THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN Florida Council of The Blind, Inc. November – December 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) 980-0205 or E-mail: salbenjamin@comcast.net TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message by Sheila Young … 3 FCB Board Meeting by Kati Lear … 4 2020 FCB State, Chapter, & Special Interest Affiliate Awards by Cassandra Jessie … 4 2020 FCB Scholarships by Gabriel Lopez Kafati … 5 FCCLV Update by Paul Lewis … 8 GOCB Update by Martha James … 8 Sarasota Council Update by Karen Christie … 9 Mumbles from Miami by Paul Edwards … 10 Tips on Interacting with a Visually Impaired Patient in a Doctor’s Office by Patricia Lipovsky … 12 Tech Corner by John Richards … 15 A Kynophobe Goes to the Dogs by William Grignon … 16 The Light Chronicles by Cachet Wells … 18 Poetry Corner by Shelley Sawyer … 18 FCB Officers, 2018 – 2020 … 20 2018-2020 FCB Chapter and Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons … 21 Handy Telephone Number References … 23 *** President’s Message November-December 2019 By Sheila Young Dear FCB members, I am so blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate national White Cane and Guide Dog Safety Day and Blind Americans Equality Day throughout our state this year. It is truly impressive how this recognition has brought considerable education and awareness of the “white cane law” to our public communities. Thank you to the Pinellas Council of the Blind and the South Sarasota County Council of the Blind for their invitations and hospitality to me in visiting their events. It is hard to believe that our midyear meeting is approaching already, and I hope that many of you are able to join us to participate in the communication, networking, and collaboration of our committees and board members. I am also reflecting on the upcoming months and the approaching holidays. We are so fortunate to have a vast FCB family to share our time, thoughts, and friendship with. Please remember to enjoy your family, friends, and chapter members in celebrating life and the holidays, no matter what your beliefs may be. Consider reaching out to those who may not have anyone to share the upcoming holidays with and try to share a little love with them. I know our organization has much to be thankful for, and we can certainly spread that light around! My wish is for all of you to have a fulfilling and safe holiday season! Sincerely, Sheila Young, FCB president Sheilayoung125@att.net 407-425-9200 (home) 321-663-8893 (cell) *** FCB Fall Board Meeting By Kati Lear The FCB Board Meeting begins on Friday, November 22 and ends on Sunday, November 24 at noon. The Executive Committee meets on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and the first mandatory board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Our hotel is the Sheraton Orlando North. The address is 600 North Lake Destiny Drive, Maitland, FL 32751. I hope by now that everyone has made their reservations. The phone number for the hotel is (407) 660-9000. Included in the room price is a complimentary breakfast for two and complimentary self-parking. There are small refrigerators in the rooms. If you are planning to take the train, book your ticket for the Winter Park Station. The station has a waiting room and restroom facilities. Shuttle service is available from the hotel. The van will hold about seven people. You may have to wait for a second trip. Call the hotel the day before you travel at the number above to reserve space on the van. Looking forward to seeing you at the board meeting in November. *** 2020 FCB State, Chapter, & Special Interest Affiliate Awards By Cassandra Jessie The deadline to submit nominations for FCB awards is Friday, March 27, 2020. The state awards are as follows: R. Henry P. Johnson, Dolly Gamble, W. A. Ouzts, William (Bill) Ferrell (Just Bill), Legislative, President’s Award, Outstanding High School Senior, and Mobility Award. For Chapters and special affiliates that wish to recognize a member, send only that person’s name to the Awards Committee by March 27, 2020. To read about the criteria for each award, visit the FCB website – www.fcb.org and select “Awards Criteria from the main menu. All awards will be presented at the FCB Convention in Maitland at the awards dinner. Contact the chair of the Awards Committee, Cassandra Jessie, via email at cassandrajessie@gmail.com if you have questions or to submit nominations. *** 2020 FCB Scholarships By Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Education and Leadership Committee Chairperson The Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) Scholarship Program consists of awards totaling $4,000, offered to exemplary students who are enrolled in academic education, professional, or technical training beyond the high school level. The scholarship opportunities are as follows: * 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 who is 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 transcripts 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 15, 2020. 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: fcbscholarships@gmail.com. (No handwritten applications will be considered.) All applications and documents must be received no later than March 15th, 2020. The Education and Leadership Committee will review all applications and select the four winners. Recipients will be notified prior to the annual FCB state convention and the winners will be announced during the Awards Banquet on May 1, 2020 in Maitland, FL. All scholarship winners will be invited to attend the annual state 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, contact Gabriel Lopez Kafati at fcbscholarships@gmail.com or by phone at 786-547-5465. *** FCCLV Update By Paul Lewis, FCCLV president Greetings to all! Following is another installment of an update from the Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision. As a statewide affiliate, we do not have the opportunity to meet as often as the geographic chapters, so it is our hope to keep all of our members informed about what’s been going on as well as reaching out to potential new members. Of course, the biggest news we discussed in the last issue was our organization’s decision at last May’s annual meeting at the FCB convention to leave the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. This decision was made as a motion that was passed by the FCCLV. CCLVI would of course prefer us to stay as an affiliate. I attended the CCLVI Board Meeting this past October. Part of that meeting agenda was to discuss ways in which FCCLV would either remain or rejoin the CCLVI. In the last issue of our affiliate magazine, Vision Access, I wrote an article on membership and the impact of the state affiliates on the total membership on CCLVI. I am hoping by the time you are reading this, that issue has been received by our members. It is also available on the CCLVI website. Currently, those of us who are members of the Florida affiliate have some issues with some of the provisions that are in the governing documents of CCLVI. Personally, I see some intrinsic value in remaining a member of CCLVI, but these are not necessarily benefits that you would actually receive by being a member of CCLVI. As I attend this board meeting, I hope to find some common ground that we can all agree on. But as I am writing this, I cannot say for certain what the outcome of the meeting will be. If no understanding is reached, there will be some changes to our affiliate. First, there will be a minor change to our organizational name and some changes as to how we communicate with our membership. We still expect to be a vibrant organization and of course will remain an affiliate of the FCB and will remain as a vital and active participant. Additionally, we had hoped to pass a revised constitution and bylaws which were table until 2020. In severing ties with CCLVI, we will also need to make some additional changes to those bylaws before presenting them at the next annual meeting. We also hope to continue our improve communication with our members as these updates in the WCB demonstrate. Some other things that I would like to work on include the following: 1. Revise our business cards. 2. Develop a branded polo shirt promoting FCCLV. 3. Explore new and additional fundraising opportunities. 4. Develop a stronger emphasis on advocacy and legislation as it affects people with low vision. 5. And, most importantly, develop opportunities for our members to meet as an organization throughout the year, beyond the state convention. I would welcome any thoughts and comments, so please contact me at either 239-634-6515 or via email at lewpil1952@gmail.com. Finally, if you are someone with low vision or a supporter of people with low vision, please consider joining us. You can contact myself or Leslie Spoone, our membership secretary, about joining. If you will be attending the midyear Board Meeting, we will be scheduling a lunch for all FCCLV members and all interested parties. *** GOCB Update November-December 2019 By Martha James This year, our annual White Cane and Guide Dog Safety Day is being held in conjunction with Blind Americans Equality Day on October 18. There will be many participants including Lighthouse Central Florida, Lighthouse Works, members from our chapter, members of NFB of Central Florida, and guests joining in the walk. The exciting news for our chapter is that we are streaming our monthly meetings on zoom, a teleconferencing platform that offers both audio and video streaming capabilities. This allows our members to participate in our meetings, even though they may not be able to be there in person. Our chapter will celebrate another Dine and Donate event on October 23 at Tijuana Flats. Asli Goncer will be performing. Her music always keeps the festivities lively. There will be a hot sauce raffle for those who like things on the spicy side. Our chapter has a couple of busy months coming up. Starting in November, the chapter will participate in the midyear board meeting. Also, the nominating committee has proposed a slate of officers for our election at the November meeting, which will be held on November 2. The slate includes Sheila Young for president, Craig Marquis for first vice president, Tom Babcock for second vice president, Mattie Hickson for recording secretary, and Pam Sogge for treasurer. As of this writing, there have not been any nominations for membership secretary. To round out the year, the chapter will hold its annual Christmas luncheon on December 7 at the home of Gary Sinclair, which is located at 7202 Knottypine Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792. The party will be catered by Sonny’s restaurant. Anyone wishing to attend should make it known by the next meeting so that an accurate count can be determined. GOCB would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. In addition, for those with computer access, GOCB is on Facebook. You can find us on Facebook by typing in "GOCB" in the search box. GOCB invites all readers of this newsletter to "like" us on this social network. *** Sarasota Council Update Fall 2019 By Karen Christie A brief meeting was held in September at our usual Council venue, Denny’s. There was a small turnout, as many members had not yet returned from summer break. Our president, Randy Reed, made the announcement that he will not be running for reelection at the end of his term. Our treasurer, Jamie Natale, also noted that she will step down at the end of her term. Our October meeting, held on October 12 at the Sarasota Denny’s, was well-attended. There was a discussion of the upcoming White Cane Challenge, to be held October 19 in downtown Sarasota. Teams of participants, both visually impaired and blindfolded, will navigate the streets of downtown Sarasota to bring awareness to the public about white cane use by the visually impaired. Vice president Lynn Koral offered to lead the nominating committee for candidates for the upcoming 2019 election of council officers. Ginny Rempalakis informed us that plans are already underway for the Council Christmas party in December, to be held December 14 at Bay Village. A mailing will be sent to those interested in attending. We were deeply saddened to learn that one of our dear members and friends, Ruth Book, passed away this past month. As WCB readers may recall, she was one of our most senior members and in previous years had taken great pride in organizing our council Christmas party. She will certainly be missed and remembered with fondness. We are happy to be back for our monthly business meetings and will look forward to getting together again on November 9. *** Mumbles from Miami Podcasts: Part 3 By Paul Edwards It has taken a long time to get to this third article on podcasts. I promised that I would write about some of the podcasts I enjoy. However, I think I need to do a few other things first. While I spent a lot of the second article describing how to use the Victor Reader Stream to do podcasts, I should have said that there is another really accessible way to get podcasts. That is through devices like Google Home and the Amazon Echo. I use the Stream for virtually all of my podcasts, so I am not an expert on using the Echo. I know it can be done and I have listened to some podcasts with the echo. In general, while there are some companies that have apps on the echo that allow you to choose from a range of podcasts produced by particular companies, you can usually just say, "Alexa, play the X podcast." It doesn't always work the way you want it to work. To give just one example, one of my favorite podcasts is produced by the folks at Radio 4 from the BBC. When you ask Alexa to play "Beyond Today," what you get is a perfectly nice podcast from a perfectly nice religious group in the Midwest of the United States. Since I'm already talking about it, "beyond Today" comes out five times a week and takes one particular question that it uses the podcast to answer which has to do with current events. It is very well produced and has provided me with lots of in-depth information on particular questions I would never have gotten otherwise. If you go to the place on the Stream where you can put in the name of a podcast you want and enter "Beyond Today," you will get the religious podcast, but you will also get the BBC podcast that you can select. While talking about what the English call "smart speakers", I should mention that podcasts are stored with the most recent episode first. Sometimes smart speakers will go from podcast to podcast until you stop them. At other times, the one you select is the only one that will be played. If you want to hear another podcast in the same series, you might expect that what you would say is "next" to get to the one after the one you have just heard on the list. In fact, you have to say "previous" to get to the earlier podcast by date. "Beyond Today" is produced five days a week as are the next three podcasts I am going to talk about. All of the other three can be listened to on the Echo. In alphabetical order, the next three are "The Daily," "The Intelligence," and "Today in Focus." "The Daily" is produced by the New York Times and features an in-depth look at a particular issue with a few extras at the end. "The Intelligence" is produced by the Economist and is similar. Often "The Intelligence" covers two or even three stories and usually features interviews with Economist correspondents. "Today in Focus" is produced by an English newspaper called The Guardian and is similar to the other two in format. All are professionally produced and are usually about a half-hour long. With these four podcasts, you will certainly be on top of what is going on in the world. In addition, there are lots of news broadcasts available as podcasts. All three TV networks in the U.S. make their nightly news programs available without commercials, by the way. The PBS News Hour is also available, along with The World at Six, a half-hour Canadian news broadcast, AM and PM, which are the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's major news programs, and The World Tonight, one of the BBC'S news offerings. For me, the advantage of listening to news using podcasts is that I can speed them up and can skip sections I don't care about by fast-forwarding through the parts I don't want to hear. Obviously, this does not apply to listening to podcasts from smart speakers. There are all kinds of radio and TV programs that are available as podcasts. The TED Radio Hour, 20/20, 60 Minutes, Sunday Edition, From Canada, and many, many more are available. But now I want to tell you how I got hooked on podcasts. I am an inveterate listener to a station the BBC makes available for streaming called BBC Radio Four Extra. This station offers a wide range of dramas, comedies, quiz programs, and other stuff to which I have been hooked for years. A couple of years ago, they started doing a program called "Radio Podcast Hour" which, as its name suggests, is an hourlong program done once a week about podcasts where they feature interviews with folks who produce podcasts and excerpts from a few podcasts each week. If you subscribe to the podcast, you can go back and listen to about 100 previous episodes. It is an amazingly well-produced program and I highly recommend it to you. I can tell you that it is available on the Echo, though you have to be careful how you ask for it. You need to say, "Play the podcast, ‘Podcast Radio Hour’." By the way, I made a mistake and asked for “The Podcast Hour” and found a similar podcast which I will now listen to in the future. I could go on talking about podcasts forever. There are literally thousands of them out there on every imaginable subject. There are literally hundreds on American football, to take just one example. There are lots of blindness-related podcasts, but you can find many of those on your Stream. You can subscribe to some and see how you like them. Using the two podcasts that are actually about podcasts previously mentioned, you can find hundreds of more podcasts. There are plays, book readings, old-time radio programs, cooking podcasts, podcasts about books and reading, and many, many, many more. It is astonishing to me that in the last 15 years since podcasts first appeared, there is literally more out there for you to listen to than you could manage if you spent the rest of your life. So many people have found a place on the Internet where they can demonstrate their creativity, their talent, and their commitment to sharing their passions with others. While there are now some video podcasts, the vast majority of the podcasts out there are pure audio. It's like a dream come true for those of us who are blind. Even shows on art are audio-based shows, so they have to use words to describe the pictures that are being discussed. There are podcasts about wine, history, true crime, fictional crime, and about growing plants. There are podcasts for kids, teenagers, older folks, men, women, and in between. There is, in other words, a huge range of podcasts from which you can choose. Write us and tell us about the ones you enjoy that I didn't discuss but should have. If podcasts are new for you, take the plunge! If they are already a part of your day, share the ones you love! Every day, new podcasts appear so you can probably find lots that I would love! Let's share! *** Tips on Interacting with a Visually Impaired Patient in a Doctor’s Office By Patricia A. Lipovsky, CCTB president Hi, all. Recently, one of our members had a negative experience in a doctor’s office, which inspired me to write something to try and address what seems to be a reoccurring issue that has happened to many of us who are visually impaired . My thinking is if we don’t try to educate the folks in the medical field, then we have only ourselves to blame for the way we are treated. so, let’s all get out there and share this with the medical professionals you encounter in your local areas and try to make a difference... Remember, if we don’t try, nothing will ever change!! Please find below some information that may help to make a doctor’s office visit go more smoothly for both the patient and the medical professional when assisting someone with a visual impairment. Remember, they are a person just like you who just happens to have a visual impairment. Communicating: 1. Introduce yourself and address the patient by name so they know you are talking to them and not someone else. Also, Introduce the patient to any accompanying staff that is in the room. 2. Speak directly to the patient whenever possible. Do not ask a third party about the patients likes, feelings, needs, etc. 3. Ask the patient what they can see. Not all visually impaired patients are totally blind. 4. Ask the patient what assistance is needed instead of assuming what they need. 5. If the patient is a child, be sure to discuss any special needs with the parent. 6. Ensure that the patient is included in discussions about procedures and medical plans. Being blind or visually impaired does not mean one cannot hear or understand what is being said. 7. Show respect by speaking at a normal volume and tone. There is no need to speak louder or slower. 8. Conduct a conversation like you would with any other person. 9. Do not be afraid of using words like “see” or “watch.” People who are blind use these same terms. 10. If you do happen to speak to someone who is blind or visually impaired, and they do not acknowledge you, then there may be a hearing impairment. If you feel this may be the case, you may want to gently touch them on the upper arm to get their attention. 11. Make your presence known each time you enter the room. 12. Always notify the patient before undertaking any procedure checking vitals, attaching IV tubing, setting up for an EKG, etc. It can be very unnerving for the patient to be touched without warning. Explain the process as you go so the patient understands what is happening. 13. Whenever possible, take care not to cover the patient’s sensory organs with bandaging. The patient relies on her ears, nose, mouth, and hands to gather information about the environment. 14. Do not speak to, pet, or feed a dog guide without first consulting the patient. 15. Say goodbye when you finish a conversation or to indicate when you are leaving the room. Guiding Ambulatory Patients: 1. Ask the patient if they need your assistance. Offer to assist them from one location to another by inviting them to take your arm. The patient will grasp above the elbow and walk slightly behind you. Never push or pull a patient. 2. When you get to a doorway, identify the door by saying, “The door is opening away from us on the right.” Or, “The door is opening towards us on the left.” Then pass through the door before the person you are guiding and let them catch the door as they pass it. 3. When guiding the patient to objects like chairs, the sink, an exam table, or the like, Place their hand on the object, or say it is right in front of you or just to your right or left. If it is a lounge chair, you can place their hand on the chairs arm. For a desk chair, you can place their hand on the back of the chair. 4. When guiding the patient to the scale, direct their hand to the rail if available and allow them to find the edge of the scale with their foot or cane. Once comfortable with its location, the patient will step up to the platform. Print Materials 1. All print materials traditionally provided to patients, such as patient rights, facility policies, descriptions of available services and amenities, etc. should be provided to the patient in an accessible format for their review. Such formats may include large print, Braille, audio recordings, or an electronic text file. Ask the patient which they prefer if there is a choice of formats. If there is no alternate format available, arrangements should be made to read the material aloud in person. 2. Offer all print materials specific to the patient’s treatment, diagnosis, and after-care instructions in an accessible format as described above. 3. Sometimes the patient will record these documents as they are read aloud so they can be reviewed in the future. 4. Forms requiring a signature should be provided in an accessible format or read aloud so the patient is fully informed. 5. Ask the patient if they need assistance with signing the forms. Have a signature guide on hand or use the straight edge of a card to provide a tactile indicator where the patient should sign. 6. If the patient needs assistance completing the array of forms used in the healthcare field, find a quiet, private location where the patient’s answers will not be overheard by other patients. If forms are provided to the patient far enough in advance of the appointment or admission, some may be able to have a close confidant complete the forms so they are ready in hand when they arrive. *** Tech corner Roku Streaming Media Devices: Content Accessible to Blind Individuals By John Richards, for the Technology Committee In the January-February 2019 edition of The White Cane Bulletin, I wrote about the streaming media devices offered by Google, Amazon, and Apple. If you are still considering dropping your cable or satellite subscriptions in order to purchase a streaming media device, Roku offers an array of choices for your consideration. Out of the box, Roku includes the Audio Guide text-to-speech screen reader, available on the following models: Roku® Streaming Stick®, Roku Streaming Stick+, Roku Express, Roku Express+, Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere+, Roku Ultra, and Roku TV™. The Audio Guide feature is available to the user while setting up the device. I own the Roku Premiere+ and I was able to navigate my way through the setup process while using the remote. The “Language” screen is the first screen you will see after you connect your Roku device. Audio Guide will then be available to launch. After setup, you will be able to explore Roku's offerings using the navigation keys on the remote. You can then navigate to “Settings” and, while in that menu, go to “Accessibility” and explore items available to you. These include the ability to adjust speech rate and the volume for Audio Guide. Prior to setup, you can make it easier on yourself by going to the following website: https://my.roku.com/signup/nocc Create your account on this page. When you go in to setup on your device, you will have to log in to this account to access your home screen. At this point, you will be able to add the channels of your choice. If you wish, you can add your channels after you set up your account. Then, after performing the setup of your device, you will already have your channels available to you. Roku also includes a generous offering of free content. Visit the following website to learn more about Audio Guide and how to launch text-to-speech on the first setup screen. https://support.roku.com/article/231584647-how-do-i-use-audio-guide *** A Kynophobe Goes to the Dogs By William H. Grignon All my life, I have been afraid of dogs: a confirmed kynophobe. When I was very young, my parents got a dog. It promptly jumped on me, knocked me down, and, evidently, created a lifelong phobia. To this day, I don’t really trust dogs. after all, they could suddenly turn on me, leap at me with slathering jaws, and rip my face off! However, my general fear has given way to a most particular love – a love for a dog – a dog named Percy. Before Mary Ann became my wife, we talked of sharing a home. I loved this woman and the prospect of sharing my life with her promised something warm, sassy, and beautiful. One problem - she had a dog -- a service animal named Percy, a two-year-old English yellow lab – 64 pounds of muscle, fur, and canine enthusiasm. Alarm bells clanged. A dog! I could feel the fear seep into my bones, the adrenaline flight-or-fight response kick in, the existential angst cloud the beautiful promise. Swallowing my fear and rationalizing that our love will overcome any obstacle, I moved to Fort Myers to be near Mary Ann…and Percy. Mary Ann, knowing of my particular dread, took great pains to introduce me to Percy (and Percy to me), placing him in harness and letting me pet Percy and letting Percy sniff me. After a few encounters, the harness came off and Percy was only on a leash. He seemed nice enough… Now, Percy has to be one of the gentlest of goofy cuddle-bugs in the world. I soon realized that he wasn’t going to turn on me and tear my face off, so the leash came off… and there I was face-to-face with an unleashed Percy. And something amazing happened. I fell in love with the goofball. Oh, I still cringed when Percy barked or growled, feeling that old dread of imminent attack but rationally knowing that he was just expressing himself and, as Mary Ann kept assuring me, that Percy would never hurt me. And so, my initial aloofness gave into games of tug-of-war, wrestling matches, and extended love-ins, where Prince Percy received his due of scratching and petting, all the while lying on his back in a most indecorous, spread-legged catatonia. I soon learned just how smart Percy was, how a total goofball could be transformed into an all-business guide when the harness was donned, and how much more confident and free Mary Ann was walking with Percy than she ever was using the cane. On walks around our neighborhood, in stores and restaurants, and especially at conference hotels, Percy constantly amazed with his focus, his quick learning, and his endless patience. It was a treat to let Percy lead the way out of a restaurant (not having to bang a cane against fellow diners or ask for help from staff). And it was simply astounding to see him know where the elevator, meeting rooms, and relief area were just after a few times visiting each location. And, I have to admit to a semblance of parental pride. When Percy would act the perfect little gentleman, tucked under Mary Ann’s chair, while other guide dogs were snapping, wandering the room, or snatching food off of people’s plates. Percy just turned nine years old. People tell me that he is getting a little gray in the muzzle but that he is still an amazingly gorgeous dog. Oh, please, we can’t go anywhere without someone – anyone – from a two-year-old girl to a retired Marine officer, coming up to us and gushing about how beautiful Percy is and can they please, please, please pet him. He is still a rockstar. He is our rockstar and I can’t imagine life without him. He pretty much has the run of our house and I can’t describe the warm comfy feeling when he turns three times and thwumps his furry bulk against my side and rests his big English lab head on my leg. It’s like a part of my heart is being filled with sunlit honey – and when he falls asleep in that position, I don’t want to move for fear of breaking his peace. And Percy has taught me that not all dogs are sudden face-rippers. I have come to know and like some dogs other than Percy. There is Sadie, a black lab that might be an even bigger lovebug than Percy, along with a few guide dogs who haven't ripped off my face… yet. I suppose the greatest compliment I can pay Percy is that I, a wavering kynophobe, am considering, pondering, let’s say thinking about getting a guide dog of my own. Of course, if I could be guaranteed that I would get a dog like Percy…But over the past seven years or so, I have seen that Percy, while blessed with many doggy gifts, is the dog he is because Mary Ann is such a wonderful handler. At home, she showers him with love and affection, but when the harness comes on, she is all business and Percy knows this and performs his service almost flawlessly. Between the two, Percy and Mary Ann, I have received a wonderful lesson in bonding, mutual respect, affection, and a dedication to a truly effective team. Maybe I will get a dog, maybe not. Either way, my life is infinitely richer, warmer, and happier with Percy in it. *** The Light Chronicles By Cachet Wells Limitless! Like beams of light, taking flight one at a time. The sky is the limit and so shall the blessings be that God says are all mine. No limit or limitations will there be for what I can have. If only I will trust Him to knock, seek then ask. Open doors of opportunity and a window full of blessings will He pour. So stand firm on the promises He assures is already yours. Limited in our ability to see, yet we walk boldly in the independence of what will be. Shining brightly for others to see our beauty within. Like beams of light, we no longer can depend. It's not what you have that makes you strong. It’s the inner strength that helps you to carry on. No matter the case an no matter the place. For each have a life to live with hope of seeing the creator one day face to face. So strive to live everyday in the fullness of His joy. Like beams of light, there's no ability He can not restore. *** Poetry Corner By Shelley Sawyer Greetings, dear readers: In this issue, it is my privilege and pleasure to present a poem that was written by one of our members. It’s always great when a member offers an original poem for our WCB. Many thanks to David Jonathan for writing and offering this poem. Thanks also to Sila Miller, who took the time and effort to copy out the poem from hard copy into an email and send it to me. I once again encourage all of our readers; if you are blessed with the ability to compose poetry, please feel free to get it to me. Also, if anyone has a favorite work of poetry that he/she would like to see in the WCB, please let me know and I will do my very best to locate it and see that it gets into our Poetry Corner. Now, just in time for the Christmas Season, here is a poem for your reading enjoyment. Thanks again, David. Five Minutes Before Christmas By: David Jonathan   ‘Twas five minutes before Christmas, And, oh! What a mess! The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care, And everyone seemed to be quite unaware. Ma? She wasn’t baking cookies, she seemed not to care. Pa? Well, he was slouched in his easy chair. The kids were bedraggled, And so was their hair. The tree? It wasn’t standing. It wasn’t even trimmed. The clothes hamper was filled right up to the brim. Christmas? It seemed to have gone with a whim. The dog? He laid out on the cold winter lawn, He stretched and flopped and let out a yawn. The mouse was scampering round “bout the house. The cat was chasing them  mouse all about. The floor was dirty and covered with ash, Christmas would come, and Christmas would pass! When from outside the house there was heard a loud shout! All went to the window; there was Santa no doubt! He was covered with fur from his head to his foot. He was also tarnished with ashes and soot. He called to his reindeer, “What do we have here? It’s Christmas ya” know; let’s help this house out. We’ll clean it and decorate it within and without.” He directed Rudolf, the leader of the pack. “Get Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. Let’s all get to work; then, fetch me my sack.” They put Ma in her kerchief and Pa in his cap. They got everyone ready for the long winter’s nap. They quieted the dog, the mouse and the cat; All the work was completed in five minutes flat! They decorated the house and every tree limb, And hung all the stockings while stuffing them to the brim. Then, Santa became filled with jolly and glee, And called to his reindeer, “This house we must flee!” He was heard to exclaim as he flew into the night, “Merry Christmas to All!” And, to All, was just right. *** 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 1009 Concord Road, Apt. 106, Tallahassee, FL 32308 salbenjamin@comcast.net (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, 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 jameskkracht@gmail.com (305) 251-6983 Clay Council of the Blind: Mark Lear learm52@icloud.com (386) 788-0463 Greater Miami Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie cassandrajessie@gmail.com (850) 980-0177 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) 980-0205 Miami Beach Council of the Blind: Sheila Young sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200 Miami Metro Council of the Blind: James Kracht jameskkracht@gmail.com (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: James Kracht jameskkracht@gmail.com (305) 251-6983 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) 980-0205 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 jameskkracht@gmail.com (305) 251-6983 *** 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 1009 Concord Road, Apt. 106 Tallahassee, FL 32308 21 1