March 25, 2024
From the Editor
Spring has sprung! There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon, such as warmer weather, flowers in bloom, and our annual BSCB Spring Conference. I for one am looking forward to going up to Maine for the summer and being outside more often. The weather in southern Virginia has been cooler than average, which I prefer, but the pollen count is extremely high and messing with my allergies.
Happy Easter to those who celebrate. Go out and enjoy the weather!
As always, if you would like to contribute information or comment on ways to improve BayLines Express, please contact Dianna Leonard at dianna.l93@gmail.com. And if you have an idea for a monthly article and would like to contribute, please contact Myra Ross at myraross@comcast.net.
And now that it’s officially springtime, here are a couple of classics to get you in the mood.
Here Comes the Sun, by George Harrison
Singing in the Rain, by Gene Kelly
News from the Board
The board last met on March 10.
Treasurer Nick Corbett reported that member recertification is progressing well. As of March 10, there were 187 certified members.
Communications Committee chair Sharon Strzalkowski reported that good progress is being made in integrating a membership form into the BSCB website. This will allow those members who wish to pay annual dues through the website. Those who wish to continue paying directly to their chapters via cash or check will still be able to do so.
Dates are set for our Spring Convention and auction. The convention will be held on Saturday, May 18 as a hybrid event. The in-person part will be held at the Perkins Grousbeck Center in Watertown, and the remote segment will be held via Zoom. We will be holding our annual auction remotely the evening before, on Friday, May 17 from 7 to 9 PM. We will organize a series of interesting panel sessions, presentations and our awards ceremony. During the business session, we will elect officers, and consider resolutions and constitutional amendments. Stay tuned for more details, including registration information.
The Board examined our current investment portfolio. Currently, we have a total of about $127,000 that are invested with a private financial company in a diversified mix of stocks and bonds. We also have about $50,000 in a checking account. The Board decided to move $20,000 of that cash to the Investment portfolio, pending a meeting to consult with our investment advisors. The Board believe that $30,000 held in either a checking account or a high yield savings account will be adequate to meet our cash flow needs.
Our next social event will be on Saturday, March 30 from 7 to 9 PM via Zoom. The Social Committee is organizing a trivia night hosted by Erin Fragola via Zoom. The Social Committee is also organizing and accessible tour at the Arnold Arboretum for Saturday, April 27. Stay tuned for more details as the event draws closer.
David Kingsbury reported on the last meeting we had with the Massachusetts Association of Regional Transit authorities (MARTA), which took place on February 20. At that meeting, we examined the draft PDF text for a uniform statewide application for ADA eligibility for paratransit services. This form will now be rendered into an accessible form that can be independently filled out by all applicants. It should be made available for review well in advance of the next meeting on April 23.
Events Calendar
Save the date! The 2024 Bay State Council of the Blind Spring Conference and Convention will take place on Saturday, May 18. This will be a hybrid event, with in-person attendance taking place at the Grousbeck Center at Perkins School for the Blind. More information to follow, so please make sure you’re subscribed to our email announce list at bscb-announce+subscribe@acblists.org to stay up to date.
The next Blind and Visually Impaired User Group (VIBUG) meeting will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 1:00pm via Zoom. Further information and how to join is listed at https://vibug.org/.
The next Perkins Library Without Walls will meet on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. To RSVP or listen to the upcoming LWW schedule, call the voice mailbox system at (617) 972-7852.
The next Third Thursday with the BSCB will take place on April 18, 2024 at 8:00pm. Zoom information will be provided at a later date, so make sure to subscribe to the BSCB Announce List at bscb-announce+subscribe@acblists.org.
Below are landing page links for the MCB Rehabilitation Council (RC), and the MCB Statutory Advisory Board (SAB). You may want to bookmark them and check them often for time-sensitive entries. They contain details of upcoming events and meetings, recordings of recent meetings, and other relevant information.
RC landing page: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/mcb-rehabilitation-council
SAB landing page: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/mcb-statutory-advisory-board
News from the Web
Mona Minkara, a Wellesley College alum and blindness advocate with her YouTube travel channel Planes Trains and Canes, talks accessibility in science.
Mona Minkara talks science accessibility and the ‘unseen advantage’ of diversifying the lab
We’ve all heard the buzz about automated vehicles for a long time now. But what about the discussion on accessibility?
How can driverless cars broaden access for people with disabilities?
CSUN just ended at the time of writing this newsletter, and Aira had an interesting announcement about a new beta feature.
Aira Announces New Access AI Feature at CSUN!
A total solar eclipse is happening April 8, and while Massachusetts might not be in the path of totality, parts of New England are. An event in New York is aiming to make the event more inclusive.
Rochester event incorporating accessibility devices to make solar eclipse an inclusive experience
A Positive Healthcare Experience, by Myra Ross
Along with Jerry Berrier and Jane Perry, I worked on the handouts for medical establishments about how to support blind patients. They are now on the BSCB website at https://acbofma.org/healthcare-guidelines.
Recently I had my initial appointment with a new (to me) primary care physician. My antennas went up when they handed my husband a paper for me to sign, and then set up their iPad questionnaire for him to read to me. I told them that iPads are accessible, and that I wanted to complete the questionnaire myself. They put in a code so my answers would go into my file there, and they listened to me about how to turn on VoiceOver. Would the questionnaire be accessible? They handed the iPad to me ready to go. I pulled out my wired earbuds so I could complete it in privacy. They remarked on how they should get some earbuds for people to use in case they don’t have their own. Excellent! Then I sat down with the long questionnaire, which I took into the exam room, and completed after the doctor had finished interviewing me. It was completely accessible, although with one question per page it was pretty slow. The questions were psycho-social in nature, not about my medical history. Some of them were so personal that no one should have to answer them through a third party. The physician told me that they are now inquiring into people’s needs and psychological health, because stress of many kinds causes health problems. He told me for example that as a result of the questionnaire, his office is finding ways for people to have medications delivered to them, so they don’t ever have to go without them.
The office manager approached me while I was getting ready to leave. She apologized for not knowing more about the accessibility of the iPad and told me that she would see to it that all of the personnel in the office knew about VoiceOver and had some training in how to help patients complete the questionnaire with speech if they need it. This was a fabulous independent experience for me. Everyone in that office, from the intake secretary to the physician, got it. They understood what I needed and why, and they now know how to help people complete their questionnaire independently. I will follow up to see whether they need any VoiceOver help.
Now, a few days later, I have access to the office’s portal (MyChart is very accessible, far better than Athena Health, used by my previous PCP). I noticed that my completed questionnaire is available there. I presume it could have been completed online. Before attending my appointment, I did call to ask whether there were any forms online to complete. I was told there was something to sign, but not that there was a questionnaire. This information should also be included in the office training!
I invite you to share your medical office visit stories – the good, the bad, and the ugly. I was lucky. They handed me an iPad that was already set up. I know sometimes there are no people at a desk, only an iPad for check-in, and you might not know to look for it. If that has happened to you, how did you handle it? If you have been at a rehab facility lately, did they handle your blindness-related concerns well? Do you have suggestions for the rest of us? I know there is a lot of bad and ugly out there, so I thought I’d share an example of the good!
BSCB Contact Information
Phone: (773) 572-6312
BSCB website: https://acbofma.org
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ACBOfMA/
Twitter: @ACBofMA