THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN Florida Council of The Blind, Inc. January – February 2019 Articles for the White Cane Bulletin must be submitted to Greg Lindberg no later than the 15th of the month before it is published. Greg’s email is: glindberg@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 Greg and he 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 708 Kristina Court, Port Orange, FL 32127. 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) 877-1512 or E-mail: salbenjamin@comcast.net TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message by Sheila Young………………………………………………………………4 2019 FCB Convention Information by Kati Lear………………………………………………………5 FCB Awards Committee Reminder by Shelley Sawyer………………………………………………5 2019 FCB Scholarship Reminder by Gabriel Lopez-Kafati…………………………………………..6 Board Meeting Brainstorm by Greg Lindberg………………………………………………………….8 GOCB Update by Martha James…………………………………….................................................9 Sarasota Council Update by Karen Christie………………………………………………………….10 Mumbles from Miami by Paul Edwards……………………………………………………………….10 Q&A with Paul Lewis by Greg Lindberg………………………………………………………………13 Tech Corner by John Richards………………………………………………………………………...17 Poetry Corner by Shelley Sawyer……………………………………………………………..………18 Who Asked Me? by Sharis Coleman-Derr……………………………………………………….…..19 FCB Officers, 2018 – 2020…………………………………………………………………………….20 2018-2020 FCB Chapter and Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons……………………………………21 Handy Telephone Number References…………………………………………............................23 *** President’s Message January-February 2019 By Sheila Young? Dear FCB family, As I sit here during the month of December and realize this year is coming to an end, I find myself reflecting on all that has happened this year and, in particular, what FCB has meant to me. I am honored to have been elected to represent you, our members, at the local, state, and national levels. Please know that I don’t take this obligation lightly and can only hope I am able to fulfill the expectations of this office with the same level of distinction exemplified by so many of our past great leaders. I can promise that I will do my best to do so. As I continue to grow as your president, I am learning more each day about our members, our past, our goals, and our future. It is my desire to learn as much as I can so that we can continue to work together and pave the way to fulfilling FCB’s primary goal of encouraging independence and enhancing the quality of life for people in our state who are blind or visually impaired. It is imperative that we lead the way by advocating with our local, state, and federal governments, increasing awareness of and providing education around the needs of the visually impaired community. It is through those efforts that we will truly be able to make a difference in the lives of our future generations. Our midyear board meeting was very successful, and I hope those who attended felt the same way. In February, I will be attending the legislative trip to Washington to “walk the hill” for the first time and am excited to have the opportunity to represent FCB and ACB at the federal level. I am sure I will learn a great deal, and I look forward to having meaningful dialogue with our representatives. I would welcome any input or concerns you be willing to share regarding policy or legislation so that I can be well prepared to venture to D.C. and represent our membership to the best of my ability. More importantly, I am grateful for the opportunities this office is providing to become acquainted with the many chapter leaders and members around the state. I have had the blessing of attending some of our chapters’ holiday events and in so doing have come to realize the strength and diversity of our membership. It is clear that this organization is comprised of people who are passionate about developing relationships, building effective communities, and realizing the goals FCB has established over the years. Last, but certainly not least, your board and convention committee are busy at work preparing for our annual state convention in the spring. This is our opportunity to learn, grow, network, develop friendships, and have some fun together. We have lots of interesting sessions, speakers, and events planned so far. We hope you are looking forward to attending this year with excitement, as it appears it will prove to be a great time! I wish each and every one of you a very prosperous New Year! Please remember that I am only an e-mail or phone call away! Sincerely, President Sheila Young *** 2019 FCB Convention Information By Kati Lear The 66th annual state convention of the Florida Council of the Blind will be held at the Avanti Palms Resort and Conference Center from Thursday, May 16 through noon on Sunday, May 19. Room rates are $84.99 plus tax. Breakfast is included in our room rate. To make a reservation call (866) 994-3157. The address for the Avanti Palms is 6515 International Drive; Orlando, FL 32819. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (800) 267-4448. See you in May! *** FCB Awards Committee Reminder By Shelley Sawyer Dear FCB members and friends, This year, the FCB Awards Committee is desirous of honoring all members who deserve recognition for their devotion to improving the lives of the blind and visually impaired community. Our committee is dedicated to keeping submissions confidential, and the recipients will be announced at our state convention, which will be held in Orlando in May of 2019. Please take a look at our awards listed on the fcb.org web site, and consider a submission honoring those who take time out of their day, whether it is a member, organization, or a person in the community who blesses your life with their service to us. The committee accepts all submissions, and the absolute deadline for entries is March 15th, 2019. If you wish to submit a letter for an award, please e-mail it to Seabelle031@gmail.com. If you have any questions regarding our awards or system, please feel free to contact one of our committee members. Thank you for taking time to honor the people who assist in making life better for us! Sincerely, Shelley Sawyer, Awards Chairperson Seabelle031@gmail.com 850-765-9111 *** 2019 FCB Scholarship Reminder By Gabriel Lopez-Kafati, chair of the Education and Leadership Committee The Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) Scholarship Program consists of awards totaling $4,000, which are offered to exemplary students who are enrolled in academic education, professional, or technical training beyond the high school level. The scholarship opportunities are: * Gayle M. Krause-Edwards Scholarship: $1,500 – Available to an eligible applicant who is enrolled full-time, and has completed one semester of college in a course of study which will increase advancement potential in his/her chosen field * Teresa Blessing Scholarship: $1,000 – Offered to an outstanding full-time college student * Timothy Turpin Scholarship: $1,000 – Offered to a high school student graduating and exhibiting academic and leadership excellence planning to attend college full-time * Bobbie Probst Scholarship: $500 – Awarded to an eligible applicant who is enrolled part-time in a college or university, or a student enrolled in a technical institute. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) with the exception of the Gayle M. Krause-Edwards Scholarship. The prestigious Gayle M. Krause-Edwards scholarship requires a 3.2 GPA and completion of one semester in a college or university. This scholarship is awarded to a student exhibiting outstanding academic and leadership achievements. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIPS: 1. Applicant must be legally blind. Specifically, the applicant must have vision in the better eye of no more than 20/200 with corrective lenses OR may have vision greater than 20/200 in the better eye but with a restricted field of vision of no more than 20 degrees. 2. Applicant must be a current resident of the State of Florida. However, the college or university doesn't have to be in Florida. 3. Applicant must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma. (High school students who are graduating this term may also apply.) 4. Applicant must be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or technical institute or be accepted for enrollment. A letter of acceptance is required. 5. Applicant must be seeking a college degree or certificate. 6. Applicants who are full-time must carry at least 12 credit hours per semester/quarter to be eligible for the full-time scholarships. Those who are part-time must carry a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester/quarter to be eligible for the $500 scholarship. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS WHICH MUST ACCOMPANY THIS APPLICATION INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. An explanatory or descriptive statement regarding vocational objectives and outlook for employment in a chosen field. Please include any awards or scholarships received or that are pending. Part-time students must include an explanation for part-time status (e.g., employed student, family responsibilities, etc.). 2. Two letters of recommendation. 3. Sealed official transcript from school currently or most recently attended. 4. Letter of acceptance from accredited college or university. 5. Certification of visual status (detailed physician’s eye report) MUST be mailed by certifying entity. Certification of visual status and transcript(s) MUST be postmarked no later than March 24, 2019. Please forward Certification of visual status and transcript(s) to: Florida Council of the Blind c/o Gabriel Lopez Kafati 6371 Pent Place Miami Lakes, FL 33014 All of the information can be found at www.fcb.org. Please e-mail application packet, all recommendation letters, and supporting documents electronically to: lopezkafati@gmail.com (No handwritten applications will be considered.) All applications and documents must be received no later than March 24, 2019. The Education and Leadership Committee will review all applications and select the four winners. Recipients will be notified prior to the state annual convention and the winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony on May 17, 2019, in Orlando, FL. All scholarship winners will be invited to attend the annual convention and will be given hotel accommodations for one night for two persons and two tickets to the Awards banquet. Additional banquet tickets may be purchased by the scholarship recipients. The Florida Council of the Blind will pay transportation costs by train or bus for the scholarship recipient and one guest. Mileage by automobile to the convention will be reimbursed on the following basis: $0.445 per mile. For more information about our Scholarship program, you may contact Gabriel Lopez Kafati at lopezkafati@gmail.com or by phone at 786-547-5465. *** Board Meeting Brainstorm By Greg Lindberg At this year’s recent FCB board meeting held in Orlando, Gabriel Lopez-Kafati and his Education and Leadership committee put on a fantastic trivia event and a brainstorming session on Sunday morning. At this session, there were six groups tasked with coming up with ideas on how to recruit and retain FCB members. The three demographic groups of focus were teens, young adults (20-40), and older adults (over 40). Below are some of the ideas presented in the form of “Dos” and “Don’ts.” Dos: 1. Help provide transportation either financially or by connecting members with drivers. 2. Offer opportunities for refreshments/meals at meetings. 3. Offer enough time for socializing. 4. Invite interesting guest speakers to meetings. 5. Emphasize the benefits and resources of membership. 6. Hold a weekend retreat with hiking, kayaking, or horseback riding for younger members or anyone interested. 7. Reach out to colleges and FSDB to recruit younger members. 8. Have an effective social media presence. 9. Contact school disability offices to find visually impaired students. 10. Hold a swim and pizza party for teenagers. 11. Hold adaptive sporting events like bowling or beep baseball. 12. Plan an outing to an audio described movie at the state convention or within your chapter. 13. Offer to teach Braille to teenagers or members of any age wanting to learn. 14. Create a separate “teen track” within FCB for teenagers to join, and invite them to the banquets and dinners at the convention, but have separate fun activities for them. 15. Within FCB or chapters/affiliates, give younger members jobs to do, such as creating and managing a Facebook page. 16. Find visually impaired students in Bright Futures or other scholarship programs, and encourage them to become members so they can earn volunteer hours assisting local chapters and learn what it’s like to be around a group of visually impaired adults. 17. Offer job shadowing to prospective young members who can go out and shadow an FCB member working at his or her job to learn about the work environment and how he or she functions within it using assistive technology, etc. Don’ts 1. Don’t be “clique-ish.” 2. Don’t hard-sell membership. 3. Don’t be boring. 4. Don’t make assumptions about what people think. 5. Don’t be negative during meetings. 6. Don’t isolate or ignore young people – or any members, for that matter. 7. Don’t preach to, criticize, or patronize younger members. 8. Don’t forget to give encouragement and rewards to younger members. 9. Don’t exclude family members of members who may be accompanying them to meetings or events. 10. Don’t forget to follow up with scholarship winners. If you have any further ideas on how to recruit or retain members of any age, feel free to send me your ideas by e-mail at glindberg@gmail.com, and I’d be happy to publish them in a future edition of the White Cane Bulletin. *** GOCB Update By Martha James The members of the GOCB wish all of you a very Happy New Year as we start 2019. It seems as if this past year has gone by very quickly. In November, we held our elections for the coming year. The new officers are as follows: President: Sheila Young First Vice President: Martha James Second Vice President: Craig Marquis Recording Secretary: Mattie Hickson Treasurer: Pam Sogge Membership Secretary: Leslie Spoone Best of luck to all of our officers! Thanks so much to all who have joined our organization and those who continue to support our efforts. Our chapter is looking forward to a wonderful new year with lots of activities to keep everyone involved. To wrap up the year, our chapter held its Christmas luncheon on December 1 at the home of Gary Sinclair. This year, we had the party catered by Sonny’s. Sonny’s went above and beyond with the selection of food and the quality of service. The chapter would like to extend our appreciation to them for making it a festive occasion. Thanks to all our members and friends who joined us at this event. There is plenty of work ahead for our chapter in the coming year as we prepare for the annual trivia night held on April 27. We invite anyone interested in participating to join us for a fun night. GOCB will also be the host chapter for the annual FCB state convention in May. In addition, for those with computer access, GOCB is on Facebook. You can find us on Facebook by typing “GOCB” in the search box. GOCB invites all readers of this newsletter to “like” us on this social network. *** Sarasota Council Update By Karen Christie Regarding the Sarasota Council, our November meeting was on the 10th at Denny’s. Following the readings of October’s minutes and the treasurer’s report, we voted for the officers for the upcoming year. The officers are: President - Randy Reed First vice president - Lynne Koral Second vice president - the position hasn’t been filled yet Treasurer - Jamie Natalie Recording secretary - Jordan Courter Membership secretary - Ginny Rempelakis We look forward to working with our new officers in the months to come. Since there was no guest speaker, the meeting did adjourn significantly early once again. Before the meeting was over, however, the subject of transportation was discussed where some of our members voiced the fact that they have not been happy with the service. Lynne emphasized the fact that we, as blind and visually impaired people, can’t be scared to get out there and spread the word to others if we encounter situations where we are dissatisfied with how we’re being treated. Before this discussion began, Jordan talked a little about his work experience at ITN, so that’s what brought up this subject. This is certainly a shorter piece than usual because our Council’s Christmas party will not be held until the 15th of December, so I will have to fill all of you in about the party in my next update. Every year, we have our party at the Lakehouse West, which is the assisted living facility where our member, Ruth Book, lives. It’s sure to be a great time since we always have wonderful food, the dining hall is nicely decorated for Christmas, and it’s a fun time just getting to enjoy each other’s company while socializing, and there is no business involved. Until we resume in January, I, on behalf of our council, would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’ll see you all next year and will be looking forward to seeing everything our new officers will have to offer. Once again, happy holidays! *** Mumbles from Miami Numbers, Numbers, Numbers! By Paul Edwards Benjamin Disraeli, a 19th-century British prime minister, is alleged to have said—to paraphrase him, "There are three levels of lies; lies, damned lies and statistics!" I am inclined to agree that a lot of the numbers that get shoved in our faces need to be taken with a pretty large grain of salt. But there are some numbers that can help us get a better picture of where we are, and that can help us plan on where we are going! First, let’s look at some numbers that you have probably heard before. The most reliable statistics we have about the number of blind people in the United States suggests there are not more than 2 million of us who are legally blind. Most statistics indicate that there are 56 million people who are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The number of individuals who are blind, then, is a very small group. The number of people who have vision loss without being legally blind is a much more difficult figure to pin down. There are widely different estimates ranging from 6 million to 20 million. The truth is that none of the statistical approaches that have been taken to analyze the number of blind folks has been particularly wonderful. The approach taken by the census is flawed, and many of the statistics that are out there have been created with an agenda in mind. Agencies serving blind people want the number to be as large as it can be made to seem. Others looking at dispensing benefits may have a reason to want that number to be small. For now, though, let's go with our 2 million figure for legally blind folks as a figure that is within the ball park. Now, let's play with some percentages that are pretty widely accepted. In Florida, nearly 60 percent of the people who are legally blind are over age 60. Nationally, that figure is over fifty percent and rising. 60 percent of the children being born legally blind have an additional disability. Plus, 70 percent of people who are blind and of working age are not working! Those three statistics are the ones I want to focus on for this article. All of us know that the population of people with visual impairments is getting older, and we can easily accept that the percentage of older people who are blind in Florida will be larger than that of the nation as a whole. What we may not know is what the future looks like and what the trends tell us. Virtually, everybody is living longer. The longer people live the more likely it is that those folks will develop a visual impairment. So as people live longer, the percentage of older people who will be blind increases drastically. That is the trend and, given the Baby Boomer population spurt that occurred after World War II, the rate of increase of this population over the next 10 years will be exponential! Some figures developed by the American Foundation for the Blind suggest that the population of older people who are blind is likely to double by 2030. This kind of growth in the population of older blind people is far beyond just scary. It has the potential to be devastating! There is a fairly substantial chunk of change made available through the Federal government to serve blind people who are going to work. For older blind people, the Federal allocation has remained constant over the past decade and is only $32 million, which has to be divided among all states and territories. Even if this funding level were to increase – and I sincerely hope it will – many states would not get much more because of the way these funds are distributed. However you slice it, though, this is an insufficient level of funding to cover the expected explosion in the numbers of older blind people we are going to need to find ways to serve. Every local agency serving blind people in Florida exceeds the numbers that DBS covers in its contracts for this population already, and we haven't yet seen the large increases we know are coming. ACB and FCB have both passed resolutions demanding that everybody involved work together to create more funds to serve this population, but the need is becoming urgent and, for the most part, we are nowhere in making more funding a reality. We are going to have to rely on the state of Florida to meet most of the shortfall of revenue to serve this group. I say this because, at least for now, it seems unlikely that the Congress who controls the purse strings and the administration that develops the budgets are friendly to spending dollars in these areas. Let us be clear, though. We have to find a way to make this funding happen. If we can't serve these folks, what will happen to them? They will not be able to live independently, and many of them will end up in nursing homes at a cost to our state that would far exceed the cost of providing them with the training they need. We, in the FCB, are perhaps more able than anybody' else in the state to mobilize and testify both for the need for the funding but, more importantly, for how effective the training can be! We already live independently and work and play while having visual impairments, and we must become the poster-children of this new push to prevent a catastrophe waiting to happen! Now, on to our second statistic. Sixty percent of the children being born have an additional disability other than blindness. What does that mean for the future of rehabilitation and for the future of FCB? What are we doing to encourage young adults with multiple disabilities to become members? What is the Division of Blind Services doing to assure that the majority of young blind people have a fair chance to become all that they can be? We are fortunate in Florida to have the Conklin Center, which is the only agency in the country that focuses on serving blind people with other disabilities. They have shown in the last decade that they can make this population successful. When will other states recognize that it's time to accept the unpleasant reality and create centers like it? What we can assume from this statistic is that the vanilla blind people in Florida will be either very old or will be increasingly fewer in number as time goes by. Either FCB will need to change who we are or can expect to get smaller. And, by the way, the other thing that I have not yet said about that huge tsunami of older people with vision loss is that we can expect that they, too, will have other disabilities. How do we factor that into our plans for the future? I don't think that nationally or at the state level we know nearly enough about this new population of multiply disabled blind people? How many will never be Rehab clients? How many will close unsuccessfully because we have not developed specific training options early enough in their lives to ensure that they can optimize their abilities and learn as much as they can? We have to start with school systems, build through rehab, and recognize that these are our people, too! And now, we get to the 70 percent who are unemployed. Again, I am not sure we are as an organization asking the right questions or doing enough to make this statistic change. Part of the reason for the unemployment lies in discrimination. Let's be clear that it is still out there and may even be growing! What are we doing to give our members the tools they need to file complaints when they think they are the most qualified applicants for jobs and are being turned away? I think there are also a lot of blind people in Florida who are content to receive benefits and not work. They go back to the Division of Blind Services every now and again to get equipment and then just don't follow through. Isn't it time that we call some of these people out and say that it's not okay to take stuff under false pretenses? We know there are a large number of unsuccessful closures every year that DBS must record. We have to continue to understand where these people go and why they are not placed. We know that current legislation at the Federal level is hindering successful placement of blind people. Many blind people need more time to adjust to vision loss. By removing homemaker closures and unpaid family worker closures, the Federal program is preventing many blind people from using these as a plateau where they will have the equipment and time that they need to develop the skills they need to be successful on the job. Another question we need to ask is whether we are providing the blind people we serve the training they need to be successful. There are some standards that are set statewide for computer training through local facilities. Are we measuring whether they are being applied in every agency? Is there exit testing that measures competency? Without computer competence, folks will not get or keep jobs. That is a given. So, our population of blind people in Florida will get older, more of us will have multiple disabilities, and, despite the ADA, the unemployment rate is likely to stay the same. We have to recognize these realities and work to change them. We can't afford to waste people, and we can't afford to lose sight of the fact that all these folks who are emerging onto the stage are or will be our brothers and sisters with vision loss! We need to help them! Oh, one last statistic! Only 10 percent of the legally blind people in the country at most are members of any consumer organization! *** A Q&A with Paul Lewis By Greg Lindberg Below is a Q&A with one of our longtime members, Paul Lewis, who has been active in both FCB and FCCLV. I hope you enjoy learning more about Paul, and I thank him for taking the time to answer these questions. Q: What is your visual impairment? A: About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. I had to stop working due to this issue in January 2005, and I would soon start on dialysis and then later get a kidney transplant in October of 2008. I’ve had diabetic retinopathy, but I find it interesting that it was my renal condition that cause me to stop working rather than my vision loss. In 1998 when I was residing in Tampa, the retina in my right eye detached, and I had to have surgery to reattach it. I moved back to Ft. Myers in 2000, and I was referred to Bascom Palmer in Miami. I would wind up having three more eye surgeries, and they were able to restore a significant amount of my sight. Q: How did you first get involved in FCB? A: Since I was able to receive long-term disability benefits and had plenty of time on my hands, I decided to look into volunteering. I discovered that to be successful in volunteering, a person needs to be invested in the organizations that he or she chooses to volunteer for. I became active in the synagogue that I attended, as well as a support group for transplant recipients and encouraging people to register to become organ donors. Most important for this discussion, I also began attending the local Lighthouse. While still on dialysis, I reached out to the local Division of Blind Services office. Through DBS, I began taking some computer classes and others at the Lighthouse. It was then and there that I begin meeting some members of the Southwest Chapter of FCB. I also began participating in some of the volunteer programs that were being offered by the Lighthouse. After my kidney transplant, I had more time and was able to become more heavily involved. I became an active and participating member, always looking for ways that I could become more involved. Q: When and why did you decide to join the SWFCB? A: Once I began attending their meetings, I decided I was going to be a member who would take an active role, not only one who would participate in events, but someone who wanted to be involved in the planning and implementation of those events. I looked for opportunities to participate and become more involved. Two events took place in 2000 that helped shape my decisions to get involved in organizations in later years. Before my first operation on my eyes, the doctor told myself and my aunt and uncle who were supporting me at those early visits that I could have gone totally blind had I showed up there a few weeks later. I am extremely lucky and grateful about this. That same year when I was still driving, I was rear-ended and had my car totaled. This would be the last time I’d drive a car, and I soon realized I would have to cope with the challenge of transportation, especially since I would be working for a few more years after that. These events had a major impact on my future activity, participation, involvement, and dedication and both SWFCB and FCB. Q: What roles and duties have you had it your local chapter? A: I have taken a very active role in a wide variety of activities and events. If there is a need, I will do my best to step up and support the members and the chapter. Since joining southwest, I have served on the membership, fundraising, advocacy, and public relations committees. I have also been asked to provide speakers for our monthly meetings. While I would look at this as a subcommittee of public relations, it is actually treated as a separate committee, but I like to call it the Southwest Speakers Bureau. I also serve on our “Living the Good Life with Vision Loss” expo committee. My primary responsibility on at Committee was working with The assistive technology vendors for this event. Also, I’ve assisted with the original SWFCB and now FCB fishing tournament, have served as midyear board representative of our chapter, and even received an award for my service to our chapter at our holiday party. Q: What are some of the accomplishments of the SWFCB? A: Our chapter has proudly done the following: Creating audio description programs with local theater groups - Putting on the “Living the Good Life with Vision Loss” expo - Developing and putting on the blind fishing Tournament - Putting on a spaghetti dinner and entertainment show - Advocacy work in local politics, especially with regard to transportation and our local paratransit system - Attending Ft. Myers Miracle minor league baseball games to raise awareness about our chapter and blind and visually impaired citizens in general - Hosting game and social nights - Hosting a peer support group - - Hosting a book club for members to discuss talking books Q: How did you get involved in the special interest affiliate, the Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision (FCCLV)? A: Since first hearing about an organization that was dedicated to people with Low vision, I was definitely intrigued. My first opportunity to attend an annual meeting was at the last FCB state convention held in Daytona Beach. This was also my first-ever state convention. I truly like the idea of an organization that is dedicated to issues that affect people with low vision. I really like the idea that whatever the topic, whatever the subject, whatever the conversation would be, it would be in relation to how people with low vision were affected by it. At my first FCCLV meeting, I entered the room, sat down, and realized I did not know anyone there. We were asked to introduce ourselves and say where we’re from, and then there was a problem. There was no secretary present, and the meeting could not proceed without a secretary. So, they decided to elect one right then and there, and when nobody else volunteered, I said I would do it. Looking back, luckily the agenda was not very involved, so I got off easy. So, I can say that I became a member and officer of FCCLV at my first meeting and convention. Q: What has your experience in FCCLV then like? What roles have you had? A: Overall, I’d have to say that my experience has been positive. I would say our members are dedicated and committed. Many of them, if not all, are very active in their local chapters as well. I have held a few different positions within FCCLV. I became second vice president and then first vice president, and I am now president of the affiliate. I have helped our group by writing articles on our behalf, such as one about when some of us were stranded at the Amtrak station in Jacksonville and how we were all able to make it home. I also had business cards created for the affiliate. Plus, I have been involved in our raffle and sitting at our table in the exhibit hall at our state convention. I must thank Leslie Spoone for helping me a great deal get to where I have gone. I’m also proud to say I received the FCCLV service award in 2017. We are looking forward to the upcoming state convention and would encourage anybody who feels they would have an interest in us to come join us and learn more about us firsthand. Q: What do you enjoy most about FCB state conventions? A: I’ve had the opportunity to meet many new people and have built many friendships by attending the convention. Since attending that first convention, I have not missed a state convention and have attended many of the midyear board meetings. The midyears have offered a great opportunity to network with the leaders of FCB and learn about what the organization is currently doing and is planning to do for the future. The conventions offer up lots of valuable information that needs to be brought back to members in our local chapters who cannot attend. I enjoy meeting and talking with the vendors in the exhibit hall, along with fundraising and meeting new potential members who attend the conventions. The breakout sessions provide lots of useful information, but I will say that you have to prioritize which ones to attend since it’s hard to fit everything into the time you are there. I would say overall that the socialization and opportunities to meet new people and play catchup with the ones I know is my favorite part of the conventions. I would encourage anyone in FCB who has not been to a convention to attend because it is always a very worthwhile experience for me. Q: What do you think holds for the future of the blindness community? A: For me, two key words come to mind – technology and inclusion. Advances in technology are continuing to allow the blind and low vision communities to participate in all areas of everyday life. With these new advances in technology, the blind and visually impaired can be offered many of the same opportunities as sighted individuals have. When we have the tools and technology that can help us, we can attain more goals. One area where visually impaired people have faced a major challenge is navigation. Apps like Aira and Be My Eyes are making a big difference, and artificial intelligence (AI) is opening up the world to the blind and visually impaired. In fact, the time is not that far away where the blind and visually impaired will soon be driving to work or driving to the supermarket or driving to the movies to watch and audio described film. Audio description is another area that has made and continues to make a huge impact on how the blind and visually impaired can enjoy be arts, as well as just sitting home and watching TV. Also, I recently saw a YouTube video from the Blind Side series about a smartphone with a tactile keypad. As we look at technology, I think it’s great to see a device that can help the blind community but that others can also use. A good example is the ES&S voting machine. As someone who has used this machine, I think it could be used by everyone, not just the blind and visually impaired, because it is simple and effective for everyone to use to perform their civic duty every so often. Let me just say that every person, regardless of whether they’re visually impaired or have another disability, has the right to make choices for themselves. Thanks to technology, I think this is starting to become more prevalent. This goes back to inclusion. We want to be included in society as much as possible, and with the proper training and resources, it is possible. Q: What are the benefits of being part of the FCB and FCCLV? A: We are all individuals, and we all have our own self-worth. However, there is also value in being part of a group, and sometimes the larger, the better. Weather doing something with your local chapter or doing something that is state wide, there is it in vantage to you speaking to government agencies, organizations, or even individuals when you can tell them that you represent X amount of people. Additionally, by being part of a group like FCB, you have the opportunity to share ideas with others. As a member of a state organization, we also get to hear from people in other areas of the state, and maybe there is something being done in one part of the state that is not being done in another, and maybe it should be. This allows us to develop a consensus as a group. Ultimately, we can accomplish more as a member of a group then we certainly would in many cases as an individual. Case in point, at each state convention, we list a number of resolutions, and each resolution originally comes from one person’s idea. Networking is also a very valuable benefit of being part of an organization like FCB. By being a member, I’ve been able to neat and build friendships with many who I would not have had the opportunity to do so otherwise. As for FCCLV, What made me want to join this group is a common denominator among our members – low vision. I gain comfort and satisfaction from knowing that within the FCB that there is a group that is concerned and focusing on issues That affect me every day. *** Tech corner Smash the Dish and Cut the Cable? By John Richards While cable and satellite dish providers struggle to make their hardware and software accessible to persons with disabilities, several companies are offering streaming media players, subsequently providing an alternative array of programming choices to consumers. These devices allow consumers to stream programming into their homes while connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection. Content from companies such as Apple, Amazon, and Google are just a few choices available to households who have decided to discontinue cable and satellite TV services. Streaming media players turn your existing TV into a “smart TV” of sorts, unless yours came “smart” out of the box. However, in many cases, for local programming, a digital antenna is needed. Apple, Amazon, and Google all offer accessible streaming media players, such as the Apple TV 32 GB streaming media player with Siri Remote and Voiceover screen reader. Others include the Amazon Fire Stick 2nd and 3rdd generations, the Fire TV Cube, hands-free with Alexa, and 4k Ultra HD, in addition to a standalone, fully accessible smart TV. All of the above Amazon devices have the Alexa Voice Assistant and Amazon's Voice View screen reader. Google offers the Chromecast and the 4k-ready Chromecast Ultra, which both cast to your TV from a mobile device. All of these streaming media players provide similar content to the consumer, such as Netflix, Hulu, and content from their respective providers. Apple, Amazon, and Google provide apps that can be downloaded to your mobile devices. These products can be set up out of the box without the aid of sighted assistance. Screen magnification is an accessibility feature also available. Although Roku was not mentioned above, Roku offers the Roku Ultra streaming player. I understand they are working on accessibility for this device. Additional tips: To enhance consistency in the overall performance of your devices – from desktops to handheld devices to streaming media products – reboot/restart them at least every other day. For smart speakers, such as the Google Home and the line of Amazon products (the Dot, the Show, the Echo, etc.), you may unplug and plug them back in as needed. In some instances, this may minimize unnecessary tech support calls. *** Poetry Corner By Shelley Sawyer Valentine’s Day will be coming up in February, and our thoughts turn to love, romance, and all things related. Like everything else in life, choosing a partner involves choices. Some choices are right; some are definitely wrong, and some fall into that gray area where we are not sure what we have done or why. I had a very serious conversation with an old and very dear friend recently about those life choices, and our conversation brought the song below to my mind. It is from the first season of the TV show Nashville. I pray that your choices in love will prove to be good choices. When the Right One Comes Along By WILLIAM JUSTIN DAVIS, SARAH ELIZABETH ZIMMERMANN, and GEORGIA MIDDLEMAN There's no music, no confetti, Crowds don't cheer, and bells don't ring, But you'll know it, I can guarantee, When the right one comes along. What they're thinking, what you're feeling,, You no longer have to guess, All those questions are finally put to rest, When the right one comes along. In a cold world, it's a warm place, Where you know that you're supposed to be, A million moments full of sweet relief, When the right one comes along. Every single broken heart will lead you to the truth, You think you know what you're looking for Till what you're looking for finds you. It's so easy, nothing to it, Though you may not believe me now, But I promise, my friend, you'll find out, When the right one comes along. All that changes is only everything, When the right one comes along . *** Who Asked Me? By Sharis Coleman-Derr If you’d asked me, All human kind would be free to enjoy equality. But who asked me? If you’d asked me, This Equality would include Blacks and whites, Christians And Jews alike, Many different types of minorities, All peoples persecuted by authorities, (Unnecessary violence from every nation!), Those of us shunned for our sexual orientation. What hateful discrimination! But who asked me! Since the dark ages began, Equality has been limited to the white man. But our forefathers had a bright solution: They decided to write the Constitution! This precious document did hold, The plans to end the sufferings of old. But did it? It was truly a grand plan, But they left out the rights for every woman! But who asked me! Now I am exercising my freedom of speech, For this important lesson to teach: Ignorance and fear only create more violence and hate. Any law that prohibits true justice is a crime! Why should the innocent do the criminals’ time! Freedom to choose who we wish to merry, Is not extraordinary. Love does not belong to only a sacred few, But to me and to you! In a true democracy, The people’s vote is won by the majority. The pursuit of happiness cannot be defined BY ANY GROUP, It must BE DECIDED BYE EACH UNIQUE MIND. But who asked me! Now I hope you’ve learned this lesson well, There’s only one last thing to tell: These simple rights and many more, aught to be available for all! Written in 2002 *** FCB OFFICERS, 2018 – 2020 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 708 Kristina Court, Port Orange, FL 32127 learm52@icloud.com (386) 788-0463 Membership Secretary, Sally Benjamin 1531 Dempsey Mayo Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 salbenjamin@comcast.net (850) 877-1512 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 jkk48@bellsouth.net (305) 251-6983 or (407) 378-3477 Editor of White Cane Bulletin, Greg Lindberg 3145 Meadow View Ln., Palm Harbor, FL  34683 glindberg@gmail.com (727) 543-9807 FCB Administrative Assistant, Kati Lear (800) 267-4448 (386) 763-3836     floridacouncil@comcast.net *** 2018-2020 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. Broward Council of the Blind: James Kracht jkk48@bellsouth.net (305) 251-6983 Clay Council of the Blind: Mark Lear learm52@icloud.com (386) 788-0463 Greater Miami Council of the Blind: 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 salbenjamin@comcast.net (850) 877-1512 Miami Beach Council of the Blind: Sheila Young sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200 Miami Metro Council of the Blind: James Kracht jkk48@bellsouth.net (305) 251-6983 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 salbenjamin@comcast.net (850) 877-1512 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 South Sarasota County Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman wisemanmikey@gmail.com (305) 331-4870 Southwest Florida Council of the Blind: Mary Tyson mtyson541@bellsouth.net (386) 212-9496 Tallahassee Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie cassandrajessie@gmail.com (850) 980-0177 Tampa Council of the Blind: Sally Benjamin salbenjamin@comcast.net (850) 877-1512 Braille Revival League of Florida: Mikey Wiseman wisemanmikey@gmail.com (305) 331-4870 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 Randolph Shepherd Vendors of Florida: James Kracht jkk48@bellsouth.net (305) 251-6983 *** 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 - THE END- FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND 1531 Dempsey Mayo Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 21 1