THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN Florida Council of The Blind, Inc. November - December 2023 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: salbenjamin60@gmail.com. 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: salbenjamin60@gmail.com TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message: by Sheila Young 3 FCB Board Meeting and 2024 State Convention by Kati Lear 4 Project Insight! by Cachet Wells 5 Book corner Submitted by Sheila Young 6 Jottings From Jacksonville by: Paul Edwards 6 The Light Chronicles: by Cachet Wells 8 Recipe Corner Easy Pumpkin Cookies Submitted by Sheila Young 9 Janeen's Corky Crafting: by Janeen 9 Chapter News November-December 2023 GOCB Update by Martha James 10 Southwest Council of the Blind by Mary Blum-Pierce. 11 Happenings in Tallahassee, by: Elizabeth Bowden 11 Tech Tips by John Richards: 12 Poetry Corner 13 FCB Officers, 2022 – 2024 14 2023-2024 FCB Chapter & Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons 15 Handy Telephone Number References 17 *** November-December 2023 President’s Message by Sheila Young Dear FCB members and friends, I hope this finds you all doing well, and getting ready for our last in-person mid-year board meeting. Although, after this year, we won’t meet in person, there will still be a virtual mid-year meeting held in order to keep our business running by our board. We appreciate the committee chairs holding their meetings prior to mid-year, as it gives everyone the opportunity to take part in the meetings and learn the inner workings of our committees. If there is a committee you are interested in, please reach out to the chair and see if there is room for you to join them! Your state has a host committee to assist the American Council of the Blind in preparing for the national conference and convention to be held in Jacksonville next July. We will be asking our members to assist us in different ways, so I hope we will full-fill our duties in FCB style! I am anticipating the upcoming months and the approaching holidays. I know this will be another challenging year for some, but we are so fortunate to have a vast FCB family to share our time, thoughts, and friendship with. Please remember to enjoy your family, friends, and chapter members in celebrating life and the holidays, no matter what your beliefs may be. Consider reaching out to those that may not have anyone to share the upcoming holidays with and try to share a little love with them. I know our organization has much to be thankful for, and we can certainly spread that light around! My wish is for all of you to have a fulfilling and safe holiday! Please remember I am only an email or phone call away! *** FCB BOARD MEETING AND 2024 State Convention by Kati Lear The FCB Board Meeting will take place at the Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland on Friday and Saturday November 3 and 4, 2023. As voted by our membership, this will be our last in-person board meeting. Future board meetings will take place on Zoom. On Friday afternoon, November 3 the Executive Committee will meet at four o’clock, and all are welcome. At five o’clock, the FCB pre-board meeting will take place. On Saturday morning, November 4, at nine o’clock, there will be an in-service workshop and the board meeting will take place at 10:30. There will be a lunch break and the meeting will continue until we are done. Attendance for state officers, committee chairs and board reps will be taken at the five PM meeting on Friday and for all meetings on Saturday. For members who are attending on Zoom, I will send out the Zoom invitation prior to Friday’s meetings. Our annual state convention will be in downtown Jacksonville at the Southbank Hotel from Thursday, May 16 through noon on Sunday, May 19, 2024. Room rates are $109 plus tax. The hotel’s address is 1515 Prudential Drive; Jacksonville, FL 32207. The phone number is 904-396-5100. I will let you know when the room block is open for reservations. We are looking forward to an educational and fun filled convention. If you have thoughts or suggestions for sessions, please call 800-267-4448 or 386-763-3836, or email floridacouncil@comcast.net. *** Project Insight! Road To Vision By Cachet Wells Maintaining a balance and healthy life is always difficult when life throws you a curve ball. Dealing with vision loss is a process of adjusting, grieving and refocusing to the many challenges that present itself along the way. Cultivating your own system for coping, overcoming fears and transforming your mindset for a new way of living. There are many questions that may arise that give you cause for concern of those next steps. What should I do, Where do I turn to and How will I do? These are just a few that come to mind of what you begin to ponder. Allowing yourself the time to process your new diagnosis and what's to be your new normal without vision is the first hurdle you face. It's Unlocking the door of accepting that something has taken place that now needs your immediate attention. Learning what your choices are is truly important to making the right decision for you. Not every person with vision loss will even experience the same issues, symptoms or challenges. Understand that there is a vast amount of information to be discovered, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider on the treatments that will best benefit your diagnosis. Seek out resources that can assist you in making informed decisions. Finding reading materials that educate you and provide current studies, statistics and specialty cases that align with your specific need about the latest treatments that are available. Coping with vision loss can bring on various emotions and different stages and phases of grieving along the way. Allow yourself the space, at your own pace, to share those feelings with those who support you as they partner with you on your blindness journey. Find opportunities to explore ways to stay connected with the evolving improvements in treatments for vision loss. Learn new skills that give you freedom to be as confident and independent as you can be while getting involved with local support groups and organizations that assist you in finding a place of common community that will encourage you to thrive to your greatest potential as you navigate vision loss. The mission of Project Insight is to be viable source of resources to those who experience any level of vision loss that need to get connected. 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. Feel free to read more about Project Insight on www.FCB.org   Warmest Regards, Cachet Wells (904)764-4573 *** Book Corner Submitted by Sheila Young Don Mahoney; Television Star DBC13188 Chong, Peggy Don Mahoney told the truth to the studios in Hollywood, and it almost caused him his dignity. Don packed up his dreams, headed back to Texas, and re-invented himself, becoming the biggest Kiddie TV show host in the state. For ten years, the television stations had no idea their star was blind. Read how he kept his disability a secret and why. *** Jottings From Jacksonville by: Paul Edwards Some Service Considerations When I went to work for the Division of Blind Services in 1977, I was a Rehabilitation Teacher. There were a group of us all over the state. Many of us were blind. Our job was to go out to the homes of people who were new to vision loss and provide initial training that would help with adjustment to blindness. I was responsible for serving Volusia, Brevard and Flagler counties. The Division of Blind Services at that time provided no more than mileage for those of us who were working in the field. I had to hire drivers who I had to pay out of my pocket. I actually hired more than one driver. I would usually take a Greyhound to Brevard or Flagler and then my driver for that county would meet me at the bus station where I got off. Most of the services that were being delivered to people who were losing their vision were provided by those of us in the field. There were lighthouses. The Miami Lighthouse has existed in one form or another since 1926. My point is that the model in those days was based on the expectation that a core component of service delivery was provided by us "Rehab Teachers". In 2023, the situation is quite different. Rehabilitation training is now provided virtually completely by Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP). The local agencies must serve all 67 counties in Florida. Overall, this model probably serves people who are blind better than a model where DBS provides some of the teaching. (I should be clear that the Division operates the Rehab Center in Daytona Beach which provides residential training for some DBS clients.) During Covid these local programs delivered services on line or via phone and, though some people chose not to receive services because of fear of contagion, the effectiveness of service delivery by our local agencies was excellent. One of the elements that Covid helped to bring into focus was how much harder it is to serve people in rural areas than it is to serve folks who live in town. This led to a number of questions. First, should small local agencies whose rural population is high be entitled to some breaks in the way contracts are interpreted by the Division of Blind Services? Second, is there a difference sufficiently substantial in how Covid affects different agencies to justify different treatment by the Division? Can local agencies gain by continuing to deliver some of their services on line or remotely by phone even after COVID danger is over? Even before Covid there were some questions raised by some local programs about whether the cost analysis being applied by the Division of Blind Services to contracts was appropriate. About a decade ago, a cost analysis was done but most people agree it did little to answer most of the outstanding questions that are out there. As a result, the Division of Blind Services with the support of the Division of Blind Services Foundation, undertook a study of the local agency costs and how they are calculated. This study was led by San Diego State University and, over the next year or two, we should have some definitive results about the effectiveness of contracts. There have actually been a completed report and some amendments to it which have now been completed. Based on discussions between the Division and FASB (Florida Agencies Serving the Blind) and the Chancellor in the Department of Education a number of adjustments have been made to contracts for the 2023-24 year. Florida is fortunate in some other ways as well. Contracts actively insist that our local agencies hire qualified or certified people when possible. That means that many of those who are hired have specific certification in areas of blindness service delivery. So our mobility instructors, those who teach technology, those who teach how to use low vision devices and those who provide training in the skills needed to live at home every day are certified in these service delivery areas. The state also requires accreditation. This means that local agencies must look at themselves by conducting a self-study usually every five years followed by a site visit by professionals from other states who come and see how well each agency's self-study actually measures their performance. It might seem that discussion of these arcane areas is not very relevant for a consumer organization. However, I think we need to be looking at the local agencies who are training blind people in our areas. We should see if we can get representation on the Boards of these agencies. We can also arrange to meet with the heads of these local programs regularly to make sure that the services that are being offered meet with our approval. Perhaps we can find ways that we can cooperate with local programs. I have always thought that one of the things that local programs should do is refer folks to consumer organizations. That way their clients as they are being closed by the local program and the agency will be connected with other successful people who are blind. Without this connection, it appears from studies that people who go through lighthouses will stop practicing the skills they have learned. We can gain lots of new members if we are open and welcoming. At the very least, we should ask each local program to let us speak to each class so we can be sure that those studying at the area program know we exist. The other reason it is important to talk about service delivery is to explore where we might not be doing as well as perhaps we could. Local programs find it hard to serve people in rural areas. Are agencies constrained by lack of funds to train seniors in particular pretty quickly because there is such a great deal of demand for their services? Do we have enough evidence of just how well the training is being received? Are we making much effort to do follow-up measurement so we can see how clients are doing a year after they leave our programs for instance? Most of our local agencies are running programs for babies, for children, for youth in transition, for people seeking to go to work, for those who are adults who are not planning to go to work, and, of course, for seniors, the largest population. With all these different programs being run at a small agency with limited staff, is there a likelihood that evaluation just plain gets lost? The training that people who are blind receive will determine who is available to lead FCB! For all these reasons, FCB and our local chapters need to make knowing how the local agency serving their area is doing a priority! *** The Light Chronicles: Eyes on the ground by Cachet Wells Beams of light bringing life into the darkness. Fixated on every disjointed section as it comes together like a well crafted puzzle, one snap at a time. Like a new world awakening and opening itself up to me before my very eyes. Finding hope and strength in its grasp and wisdom from the information that only it could compile. Confident in its ability to lead my every step as we communicate through our daily dance.  Whether slow, steady or the fast paced strides of the O&M shuffle, the shifting glides that speak to the left or to the right. That elongated pause at the crosswalk that shouts stop in the name of love for it's still my favorite guiding partner. My eyes on the ground forever assuring me that it's always up for the challenge. Adventurously taking on every pathway like crosswalks, curves and car crossings have nothing on you. A beast master at navigating the masterfully crafted terrain all while relaying information from every step to every tap. Tapping into what is seen from your skillfully, systematic and rhythmic tip tapping view. Gaining new insight and perspective with every split second viewpoint.  For my eyes on the ground has brought living back to life for these eyes of mine. A reciprocated cycle of hope, trust and confidence yielding independence as we independently move to and from confidently. Where these old eyes of mine have taken a rest from their labor to pass the torch to my beautiful new friend. Giving birth to a new eye's view that has given many of us renewed peace of mobility freedom as we cultivate a new norm from our eyes on the ground.  Warmest Regards, Cachet Wells (904)764-4573 *** Recipe Corner Easy Pumpkin Cookies Submitted by Sheila Young 1 box spice cake mix (do not add liquid or eggs) 1 can pure pumpkin (15 oz.) --not pumpkin pie filling mix Mix together and drop by spoonful’s onto cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for around 10 minutes or until firm. Allow to cool. Makes 48 cookies. These are so soft and good. *** Janeen's Corky Crafting: Christmas tree decoration You will need 13 plain wine corks and either Elmer's glue, Tacky glue, E-6000 or whatever glue you're comfortable with. I recommend Tacky glue. You will need a plate or tray to build it on and then whatever accessories you would like to decorate with: green paint, sequins, beads, glitter, string, or anything else. All the corks will have a circular side down against the tray. You will start by gluing three corks together in a straight line then on top of those you will put four corks in a straight line. Then you'll glue three corks on top of that, two corks on top of that, and finally one so it goes 3-4-3-2-1. For gluing purposes, I recommend squeezing glue into a small dish and then taking each cork and rolling it in the glue, and then gluing them together. I have found when you squeeze the Tacky glue onto the cork it doesn't stick as well so you should roll it in the glue on a little dish. After you have glued your tree together, let it sit for at least five hours for the glue to dry and then you can decorate it by gluing sequins, glitter, or whatever else you'd like. Then after you have decorated the tree the way you like and it's all made and ready to stand up, I recommend getting a spray can of clear varnish or sealant and spraying your tree just so it has a clear layer of protection. I just made this Christmas tree and it's a really fun quick craft. You can make these and give them away, sell them, or keep them for yourself. I really really hope that you enjoy this craft and you attempt it and try it, because crafting is so much fun. Happy Fall y'all! XOXO Janeen Lea *** Chapter News November-December 2023 GOCB Update by Martha James October will be a busy month for our chapter. First, we will celebrate White Cane & Guide Dog Safety Day on October 14 by walking around a local area and then enjoy a wonderful time eating lunch together! On October 19th, we will join Lighthouse Central Florida, along with the local NFB chapter, our Para Transit company, and Metro Plan Orlando to recognize Blind American Equality Day with “The Blind Experience” at Lighthouse Works. Then, on October 25, there will be a Dine and Donate at Tijuana Flats from 5:00 to 8:00. In November, we will vote for officers for the next year.  The slate of officers is as follows: Sheila Young for president, Tom Babcock for first vice president, Dan Spoone for second vice president, Marsha Bukala for membership secretary, Martha James for recording secretary, and Asli Goncer for treasurer.  Our members will also be enjoying another audio described play to be held at the Winter Garden Theatre on December 10th. We are making plans for our annual Christmas luncheon, which will be held on December 16th at Sheila’s home, and catered by Sonny’s. We wish each of   our members a very safe and happy holiday, no matter how you celebrate! *** Southwest Council of the Blind by Mary Blum-Pierce. The Southwest Florida Council of the Blind celebrated White Cane Safety Day October 14th at the Calusa Nature Center in Ft. Myers, Florida. Several members got out there on a beautiful day with our white canes and dogs. We enjoyed a nature walk with our guide Isabel along with all the birds and gorgeous butterflies. Touching the animals including a baby gator was the highlight of the event…A lunch at Applebee’s followed along with our white canes. Mary Blum-Pierce. *** Happenings in Tallahassee, by: Elizabeth Bowden TCB has been picnicking!!! A yearly fund raiser for our chapter is a yearly picnic with dollar auction. This year we held ours on September 9. Everyone came together ready to have all kinds of fun, and eat our favorites prepared by members. My favorite is Shelley Sawyer’s pasta salad. After eating, the real fun began. Members donated items which were piled on a table. During the event, we could examine them, or wait for Bob the auctioneer to describe them for us. Everyone was prepared with one-dollar bills which they use to bid for items. When the dollar bills stop waving, the item goes to the person who bid on it last. Bob has been our auctioneer for the past two auctions. His descriptions are as funny as some of the items he describes. Sometimes we pick items and wait to see how they will be described. The funniest this year was some perfume, and decorations. Among the items that were auctioned were a set of sheets that made us $30.00, and a pet bowl feeding set. When we were through, there was nothing left and we had a large stack of dollar bills, 205, which were taken to the bank along with the larger bills we had from making change. This year’s event was another success which brought us lots of fun, along with sharing time with new members and sharing a hilarious experience. Try it sometime!! *** Tech Tips by John Richards: from the Technology Committee QR Codes! What are they and How Are They Used? A QR code (short for Quick Response Code) is a type of two-dimensional barcode that can be read by smartphones and other digital devices. QR codes are made up of black and white squares arranged in a grid, and they can store a variety of information, such as URLs, contact information, and text. QR codes were first invented in Japan in 1994, and they have since become increasingly popular all over the world. They are now used in a wide variety of applications, including: • Marketing and advertising: QR codes can be used to direct customers to websites, social media pages, and other online content. • Payments: QR codes can be used to make contactless payments at stores and restaurants. • Product information: QR codes can be used to provide customers with more information about products, such as nutritional information or instructions for use. • Event tickets: QR codes can be used to scan tickets at events, such as concerts and sporting events. • Navigation: QR codes can be used to direct people to specific locations, such as museums or restaurants. To scan a QR code, simply open the camera app on your smartphone and point it at the code. The camera will automatically recognize the code and display the stored information. On IOS devices, it is easier for a visually impaired or blind individual to use "code scanner" to scan the qR code. Android users can activate the scan qR code option in camera settings. For some android devices, the user will have to use a third party qR code scanning app. code scanning apps can be obtained from the iOS App Store or Google Play. Here are some tips for using QR codes effectively: • Make sure the QR code is large enough to be read easily. • Place the QR code in a well-lit area. • Use a high-contrast color scheme for the QR code. • Avoid placing the QR code on a reflective surface. • Test the QR code to make sure it works before using it in a real-world setting. QR codes are a versatile and convenient way to share information. By following these tips, you can ensure that your QR codes are easy to scan and use. Scanning QR Codes from unknown or untrusted sources could result in your device being subjected to hidden malicious code. Keep this in mind before you scan. A good Portion of the information in this article was composed by an AI Chatbot. This technology is developing rapidly. Additional facts were obtained from an article: How Do QR Codes Work for People with Vision Loss? SEPTEMBER 23, 2022, by Richard Stauder, CVRT CATIS; Additional commentary and factual content was contributed by John Richards https://www.second-sense.org/2022/09/how-do-qr-codes-work-for-people-with-vision-loss/ *** Poetry Corner Submitted: by Shelley Sawyer Greetings Dear Reader: Another year is flying by, and the Holidays are fast approaching. As I try to do each year at this time, I have selected a Christmas Carol for the Poetry Corner. I chose this one because it isn’t often heard. In fact, when I found this and read the words, I realized that I had never really heard the words before. The words are based upon words from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2, verses 4-7. AS a poem, it was first published by Cecil F. Alexander in 1848 in a book of hymns, Hymns For Little Children. It was set to music a year later by English Organist, Henry Gauntlett. I hope you all enjoy this one. I wish every reader a joyous Holiday Season; and I pray that the coming year brings each of you all that you need and at least some of what you want. Let us Try to be mindful that there is a difference. ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY Words by Cecil Frances Alexander Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed: Mary was that Mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child. He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall: With the poor and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy. And through all His wondrous childhood He would honor and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms He lay: Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as He. For he is our childhood's pattern; Day by day like us he grew, He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew: And he feeleth for our sadness, And he shareth in our gladness. And our eyes at last shall see him Through his own redeeming love, For that Child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heaven above: And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone. Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see him: but in heaven, Set at God's right hand on high, Where like stars his children crowned, All in white shall wait around. *** FCB Officers, 2022 – 2024 President, Sheila Young 2304 Amherst Ave., Orlando, FL 32804 sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200 1st Vice-President, Mikey Wiseman 591 E. 15th St., Hialeah, FL 33010 wisemanmikey@gmail.com (305) 331-4870 2nd Vice President, Cassandra Jessie 408 White St., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 cassandrajessie@gmail.com (850) 980-0177 Treasurer, Mark Lear P.O. BOX 214235 DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32121-4215 learm52@icloud.com (386) 788-0463 Membership Secretary, Sally Benjamin 1009 Concord Road, Apt. 116, Tallahassee, FL 32308 Salbenjamin60@gmail.com (850) 980-0205 Recording Secretary, Mary Tyson 291 Eddie Ave., Holly Hill, FL 32117 mtyson541@bellsouth.net (386) 212-9496 Immediate Past President, James Kracht 9901 SW 138th Street, Miami, FL 33176 jameskkracht@gmail.com (305) 251-6983 or (407) 378-3477 Editor of White Cane Bulletin, Sally Benjamin 1009 Concord Road, Apt. 116, Tallahassee, FL 32308 Salbenjamin60@gmail.com (850) 980-0205 FCB Administrative Assistant, Kati Lear (800) 267-4448 (386) 763-3836     floridacouncil@comcast.net *** 2023-2024 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) Sheila Young sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200 Greater Orlando Council of the Blind: Mark Lear learm52@icloud.com (386) 788-0463 Halifax Council of the Blind: Sheila Young sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200 Jacksonville Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie cassandrajessie@gmail.com (850) 980-0177 Manatee County Council of the Blind: Sally Benjamin Salbenjamin60@gmail.com (850) 980-0205 Miami Beach Council of the Blind Mikey Wiseman wisemanmikey@gmail.com (305) 331-4870 Miami Metro Council of the Blind Mikey Wiseman wisemanmikey@gmail.com (305) 331-4870 Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind: Sally Benjamin Salbenjamin60@gmail.com (850) 980-0205 Palm Beach Council of the Blind: Sally Benjamin Salbenjamin60@gmail.com (850) 980-0205 Pinellas Council of the Blind: Sheila Young sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200 Sarasota Council of the Blind: Mary Tyson mtyson541@bellsouth.net (386) 212-9496 Southwest Florida Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman wisemanmikey@gmail.com (305) 331-4870 Tallahassee Council of the Blind: Sheila Young sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200 Tampa Council of the Blind Cassandra Jessie cassandrajessie@gmail.com (850) 980-0177 Braille Revival League of Florida: Mary Tyson mtyson541@bellsouth.net (386) 212-9496 Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind: Mark Lear learm52@icloud.com (386) 788-0463 Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision: Cassandra Jessie cassandrajessie@gmail.com (850) 980-0177 Guide Dog Users of Florida: Mary Tyson mtyson541@bellsouth.net (386) 212-9496 *** 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 Monday-Friday 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 accessible 2