The UCB
Flier
A publication of
Utah Council
of the Blind
February
2017
For
the latest news updates call the Utah Connection 801-299-0670 or 1‑800-273-4569.
(You may also leave a message at the end of the announcement.) Mail
correspondence to: UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415. E-mail us at info@utahcounciloftheblind.org.
In This Issue
President's Message.................................................................................. 2
Important:
Clarification of February Activity................................................ 2
Apply Now!
UCB Scholarship..................................................................... 3
A New Year's
Resolution Is Something That Goes in One Year and Out the Other, AN
AFTER-HOLIDAY POEM.................................................... 3
Upcoming
Activities.................................................................................... 4
Easter Egg Hunt..................................................................................... 4
UCB's First Training Conference............................................................ 4
Latest
Calendar with Updates.................................................................... 4
Free Tax
Preparation................................................................................. 5
Book Review:
The Happening: A Carol for All Seasons............................. 6
Lending
Technology Library....................................................................... 7
Free to First
Comers.................................................................................. 7
Overview of
UCB Programs....................................................................... 7
Need Help Learning New Blindness Skills?............................................ 8
Marking appliances................................................................................. 8
Transportation Assistance...................................................................... 9
Personal Braille Projects....................................................................... 10
Ceramics Class..................................................................................... 10
Do you need help with reading bills, etc.?............................................. 10
Adaptive Technology Grant.................................................................. 11
6 Women
Undergrads at MIT Invented a Game Changer For the Blind... 11
Press
Release: Deaf Blind Writers' New Book Inspires Hope & Strength. 14
General UCB
Information......................................................................... 16
Greetings, UCB Members and
Friends,
I hope you have all had a
great start to this new year and that you are full of excitement for 2017. At
UCB headquarters we are all looking forward to what the UCB will be bringing to
you. A few examples are our monthly activities. TerriLynne Pomeroy always does
a great job at providing diverse, unique, and informative activities. We are
also looking forward to the ACB's National Conference right in our back yard in
Reno, Nevada, so close we can almost touch it.
Leslie and Kate are
constantly working on grants so we can continue to provide you with all the
programs that we use and love.
Aunilie and Tracey are
feverishly updating our membership list to make sure everybody's information is
correct and current.
And don’t forget, we would
love to have you join us at our monthly business meetings, where you can share
your ideas or just observe and learn.
Have a great month,
Anna Jeffery, President
The February activity, a
snowshoeing or cross-country ski outing with Splore,
is scheduled for Saturday, the 18th of February. There are still openings for
ten or eleven people, so hurry and send your reservations of $15 per person to:
UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415. Participation will be based on a
first come first served basis.
For this winter adventure,
we can choose snowshoeing and sledding as one option or cross country skiing as
the second option. Snowshoeing is a little more like hiking. On the other hand,
cross country skiing is more of a sliding motion. You use poles to balance
yourself for both types of activity. If you have a preference, please let your
thoughts be known by leaving a message at the Utah Connection after the
recording of activities.
To participate in this
activity, meet at DSBVI at 9:00 a.m. We will be returning to DSBVI by about
4:30 p.m. There will also be a lodge where you can take a break and have lunch
or a hot drink. The cost for your food and drink will be on your own.
Money needs to be received
by Monday, February 11.
It is once again time to
apply for the UCB scholarship. Scholarship winners will be honored at the
technology training conference on April 29. If you are interested in making
application, you can either leave your name and phone number on the Utah
Connection for a call back or access the application on our web site:
www.utahcounciloftheblind.org.
'Twas the
month after Christmas, and all through the house
nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there
arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd never said, 'No thank you, please.'
As I dressed myself in my husband's
old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt--
I said to myself, as I only can
'You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!'
So-away with the last of the sour
cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
'Til all the additional ounces
have vanished
I won't have a cookie--not even a
lick
I'll only chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore.
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!
The
Easter Egg Hunt has been scheduled this year for Saturday, April 1st. As
always, it will be held at DSBVI, 250 N 1950 W. Look for additional details
next month.
This
year, because of the emphasis being put on the ACB conference in Reno, the UCB
is doing its training a little differently. We will be holding 2 or 3 separate
days of training throughout the year. The first training event is now scheduled
for Saturday, April 29.
Our
focus will be on technology. We will be looking at the ways in which technology
impacts the lives of all of us, from thermometers to computers, from
flashlights to electronic magnification. It should be fun and informative. We
will also be having an awards luncheon where we will be giving our annual
awards and scholarships.
Mail
checks or money orders for any activities to UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT
84011-1415. They need to reach us by dates given. Unless otherwise noted,
classes and activities listed below are held at the Division of Services for
the Blind, 250 N 1950 W, Suite B, Salt Lake City.
·
Wednesday, February 11: money due for the snow day activity.
·
Saturday, February 18 2017, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
Snowshoeing and sledding, or, cross country skiing at Silver Lake
·
Friday, February 24, 2017 3:45 PM: UCB Board meeting DSBVI
Conference Room R
·
Friday, March 10, 2017, 6:00 PM: Ogden Association of the
Blind (OAB) Spring Gala: Ogden's Historic Union Station
·
Friday, March 24: 3:45 PM: UCB Board meeting DSBVI Conference
Room R
·
Saturday, April 1, Easter Egg Hunt, DSBVI
·
Friday, April 28: 3:45 PM: UCB Board meeting DSBVI Conference
Room R
·
Saturday, April 29: UCB Training Conference, focus on
technology
Filing
your state and federal taxes is easy and simple! If you make $60,000 or less
you qualify to have your taxes prepared for free!
You
can file your taxes in two different ways:
1. You can file your taxes
utilizing the skills and expertise of one of our IRS certified volunteers by
visiting a designated Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. There you
will be matched with a volunteer trained to assist you. If your household
income is $53,000 or less you qualify to have your taxes prepared for free at a
VITA site. Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-826-9790 to schedule an appointment.
2. You can also file your taxes
for free from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a computer,
internet access, an email account, and all of your tax documentation. The
process takes about 60 minutes. If your household income is $60,000 or less,
you qualify to file online for free. If you are going to file online for free
make sure to download and print these instructions to help you through the process.
http://utahtaxhelp.org/images/publications/Online_Filing_Instructions.pdf
If
you have questions or are experiencing difficulties (including if you are
accidentally charged by the online software), please contact the national
helpline at 1-855-698-9435. Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-8:00PM
MST. Email support: info@myfreetaxes.com. Website: http://utahtaxhelp.org
Reviewed
by Leslie Gertsch
The
happening: A Carol for All Seasons, available from BARD, book number DB08884
by
John Wahtera. Reading time: 2 hours, 32 minutes.
"The
Happening" is “A Carol for all Seasons,” so even though it takes place at
Christmas, its many messages apply always. This book has been a favorite of
mine for many years. It is one I excitedly reread every Christmas. The story is
full of the many sides of mankind including his many kindnesses, as well as
examples of his occasional cruelties. Each time I read it I feel like it is for
the first time, because I see new aspects of the characters.
The
story covers about three days prior to Christmas. Digby is a struggling painter
who lives in a rundown home waiting for demolition. The time seems to be that
of the sixties in what I remember as the time of Hippies. Blossom is Digby’s
girl friend who is about to have a baby. Together, they make a home for stray
animals and people alike. The neighborhood is very run down. There is an older
church across the street next to an orphanage. Big Mohamed is a huge black man
who is angry about black prejudice and who contemplates revenge on all whites.
The reverend is a sweet gentle man who has missed out on his dreams of doing
good in his calling. Poverty has been a major factor in squashing his dreams
and causing him to drink a little too much.
Three
days before Christmas, Digby realizes he needs to get married in order to
protect his child. He also notices the children at the orphanage and decides
these children need to have just one great event in their lives. With the reverend’s
help, he begins to plan a happening. Big Mohamed offers his services, hoping to
find a means to get revenge on the white suppressors. Together, the three work
to create a great night of music, dancing and surprises for the children. Once
the ball gets rolling, it balloons, almost out of control. Everyone gets
involved until there is scarcely room in the church to hold everyone.
While
the plans for the happening expand and then explode, Blossom and Digby prepare
for their new baby. On the night of the great event, the mayor decides to use
the event as a political statement. Things escalate from there, culminating in
the most hysterically funny ending, which you must read to get the full impact.
Across the street, Blossom is having her own happening which also touches many
hearts.
The
story is rich in human emotion. Hurt feelings, angry resentment, despair,
loneliness, and more. Overall, one learns how a kind word, a gentle touch, a gesture
of friendship, an act of service makes a difference in a person’s life. The
caring and sharing changes nearly everyone. Read it, be sad, and then, laugh
your head off. Both emotions are good for all of us.
Vickie
Jaquier is offering to lend certain small pieces of
adaptive technology to those who do not have one of their own or who cannot
afford to purchase one. The items must be returned when the individual can
acquire their own. This technology lending service is the dream child of Vickie
Jaquier, who is visually impaired and knows what it
is like to really want and need a piece of technology and not be able to afford
it. If you would like to know more, call her at 801-967-6976 and ask questions.
This is also the person you must approach to see what is available. Don't wait
until everything is loaned out. If you have something you would like to place
in this lending technology library please speak to her
about it. Good luck!
The
UCB has three print books about advocacy and the legal process. These were
donated by a firm dealing with criminal cases. Included with each book is a
gift card valued at $500 for legal services from The Advocates. If you wish to
have one, please call the Utah Connection and leave your name and contact
information.
The
UCB offers the service of teacher/trainer teams to visit you in your home and
assist you to learn blindness skills. They can help with computers and other
technology or teach you braille. They will mark your appliances, help organize
your clothing, food, and some papers. You can learn from them how to cook
safely and how to move about your home and yard safely. These are just a few
things these teams can provide if you request it. These teams serve from Kanab
to Logan, including Price, Cedar City area, Roosevelt area, Manti, Tooele and
surrounding cities and of course, across the Wasatch Front.
Many
of you have taken advantage of the UCB's teacher/trainer teams to learn
blindness skills and perform other tasks in your home. One of the many services
the teams offer is that of marking appliances. This can be accomplished in many
ways. Most people use dots placed in strategic spots to help one know how to
operate the appliance. Tina Terry, one of our teachers writes of another
resource.
"I
was recently listening to a podcast and heard about a new product that I
thought would be very helpful in the blind community. These are either overlays
or stickers (called icons) that can be used on household appliances such as
microwaves, ovens, washers, and dryers. These markers are made of clear
silicone so that they would not be an interference for sighted persons. The
markers consist of different shapes rather than just dots. For instance, an x
is used for stop or cancel, stair steps indicate power level, and so on."
This idea could make it easier to remember which button or key is which. You
can buy a package of icons to mark the microwave as desired or by providing the
make and model of the appliance; the overlay will be made for that particular
appliance. Of course, there is a cost for the specialized work.
The
stickers and overlays can be ordered at www.tangiblesurfaceresearch.com. The
stickers are $5.00 and the overlays are $30.00.
One
of the teams would be happy to help you order these and install them if you
wish. For more information about the teacher/trainer teams call the Connection
and leave your name and contact number. Someone will call you to make an
appointment.
The
UCB offers two types of transportation assistance. The first program offers a
discount on a limited number of cab coupons each month. For $64 you can
purchase $160 in cab transportation each month. An extra $6 is required if you
want them mailed to your home. Coupons can also be purchased at the Division of
Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City on
Wednesdays from noon to 3:00 p.m. Since this service is run by volunteers and
UCB board member Donni Mitchell, it is best to call
in advance to be certain she is there. Remember, these coupons can be carried
over to the next month. The UCB contracts with most cab companies from St.
George to Cache Valley. Park City and Cedar City are also included. If you find
a company you wish to use, please contact the UCB and a contract with that
company will be offered.
The
Yellow Cab Company of Salt Lake prints its own coupons. This means these
coupons can only be used with that company.
The
UCB prints white coupons which can be used with all other contracted companies.
They can be used in St. George, Salt Lake, or Logan for example.
The
second program is only for members. It offers mileage reimbursement to a driver
of your choice who is not a member of your household. If you have a question
about the driver's eligibility, call 801-292-1156. A member is able to purchase
up to 300 miles a month for only $45 which is $.15 a mile. Of course, the
person can purchase less, and the coupons can be carried over to other months.
The transportation is great for people living in the rural areas or for those
wishing to travel where public transportation does not go. It is called the
Driver/Guide Program, because the driver is supposed to act as your guide, as
well. The driver receives $.50 a mile for his driving when he/she turns in the
coupons along with the signed form for reimbursement. These coupons can be paid
for by check or can be purchased with a credit card. For more information about
this, call the number above.
This program provides a source for a braille
reader to have a print document transcribed into braille for personal use. From
time to time it provides a specific book for the individual to own. People have
had such items as their wills, medical directions, small personal directories,
information for meetings, training manuals and other similar items for personal
use. To apply for this program, leave your name and contact information on the
Connection.
The
UCB offers a ceramics class at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually
Impaired on Wednesdays during much of the year. These classes will begin again
in February. We are also looking for volunteers to help the participants
identify paints and to perform other services. Recommendations of volunteers
would be much appreciated. If you would like to paint beautiful items or learn
to mold other objects in clay, come join us on Wednesdays between the hours of
10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For more information, call UCB president, Anna Jeffery
at 801-654-3772.
Another
helpful program for members only is the Reader Program.
The
UCB member using this program is able to provide a small reimbursement for a
trusted friend or neighbor to read mail, take care of personal correspondence,
or read any other needed item. Once again, the reader cannot be a roommate or
family member. Unfortunately, the UCB does not have recommendations for
readers. It is felt that someone you trust would be the best choice to perform
this service.
On
a monthly basis, ten hours of service can be purchased for $20. Fewer hours can
be purchased each month at a cost of $2 for each hour. The coupons will work in
subsequent months.
Readers
are reimbursed when coupons are returned with the form provided. The
reimbursement is for $5.00 per hour. This program makes it possible to take
care of your mail, pay your bills and remain in control of your personal
affairs.
The
adaptive Technology Grant is a favorite of those who wish to use adaptive
technology, but can't quite afford the cost. Unfortunately, there is a limit on
how much the UCB can grant, so ask about that when you request an application. Applications
are available online or by mail. Many people have been able to acquire much coveted
Victor Reader Streams, Braille writers, iPhones, laptop computers with voice,
some enlargement programs for computers, and more. The individual is required
to pay one-fourth of the cost of the technology. Remember, the technology must
be adapted for people with sight loss. It is meant to help a person be more
independent and able to access the sighted world. To request an application,
leave your name and contact information on the Connection.
Six
women, all undergraduate students at MIT, have invented a text to braille
scanner that significantly advances the state of the art for text scanners,
most of which convert text to speech. The patent-pending device is not yet
available in the marketplace, but the inventors are committed to the project,
called Tactile, full-time upon graduation in the spring.
The
team comprises three students in Mechanical Engineering, Jialin
Shi, Charlene Xia and Grace Li; two students in Electrical Engineering, Tania
Yu and Chandani Doshi; and
Bonnie Wang, who studies Materials Sciences.
A
spokesperson for Microsoft points out that women hold just 5.5 percent of
commercial patents in the United States. The company is trying to change that
by providing pro bono legal support to female inventors. Team Tactile has been
accepted into this program.
Keely
Swan, IDEAS Global Challenge Administrator at MIT, boasts, “The Tactile team
won a $10,000 grant in last year’s MIT IDEAS Global Challenge, an annual
innovation, service, and social entrepreneurship program run by MIT’s Priscilla
King Gray Public Service Center. The program helps students take what they
learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world challenges. As one of our
winning teams, Tactile received a 15-month grant, and we’ll work with them
through summer 2017 as they refine their project.”
Keely
describes the team’s work ethic and effort on their winning project. “When I
first read the Tactile project plan, it was clear that they had spent time
working with people who are visually impaired to understand the challenges they
face, and how a real-time text-to-Braille converter could help them read almost
anything, from product labels to sensitive personal information like bank
statements and medical paperwork. After developing a prototype at a hackathon,
Tactile continued working closely with partners and prospective users to refine
the concept and create a device they believe can significantly improve the
quality of life for people with visual impairments.”
Paul
Parravano, Co-director of Government and Community
Relations at MIT, is visually impaired and has advised the Tactile Team during
their product development efforts. He says the market is full of devices, many
of which are expensive. Braille display devices cost about $1,500 and they
don’t scan documents at that price.
The
team hasn’t set a price point, but they believe they can produce their device
for just $100, giving them the opportunity to price theirs well below the price
of competing devices that don’t provide scanning.
Parravano points out that pricing is key.
Many visually impaired people are unemployed or underemployed and therefore
don’t have resources for expensive technology. He says, if the team can price
the product below $1,500 it could represent a real breakthrough.
With
a target price approaching $100, this could represent a quantum leap forward
for the blind community.
Team
member Jialin Shi adds, “According to the National
Federation of the Blind, only 40.4% of adults with significant vision loss were
employed in 2014 and more than 30% live below the poverty line.”
Shi
describes the team’s bold plan, “We want to make Tactile affordable and
accurate. If we can do that, then we believe we will be able to increase the
braille literacy rate, and in turn, increase the employment rate of adults with
significant vision loss. We think it’s incredibly important to invest in
technology that will enable, empower and allow people with disabilities to go
and do amazing things. Getting Tactile to a point where we can sell it for $100
or less would be ideal, and would allow us to help many more people than the
technologies that exist today.”
The
device isn’t market ready, yet. Team member Bonnie Wang explains, “There is a
lot of work we still have to do to refine our product. The largest roadblock is
shrinking the size of our braille linear actuation mechanism to meet the size
requirements of standard braille characters. We are continuing to make steps in
decreasing the size of our device to make it portable for users.”
The
biggest limitation the team faces is the state of optical character recognition
(OCR) technology. “One limitation is the complexity of processing images of
irregular surfaces. Especially with the limited processing power of our device,
it is difficult to adjust for folds in the surface and distortions in text,”
Wang says.
Despite
the challenges and limitations, Keely notes that what they have accomplished is
remarkable. “I have been deeply impressed by the team’s knowledge, passion, and
ability to work together quickly and effectively. The IDEAS Global Challenge
judges were also impressed by how much the team accomplished in such a short
period of time.”
Shi
explains the team’s vision for the product’s impact. “Ultimately, this will
provide people with visual impairment access to information that they wouldn’t
otherwise have. No more than 5 percent of books have braille translations.
Tactile would allow them to read anything they wanted from text books and
novels to food labels and mathematical equations. It truly would open up a
world of opportunity for an entire community of people.”
The
team’s efforts have impact beyond the community of people with visual
impairments, Keely points out. “As an all-female undergraduate team, they are
setting a great example for other young women and girls, demonstrating what
they can accomplish in science, technology, and engineering.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/devinthorpe/2016/12/20/these-6-women-undergrads-at-mit-invented-a-game-changer-for-the-blind/#6bee0cde7e96
Submitted by Ramona Rice: rricetx@gmail.com
or phone (801) 430-8833
A group of 28 writers
touched by Usher syndrome tell their stories to end the isolation and to
support research for a cure.
After two years of
collaborative effort to create a book, Walk in My
Shoes is finally complete! This book is a unique collection of 27 powerful
stories by 28 individuals who are experiencing or witnessing the challenges of
losing not one, but two senses: hearing and sight. The writers of Walk in My
Shoes offer a glimpse into living with Usher syndrome, a progressive disease
leading to blindness and deafness. Walk in My Shoes speaks to the more than
400,000 people worldwide dealing with Usher syndrome, to their families, to the
professionals working with them, and to the rest of the world.
The writers of Walk in My
Shoes come from all walks of life from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
They want to be seen and heard, even while their vision and hearing fail them.
Their desire is to connect other people with Usher syndrome at annual Usher
Syndrome Coalition conferences by promoting awareness in their communities and
sharing this inspirational book. All proceeds from book sales will be donated
to the Usher Syndrome Coalition to help fund scholarships and support research
for a cure. These writers inspire hope for anyone dealing with difficult life
challenges. Even though they may not see or hear, they have so much to teach us
about the human spirit, overcoming harsh obstacles and seeking equality in a
society that does not understand them. Read their stories to see how they do
it, to feel inspired, and to learn more about how you can help.
Ramona Rice, book creator
and project manager, who has Usher syndrome type 2, conceived the idea to raise
awareness about deaf blindness from powerful, hopeful, humorous and compelling stories
in Walk in My Shoes and to support researchers to find a cure. She feels
strongly that Walk in My Shoes will inspire many people around the world to
unite together and to make a difference for those suffering from deaf
blindness.
Steve Perreault, Helen
Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, says: "An
important new publication … that will provide information, support, and
encouragement to others diagnosed with Usher syndrome, their families, friends,
and service providers. Congratulations to the authors and the organizers who
brought this project to fruition!”
Gislin Dagnelie, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at
John Hopkins University of Medicine, Baltimore, MD observes that “This book is
full of inspiring stories, written by some of the most resilient and creative
people I have ever met–or hope to meet soon.”
Book information:
Walk in My Shoes edited by
Charlotte J. DeWitt and published by Merrimack Media
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-945756-11-5
$18.98; 282pp. Order from https://www.createspace.com/6758150
Ebook
ISBN: 978-1-945756-12-2 $8.99. Order at
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSXMO5X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481393776&sr=8-1&keywords=walk+in+my+shoes%2C+charlotte+dewitt
WEBSITE INFORMATION:
Usher Syndrome Coalition:
http://bit.ly/ushwalkinmyshoes
https://www.usher-syndrome.org/
Twitter: @BKWalkinmyShoes
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Ushersyndrome123
We are always looking for articles or interesting tidbits of information from our readers or other interested persons. The deadline for submitting items for publication is the 1st of the month, e.g. the deadline for the March newsletter is February 1st. You may e-mail any articles you wish to submit for our newsletter to our newsletter editor, TerriLynne Pomeroy, at tl1@ml1.net, or send Braille or large print to UCB Newsletter, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415; please allow extra time for processing Braille or large print.
The UCB Flier is available in large print, Braille, audio cassette tape, audio CD, as a Microsoft Word and a plain text file on CD, and by e-mail. If you would prefer to receive your newsletter in a different format, please call the Utah Connection or send an e-mail to ucb.board@gmail.com and let us know.
Disclaimer: Articles and announcements included in this publication are presented for your information and interest. They reflect the opinions of the respective authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the UCB.
Utah Council of the Blind FREE
MATTER
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THE BLIND
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