THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN Florida Council of The Blind, Inc. September - October 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 Convention Dates by Kati Lear 4 CFADI: Submitted by Sheila Young 5 Still Cool After All These Years by Paul Edwards 6 The Light Chronicles by Cachet Wells 7 The Friends of Library Access by Patricia Lipovsky 8 Jottings From Jacksonville: by Paul Edwards 9 Book Corner: Submitted by Sheila Young 11 A Call To Action: by Anthony Corona 11 Tech Tips: by John Richards 12 Chapter News Florida Gets CALM: by Anthony Corona 13 GOCB Update: by Martha James 14 Poetry Corner: Submitted by Sheila Young 13 Recipe Corner: Submitted by Sheila Young 15 FCB Officers 2022 – 2024 15 2022-2024 FCB Chapter & Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons 16 Handy Telephone Number References 18 *** September-October 2023 WCB Presidents Message by Sheila Young Dear Members & Friends of FCB, It is hard to believe that it is August, and we have recently completed the second hybrid ACB national Convention! I hope each of you had an opportunity to take part in some of the events that were broadcast over ACB Media, especially if you weren’t able to attend in person in Schaumburg. Additionally, I do hope each of you took advantage of the opportunity to vote for our officers, as well as the resolutions and constitutional amendments. Missing this year’s FCB convention was heartbreaking for me. I was so fortunate to be able to attend via zoom, and I thought the entire event went extremely well. Thank you to Mikey, Cassandra, Sally, Mary, Mark and Kati, as well as everyone else for ensuring that everything ran smoothly. I feel all of the content that was presented was awesome! Thank you all who have called, emailed, and sent texts to wish me well in my recovery from my partial hip replacement. It has been a difficult time of healing, but I am getting back to normal and ready for the next adventure! Congratulations to each of our scholarship winners, and our award recipients, it was awesome to hear them recognized at the awards banquet. Clark’s speech was so entertaining, and it was great to learn more about him as an individual! I am looking forward to our final in-person mid-year board meeting which will be held November 3 to 5 in Maitland. We have voted to go fully virtual for our mid-year meetings after this year in the hopes this will save our members money and will enable them to better afford attendance at our annual conventions. If you have any ideas for our upcoming convention for 2024, to be held in Jacksonville, please let us know; your thoughts are always welcome. Let’s have a wonderful gathering and share some camaraderie with each other! What I love about this organization is we don’t have to agree on everything but can agree to disagree in a respectful manner. Please remember to be kind to each other, kindness doesn’t hurt, but not being kind does, so I hope each of us can embrace that in living our daily lives. Please remember that I am just a phone call or email away and am always available to listen, and do what I can to help. *** FCB Board Meeting and 2024 Convention Dates: by Kati Lear The dates for the FCB Fall Board Meeting are Friday, November 3 and Saturday November 4, 2023. It will take place virtually and in person at the Sheraton Orlando North located at 600 North Lake Destiny Drive, Maitland, FL 32751. Room rates are $104 per night plus tax. The room block is open, call 407-660-9000 to make your room reservation. The FCB 2024 Convention will be in Jacksonville FL from Thursday, May 16 through noon on Sunday, May 19. It will take place virtually and in person at the South Bank Hotel located at 1515 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Room rates are $109 per night plus tax. The room block is not open yet, but when it is, call 904-396-5100 to make your room reservation. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the board meeting and at next year’s convention. *** CFADI by: Brian Smith There is something exciting happening in the world of the arts in Central Florida, and it sounds amazing! Starting in February of 2022, Central Florida Audio Description Initiative (CFADI) has been leading the evolution of accessibility and inclusivity in the performing arts. Founder Stasha Boyd, has been able to use her years creating audio description content for National and State parks and museums, along with her experience as an award winning stage performer, to create the program that enables performing arts spaces to become educated on how to best implement a full service experience for the low vision and blind patrons that will enhance the experience of attending performances such as live theatre, opera and ballet. In just 18 months, CFADI has focused on bringing the highest quality audio description to as many performance venues as possible. This includes venues like the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Orlando and the Orlando Broadway Series, Osceola Arts in Kissimmee, The Garden Theatre in Winter Garden and The Athens Theatre in Deland, to name a few. As this new theatre season begins, CFADI is in discussion with many additional theaters who are also interested in bringing this service to their theatre, as well as those who have committed to offering audio description for the first time. The best way we in the blind and low vision community can help this effort is quite simple and fun: attend the shows and performances. Go with your friends and family! Enjoy the theatre and arts in our community! The next best thing you can do is when you find a show you want to see and they aren’t offering audio description, call them and ask for it. If the theatre isn’t familiar with audio description, tell them to contact the Central Florida Audio Description Initiative to learn more. CFADI is committed to making the performing arts accessible to all low vision and blind audiences. Community support is crucial to the long-term success, making live performing arts accessible in our community, and creating the expectation that all performing arts events will have at least one audio described date. If you have any questions or suggestions for CFADI, you can reach them by emailing Brian Smith at brian.Smith@cfadi.com. *** Still Cool After All These Years by: Paul Edwards I am part of a committee at FCB that oversees Project Insight. We have a Facebook presence and a section on FCB'S web page. When it was started, it was kind of revolutionary. I am not sure it is now but I think it's still kind of cool. This is not going to be some long article. I want to persuade some of you to go and look at Project Insight because it has lots of neat things to say about us as people who are blind. At its heart, Project Insight is an entity that gathers together people who have knowledge about being blind which is most of us, right? We are encouraged to make ourselves available to people who are just getting used to blindness or to family members who don't know how to cope with seeing mom or dad "helpless" as they perceive it because he or she has lost vision. When phones were king, we had Project Insight reps all over the state and we put them in touch with people who called our toll-free number. Now the internet is much more the place where people look for information. So we have a web page and a Facebook page. We also have put together a resource manual which is probably a little outdated now but lists some of the places people can hope to find help. Our committee just met and we are planning a really cool idea! Can you guess what it might be? Stay tuned! Once we have put it together, we will tell you all about it! In the meantime, remember that Project Insight highlights one of our chief abilities! Each of us who is blind knows how to be blind! Even if you are not working directly with Project Insight, remember to be there for people who are just getting used to visual impairment! Your help could make all the difference helping someone rediscover themselves as people with vision loss! *** The Light Chronicles  by Cachet Wells Cummer's Garden!  By Cachet Wells A beautiful flower set above the soil. It stands upright, tall and full of beauty. While the sun rays illuminate its bright color that makes it distinct from all the rest. Gathered among many, different ones of various species, all glowing into its own light, like the women of vision. Resting in the labor of love that has been tilled by many to get to the point it stands alone shining. Secured in the foundation of who it is alone, but nestled in the work of many hands. They have planted the seeds of the heart of Sis. Elizabeth. Tilled the earth with every turn like those who have helped us to cultivate greater perspective of every historical artifact, scientific measure and artistic creation along our journey. We have each sprang a new life within the garden reflected in a different flower over the course of these 25 years of being seeded, planted and rising to our greatest peek as one of the Cummer's beautiful flowers. Like a new exhibit we have come in an brought something of our very existence to this place. Our garden's home where we have been collected in our purpose, organized with passion, set apart in our uniqueness on display, instructed with gentleness by every hand that has guided us to our place in this beautiful garden and finally presented, not as a project that needed the  working of the gardener's work, but as the poised, bright and resilient flower that has risen through all the opposition that has come from enduring the storms that has showered it and the heat of the noon's day that forced it to be its best self, out of the darkness of its soil. We rest in gratitude and appreciation as the lovely garden that we are. Looking upon each one as an extension of family standing in its own space, illuminating new life and light of whom we are. Various seeds that bloomed of different flowers resting in the fullness of every person that came by to till and pour into us, the beautiful garden of the Women Of Vision. * Dedicated to Sis. Elizabeth Fiorite and her dedicated work to support those who are Blind or Low Vision on their Blindness journey. *** The Friends of Library Access by Patricia Lipovsky The Friends of Library Access is a nonprofit corporation that assists the Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library serve persons throughout the state of Florida who cannot read conventional print.  Our mission is public education and advocacy, promoting   awareness to print disabled persons throughout the state of Florida about the wonderful services available through this Braille and Talking Book Library.  We also assist financially with the provision of accessible media, including Braille and recorded electronic materials.   Since its inception in 1992, we have helped this Braille and Talking Book Library continue its service of excellence through key equipment purchases and community awareness activities.  In appreciation of the volunteers, we have sponsored annual volunteer appreciation luncheons, and other continuing activities and awards for their invaluable service.  We have also assisted consumer organizations in successful advocacy for continuation of sub regional Braille & Talking Book Libraries.   Anyone is welcome to join the Friends of Library access.  The dues are ten dollars per year. We count on our members, such as you, to generously pay annual dues and make donations to give the Friends the ability to assist in provision of services to library customers and other print impaired individuals who need and deserve equal access to information needed for independence, education, employment and pleasure.    We invite you to join us as we seek to increase the availability of accessible media to Florida’s citizens who are blind, visually impaired, physically impaired and/or reading impaired.    If you are interested in hearing what we are all about you are welcome to attend any of our board meetings, which are held quarterly on the second Saturday of February, May, August, and November.    For more information, to find out how to become a member, or how to apply for one of our board positions, you may contact Patricia A. Lipovsky, Membership and Outreach Chair/Treasurer at:  plipovsky@cfl.rr.com, or (386) 255-0288. Or visit our web site at www.friendsoflibraryaccessinc.org  *** Jottings From Jacksonville by Paul Edwards An Unusual Treasure The last meeting of the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind was held in Daytona Beach. One of the opportunities our location offered us was a chance to visit the newly reopened Millard Conklin Center now known as the Davis Conklin Center. I am not sure that enough of us are aware of what an unusual place that center is and how lucky Florida is to have it! Here is a little background that, while it is right in outline, may be marginally less perfect in absolute detail. The history of blindness is a long one. It can basically be divided between "the old days" which preceded the end of the Second World War and modern times which began about the time of my birth. What created the difference was the adoption of a device called an incubator. This device was designed to keep substantially premature babies alive by putting them into a machine that would provide them with enough oxygen to keep their poor little bodies alive. When I was born, I weighed two pounds six ounces and spent six weeks in an incubator. The result in my case was the loss of my eye sight. The excess oxygen ended up burning out the retinas at the back of my eyes and eventually the scarring led to retinal detachment. Without the incubator I would not have survived! The cause of the blindness and its relationship to the incubator only came to be understood as jet pilots began to fly higher with more oxygen and began to lose vision. I am not telling you my story so relax! What I am doing is suggesting that, with the arrival of the incubator, we suddenly were in a position to save many babies who, without it, would simply not have lived! As the years have gone by, our treatment of premature babies has significantly improved. More and more babies survive who are born earlier and earlier in pregnancies. There is a cost, however. Particularly since the beginning of the 21st century many of the premature babies born blind also have other disabilities. Some of these are orthopedic. Some relate to brain functioning while other babies may well have a multitude of issues going on. Another group of people with vision loss are those who, in addition to blindness, have lost hearing. The Helen Keller National Center in New York has, for quite a long time, offered special training to people who are deaf and blind but their training tends to be a one-time option and is not often enough connected with vocational placement. By the middle of the 1970s in Florida, it was becoming clear that there was a population of people with vision loss who had a range of other disabilities that made serving them at our regular Rehabilitation Center for the Blind difficult. Those folks needed a place where they could receive specialized training that would show them how to be successful when dealing with multiple disabilities. That place became the Millard Conklin Center named after the Florida Lion who worked very hard to get the center established. Over the next thirty odd years the Center built a reputation of success that made it and Florida a unique success that showed that, with time and special treatment, many individuals with multiple disabilities, some visual, some developmental, some orthopedic, could be successful in finding and keeping jobs. Often ongoing support was still needed to make sure that such folks could retain their jobs. However, immense satisfaction for folks at work and their families made the work the Conklin Center did an example in the world. A few years ago, for a variety of reasons that go beyond this article, the Conklin Center found itself closed. There was a great deal of uncertainty whether it would be revived. The building needed work. The staff needed to be recruited again. A new approach to management and Board relations had to be found. The local CRP (Community Rehabilitation Program) under the leadership of Ronnie Silverman, negotiated with the Division of Blind Services and a contract was signed that allowed the newly revived Conklin Davis Center to open its doors again! Florida can be proud of this center. It continues to demonstrate how much can be accomplished with multiply disabled people with vision loss. It also continues to demonstrate that there is a real need for the kind of innovative and effective program development that enabled Florida to create and retain a program as unique as that at the Conklin Davis Center! Well done to the Division of Blind Services! Well done to Ronnie Silverman and her Board! And, most of all, well done Florida for having the courage to try a program no other state has emulated! Several of the graduates of the Center have remained in Daytona Beach. They continue to work and some have become members of both the ACB and NFB chapters. They demonstrate that, with the kind of specialized training available at the Center and with the ability of these folks who have multiple disabilities, full inclusion in the life of a community can be, real for people who, in the past, may not have had that option! *** Book Corner Submitted by: Sheila Young Gramling, Lee Ninety-Mile Prairie: a Cracker Western DBC11248 Gramling, Lee. Reading time: 8 hours, 13 minutes. Read by Jess Baker. A production of Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services. Western Stories Peek Tillman knows to be on the lookout for wild beasts and poisonous reptiles as he herds his cattle across the big prairie to the east of the Gulf's Charlotte Harbor. But this time he encounters more than he can handle in a beautiful married woman as well as some greedy outlaws. *** A Call to Action by: Anthony Corona   The issues are plenty and varied, the advocacy is strong in theory and we all seem to have opinions or strategies yet it does not often translate into action. Last year as chairperson of the Governmental Affairs Committee and in my other leadership roles I have learned how difficult it is to inspire action. Talk there is no shortage of, issues we have a plenty but its boots on the ground, fingers on the keys we really need.    Being a part of a grass-roots advocacy organization comes with the opportunity to learn, add your voice to the chorus and take the advocacy from the personal to the communal. This means that sometimes getting into the fray is necessary.  It means that recognizing that we are stronger in voice and choice together than we are solitary. It means that we sometimes need to step out of our comfort zone to accomplish or at least be heard. It means that we need more action and commitment.    I am not advocating that we all need to be advocating all day every day but some of the time spent complaining and pondering can be more effectively used by taking the initiative to attend committee and chapter meetings and picking an issue or two and signing that proverbial clipboard roster, rolling up sleeves and getting to work.    Whether its Audio Description, Guide Dog Denials, Voting, Transportation or the myriad of issues facing our community there is no shortage of working groups here in Florida and at the National Level. I dare to suggest that any personal interest can be met somewhere in our organization’s advocacy efforts. I propose that the seasoned leaders and advocators would love not only more hands-on deck but would relish the opportunity to pass on their knowledge and I dare say most would be open to new ideas.    We often hear that it’s not easy to learn how to advocate, how to get our voices heard and as a member who is still relatively new to this organization I agree with this caveat; If we do not step in, ask around and be ready to learn, make mistakes and get a little dirty it will always stay this way. I can guarantee that any seasoned advocator will reminisce on when they were green and maybe even scared to step into that arena. Isn’t the first step always the scariest?   So, I call FCB Members to action. In this year when our affiliate will be on even bigger display as we host the national convention, I implore each of us to pick an issue or few and jump into the action. We all want change, to better our situations but we all must be willing to take a share of the work needed to get it done. We all should take pride in being a member of an organization like FCB and the good work it has accomplished and all the great work that could be done with more of us in the mix. I call to us all to give a little more of our time to the work instead of the social and let’s show ACB, the greater community and the USA itself what the Blind and Low Vision folks in Florida can accomplish. Together we can do great things!!! *** Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee A Low Tech Item Important To Own we are almost halfway through the hurricane season; however, don't let down your guard. You still need to be prepared. One device you need in your home is a reliable emergency radio. The Craftsman CMXZRAZW822 AM/FM Rechargeable Weather Radio is totally accessible and packed with useful features. It operates on an internal battery right out of the package; in addition, it will operate on 3 AAA batteries which are not included. The internal battery can be charged using SOLAR & HAND CRANK CHARGING OPTIONS plus a convenient USB micro charging port. A USB type a port is included allowing you to charge your cell phone or other USB devices. The unit offers 3 band selections which are easily selected by a sliding band selector switch on the right front panel of the unit; from left to right, they include, FM, AM. and Weather. Two rotary wheels on the right side of the unit are provided to select on/off/volume and frequency selection. This radio is also equipped with an emergency light. On the top left of the unit, a sliding selector switch will allow you to select, 3 settings as follows while sliding the switch from left to right: external charging, emergency light and to the right internal charging of the unit itself. According to the description, the unit will play on a single charge for 32 hours; however, that will vary depending on the volume level while playing. As of the writing of this article, this particular emergency radio is available to purchase from Ollies Bargain Outlet for $9.99 plus state sales tax. It is also available from several sites on the internet; prices will very. Below is a YouTube link for your convenience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv0Jocrr6cg *** Chapter News Florida gets CALM by Anthony Corona   Chapter at Large Members; AKA CALM is the newest chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind. Our mission is to provide chapter support, networking and Advocacy, social opportunities for Floridians of the Blind and Low-vision community who do not have access to one of our great geographical chapters. Utilizing the benefits of the Zoom platform and personal outreach we invite members who traditionally have had access issues to meeting with local chapters consider CALM as a new home. With fun social meetings, dedicated leadership and others who want to be involved coming together in the virtual, CALM offers an out of the box opportunity to learn, stay connected and grow leaders for the future. While the mission is to home FCB Members who may not have access to a local chapter CALM is open to any person who wishes to mingle with other great Blind and Low Vision persons. Joining CALM also immediately grants the benefits of becoming an FCB & ACB member and will guarantee access to all the information ACB and FCB offers to its members while receiving a more personal contact experience.    While it may be hard to Get Up and Get Moving to an In-person meet-up CALM has you covered with our range of Virtual meetings. We look forward to CALMLY welcoming you to our family!! For more information you can email CALMFCB@gmail.com or call Peggy Carpenter at 703-370-0283. *** September-October 2023 GOCB Update by Martha James  After a long, hot summer, GOCB is getting ready to get back to work with the upcoming September meeting. The meeting will be virtual on Zoom, but we will discuss whether or not to return to William Booth Towers.  In October, there will be a Dine and Donate at Tijuana Flats. Hopefully, the weather will be cooler, then. We hope to have some interesting speakers at our upcoming meetings. In November it will be time for the election of our officers again.  *** Poetry Corner Submitted by Sheila Young I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong, the carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, the mason singing his as he makes ready for work or leaves off work, the boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, the shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands, the wood-cutters song, the plowboys on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission, or at sundown, the delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, the day what belongs to the day and the night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs. *** Recipe Corner Submitted by Sheila Young PEACH CRISP 4 cups sliced Peaches – frozen, canned or fresh ¼ cup sugar, divided ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 cup all-purpose flour ½ cup Butter Toss Peaches with 1/3 cup sugar and Cinnamon. Stir into greased 9X9 baking dish or 9” deep dish pie plate. Set aside. Combine flour and remaining ingredients and Cut in Butter Until crumbly. Toss on top of peach mixture Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes *** 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