do so, in whichever way you choose to vote and remember that if you encounter any issues exercising your right, we are here to help you.

I would hope that most of you have marked down the dates for the ACB holiday auction. I know that this year‘s is going to be better than ever! The dates for the ACB holiday auction are November 29 and 30 for the appetizer auction and on December 1 at 7:00 PM for the holiday auction. For information please contact Leslie Spoone. The Zoom link as well as auction items will be posted on the FCB-L List.

For those of you who are aware of my ongoing friendly war with Bloomingdale’s, I am still quite ensconced in the Fox hole  and while it has been mostly friendly fire from one side to the other, they still have not fixed Bloomingdale’s application for iOS.

Most recently, I have had the pleasure of participating in or at least observing most of the FCB committees and it is amazing to see how many folks are prepared to do the hard work of keeping Florida Council of the Blind current and busy… Thank you to all!

I’m probably gonna thank Sally and the powers that be for editing my quick and random thoughts into something that should resemble an article despite being put together at the last minute and passed the deadline, but I am human after all and do fall short, quite a few times. I hope all of you are prepared to embrace the upcoming holiday season, and would kindly ask any of you to reach out to me for suggestions or things you might want for me to update you on or share in the next article.
***

FCB Convention 2025 by Kati Lear

Now we are getting ready for our annual 72nd FCB Convention.  It will be in Jacksonville at the same hotel, the Southbank Riverwalk at 1515 Prudential Drive.  Our room rates will be the same, $109 per night plus tax.  The dates are Thursday, May 15 through Sunday May 18, 2025.  Please make your plans and join us.  

Your thoughts and ideas for programs and workshops are always welcome Get together with your chapters and committees and plan your programs.  The program write ups are due on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025. Please send them to me at floridacouncil@comcast.net.  The Convention Committee is looking forward to reading your program plans.  Stay in touch.
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Florida Happenings! by: Cachet Wells

From the northern line of Florida to the shores of its southern beauty, extending as far west as the panhandle to its eastern borders, there is lots to do in the Sunshine State. Looking for more ways to connect with other members? Just need a quick getaway to relax and recharge? Here is a roundup from the Activities Committee of what's happening within the Florida Council of the Blind near you.

• October 30: Orlando; The Blind Experience at 10 a.m. at the Orlando Police Department headquarters on South Street. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-blind-experience-2024-tickets-102193731...

• NOVEMBER 17 at 6 p.m. Virtual Activities Game Night: Executive Committee Challenge! Zoom link will be posted to FCB-L.

SAVE THE DATE:
• December 8th at 6pm: FCB Holiday Concert that will showcase the talents and skills of our very own members. Members can sign up until November 24th by emailing: Your name, talent performing and your contact number to Cachet Wells at Jbillray2@aol.com

• Friendship Cruise February 8, 2025 Stay tune for additional details.

** It is the responsibility of each individual member to secure event costs, travel,  transportation, accommodations, and meal expenses that may be involved and incurred in order to participate in any of the advertised and supported events listed.

** Any event specifically coordinated by the FCB Activities Committee will require a deposit or full payment to secure your ticket to the event.
***

My Experience Attending Live Shows with Audio Description by Greg Lindberg

Movies and TV shows with audio description have become quite popular in the blind and low vision community. Streaming services like Netflix now produce all of their original content with an option to hear audio description. Audio description is an additional narrated track on top of the regular dialogue of a program which contains visual descriptions of characters, scenes, and other visual elements of the program.

In addition to this type of prerecorded content and occasional audio description of live, televised events like the Academy Awards or Grammys, this concept is also being applied to live performances like plays, musicals, concerts, and even sporting events held in a variety of venues.

This year, my ears have finally had the opportunity to experience audio description for live events. This is thanks to the great efforts of the Central Florida Audio Description Initiative (CFADI). I have enjoyed the new experience of listening to a live audio describer in my ear fill me in on the visual aspects of what I’m watching, making my attendance of these events far more enjoyable.

The first audio-described event I attended was The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at the Orlando Family Stage. Described by Darline of CFADI, this was my maiden voyage as a consumer of this service. Since then, I’ve checked out a few shows at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden. John has been the main describer of the events at this venue, including Always…Patsy Cline and Little Shop of Horrors. Plus, I went to an event at the Orlando Fringe Festival where a local musician with a disability – Jennifer Gray – put on a fantastic show called Life as My Favorite Obstacle about her life and service dog, Tonka. This was also described by Darline.

So, how does live audio description actually work? The visually impaired audience member receives a small, wireless listening device. It’s very simple with a headphone jack and tactile buttons to adjust the volume, and it’s even available on a lanyard. I’ve had the option to either use a single earpiece included with the device, or I can use my own earbuds.

Once I am set up with the device, the audio describer will do a quick test to ensure I can hear what they are saying before the show starts. They will often provide a visual description of the stage layout, any props or items on the stage, and an overview of the cast. This might include a description of what they look like, what they’re wearing, and their roles in the show. Some of this information is also provided in a playbill available to all patrons.

Once the show begins, the audio describer provides specific visual details about the action going on in real time. This includes facial expressions, hand gestures, body movements, the use of props, changes in lighting, and anything else that a sighted patron could visually perceive about the show. The describer sits far enough away from the patrons who are listening to them, so this prevents any kind of echo.

Having experienced this description from multiple describers and at different types of shows, I truly understand and appreciate the power of this service. I remember telling Darline after the first show I saw that I would typically walk out of a theatre having understood around 30 to 40 percent of what was presented in front of me. With the verbal description, it takes that number up to at least 90 percent. The information I normally wouldn’t be getting became extremely glaring to me because, for the first time, I was now receiving it. While I might have a sighted family member with me leaning over to softly whisper a few scattered details to me throughout a performance so as not to disturb others, consuming audio description privately in my ear has so many more benefits. Those around me shouldn’t be able to hear it. The describer is an experienced professional who knows exactly what to describe and when to mention it. This is also a paid person doing a job to the best of their ability.

I will say that one aspect of this service that is still taking me time to get used to is when the describer is speaking while a performer is also doing so. It’s obviously tough to be able to listen to multiple voices simultaneously. However, these describers do their best to insert this verbal description in a timely manner, and I’ve realized that sometimes it is simply impossible to wait until a pause in the dialogue to mention it. Ultimately, I’d rather have any description I can get than none at all.

As a big sports fan, I’m proud to say that I am working with CFADI to help bring live audio description to sporting events. I can only imagine what this experience will be like when I attend my first baseball or football game as a more empowered fan, knowing exactly what’s happening both on the field or court, on the jumbotron, and in the venue. If it is anything like what I’ve experienced so far in theatres, I can’t wait for this day!
***

On The Road Activities! by: Cachet Wells

With so many great things happening along the Florida coast lines, we don’t want you to miss out. No matter if it's to celebrate a special cause, gather to honor White Cane Day or a fundraising fellowship, we want to help provide an avenue to advertise to a wider audience of members to increase engagement of your planned events.  

The Florida Council of the Blind Activities Committee invites you to share your upcoming Chapter and Special Interest Affiliate events with us that are being held throughout the month. This allows members to review and plan ahead to attend other local area events. We want to help you by supporting and promoting your efforts to raise awareness about what you're doing and to maximize participation.

For each event, please provide the following:

- A detailed  summary of the event (who, what, when, where, and cost)

- Contact information for the event (contact person’s name, phone number and/or email address)

The deadline to submit this information is the 5th of each month by sending to Activities@fcb.org to have it included in the FCB Activities Committee communications channels.

Thank you, and we look forward to helping support your activities!

The FCB Activities Committee
***

November-December 2024 Book Review Submitted by: Sheila Young

The bravest guy: a true story of overcoming seemingly impossible odds DBC12750
Author: Wedewer, Harry E.
Reading Time: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Read by: Michael Lowndes
Subjects: Biography of Persons with Disabilities, Biography, U.S. History
As a U.S. Army infantryman in World War II, Don Wedewer was twice wounded in four days. On both occasions, he was left for dead. Now he was a double amputee and blind with seemingly no hope for the future. Yet through extraordinary determination and persistence, this highly decorated combat veteran overcame seemingly impossible odds to become a state and national leader in providing opportunities for those with vision loss. Don Wedewer was a Director of Florida's Division of Blind Services 1974-1989. Strong language and violence.
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An Insightful Project! by: Cachet Wells

The mission and goal of Project Insight is to promote the availability of helpful resources which will assist people who are visually impaired to adjust to their vision loss

To train and maintain a network of people throughout the state to support and to assist with questions about blindness

Project Insight recently held a Peer Support call that took us through several phases and stages of vision loss. Understanding and recognizing strategies and tools to assist during the different and various of transitions that may occur along your journey. Project Insight invites you to share with us and the FCB community your blindness journey in 300 words or less. You can submit your story, which will be published in the White Cane Bulletin, to Sally Benjamin at editor@fcb.org before the 15th of each month.

If you have any questions or comments, email the Project Insight Committee at nfolsom@comcast.net
***

Appropriate Access for Guide Dog Handlers? Not Anymore by Sila Miller

For many years I’ve battled a bum right shoulder but put off surgery for various reasons. Having a few extra days for yard and gutter cleaning chores during last Christmas season proved too much and I injured the poor thing to the point of “calling for the calf rope” as my Daddy used to say. Relenting, I scheduled necessary appointments, procedures, including a cortisone injection, and in late July, underwent surgery.

As many know, my husband, Robert is also blind and travels with a guide dog. Of course, without use of my right arm, I needed lots of help and post-surgery care. Tag Robert! As any concerned family member would, Robert and guide, Mission accompanied me to Tallahassee Outpatient Surgery Center (TOSC) as did Mission’s puppy raiser, Mary who has become a dear friend and offered to drive us.

The morning of surgery was made a bit chaotic with a call from TOSC asking if we could come early. Upon arrival and following intake paperwork, we were called back to the pre-surgical area. As Robert, Mission and I made our way towards the door, Robert was loudly informed “You can come back but not your puppy dog.” Despite informing her of Mission’s working status and the law, the denial stood firm. Trying to keep his cool, Robert returned to the waiting area while Mary and I proceeded to the off-limits pre-surgery area.

The nurse, Vickie who’d issued the denial continued to mutter about Robert’s dissatisfaction and think out loud about how she could try to appease him. She went back out to speak with him again offering that Mary could sit with Mission and he could come back, to which he said no. She then proceeded to misrepresent threats he’d supposedly made about legal action. This upset everyone and in no way helped promote a calm pre-surgery experience for me. Sadly, my mother passed away after surgical complications in July 2000 so I’m still fairly uptight about surgery of any nature.

As surgery prep proceeded, I could tell staff were distracted. Conversations would stop mid-stream, they would walk away unexpectedly, questions went unanswered and disturbingly, blankets were removed from my legs instead of shoulder. At one point, an unidentified man whom I later learned was the anesthesiologist came to me to inform me the police had been summonsed, ask if I was in fear of my husband, concerned about him being my caretaker and if I still wished to follow through with the procedure. Giving it serious consideration—who wants distracted or mad staff operating on or caring for them, I also weighed all the pre-arranged assistance, travel, after-surgery support, time off work and decided that yes, I did need and want surgery. When I replied affirmatively, his resigned “OK then”, made me second-guess again. Totally stressed by now, tummy ache, urgent need to use the bathroom, heart pounding, rapid breathing, I repeatedly requested meds to manage my mounting anxiety. As these were finally being administered, the nurse missed the IV, spilling them on the bed. Blessedly, it was lights out soon thereafter.

Meanwhile, Robert contacted the Tallahassee Police Department to file a report and request enforcement of access legislation. Officer Sexton was sent but refused to take a report, standing behind the denial and siting reasons as, the presence of a Keypad and “Authorized Personnel Only” signage, and staff’s assertion that the pre-surgery area was an “A-septic-sterile area”. To clarify, no one was required to Covid test, mask, scrub, or change out of street clothes/shoes, except for me of course and the nerve block and pre-surgery meds were administered in a different area after family were sent back out to the waiting area. Thus, not a sterile area. Bad went to worse when Robert and the officer spoke outside and  Robert took the opportunity to smoke a cigarette. When the officer went inside to speak with staff, the security guard approached Robert, rudely informing him that TOSC is a non-smoking property and asking didn’t he see the no smoking sign? Unable to get a straight answer about Mission being allowed into the post-surgical area where Robert would be given instructions about my at-home care, he decided to take Mission back home.

Following surgery and a couple weeks to heal and get my feet back under me, with the denial and associated conflict weighing heavy on my mind, I wrote explanatory emails and letters. I placed a follow up call to the TOSC facility manager after sending the letter and finally received a Friday afternoon, after-hours call promising further investigation, a written response and copy of their access procedures. Robert filed Department of Justice complaints about this and no less than five Uber denials since November, 2023 and we waited. All the cases were declined by DOJ, TOSC stood firm on the appropriateness of their denial, restating the original reasons and here we are.

From what I can gather, access to pre-surgical facilities for guide dog handlers is a “grey area” within the ADA jungle, litigated individually or not at all, ripe for making lawyers rich, clogging up the court system and causing much confusion, stress and strife amongst those directly involved. Rideshare drivers, independent contractors are in high demand, thus Uber and Lyft are reluctant to discipline or fire them. Additionally, there is nowhere in a rider’s profile to identify them as having a guide dog.

Morris Frank, one of the first guide dog users who did so much advocacy work to gain access and respect for these professional fur angels would be so disappointed and incensed. It seems we’ve gone backwards and I’m ashamed of that. There are many reasons—another story in itself but now disabled people and their legitimate work partners are suffering.

To backtrack just a bit, after riding the fence forever about applying for a guide dog because of having some usable vision, I’d finally submitted my application last fall and been accepted at Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. However, following this and several other unlawful denials for Robert and Mission, I reconsidered continuing the process of obtaining a guide dog. Advocating for just one seems to be a fulltime job with no positive results to show, how exhausting would advocating for two be? Plus, neither of us is getting any younger and the chances of further involvement with health care of one ilk or another is likely inevitable. So, after much soul searching, I decided to withdraw my request and accept defeat. Perhaps the wrong decision, considering my failing vision and real need and perhaps they’ve won. However, as a wise lifelong advocate and friend said, “You must count the cost”.

Why can’t Mission work for both of us, you might ask. Well, let’s start with the matching process. much goes into it, walking speed, length of stride, voice inflection, how much or little the handler needs to work—the list is long just the tip of the iceberg. Also, like humans, dogs are different. Some can handle working for two without issue, while others aren’t up for the task. Also, most schools will not train for two handlers.

In closing, perhaps one day I’ll be ready to reapply for a work partner but for now, the cost is simply too high, advocacy isn’t working, and I’m just not up for the stress. Concerningly, from many other blind people’s blogs on similar access issues, I’m not alone.
***

Jottings from Jacksonville by Paul Edwards

What's Ahead
Predicting the future is impossible! If I could truly do that I would have long ago bet on the outcome of a game or a race and I would have lots more money than I do now! It is probably possible to take what we know now and imagine how the present might be different from the future! We can, in other words, extrapolate what might be from what is!
The present is a scary place! Our state is currently led by folks who, for the most part, do not see social welfare as a big priority. Luckily for us our state continues to prosper so there is sufficient money available to cover services to people who are blind reasonably well! We have not had sufficient funding from the state to allow us to draw down all the Federal funds to which Florida is entitled! We can hope that this will change and that the legislature will allocate sufficient state dollars to make sure that we can get all of the nearly four Federal dollars for every Florida dollar set aside!

Statistics also suggest that the number of people who are blind will continue to increase in Florida. Some statistics say the population of people who are blind will double over the next generation. Unfortunately, most of the people who will be added to the blind population will be quite old. We are adding more blind people because folks are living longer. Inevitably as people age their vision gets worse! Equally inevitably, while blindness is becoming more widespread among older people, other health issues are also becoming more prevalent. So, we can expect that there will be more people who are older and blind who will have other issues that will impact their ability to function independently.

New statistics also suggest that younger people who are blind have other disabilities more often than was thought in the past! Not all the news about visual impairment and the future is bad! Technology is making the treatment of diabetes more effective. This may mean that fewer people with the disease will actually lose vision. New treatments are becoming more widespread for wet and dry macular degeneration which are actually enabling many older people to retain much of their usable vision.

At the other end of the spectrum, a large percentage of children being born with vision loss have other disabilities. Some estimates say that four of every five newborns with vision loss have additional issues. Clearly the nature of vision loss as it will manifest in the future will change. The net result will be, at least potentially, that there will be fewer and fewer people whose only disability is blindness. What will this mean for rehabilitation? Some of the big data that is now being developed suggests that the number of vanilla blind people is already declining. Many people who are blind claim secondary disabilities even if they are of working age. The prevalence of mental conditions is twice as high at least among people who are blind and many also suggest they have other physical disabilities that limit their ability to work. The statistics I am using to look ahead are already five years old and represent a single year of data. This means that many of the extrapolations I am proposing may well be superseded as more years of information become available. Given the direction my data seems to imply, though, all of us need   to think clearly about the kinds of services that we will need in the future and the characteristics of the blind population that is likely to be around. It is beginning to be apparent that those with money for medical care or good insurance will fare better than those who do not have access to effective care. Our state, at this time, has not chosen to expand Medicaid coverage and this has significantly broadened the gap between those who have and those who do not have effective insurance and medical support! It is likely that people who are blind who are, as a group, among the poorest in the state will find themselves locked out of care and testing that others will take for granted! It is also likely that minority groups will be impacted much more severely than folks from the main stream. This is because people who are black or Hispanic are even poorer than other people with vision loss. They depend more on the state for care and their families depend more on what they bring in to households. This means that these people with vision loss are often discouraged by their families from seeking employment that would cause their Federal and state benefits to go away!

The Changing Nature of Work

It has really only been a year since Chat GPT arrived on the scene and fundamentally altered what the future is likely to be. Clearly it is far too early for us to be able to say with any real certainty what the impact of artificial intelligence is likely to be. I believe it is absolutely and categorically imperative that we not bury our heads in the sand and wait for the future to happen. I think that there are beginning to be some outcomes that are likely and we must explore these.

Last week a company that is primarily involved in telephone marketing in the United Kingdom indicated that it expected to lay off half of its staff within five years. The owner of the company indicated that it was not just entry level folks who would be going away. Many functions of middle managers were also, in his view, likely to be doable by computers fairly soon! Computers are writing emails, preparing form letters, summarizing meetings, creating spread sheets and power points and preparing reports from information found on the internet. All of these approaches are taking jobs away from many at a variety of levels. As time goes on AI will get better and better at doing what it does and people will be less and less necessary for preparing the range of documents on which modern business and government depends.

There are clearly going to be advantages that AI will provide. I think that all people will be using their voices to get information. The AI will be getting that information from the web page. It won't matter if the web page is inaccessible because people who are blind will not need to access web pages any more! Instead they will have tailored "assistants" who will know how they want information to be acquired and presented and who will be far faster getting it than anyone trying to search the web!

I think it is likely that the vast majority of the jobs that will be lost will be held by people who are not disabled. What this will mean, though, is that there will be huge numbers of people without disabilities who will be looking for the same jobs as blind people are trying to get. If this happens, we already know that people without disabilities will get preference!

We also need to recognize that those who get jobs will be those with skills that most people who are blind simply don't have now. If we are to be competitive, we have to fundamentally alter how we train people who are blind so as to create the skill sets necessary for jobs in the AI future! We probably need to recognize as well that there will be many of our folks who cannot be trained for these jobs. Will entities like National Industries for the Blind become a more important component of placement than they are now? There has been a lot of discussion of whether we are getting to a time when a larger and larger proportion of our population will not be working! If this does happen, we must make certain that  people who are blind who are a part of this emerging underclass are given a chance to thrive in this environment.

I suggested earlier in this series of articles that the attitude of society toward people with disabilities and particularly toward people who are blind is changing. In the past, folks wanted to help! Once we demanded civil rights and began to seriously compete for jobs, attitudes began to change! I see nothing that makes me believe that things will get any better. In fact, I think that there is mounting evidence that passing legislation either at the state or the Federal level that will create greater equity for people with disabilities is getting more and more unlikely. Whether we like it or not the fact is that fewer people in our society have a larger proportion of the wealth of our country. They are also acquiring more and more control over the way that decisions get made and what those decisions are.

It is harder for me to see what our society will be like twenty years from now. There are just too many variables in play! It is clear that AI is not the only factor that is likely to have a huge impact on the lives of people who are blind. We know that Social Security is likely to run out of money! I don't think anyone knows how this will be handled. I am certain that social security for older people will survive relatively unscathed but I am less certain about how SSI and SSDI will fare! In some parts of the world budgets are being altered to provide folks at the lower end of income levels with less rather than more. They indicate that these are temporary actions and that folks will get more consideration in the future. I fear that future may never come!

It is interesting that both consumer organizations have recognized that, while they have to continue to seek government action, they must also work to create relationships with corporations. These relationships are enabling consumer groups to speak directly to places where change can happen! The results have included better technology, funds that have directly impacted the running of consumer organizations and support for some of the efforts to change laws that people who are blind are working on. I do not have the statistics to speak for the National Federation of the Blind so the next few sentences do not necessarily apply to them. I think that if they do not, they will in due time.

ACB is losing membership. State affiliates are losing membership. Special Interest affiliates are, in some cases, growing. The membership of ACB is getting older though I do not know just how quickly that is happening! Unless things change, ACB will run out of members and leaders pretty quickly. I would suggest that in the last twenty years the membership of ACB has decreased by fifty percent! State affiliates need to look hard at how they build a future for themselves. I believe they are valuable and important but so far they have not found ways that appear likely to assure their long term viability. Particularly larger state affiliates need to explore this question. Our national organization needs to recognize that it has a responsibility to develop and help implement approaches that can halt this precipitous decline in membership.

Another area of concern applies to the various organizations of and for people who are blind in this country. There was a time twenty or thirty years ago when some semblance of long term planning and leadership of the blindness system operated. For a variety of reasons, the American Foundation for the Blind is no longer the preeminent organization it was. While other organizations are doing good work and moving in appropriate directions, there does not seem to be a place in the system for building consensus about how we should move forward to maximize benefit for people who are blind in our country. I think that one of the major  organizations needs to assume some leadership and call the whole system together so that we can plan for the future. This article has already clearly shown that we have problems and that they are not likely to go away! Each of our organizations is too small to make a difference operating on its own! We must come together and look beyond the next few years to what we decide may happen a decade or two from now. We then need to decide how best to get to the best place we can working together.

So far a lot of what I have talked about as part of the future for people who are blind might seem negative. If that is the case, I have not done a good job communicating where we are and where we can go! People who are blind have access to more information than we have ever had at our disposal! Technology is not only developing quickly but is becoming cheaper. Who would have thought even ten years ago that anyone who wanted a braille reading device in the country could get one for free! Who would have imagined the number of new  mobility devices that are making getting around so much easier and safer? Who could have foreseen all that is built into each and every mobile phone? There is more and more emphasis in rehabilitation on being sure that young people can maximize access to services while still in high school. Consumers who are being served by rehab agencies still have "choice" built into their planning process! Access service in post-secondary education is protected by law and gets better every year.

At the state level, it is a matter of pride for many of us that all organizations of and for the blind have, virtually always, managed to speak to the agency, to the government and to legislators with one voice. That is definitely not the norm in this country. We continue to work to make our Rehabilitation Council and the Blind Services Foundation entities that work to make things better for people who are blind in Florida. A vocational evaluation tool developed through the Foundation at the urging of the Rehab Council has begun to make a difference at measuring how ready people with vision loss are for work in Florida and elsewhere. There continues to be occasional suggestions that the independence of our agency should be compromised by joining it with another entity in state government. All of us will continue to work to maintain a separate blindness agency because we know that services are delivered more effectively through such an agency.

Florida has much to be proud about! The Florida Council of the Blind has much to celebrate! We have played a significant role in creating the present and will undoubtedly have much to say about what the future will be for people who are blind or have low vision. This whole series of articles has hoped to demonstrate that people who are blind have the ability to influence the way we are treated! Let us never lose our commitment to making things better for everyone with vision loss in Florida!
***

Recipe Corner

Pumpkin Banana Bread
Submitted by: Sheila Young

3-4 ripe mashed bananas
1 15 oz. can pumpkin  
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon cloves
2 cups chopped nuts, if desired )I skip the nuts)
In large bowl blend bananas, pumpkin, eggs, and sugar. Stir in oil. Add spices, soda and flour. Add nuts which have been tossed with a little flour. Pour into 3 greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for50-60minutes. Remove from oven and let stand in pans for10 minutes before removing.
***

Chapter News

GOCB Update November-December 2024 by Martha James

Hurricane Milton forced our chapter to cancel its October meeting.  We sincerely hope that everyone is safe and recovering from this devastating storm.

We will participate in the Blind Experience on October 30th. This is to celebrate awareness of White Cane and Guide Dog Safety Day, along with Blindness Disability month.

In November, we will elect officers for the coming year.

The chapter is breaking with tradition to start our new tradition by having our holiday party in January instead of December.  It will be January 11 at the home of Alicia and Rick Eidson. We appreciate their opening their beautiful home to us!

We hope that everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season.
***

Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind (CCTB) by Patricia Lipovsky

Hi everyone,

I wanted to tell those who may be new to FCB, and those who may not be that familiar, about a special affiliate that has been in existence since 1999.  The name of this special affiliate IS THE COALITION and Concerns of the Totally Blind, better known as CCTB.

The mission of CCTB is to improve the success of people who are totally blind or have no usable vision through collective efforts to ensure equal opportunity and advocacy for improved accessibility to programs and services throughout the state of Florida, and to educate the general public as to the needs and capabilities, and potentialities of persons who are totally blind, and also provide peer support or assistance for those who want it.

Although our main focus is on those with no usable vision, anyone who is interested in blindness is welcome to join this affiliate, including those sighted folks who would like to learn more about blindness in general.

Over the years, CCTB has developed informational documents to educate the general public and health care professionals on a variety of topics such as How to interact with someone in a doctor’s office or hospital, basic questions and answers about blindness in general that some of our members have been asked by sighted people, and general guide dog information for those who may be interested in obtaining a guide dog.

In addition to our by-monthly meetings held on the third Monday at 7 pm, where we usually try to have a topic or speaker, we also provide programs at our state convention.  These programs have ranged from things like gardening, to pedestrian signals, to having someone speak to us about the airlines and the latest guidelines for what to expect when flying, to learning about the Blind Shell Phone.

If you or anyone you know would like to join this affiliate, dues are twelve dollars per year, and can be paid by PayPal or sending a paper check to our Treasurer.

One last additional comment I would like to mention is it doesn’t matter if you are already a member of a local chapter, you would still be able to join CCTB as a secondary member.

For more information or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at my information below.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope some of you will consider supporting our special affiliate.

Patricia Lipovsky,
President, Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally blind, (CCTB)
plipovsky@cfl.rr.com
H: (386) 255-0288
C: (386) 212-6627
***

Why I Joined FCCLV by: Paul Lewis

The Florida Council of citizens with Low Vision (FCCLV) is one of four special interest affiliates that are part of the Florida Council of the Blind(FCB). For those unfamiliar with the term, “special interest affiliates,” they are groups that have a specific particular interest or concern that they focus on. This focus could be vision loss related, but the focus could also be other areas as well. These could include professions, demographics or other areas not necessarily related to vision loss. However, in the FCB, all four of the special interest affiliates have a connection to vision loss. The three other affiliates are, Guide Dog Users of Florida, Braille Revival League of Florida and Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind.

The FCCLV special interest affiliate chapter as you can tell by its name is low vision and FCCLV is dedicated to managing and when possible, overcoming the challenges and concerns of low vision as well as assisting individuals who have low vision. Simply put, low vision can be fine. It’s not having before use of vision or eyesight that is considered standard or normal. For our purposes here, since FCCLV is under the umbrella of an organization with “blind” and its name, members of FCCLV would be those who are determined to be legally blind. As defined by the United States government, and individual is legally blind, if their vision and both the right and left eye is 20/200 where there angle of view is 20% or less. So, if the U.S. Government says that I am blind, then that works for me!

For someone outside the blind and low vision community or someone brand new to the blind and low vision community, the following question might be asked. Why is this important or what is its relevance? The answer is that we are also members of the disabled community and eligible to receive benefits from the Social Security administration, as well as being covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). In fact, if you are blind,  your check from Social Security will be greater than those who are disabled and not blind.  Please note, that individuals can be considered having low vision, but not meet the legal definition of blindness.

This brings me back to the question that I asked at the beginning of this article, why did I join FCCLV and what made me want to be a member?

I am a little unsure of some of the dates, but the following will explain how I first became a member of FCB and how that upgraded to my involvement in FCCLV. In 2000, I had my first surgery at Bascom Palmer Hospital complex in Miami. Unfortunately, that was not my only medical issue as I also was placed under the care of the nephrologist for renal failure. In 2004, I was informed that I would need to begin to prepare for dialysis, and when I informed my employers of that fact, I was told to get my disability papers. January 2005 was the last month that I was an active employee and my status changed to that of an individual with a medical disability unable to return to work. This status remained effective until I reached my retirement age and left the company. Surprisingly, it was not my vision loss, but the renal disease that ended my association with my last employer. I had lots of time on my hands at began attending classes at the local Lighthouse, where I first met some members of the local FCB Southwest Chapter. I was invited and encouraged to attend their meeting, which I did, and after attending a few of them, then became a member of the Southwest chapter of FCB. In October 2008, I received a kidney transplant, which, as you would imagine had a profound effect on my lifestyle. I began to become involved and became an active member of the chapter. It was during those first few years as a member of the Southwest chapter, that I was encouraged to attend a state convention by its end President, Mike Ulrich. I had first met Mike at the local Lighthouse That began a friendship that lasted until his passing. I followed through on Mike suggestion and decided to attend my first FCB convention that was held in Daytona Beach. It was either one of the last or the last state conventions that was held there.  There were two opportunities that excited me about attending that first convention; one was the opportunity to see the Exhibit Hall, meet with the venders and see their products and second was to attend my first FCCLV meeting. And interesting and unexpected event happen at that first FCCLV meeting that I attended.

I was quite excited to be attending my first annual meeting of FCCLV and I was very interested in learning more about it. It was quite interesting to me that there was A group dedicated to people with low vision. As the meeting started, it was announced that there was no Secretary and the meeting could not proceed without one. I raised my hand and said that I would be willing to do it if no one else was willing to do it. After paying my dues, I became the FCCLV Secretary, my first office as a member of FCCLV, but certainly it turned out to be not my last. This is how I  first became a member of FCCLV, held my first office, which also began a commitment to that organization that continues today.

As I had mentioned, I was intrigued about attending and learning more about an organization that was dedicated to people with low vision. After my surgeries at Bascom Palmer, I consider myself as very lucky and fortunate. I still had significant eyesight left thanks to my surgeon. I began the process of wanting to give back and I was able to do that  With my membership, association, and commitment to My local chapter, Southwest , to the FCB and of course FCCLV.

As I will cover my participation and commitment to FCCLV, I see tangible and intangible benefits. First, let’s look at some of the tangible benefits that you will receive as a member of FCCLV. As a member of FCCLV, you’re also a member of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI). So for one dues payment, you receive two organizations that are both dedicated to individuals with low vision. CCLVI is the national special interest affiliate and is one of 16 special interest affiliates under the umbrella of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). To make it simple, as a member of FCCLV, you are also a member of CCLVI, just as  you are a member of FCB, that also makes you a member of ACB. Benefits of membership include receiving: Vision Access, the newsletter of CCLVI written by and for people with low vision. As a member, you also have access to the wonderful CCLVI website, which has Recently been reformatted and updated. It contains an immense amount of information that would be of interest and valuable to any member of FCCLV. When Covid arrived it became necessary to shelter at home, ACB developed the Community Calls program. CCLVI jumped into this program with both feet and created a number of virtual calls. These calls include a coffee, chat, game, peer support, Book club and several others. These are all available to all members of FCCLV, they are also available to potentially new members of FCCLV and CCLVI. Certainly as part of this virtual program is Let’s Talk Low Vision, A program that has been around for many years. Unfortunately, its founder and Creator Dr. Bill is no longer with us. By joining in with these programs, you have the opportunity not only to Meet members throughout the state of Florida, but can meet members of other state affiliates and  CCLVI members from all over the country.

As an FCCLV member, you are also entitled to receive the white Cane Bulletin, the newsletter of the FCB and The Braille Forum, the newsletter of the ACB. These are some of the tangible benefits that you can receive as an FCCLV member.

However, what really drew me to FCCLV were the intangible benefits. The most significant of these is relationships that you are able to build. What makes FCCLV viable and successful are  the members and the inter relationships that built among its members. One of the things that I find quite amazing, is the close relationships that you are able to build with people that you meet as a member of an organization like FCCLV and CCLVI. To me, it’s great that you can build close friendships with people that you may never have the opportunity to meet. There are members of both FCCLV and CCLVI who may no longer be considered low vision, but now are considered totally blind and are still members of FCCLV and/or CCLVI . This shows the strength of the relationships that have been built in these organizations. For me, the most important reason why I chose to become a member of FCCLV was to be able to meet and spend time with people like myself who have low vision.

Two additional points that I would like to make, that you could consider tangible or intangible. These would be known as a personal choice certainly depending on your goals and advocacy that you may choose to pursue. Too many individuals outside of the blind and low vision community, think a blind person Is one who has no remaining sight. Of course, we know this is incorrect and not true. The majority of individuals who make up the blind community, Whether members of organizations like ACB, FCB, CCLVI and FCCLV are not; the majority of the blind community is composed of individuals who are low vision, and not totally blind. I would suggest that as a member of FCCLV or potential member of FCCLV and a member of the vision community that you act as an ambassador for that community to your local chapter. In discussions at may arise during the course of a business meeting, make sure that the concerns and issues of the low vision community is represented.  Additionally, if you were out in public either around an event or as an event, with a group or has an individual please take the time to educate those Who may be unaware of the vision community and the size of that community within the overall blind community. I feel it is important to those in the sighted community to know that the majority of individuals who are identified as being blind may have some remaining site.

Finally, if you have read this article and I have created some interest for you and the FCCLV or CCLVI that you contact one of its members. Please tell them that you would like to come to a meeting or other program that is being held so we learn more about these organizations. it is my hope that by doing so you will find value in them and of course, want to be part of them.
Currently, we are in the tail end of our recruitment. For FCCLV and recruitment extends to the middle of March for CCLVI.. of course, you can join these organizations at any time. As for the resident or a member of FCB, any wish to come and learn more about FCCLV, here sample of what’s happening. Currently, we are meeting once a month and we endeavor to have a program of interest at each meeting. Also meetings may have a short business meeting, we seek to provide either a topic or a presenter that will be of interest to members of the vision community.

My name is Paul Lewis and I am the current membership Secretary for FCCLV and I am also the immediate past President. If you have any questions that I could answer for you on FCCLV, please contact me at either 941 841-9640(voice text) or email me at fcclv.sia@gmail.com.
Thank you for reading this article and I look forward to hearing from you.
***

Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee

Lithium Ion Batteries, How to Administer Proper Care and Maintenance

lithium Ion Batteries serve as the power source for many of the electronic devices we use in our everyday lives, such as, cell phones, Bluetooth speakers, electric vehicles and numerous other gadgets.

In the newer electronic devices, the battery cannot be removed and replaced by the average consumer, with the exception of some flip phones and other specialty hardware. Utilizing proper charging habits will aid in allowing your batteries to provide long lasting service for a long time. Many of the newer devices allow fast charging capabilities. You can read more about fast charging in the article titled, "Is Fast Charging Detrimental To Your Cell Phone Battery!!" in the January/February 2023 edition of the White Cane Bulletin.

Try not to let your batteries completely discharge before charging; many devices will prompt the user to charge at around 20%; at that point, charge the battery up to 80%. Occasionally you may charge to full capacity, if that is the case, don't leave the charger plugged in when the battery reaches 100%. Generally, your battery should maintain 80% battery health after 800 charges, about two years or so.

When storing for a prolonged length of time components containing lithium ion batteries, should be discharge down to 50% before powering off and stored.
***

Poetry Corner Submitted: by Shelley Sawyer

Greetings, Dear Reader:
Each year in this issue, I usually share a Christmas Carol. While I don’t want to diminish the Holidays in any way, I felt that our world being what and where it is in the scheme of things these days, it would be good to share something for our Veterans. To any and all reading this, if you are serving or have served, Thank you for your service.

UNSUNG HERO
Written and performed by Josh Turner

He joined the Army in '42,
Fightin' for his country and me and you,
Didn't talk about his medals or what he'd seen,
Was a man of few words about everything;
He wasn't in the paper or on TV,
Hollywood never called;
All he did for us we may never know,
He's an unsung hero,
He's an unsung hero.

He got a letter from the president,
Lettin' him know how much it meant,
To all the men and women of the USA,
For answerin' the call and for the price he paid;
He put the letter in a dresser drawer,
It never saw the light of day,
All he hid from us, we may never know,
He's an unsung hero,
He's an unsung hero.

People like that, you don't know their name,
And you probably never will;
They didn't do what they did for praise or fame,
He's an unsung hero,
He's an unsung hero.

He was a hard-workin' man and he loved his wife,
Did everything he could to give her a good life,
Active in his church and his garden too,
Never had a lot of money but he made it through.
I tip my hat to all the men like that,
Who've ever fought to keep us free,
He was my daddy's Daddy and I want you to know,
He's an unsung hero,
He's my unsung hero.
***

FCB OFFICERS, 2024 – 2026

President, Mikey Wiseman
Miami, president@fcb.org (305) 331-4870

1st Vice-President, Cassandra Jessie
Tallahassee, vp1@fcb.org (850) 567-4288

2nd Vice President, Shelley Sawyer
Tallahassee, vp2@fcb.org (407) 403-2099

Treasurer, Mark Lear
P.O. BOX 214235
DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32121
treasurer@fcb.org (386) 788-0463

Membership Secretary, and White Cane Bulletin Editor, Sally Benjamin
Tallahassee, (850) 980-0205
Membership Email: membership@fcb.org
White Cane Bulletin Email: editor@fcb.org

Recording Secretary, Elizabeth Bowden
Tallahassee, recordingsec@fcb.org (850) 345-0822

Immediate Past President, Sheila Young
Orlando, sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200

FCB Administrative Assistant, Kati Lear
(800) 267-4448 (386) 763-3836    floridacouncil@comcast.net
***

2024-2026 FCB Chapter & Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons

Please contact your officer liaison if we can be of assistance or if you need anything from the Executive Committee.

CALM (Chapter At Large Members) Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org
(305) 331-4870

Greater Orlando Council of the Blind: Mark Lear
treasurer@fcb.org
(386) 788-0463

Halifax Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200

Jacksonville Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288

Manatee County Council of the Blind: Sally Benjamin
membership@fcb.org
(850) 980-0205

Miami Beach Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org
(305) 331-4870

Miami Metro Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org
(305) 331-4870

Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822

Palm Beach Council of the Blind:  Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288

Pinellas Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200

Sarasota Council of the Blind: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099

Southwest Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822

Tallahassee Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200

Tampa Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288

Braille Revival League of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099

Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822

Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision International: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288

Guide Dog Users of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099
***

Handy Telephone Number References

Project Insight: (800) 267-4448

Bureau of Braille & Talking Book Library: (800) 226-6075

Division of Blind Services, State Office: (800) 342-1828

American Council of The Blind: (800) 424-8666
(Available 3:00 to 5:30 P.M. EST Mon - Fri only)

ACB Legislative Hotline: (800) 424-8666
(Available evenings 8:00 P.M. to 12:00 Midnight EST and weekends 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. only)

AT&T Disability Services: (800) 872-3883
(Press 00 and speak with your long-distance carrier, or Florida only: (800) 982-2891)

BellSouth Disability Services: (800) 982-2891
(From anywhere)

Social Security: (800) 772-1213
(24-hour voice and touch tone accessibility)