THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN Florida Council of The Blind, Inc. May – June 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’S 70TH Annual State Convention: by Kati Lear 3 Free Library Service Available to the Florida Disability Community 4 Book corner Submitted: by Sheila Young 6 Tech tips: by John Richards 6 Recipe Corner: by Sheila Young 7 Chapter News 7 Poetry Corner Submitted: by Shelley Sawyer 11 FCB Officers 2022 – 2024 12 2022-2024 FCB Chapter & Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons 13 Handy Telephone Number References 15 *** Presidents Message May-June 2023 by Sheila Young Dear members & friends, I want to begin by thanking Anthony Corona and the Governmental Affairs committee for doing such a phenomenal job with our in-person and virtual meetings for the legislative week! We had an amazing team go to D. C. and represent Florida, which should make us all very proud. We also had many team members dedicate their time to speak virtually with our Representative’s aids, and for that I also want to say thank you! This was an opportunity for us to educate the leaders on some of our issues, and even inform them of a few others that they weren’t aware of! It is important that we keep that dialogue going, and not just in March of next year! It is hard to believe that our convention is almost here, and wow, what a year it will be! We are celebrating seventy years of FCB this year! This will be, once again, a hybrid convention, and many hours of planning are going into the programs in an effort to bring what is best for our members and to make it beneficial for all of you! I am excited, as once again, our break-out sessions will prove to be quite diverse this year, and I hope each of you will plan to join us. We all have a responsibility to advocate for the needs of all blind and visually impaired people; if we don’t, who will? I hope each of you is staying in touch with each other; that is how we have been able to survive this very unusual pandemic! Please remember I am only a phone call or email away and am here to assist you in any way you need. If I don’t have the answer, I will find someone who does! Take care, be safe, and hope to see you in June! *** FCB’S 70TH ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION by Kati Lear It’s almost here and we can hardly wait! We plan to have lots of fun, good fellowship and learn lots of information because we are 70 YEARS AND JUST GETTING STARTED. Our convention dates are Thursday, June 1 through Sunday at noon on June 4. Our convention hotel is the Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland. Their address is 600 North Lake Destiny Road in Maitland. We hope that you have made your hotel reservations because our room block is full. If you need a room, please contact Mikey Wiseman by email wisemanmikey@gmail.com And ask for assistance. I have emailed the convention call to the FCB Presidents and the FCB-L List. If you would like a large print copy of the convention call, please call me at 800-267-4448 or 386-763-3836. On our website, www.fcb.org, you will find the convention call as well as the online registration form. Registration will close on Thursday, May 25 at 11:59 PM. If you need assistance with registration, please call me at one of the numbers listed above. On Thursday evening we will have 70s Karaoke night in the hotel’s restaurant. Come and sing 70s music and dress in 70s attire. There will be a $25 gift card for the most creative costume. During all meetings throughout the weekend, door prizes will be given. Our workshops will be very diverse and interesting. Clark Racfall will be our speaker at the FCB banquet and during two convention sessions. The exhibit hall is waiting for us so that we can see new products and spend our money. So, please join us so that you can see that we are 70 AND JUST GETTING STARTED!! See you in June. *** Free Library Service Available to the Florida Disability Community Submitted: by Sheila Young  The Florida Braille and Talking Book Library, located in Daytona Beach, is a bureau of the Florida Division of Blind Services within the Florida Department of Education. The library works in cooperation with the nation-wide network of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (Library of Congress) to provide services throughout the State.   This specialized free service Library is dedicated to reaching Floridians who are unable to use standard printed books due to a qualified vision loss, blindness, reading disability, hearing loss or a physical disability.   The Braille and Talking Book Library provides books and magazines in Braille and audio formats, free of charge, to qualified individuals of any age. Playback equipment is also provided as a long-term loan, and special players are available for individuals with hearing loss. Materials are sent and returned through the U. S. Postal Service at no cost to the user, or they may be downloaded from the National Library Service web site for use on the player or on a personal device.  Classics to bestsellers of fiction and non-fiction titles, subscriptions to favorite magazines and music materials such as scores and musical textbooks in braille are also available in English, Spanish and other languages.     Persons or institutions interested in applying for services may call 1-800-226-6075, to request an application by mail. Applications are also available on the web sites listed below:   ·       Braille and Talking Book Library Web site: http://dbs.myflorida.com/Library ·       National Library Services Web site: http://www.loc.gov/nls   Applications may be downloaded and filled out by hand or completed online. Completed applications may be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to the addresses/numbers appearing below. To request an application by mail, please call our toll-free number (below).   Once a Library Patron, Library materials may be ordered by phone, mail or at the National Library Services (NLS) web site.  Reader Services staff are available to answer any questions by calling or emailing.  The library is open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. If after hours, patrons may leave a voicemail at any time.  Volunteer positions are also available, please contact the library for more information.   Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services 421 Platt Street - Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Phone: 386-239-6000    Toll free: 800-226-6075    Fax: 386-239-6069 OPAC_librarian@dbs.fldoe.org   Please share the information on this valuable free service with friends and family who might benefit.   Thank you. *** Book Corner Submitted by Sheila Young Kendrick, Patrick The Savants DBC08190 Kendrick, Patrick. Reading time: 6 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Dave Archard. A production of Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services. Suspense Fiction Science Fiction The Eastern seaboard of the U.S. is imperiled when a nuclear bomb explodes underwater off the coast, triggering a fault line to crack apart. A gigantic tsunami will flood a number of states unless the President can find a solution. He discovers unlikely help at a research institute for savants, individuals who've suffered brain damage but are gifted in unique ways. Working together for the first time, these young people believe they can help. Award winner. For junior and senior high. *** Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee Is Your Touch Screen On Your Smart Phone Too Slick To Navigate!! The Hable One external keyboard allows individuals with visual impairments to navigate their smart phone screen; instead of using touch gestures, swipes and taps, the user envokes a series of touch commands. The physical buttons allow one to replicate these actions in order to simplify device navigation. The unit is small in size, easy to hold in your hands while operating; allowing for easy transport and handling. It connects to your smart phone or tablet via Bluetooth; the manufacturer claims the battery will last up to one month before needing a charge. If you are already a braille user, the 8 key Perkins style layout is designed to simplify the initiation of input commands. Voice control allows one to dictate text messages as well as vocally filling in form fields. The Hable One connects to cross platform devices; both Android and IOS. If this external keyboard accessory is for you, remember to ask about their money back guarantee. Below are a couple of links for you to read more about The Hable One. https://www.iamhable.com/ https://afb.org/aw/23/11/18110 *** Recipe Corner Submitted: by Sheila Young Crockpot Creamy Ranch Potatoes 2 pounds small red potatoes quartered 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 package (dry mix) Ranch salad dressing 1 can cream of potato soup Place potatoes in a three-quart crockpot. In another bowl, combine salad dressing, softened cream cheese and soup. Stir this mixture with the potatoes and cook on low for seven hours or on high three to four hours. Stir again to blend before serving. *** Chapter News GOCB Update: by Martha James    On March 22, we returned to Tijuana Flats for another wonderful Dine and Donate. Asli and the Jane Gang kept everything lively with their music.  Trivia night is on for April 22. It will be held at the VFW. There will be a silent auction. Tables are $150 and individuals are $25. We invite everyone to come and share a fun night. On April 30, some members will go to see the audio described play, “Something Rotten,”  In June, we will hold our annual awards and scholarship luncheon. It will be held on June 10, in order to accommodate the annual FCB state convention.  We continue to hold our business meetings via zoom, which gives us an opportunity to have social events to enjoy! *** Jottings From Jacksonville: by Paul Edwards Paratransit Problems and Potential Solutions At the FCB convention in Maitland Florida in 2022, our organization passed a resolution calling on local Transportation Boards to learn from other transit providers in the state. It also called upon the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged to gather information about innovative ways of expanding services and publicizing those new approaches. It was also hoped in the resolution that the Commission's efforts would lead to a recognition by those local transit programs who are hanging back that innovation can be supported by the Federal Paratransit system. To make clear where we are and why we should be glad, we need to look back at the pre-pandemic paratransit scene. There were only a couple of entities who were even exploring innovation and they were small providers. As with so many other things, the pandemic changed everything! Suddenly paratransit in some places simply stopped functioning! In others it became free! In some only one passenger was picked up during a trip. In some jurisdictions there was good communication between customers and the paratransit system. In others very much the opposite was true! Whatever the reality was, these were the realities that were facing paratransit operators by the beginning of this year. Drivers were quitting right and left because they got other jobs, could collect unemployment or weren't getting enough hours to survive on the number of trips that were being scheduled. In virtually every paratransit system, there were longer wait times and there were times when trips simply could not be scheduled. During the three or four years preceding Covid, another phenomenon impacted paratransit. That involved the emergence of a whole new transportation paradigm. Ride sharing companies took the position that they could develop a system that would allow folks to use their own cars to act like taxis and carry several people in their vehicle at the same time. Covid hit them just as hard as it did Paratransit entities. They had to wear masks as drivers. Their front seat became out of bounds. Suddenly people weren't going anywhere. There were no trips. The ride share companies began to lose drivers. Many of them left out of fear of Covid! Some left because they could no longer make money and others because they got better jobs as demand for labor drove worker prices through the roof. So, as Covid began to be less widespread, there was a perfect storm of issues. Customers of paratransit systems were frustrated and dissatisfied. Paratransit providers needed drivers and, as trips diminished, it was becoming more and more expensive to transport people using the traditional contract pricing because there just weren't enough customers. That meant that it was more and more difficult to make the traditional economics of the paratransit system work. At least three counties have found ways to make their systems better and make options available to people who use their systems that were never an option before. These counties are Broward, Duval and Pinellas. While what they did differs from county to county, it is fair to say that these systems were characterized by two major innovations. First, they set up systems where people could make arrangements to be picked up by non-paratransit vehicles such as cabs, or Lyft or Uber cars. Second, because they could, they made same day reservations available. With traditional paratransit systems, you have to make reservations the day before. With these new options, folks can decide at the last minute they want to go out to dinner and arrange a pick up for that day and a return later. Clearly we should welcome changes which make our systems more flexible and more user-friendly. Clearly as well, we must find a way to encourage other transit providers throughout Florida to implement similar programs. This is why our resolution asks that the Transportation Disadvantaged Commission and Local Coordinating Boards be encouraged to get the word out that these innovative systems can work. It is not often that an emergency like Covid has a silver lining but we may be looking at one in the area of paratransit services! All of us need to work with our local paratransit provider and with our municipal and county authorities and elected officials to make sure we spread same day reservations and the use of ride sharing companies to other counties throughout Florida. We have the power! Let's use it! Since this article was written there has been another development that deserves to be included in our paratransit discussion. Under the leadership of Anthony Corona and others, the paratransit system in Miami-Dade County has been made to take a good hard look at some of its practices. Essentially, Anthony and others began to collect complaints which were eventually shared with both the County and the paratransit provider. There have already been improvements and local journalists have been interested in the story as well. This has meant that many more people in Miami-Dade County are aware of the shortcomings of the system and of some proposed improvements. I suggested earlier that success will only happen if we challenge systems by getting involved at the local level. The folks in Miami-Dade showed how effective this process can be and that they can change the system with persistence and perseverance! *** Miami Beach Council of the Blind by Anthony Corona  Miami Beach has been hard at work in the Advocacy arena. As some of you may know we have been holding the county to the fire over terrible para-transit service and the fruits of our labor are going into effect April 1st. Changing of booking trips, will-call appointments, negotiated time appointments and 2 over-flow vehicles are all designed to sharpen up the service times and customer experience.    Thanks to myself and Gabriel who took the lead in meeting with the county and collating data and using the collected data to force the county to admit that the Provider Transportation America was seriously violating the ADA regulations and causing much undue stress on riders. We collected over 700 complaints over a 4 month period and with that data set we had all the proverbial ducks we needed in order to demand change.    As we know change is incremental and unless we stand vigil and vigilant the implemented changes can go away much quicker than it took to get them implemented.    Many thanks go out to the members of Miami Beach and Miami Metro for filing and forwarding complaints. It would behoove me to give special mention to Miami Beach member Justin AAcoin who worked tirelessly to document his complaints and was instrumental in the coverage we received from the Miami Herald, one of the nations most regarded daily’s.    We know the work is not over and we will be publishing a letter to the editor in the Herald in the coming weeks outlining the advocacy, the changes implemented and how that is not enough to fix all of the inequities in the system here in Miami. Furthermore, we will be making sure Miami Beach is represented at county commissioner meeting going forward. The complaint collating process is still on-going as we realize DATA is the key to this type of advocacy.    In other news the Miami Beach chapter has partnered with the Bass Museum as our new meeting home thanks to immediate past president George Robinson. With this innovative partnership we are in the development stage to bring the famed “Revision” instillation to Miami and will receive Co-sponsorship credit for the month long exhibit. This will greatly add to the visibility of the chapter and hopefully bring more members to FCB. Additionally, we will be offering FCB a virtual tour of the Bass Museum in a community call soon and we are working with other local museums to bring some of the famed Art Basil to FCB virtually as well. Stay tuned for more information later in the year.  If you’re in the Miami area and want to join this growing chapter please reach out to Anthony Corona at: celebrationac@aol.com *** Poetry Corner Submitted: by Shelley Sawyer Greetings Dear Readers: The selection for this issue is presented by special request. Richard has requested this one on several occasions. I like to try to honor special requests whenever I can, so I will say once again, if you have a favorite poem, song, etc. that you would like included in an issue of our WCB, please contact me and I'll be happy to do my best to make it happen. Therefore, everyone, especially you, Richard, please enjoy this one. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Written by George David Weiss / Robert Thiele I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you; And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. I see skies of blue and clouds of white, The bright blessed days, the dark sacred nights; And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. The colors of the rainbow So pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of people going by; I see friends shaking hands, saying, "How do you do?", They're really saying, "I love you". I hear babies cry, I watch them grow, They'll learn much more Than I'll ever know; And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. Yes, I think to myself, What a wonderful world. *** 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 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 *** 2022-2024 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 Miami Metro Council of the Blind Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman wisemanmikey@gmail.com (305) 331-4870 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 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: Sally Benjamin Salbenjamin60@gmail.com 850-980-0205 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