Sharing our student and community newsletter with the broader community. Much of this resource is dedicated to assuring that the greatest number of folks have access to timely and critical resources while at home.
Subject: SFB Connection, march 20, 2020 Resource edition
Society for the Blind’s
SFB Connection, March 20, 2020
We are aware that the current situation is fluid and will likely change on a daily basis. What we will be sharing in the following pages includes blindness resources and information. Please continue to look to your local TV, radio and computer news sources for the latest information and guidance on public health directives.
At present, we are unable to say when Society will reopen to the community for in person meetings. In the meantime, staff are working to establish remote instruction protocols for current students enrolled in classes. Our CareersPLUS After School Academy, Friday night family gatherings and Saturday seminars will resume in the coming weeks when guidance is granted for public events to safely resume.
Fortunately, there exists a lot of telephone and online resources that blind and low vision individuals in our community can access from the comfort of your home. We intend to share them out in this and subsequent SFB Connection. Finally, please continue to communicate with us to let us know how you are and if there are any community and online / remote resources that we can inform you about. Many of our staff are checking their email and voice mails remotely and can get back to you in a timely manner for any of your inquiries.
Although our global guidance is to practice social distancing, please do not isolate. Human connection is more important than ever. Please reach out if we can provide guidance, resources and a friendly conversation.
Richard Rueda
Program Coordinator and SFB Connection editor
* For ease of reading access, note that this document and email can be read by use of headings.
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Staff Tips:
1. From Liz Campos, Orientation & Mobility Instructor, Want to do your part in the prevention of the spreading of germs? Take advantage of every hand washing moment to insure the cleanliness of your mobility devices. Whether it is your long white cane, support cane, walker, or dog harness, make sure you are cleaning these handles frequently and several times a day. You can wipe these handles down with anti-bacterial wipes, rub hand sanitizer on the handles, or run the handle under warm water and use soap. Carrying tissues or hand wipes can be useful if you need something to serve as a barrier between your hand and a hand railing, cane handle, or any other surfaces that you need to touch. If using a folding cane, please be mindful of where your cane tip has been, try to keep from placing your folded cane on tables and desks. Placing a dirty folding cane on a table is the same as putting your shoes on the table, keep this in mind the next time you place your folding cane on the table next to your dinner plate.
Lastly, because we explore the world through our hands, wash them as often as you can. Use warm soap and water and wipe down surfaces that are visited by many hands, good cane hygiene can help keep us healthy.
Thanks, Liz
2. Brandie Kubel, Living Skills Instructor provides the following baking tip.
Here is a solution for the lack of bread in stores. I’ve given it to all my students. Happy baking!! 😊
Bread Recipe
- 3 cups self-rising flour
- 12 oz beer (not light)
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- If you can’t get self-rising flour make it by mixing together 1 cup flour, ½ teaspoon salt and 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease well a loaf pan.
- In a medium bowl mix all ingredients together, You will get a very sticky dough.
- Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for one hour.
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Stay connected with Society for the Blind’s Access News:
Access News provides a wide range of newspaper and magazine articles, as well as store sales advertising and more recorded by our volunteer readers and available on your telephone. Our content includes local publications not available in audio anywhere else. If you are not already an Access News listener, you can sign-up by calling (916) 889-7519, or by emailingaccessnews@societyfortheblind.org. Happy listening!
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Resources On hand
Whether you are seeking resources for yourself, a family member and/or friend that may need timely information, please see the following resources and share with your network. This is a compilation of resources received from the community this past week alone and respected sources. Many of these are relevant to education, work, leisure and health online resources that our community may wish to access while at home.
State of California covid 19 information
K-12 School guidance during covid 19
New COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools
https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/guidance.asp (guidance document is supposed to be updated at least weekly)
Also see article: California school districts learn more about what state expects during a long shutdown
https://edsource.org/2020/california-school-districts-learn-more-about-what-state-expects-during-a-long-shutdown/626431 Finally, https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-releases-webinar-fact-sheet-protecting-students-civil-rights-during-covid-19-response may also be helpful.
Managing Stress & Anxiety Resource
What Can We Do to Find Connection in a Period of Isolation?
Dealing with stress and anxiety amid coronavirus:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/video/dealing-stress-anxiety-amid-coronavirus-69616116
Legal Assistance for Older Americans and covid 19.
Aira is free for blind college students
AIRA is a service that enables blind and low vision people to connect to a live agent who can assist with a variety of tasks. Using the camera on a smart phone or a camera mounted on glasses, The AIRA agent can assist the individual by reading inaccessible documents on a computer screen, reading street signs, helping the blind person find her/his Uber, etc.
If you know of a student who could benefit from Aira for their distance learning, please email support@aira.io for more information on the program.
United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) offers – “Staying Fit While Staying Put” Video Series
Get up and get active with us! During this time of social distancing and isolation, it is even more important to continue to uphold healthy lifestyle and fitness habits.
To assist you in staying motivated and fit during these trying times, USABA will soon be providing Staying Fit While Staying Put workout videos conducted by some of our world-class Paralympic athletes. The videos will cover a variety of workouts for all levels and abilities and will be available for free on our Facebook page, allowing you to do the workouts when it’s most convenient in your daily schedule.
More details will be conveyed to our membership and followers in the coming week, so stay tuned. Visit USABA.org or their Facebook page for details.
Comprehensive guide to TV shows and movies with audio description
Are you stuck at home? Are you bored? Are your kids driving you crazy and you want to give them something to do? Want to know if there is anything good on TV that has audio description? Want to know what is on Broadcast television, cable, and streaming services with audio description? If so, the Audio Description Project is here to help during these challenging times.
The Audio Description Project (ADP) website has all this information and more.
It has up to date listings of what is on NBC, Fox, CBS, and ABC. It has listings for TNT, TBS, HGTV, and more.
Want to stay culturally relevant and know why people think Baby Yoda is so darn cute, then check out “The Mandalorian” on Disney+. Want to learn what the fuss is with “Stranger Things” on Netflix that is also audio described? To learn about these titles and more then check out our listing for the streaming services which include Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, HULU, iTunes, Apple TV Plus, CBS All Access, and IMDb TV.
We also have an up to date listings of which titles with audio description get released on DVD.
To learn more about audio description, where and when you can watch it, and what titles are available, check out www.acb.org/adp
Distance Learning Resources
http://public.pbs.org/DistanceLearningResources
ObjectiveEd provides free access to digital curriculum
We are providing free access to our digital curriculum to schools and teachers to use with their students with vision impairments through the end of the current 2019/2020 school year. To get started, visit www.objectiveEd.com/distance
Hadley Monthly Discussion Groups
Specific to blind and low vision individuals. In these phone-in sessions, Hadley learning experts share tips and insights on a topic. Then, the phone lines are opened for questions.
Explore the full discussion group schedule at www.hadley.edu/discussions.
Help hotline for blind/visually impaired – From VISTAS Education Partners Inc
In response to the wave of K-12 school closures across the United States due to COVID-19, a few concerned teachers of the blind and advocates got together to organize a free, homework help hotline for blind/visually impaired students. Check out the details below and share with others.
National Homework Hotline for Blind/Visually Impaired Students (NHH-BVI)
What: Homework telephone hotline for blind/vision impaired students in grades K-12 experiencing emergency school closures due to COVID-19.
Areas of hotline help include navigating accessible websites with JAWS, Nemeth and literary braille reading and writing, navigating tablet/laptop using JAWS and Over, and using refreshable braille display.
*The hotline does not provide tutoring in non-Expanded Core Curriculum content areas
When: Tues -Thurs, 3:30pm – 8pm EST, March 17-
April 16, 2020 (*end date may be adjusted based on
school closure developments)
How: Students submit a support request via email and receive a call-back during the designated NHH-BVI times.
Who: NHH-BVI helpers are experienced, TVIs, counselors, blind mentors who want to help b/vi students get the support they need to access their remote learning programs.
For more info, and to request an initial NHH-BVI support call, please email nhh-bvi@vistaseducation.com.
FREE ACADEMY FOR STUDENTS WITH VI BY APH & Cal State Los Angeles
Virtual Expanded Core Education Learning (ExCEL) Academy for Students with Visual Impairments: “Join the Virtual Web Classes! Beginning March 23, 2020
Featuring daily lessons for students with visual impairments. Paths to Literacy is collaborating with APH (American Printing House for the Blind) and CalState University to present this programming. Qualified teachers from around the country will be presenting a range of lessons.
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/resources/virtual-learning-academy
ONLINE INSTRUCTION RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS:
https://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/online-instruction.html
VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION FOR VI FROM PERKINS:
California Deafblind services
California Deafblind Services will be hosting online drop-ins for families who may need assistance on what to do during this stressful time. Come join a CDBS member and get resources, suggestions, or someone new to talk to.
We hope this will bring a good opportunity to families to connect during this uncertain time. Hopefully giving you all opportunities to learn and share to create a supportive community.
These are starting Friday, March 20, and will be every day as needed from 2:00-2:30pm. Just click the link below.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sfsu.zoom.us/j/5744944040
Here is the link for Spanish speaking families. This will be from 4:00-4:30pm every day.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://sfsu.zoom.us/j/5744944040
MATH GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR HOME FOR STUDENTS WITH VI https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QrtcVGfO2hHsLGXbwSH5aYKsP2S3gJVyisHbP167aBc/mobilebasic
NATIONAL HOMEWORK HOTLINE FOR STUDENTS WITH VI:
DISTANCE LEARNING IDEAS FOR STUDENTS WITH VI:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H589lC0M3s1C-lCeqkLoFoU_H7XkPuxC2iuET6IUbuQ/mobilebasic
How to Use Zoom (video and audio conferencing) for Online Learning
https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/03/13/how-to-use-zoom-for-online-learning/
Resources for Online Learning, from NEA
Scholastic is offering free online courses so your kids can keep learning while schools are closed:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/15/us/scholastic-coronavirus-students-trnd/index.html
Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to Closures:
Digital Audio Resources, shared by Aser Tolentino, Access Technology Coordinator
The Digital audio workstation called Reaper, , is providing a free temporary license that makes the software free to use for the next three months. You can get the software through www.reaper.fm and older but still relevant audio courses geared toward screen reader users from CAVI: http://wiki.cucat.org/index.php/Main/Audiogiveaway
Coronavirus resources for the blind and visually impaired
Blind & Low Vision Research on collaborative Writing & Editing.
Researchers at Northwestern University are conducting a study on how people with vision impairments perform collaborative writing and editing. We are recruiting participants who are age 18 or over, speak English, have a visual impairment, and perform writing or editing activities on a computer using screen readers and applications like Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
Eligible participants are invited to participate in an audio-recorded study about how you perform creative activities. The study will take place remotely via phone or video calling software (e.g., BlueJeans, Zoom) whichever you prefer. We will invite you to interact with the prototype of an application we have developed for collaborative writing. You will be asked to engage with this technology through a series of tasks. The researchers will ask you questions about your experience as you complete the tasks. We may also ask you questions about your work and the tools you currently use.
The technology testing session will last for approximately 90 minutes. Participants will be compensated with $60 Amazon or Visa gift card upon completion of the session.
If you are interested in participating in this research, please emailmaitraye@u.northwestern.edu. Alternatively, you may call (847) 316-1172.
Zoom Conference call on the 2020 US Census
Topic: ACB Information Access Webinar: the 2020 U.S. Census
When: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 5:00 PM Pacific Time
Join Zoom Meeting.
https://zoom.us/j/286095012?pwd=U1hSMktnUksxVzM1VkhFM25nY05nQT09
Meeting ID: 286 095 012
Password: 027699
One tap mobile
+1.312.6266799,,286095012#
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Music foot note:
Randy Owen, Music Maestro, provides us with a few clips for our listening pleasure.
Red Tail Hawk – By George Schroder
Recorded in the new Carl R. Otto Annex at Society for the Blind, on March 7, 2020.
Members and friends of the East Sac Baby Boomers met with some of the members of the Music Support Group on a rainy Saturday and shared music.
Special thanks to our musicians:
Stuart Walthall , Melodi Harris, Doug Money, Patty Varozza, Juan Avila, Omar Torres, Joe Prassa, D R Wagner and Michael Regina
Here is the link for Red Tail Hawk
Also, by request…
For motivation on what Society’s Music program can do, visit this homemade video from Omar Torres, one of our students.
In this video, CORE student, Omar Torres records the bass track for his original; “Mi Destino”. The video includes clips from several takes as well as a rough mix at the end. This is the second video documenting the creation of a song with the artist. You can view the video by accessing the following link:
https://youtu.be/bQcLAH1jzBc
Additionally, in this next video, student Joe Germino teaches staff member Paul Gray and fellow student, Blain Wray the song, Everlong, on the guitar. This video was a major inspiration to start a Music Support Group.
The video takes place in Randy’s classroom during lunch. Joe is playing an Epiphone Les Paul electrics guitar. This video was shot on October 24, 2017.
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February 2020 CORE Program Student Attendance recognition.
From Shane Snyder, Director of Programs.
Excellent CORE Student attendance is critical to Society for the Blind’s ability to deliver its programs, services, and activities. To show our appreciation for those students with exemplary attendance, each month we place the names of those students who achieve perfect attendance for that month into a drawing for a Target gift card. Two winners are selected at random, one each from the two day and three day per week class schedule groups. The winners for February 2020 are:
Dawn Green AND Melodi HarriS. Congratulations!
February Honorable Mentions:
Oluwafemi, Olusola, Nilo Yazbanbakhah, Maggie Read,
Nathaniel Doli, Omar Torres and Gregory Neidich,
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Society Recurring events:
Posting below, however classes, community gatherings and special events are on hold until further notice.
Yoga class:
Yoga is on the move. Weekly, Mondays from 11:45AM to 1PM join our Instructor for Yoga in the upstairs training room for a blissful experience of stretching, breathing and more. Dress comfortably. No registration is required. Please call ahead to confirm class is scheduled.
Music Class:
Looking to make music? Join the exceptionally talented students and Randy Owen Wednesday’s and Thursday’s at 11:30AM in our new downstairs music room to polish your musical talents. For additional details, please call Randy at 916.889.7523 or by email at msg@societyfortheblind.org.
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Career and Financial Resources:
Do you have career resources to share?
If you have a unique career tip or resource that you wish to share in future SFB Connections, email them for consideration to Richard Rueda atrrueda@societyfortheblind.org.
Anthem Lex Frieden Internship — Seeking Interns!
As one of the nation’s leading health benefits companies, Anthem seeks to attract the best talent to help us achieve our mission to improve lives and communities with innovative solutions to simplify the healthcare experience. Diversity matters at Anthem—we foster a culture of inclusion where different backgrounds, perspectives, talents and life experiences come together to create innovative products and services for the people we serve.
The Lex Frieden Internship is an opportunity for Anthem to further develop a pipeline of talent that is inclusive of individuals with disabilities. Named for disability advocate and pioneer Lex Frieden, one of the architects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Internship offers a 10 week paid experience that includes a connection with a designated mentor, and a developmental series on office culture, soft skills, disability rights, and accommodations. A wide array of work experience opportunities are available for applicants currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate level programs. The experience offers opportunities for the next generation of Anthem Associates to gain valuable work experiences, and for Anthem to continue to advance our inclusion
To apply, please visit: https://careers.antheminc.com/student-programs/jobs/lex-frieden-internship-49395
For questions about specific positions and how to apply, reach out toYvette.Booker@anthem.com.
Microsoft Job Opening: Business Program Manager- Accessibility Events
Apply at: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/job/795642/Business-Program-Manager-Accessibility-Events
Job at Cigna
cigna Accessibility UX Front End Advisor job opening option
remote work opportunity: https://cigna.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/cignacareers/job/Bloomfield-CT/Digital-Accessibility-UX-Technologist–Connecticut–Pennsylvania-or-Work-From-Home-_19014973-1
California State Jobs:
The State of California has a great state jobs website. For all sorts of available state of California job openings and how to set up a user profile, please visit:https://jobs.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Landing/PersonsWithDisabilities.aspx
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Career Kudos!
Do you know of any current or former SFB students who are recently employed? We’d love to give them a shout out and a well wish at the start of their new career. Please email Richard Rueda with details at rrueda@societyfortheblind.org.
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Announcements:
Access news Sweetening Your Life!
This weeks featured article from Access News highlights the opening of a new ice cream shop in the heart of downtown near SFB. To listen to the article, just click on the link below. When your browser opens, just hit enter or click on the play button.:
Devil May Care Ice Cream Opening Downtown in March
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14P6cu9mxqt8uTsFDrWXw1TTD9PMkT2H7/view?usp=sharing
National Fitness Challenge 2020! – It’s almost here!
Society for the Blind is once again pleased to be selected as one of a few national sites to participate in the annual USABA Anthem National Fitness Challenge. As many of you are eager to participate and engage, please stay tuned to when we will resume active participation in this event.
WEAVE Resources:
Areeba Siddiqui, MSW, and WEAVE’s Access and Functional Needs Counselor will be on site: Mondays from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Email weave@societyfortheblind.orgto reach out. She is available to provide short term individual counseling on-site for clients at Society for the Blind during her Monday afternoon office hours and at other scheduled appointment Please call to confirm before attending so that you are aware Society will be open.
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Living Skills Tip!
Do you have a life or DIY hack tip that will save time, money or assist with navigation or just put a smile on your face? If so, please send them torrueda@societyfortheblind.org for future consideration.
This issues staff tip comes from Diane Starin, Living Skills Instructor.
– When filling muffin pans, use a scoop that is smaller than the muffin cup to be filled. Also, use the kind of scoop that has the release like an ice-cream scoop.
Tech Tips:
6 Amazon Echo Settings You Won’t Regret Changing
This practical article comes to us courtesy of CNET:
https://cnet.co/3a4G73F
Directions For Me
Directions for me provides the information that’s on consumer packages or labels in a simple online format:
http://bit.ly/2xSZui9
Read about how high-tech tools can help improve transit access and accessibility
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Up Next:
During our closure, the SFB Connection with resources that you can use will be sent out each Friday for the next three to five weeks. Every attempt will be made to communicate to our community useful and most up to date information. Likewise, if you have an article of interest, timely resource to share, tech tip or something else, we’d love to share it with our audience. Please send ideas to Richard Rueda at rrueda@societyfortheblind.org.
Thank you for reading.
Richard Rueda
Program Coordinator, CareersPLUS
1238 S Street | Sacramento | CA | 95811 | D: 916.889.7513 | SocietyfortheBlind.org
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