The ACB E-Forum Volume LVI February 2018 No. 8 Published by the American Council of the Blind ***** ** Be A Part of ACB The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, contact the national office at 1-800-424-8666. ** Contribute to Our Work Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Attn: Treasurer, ACB, 6300 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Suite 195, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office has printed cards available for this purpose. Consider including a gift to ACB in your Last Will and Testament. If your wishes are complex, call the national office. To make a contribution to ACB by the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. ** Check in with ACB For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the “Washington Connection” 24/7 at 1-800-424-8666, or read it online. Listen to ACB Reports by downloading the MP3 file from www.acb.org, or call (605) 475-8154 and choose option 3. Tune in to ACB Radio at www.acbradio.org or by calling (605) 475-8130. Learn more about us at www.acb.org. Follow us on Twitter at @acbnational, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlindOfficial. © 2018 American Council of the Blind Eric Bridges, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor 1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420, Alexandria, VA 22311 ***** Table of Contents We Need Your Voices to Present Our Message to Congress, by Tony Stephens Lots to See and Do in The Show Me State, by Janet Dickelman Fireworks, Celebration, and the Red, White and Blue, by Kenneth Semien Sr. Diversity Enriches Our Society, by Larry P. Johnson Navajo Teacher Develops Braille System to Help Visually Impaired Read Tribal Language, by Noel Lyn Smith Fresno Chapter Tests UniDescription App in Yosemite National Park, by Jamie Gibson-Barrows Membership Focus: How to Market Your Affiliate, by Ardis Bazyn Affiliate News Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski ACB Officers ACB Board of Directors ACB Board of Publications Accessing Your ACB Braille and E-Forums ** Are You Moving? Do You Want to Change Your Subscription? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she’ll make the changes for you. * Keep up with the most important ACB news and announcements without any other chatter. Subscribe to the ACB Announce listserv. Send a blank e-mail to announce-subscribe@acblists.org, or visit www.acblists.org/mailman/listinfo/announce and type your e-mail address and name where indicated. * ACB Radio, the place to be with people in the know! www.acbradio.org * Got talent? Tell us about you: marlaina@acbradio.org. ***** We Need Your Voices to Present Our Message to Congress by Tony Stephens The 2018 midyear conference is coming soon, and ACB members are encouraged to take part in forming our future as we gather in Washington, D.C. Feb. 25th-27th to strengthen our base and have our voices heard on Capitol Hill. Registration is open for the conference, and we urge ACB affiliate leaders and advocates to join us at a time when it is critical to speak up on the programs and services that are most vital for Americans who are blind and visually impaired. The current political climate in Congress continues to create significant uncertainty throughout all avenues of federal spending. Budget constraints still weigh heavily on the backs of lawmakers, which means every federally funded program is at risk of major spending cuts. Therefore, it is crucial that ACB members present a unified voice to protect the programs and services most important to Americans who are blind and visually impaired. In 2017, we advocated successfully for protection of programs that provided accessible media to people who are blind, core independent living services for older adults, and continued research on ways to prevent blindness due to trauma. We called for reform of Medicare, pushing for coverage of vital low-vision independent living aids, and we echoed the importance of Americans with vision loss gaining full inclusion in our society. I am pleased to say our voices have been heard. The programs we fought for were not cut, and in some cases spending was increased. Congress reintroduced the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act (H.R. 2050). And we created a drumbeat of messaging affirming our right for full and equal inclusion in all aspects of our society. While Congress listened to and acted on our requests last February, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain our voice amidst the overwhelming chorus of competing interests on Capitol Hill. We need as many advocates as possible to come to Washington, D.C. While many things can change in Washington, including the weather, we know that fighting for critical programs and services will remain a top priority for the foreseeable future. We also have legislation like the Medicare demonstration bill in the House, and the newly introduced Senate version of the Cogswell-Macy Act (S. 2087), both of which will echo a key message on how government can gain a solid return on investments that sustain opportunity and independence. As in past years, the midyear conference is a three-day event, with ACB affiliate presidents and leaders meeting on Sunday, Feb. 25th, followed by the legislative seminar on Monday, Feb. 26th. Then we take to Capitol Hill to meet with our members of Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 27th. The ACB board of directors meeting will be held Saturday, Feb. 24th. For more information, visit the registration page at https://goo.gl/P1a2gb. If you have questions about scheduling meetings with your members of Congress, contact Tony Stephens, ACB’s director of advocacy and governmental affairs, at astephens@acb.org. ***** Lots to See and Do in The Show Me State by Janet Dickelman As you prepare for your visit to St. Louis for the 2018 conference and convention of the American Council of the Blind, here are some fun facts about the city of St. Louis and the state of Missouri. The state bird of Missouri is the eastern bluebird; the state flower is the white hawthorne blossom. Missouri’s nickname is the “Show Me State”; you will definitely see a lot and learn many new things during convention week. The state motto, adopted in 1822, is “Salus populi suprema lex esto,” which translates to, “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.” Pierre Laclède, recipient of a land grant from the king of France, and his 13-year-old scout, Auguste Chouteau, selected the site of St. Louis in 1764 as a fur trading post. Named for Louis IX of France, the site was chosen because it was not subject to flooding and was near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Hear all about St. Louis’ rich history during general session on Sunday morning, July 1st, when Charlie Brennan, broadcaster for radio station KMOX, regales us with stories from his book, “Amazing St. Louis: 250 Years of Great Tales and Curiosities.” ** Dates and Details Convention dates are Friday, June 29th through Friday, July 6th. Note: the January 2018 issue lists our 2018 tours. Opening general session will be held Saturday evening, June 30th. It will feature local entertainment, the color guard ceremony and singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” plus welcomes by ACB president Kim Charlson and the president of the Missouri Council of the Blind. This is your opportunity to hear from some of our major corporate sponsors and be introduced to the 2018 Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers and the Leadership Fellows recipients. Daily general sessions will continue Sunday through Thursday. During these sessions, you’ll meet our talking book narrator, hear from a young man who has worked to make appliances accessible, learn about the latest updates on advocacy, and hear the always inspiring stories from our scholarship recipients. You won’t want to miss our banquet Thursday evening. Michael Cleveland, nominated for his bluegrass record, “Fiddler’s Dream,” and his fellow musician Brian Allen will perform for banquet attendees and talk about life on the road as a blind musician. The exhibit hall will open on Saturday, June 30th, and will remain open through Wednesday, July 4th. There will be approximately 60 vendors featuring cutting-edge technology for blind and visually impaired users, items for daily living, recreation and personal items such as jewelry, items for guide dogs, and so much more. Special-interest affiliates and committees will hold programs, seminars and workshops beginning on Saturday, June 30th and running through Wednesday, July 4th. Teachers, students, families, attorneys, entrepreneurs, the LGBT community, and individuals who are losing their sight will hold approximately 200 sessions during convention week. In addition, many of our sponsors and business partners will present programs, workshops and focus groups. ** Career Development If you are a first-time convention attendee, if you haven’t joined us in several years, or if you are a veteran conventioneer, visit www.acb.org and review the 2017 convention program. Every conference and convention features unique opportunities to learn new skills, tips and techniques on a wide range of topics. This will give you an idea of what to expect. This year, for the first time, ACB is offering continuing education credits. We are working with ACVREP to obtain certification for many of our convention sessions. There will be additional information in the March issue about this exciting opportunity. ** Staying in Touch Want to get the latest scoop on convention news? Subscribe to the convention announce list! To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to acbconvention-subscribe@acblists.org. If you received updates for the 2017 convention, you need not re-subscribe. ** Hotel Details Room rates at Union Station are $89; this rate applies for up to 2 people in a king room and up to 4 guests in a room with two queen beds. Room tax is currently 18.435%. You may make reservations by calling (314) 231-1234. Be sure to mention you are with the American Council of the Blind to obtain the convention room rate. To make reservations online, go to www.acb.org and follow the 2018 convention link. ** Convention Contacts 2018 exhibit information: Michael Smitherman, (601) 331-7740, amduo@bellsouth.net 2018 advertising and sponsorships: Margarine Beaman, (512) 921-1625, oleo50@hotmail.com For any other convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059, or via e-mail, janet.dickelman@gmail.com. ***** Fireworks, Celebration, and the Red, White and Blue by Kenneth Semien Sr. Calling All DKM First-Timers! We’re meeting in St. Louis for the 2018 DKM First-Timers Reunion! The DKM First-Timers Committee is planning a blast of a time for all first-timers and our guests. This event will take place during the Wednesday, July 4th DKM First-Timers Reception. The highlight of the evening will feature the successes of DKM First-Timers, which coincides with this year’s theme, “Then and Now.” Begin making plans to be a part of this grand celebration. Witness the thunderous cheers as the roll call takes place, which begins with the one and only Durward K. McDaniel being acknowledged as our founding father and fearless leader. His legacy lives on through us. With more than 40 DKM First-Timers being selected since the inception of the DKM First-Timers Program, we are definitely in a class of our own. Come out and meet us. You won’t regret it. Wear something red, white or blue, or red, white and blue too. We will gather for refreshments, introduction of the class of 2018, announce the winners of the gift card fundraiser drawing, and last but not least, we will honor 2018 DKM partners for contributing to and supporting the DKM First-Timers Program. If you are an ACB member in good standing who is 18 or older, blind or visually impaired, and have never attended an ACB convention, we encourage you to apply to be considered for this great honor in 2018. Refer to the DKM article in the January issue of the Forum for all the details. If you have questions, send an email message to Kenneth Semien Sr., chair of the DKM committee, semien@sbcglobal.net. We hope you’ll meet us in St. Louis! ***** Diversity Enriches Our Society by Larry P. Johnson Reprinted from “The San Antonio Express-News,” Aug. 12, 2017. (Editor’s Note: Larry Johnson is an author and motivational speaker. Contact him via email at larjo1@prodigy.net, or visit his website at www.mexicobytouch.com.) We are more alike than we are different. But I am me and you are you. Stereotyping is classifying or labeling people based on some set of common denominators — blond, redhead, black, white, brown, tall, short, fat, skinny, Democrat, Republican, smoker, non-smoker, baby boomer, millennial. When we lump people together as a group, we ascribe certain characteristics, behaviors or attitudes to everyone in that group, often based on misinformation we have heard or read. Then we make judgments about them based on those misconceptions and generalizations, proceeding to treat everyone with that label as if they were all alike which, of course, they are not. “Most Mexicans are in the U.S. illegally.” “Most homeless people are homeless through their own fault.” “Most Muslims are terrorists.” “All women are sentimental, submissive and superstitious.” “All men are adventurous, powerful and domineering.” None of these statements are true. Why do we feel the need to label or classify one another? Partly it is because we want to identify ourselves as belonging to a group. Human beings are social animals and feel the need to belong to a family, a community — the community of, say, Spurs fans, of vegetarians, or of licorice lovers. (That’s me, but black licorice only, please.) So it’s about identity. It’s also about strength and power. If we are part of a group, it gives us a feeling of strength and power. We have numbers, we can impose our will. We can dominate. If there are enough of us who don’t like liver, maybe we can get the supermarket to ban the sale of liver. (OK, probably not.) But the other thing about labels and stereotyping ourselves or others is that it causes us to discriminate, to push people away, to mistrust those who are not like us. We question their motives and sincerity. We resent their wanting the same things we want — a good job, a comfortable home, a safe environment for our children and grandchildren to grow up in. We see them as encroaching on our turf. They are not like us, we say. They don’t look like us, talk like us, worship like us. They don’t belong in our neighborhoods, parks, schools, or communities. But they do. They are, in fact, precisely what we need to add cultural flavor and social richness to our American melting pot. We typically rely, for most of our information and knowledge, on secondhand sources. And the main source of this information is the mass media. Mass media can and do often play a major role in influencing and reinforcing our stereotypical thinking. I remember when I was in Mexico some 40 years ago. Walking down the aisle in the supermarket, I counted three, maybe four kinds of breakfast cereal. Compare that to this country, where there is 20 times that number in the cereal aisle. It is so tremendously exciting, isn’t it? I don’t want us all to be cornflakes. How dull that would be. I appreciate and welcome diversity — both in food and in people. And that’s how I see it. ***** Navajo Teacher Develops Braille System to Help Visually Impaired Read Tribal Language by Noel Lyn Smith Reprinted from “The Farmington Daily Times,” Dec. 30, 2017. To read this article online, go to https://tinyurl.com/y9397wrg. Farmington, N.M. — As Carol Begay Green’s index finger moved along the Navajo braille code she developed, she read aloud a story about a boy and his monkey. Green, a teacher of the blind and visually impaired for the Farmington Municipal School District, has developed a braille code for the Navajo language. Braille is a system of raised dots that enables people who are blind or visually impaired to read and write through touch, according to the American Foundation for the Blind. The Navajo braille code Green developed uses English Braille – with the absence of the letters “F,” “P,” “Q,” “R,” “U,” and “V” – and with the addition of a prefix code for the vowels “A,” “E,” “I,” and “O.” There is also code to instruct the reader to pronounce vowels as eight plain, high tone, plain nasal, or high tone and nasal. “The advantage of having this code for the reader is that they can distinguish and pronounce everything properly,” Green said. Green, who was born into the Tó'aheedlííníí (Water Flow Together Clan), was raised in Michigan but visited her paternal grandparents in Lukachukai, Ariz. She learned basic words in the Navajo language from her grandparents, and the exposure instilled a lifelong interest in further learning the language. During Green’s junior year in college, she transferred to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., and graduated from there in 1991. Before joining the Farmington Municipal School District in 2010, she taught at Red Mesa Elementary School in Red Mesa, Ariz., and at Nataani Nez Elementary School in Shiprock. Green developed vision problems as a child and eventually lost sight in her left eye at 13. Cataract surgery in her right eye in 2000 led to further decline in her vision and, in 2009, she learned how to read and write braille. Since she wanted to continue learning how to speak, read and write Navajo, she asked the Braille Authority of North America in 2013 if a braille code for Navajo was available. When she found out there was none, she began working on one. To her knowledge, her work resulted in the first code for Navajo. Another reason Green, who has a National Certification in Unified English Braille, developed the Navajo braille code was to provide the opportunity for blind and visually impaired Navajo students to learn about their traditional language. With the Navajo language being taught in schools, and in some cases, a requirement for students to apply for scholarships, Green wanted blind or visually impaired students to have a fair opportunity. “I thought, ‘If I am going to develop it for myself, then I might as well share it so these children have that opportunity. The same as their peers,’” she said. In a resolution passed by the Navajo Nation Board of Education in October 2015, the Navajo braille code was adopted to teach blind and visually impaired tribal members Navajo. Green continues to share information about the code at various conferences and in presentations across the country. One of Green’s students in Farmington is a Navajo girl who is learning English braille. “She is just learning braille. As she moves in her progress, she might want to take the Navajo language in junior high and high school. That will be an option to her now,” Green said. ***** Fresno Chapter Tests UniDescription App in Yosemite National Park by Jamie Gibson-Barrows On Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, members of the CCB Fresno chapter visited Yosemite National Park to test the beta app “UniDescription” (UniD) developed by the University of Hawaii. We chartered a bus financed by ACB through its executive director, Eric Bridges. Without the support from Eric and ACB, this trip could not have occurred. Our original transportation was through the Yosemite Area Rapid Transit System (YARTS); however, we found they didn’t have the funds for fall or winter transportation from Fresno, so ACB donated the funding for the charter. I reached out to Brett Oppegaard, associate professor and principal investigator at the U of H at Manoa, soon after the ACB convention when I learned of the development of the UniDescription app for Yosemite National Park. Fresno chapter members and others in our community visit Yosemite every year, only to find very little audio description available in the park, so we were eager to help out with testing of the app. Brett was excited to give our chapter this opportunity, and for the next three months we communicated with ACB, University of Hawaii and the National Park Service. We had the pleasure of meeting Sajja Koirala, who flew in from Hawaii to join us on this trip. Sajja is one of the developers of this app. She joined us as a supporter and observer. At the end of our trip, Sajja facilitated a focus group discussion on the AD app. The trip was fantastic, with 26 attendees and 4 guide dogs. Yosemite ranger Sally Kintner guided us on a tour throughout the day. We touched and smelled large trees on the paths, such as the incense cedar tree and the ponderosa pine. When we scratched the bark on the ponderosa pine, it gave off a vanilla scent. We also enjoyed the tactile map of Yosemite on another trail. It let us feel the massive rock formations and the Yosemite Falls to get a better mental picture of the surrounding mountains. Many participants listened to the UniD app that features the map and brochure before our visit, as well as while we were on the trails. It was a beautiful fall day for walking on trails, visiting the Lower Falls, Yosemite Lodge and the visitor center. Most took a sack lunch for an outdoor picnic; some purchased a quick meal on site. We are thrilled to have been a part of the beta testing for UniD in Yosemite and receiving so much support from everyone who has worked for months getting this app up and running. Our Facebook page has pictures of our day. Our local producer for Blindside Fresno, William Elliott and wife Darcie, are both members of the Fresno chapter. They participated in the trip, and will be producing a Blindside Fresno segment via CMAC and YouTube. UniDescription works on both iOS and Android platforms. I encourage you to download it on your smartphone. Our focus was on Yosemite; however, the app has many more national parks already loaded, and more to come for the rest of the parks in California throughout the upcoming year. We hope to take part in beta testing in more national parks. Our feedback during the focus group, as well as our filling out surveys for both ACB and Yosemite National Park, will help improve audio description for those of us with low or no vision. Thank you to the following who have worked months on this project: University of Hawaii, Brett Oppegaard, Megan and Thomas Conway, and Sajja Koirala; from ACB: executive director Eric Bridges, Dan Spoone, Jo Lynn Bailey-Page; and from Yosemite National Park Services: Kara Stella and Sally Kintner. * Caption Phoeng Gipp, Martha Espitia and Sajja Koirala touch a tactile replica of Yosemite Valley. Behind them, sporting dark sunglasses and a jean jacket, is Cathy Schmitt Whitaker, who is listening to the description via the app and eagerly awaiting her turn at the tactile map. (Photo courtesy of the Fresno chapter, California Council of the Blind.) ***** Membership Focus: How to Market Your Affiliate by Ardis Bazyn The latest membership focus call concerned marketing your affiliate. Some of the tips suggested on the call are listed below. • Find your community news outlets — online and newspapers. • Write press releases on affiliate news. • Request an interview with “Affiliates in Action.” • Tell members and friends about ACB Radio. • Place information of interest on your websites and on your social media pages. • Have greeters at your meetings so people who attend aren’t ignored. • Invite general-interest speakers to your meetings and share announcements on Facebook. • Use community calendars online and in your local newspaper. • Share information about your activities geared toward parents with blind children. • Publicize your advocacy efforts — accessible voting, braille menus, audio signals, etc. • Contact disability resource centers and build relationships with them. Give them flyers and offer seminars on accessibility. • Bring brochures to doctors’ offices, ophthalmologists, and rehab centers. • Contact radio or TV stations about public service announcements. The stations usually need such information at least two weeks ahead of time. • Promote low-vision expos and fairs. Celebrate White Cane Day and Braille Literacy Month. • Create business cards. • Advertise any events you hold, such as a children’s vision summit, an annual conference, and any other community event. • Contact your local NLS library and write letters for them to send about your conventions and upcoming events. • At fairs and expos, write braille names of children and the alphabet on cards, and demonstrate accessible aids and appliances for newly blind individuals. • Speak at Lions Clubs, support groups, senior centers, and assisted living centers. • Distribute fundraiser flyers and regular newsletters. • Write grants for funding. • Attend audio-described movies and plays as a chapter. • Advertise your events on your local radio reading service. • Have a toll-free number, website and Facebook page. • Track down your state’s broadcasters’ association and newspaper association. These groups often publish media guides containing contact information for most radio and TV stations, and/or newspapers in the state. You can build your own contact list to avoid the cost of the distribution services. As you build the contact list, look at the websites for the media. Many will contain a direct email address for public service announcements, press releases, etc. • Write the press release, post it on Facebook, and post it on your affiliate website in the press release or blog section. • Ask local chapters to help spread the word. Send the news out via email to any contact lists. Watch for upcoming membership focus calls! ***** Affiliate News ** Tackle College Costs with a Scheigert Scholarship “Every dollar counts.” Who isn’t familiar with these words of economic wisdom applicable to any number of situations, from multi-million-dollar construction projects to family budgets and the cost of a college education? The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) is committed to helping low-vision students meet the challenges posed by these costs by offering three scholarships — one each to an incoming freshman, undergraduate and graduate student. The scholarships are valued at $3,000 for the academic year. Eligible applicants must be visually impaired, demonstrate a record of academic performance consistent with program criteria, and demonstrate their involvement in community service. The application window remains open until 11:59 p.m. Eastern March 15. To apply, visit www.cclvi.org, click on the Scheigert Scholarship link and follow directions for gaining access to the 2018-19 application. Pay special attention to the guidelines, which provide essential details on eligibility requirements and application submission. If you have questions, send an email to scholarship@cclvi.org or call 1-844-460-0625. Recipients will attend the 2018 ACB national convention in St. Louis in July as guests of CCLVI. ** Iowa Convention to Be Held in Des Moines The 31st annual Iowa Council of the United Blind convention will be held April 13th through the 15th at the Holiday Inn and Suites, 4800 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines. Convention room rates are as follows: Double queen or king executive room, $88 Junior or extended stay suites, $128 Family king suites, $148 Family double queen suites, $168 Rates do not include 12% tax. The deadline to receive the group rate is March 22, 2018. To reserve your room, call (515) 278-4755 or 1-800-HOLIDAY (800-465-4329) and ask for the ICUB special rate. Our group name is ICUB Iowa Council of United Blind. A credit card is required to guarantee your overnight reservation. Cancellations will be accepted until 6 p.m. the day of the reservation. For more information, contact Carrie Chapman via email, c.chapman657@yahoo.com, or call her at (515) 657-1461. ***** Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB E-Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date. ** New Fraud Schemes to Be Aware Of The Social Security Administration warns that scammers have come up with new fraud schemes. The caller will claim to be from Social Security and tell the victim that he is eligible for a 1.7 percent cost of living adjustment. The fraudsters, who tend to call from the 323 area code, ask for victims’ personal information in order to divert their Social Security benefits into the crooks’ accounts. Another scheme involves a robo-caller claiming to be the inspector general, and declares the victim’s benefits have been suspended. The victim is threatened with arrest and ordered to call a particular number to arrange payment. Social Security urges anyone who receives a suspicious call to NOT give out personal information to an unknown caller; report the call to the real inspector general at 1-800-269-0271. ** IRS Fraud Schemes Social Security isn’t the only government agency that scammers are picking on. The IRS warns about several scams, too, where callers claim to be employees of the IRS, using fake names and bogus badge numbers. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. (Some area codes they use are 208 and 901.) Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. Victims may be threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting. Or, victims may be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information. If the phone isn’t answered, the scammers often leave an “urgent” callback request. Some fraudsters have approached people with limited English proficiency, addressing them in their native language, and threatened them with deportation, arrest, and license revocation, among other things. IRS urges all taxpayers to use caution before paying unexpected tax bills. Note that the IRS will never: • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes. • Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying. • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe. • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone. If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, here’s what you should do: • If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue – if there really is such an issue. • If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484, or at https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/. • You can file a complaint at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information?OrgCode=IRS#crnt&panel1-1; choose “Scams and Ripoffs,” then “Impostor Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes. For more information on current tax scams, visit www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-scams-consumer-alerts. ** Seeking Nominations for the Holman Prize LightHouse for the Blind’s annual $25,000 award for blind adventurers and creators is back! Submissions close on Feb. 28th at noon Pacific. The first round of the competition is a 90-second YouTube video pitching your idea. We are looking for creative, boundary-pushing, innovative projects. The candidate with the most YouTube “likes” will automatically be chosen as the People’s Choice Finalist and will become a finalist for the Holman Prize. A few caveats: Applicants must be 18 years old as of Oct. 1, 2018. They must also be able to submit official documentation of blindness (during the semifinalist phase of the competition). Current LightHouse staff members and board members (as well as their immediate families) are not eligible for the Holman Prize; nor are previous winners. The prize will not fund any type of tuition. For further information, visit https://www.holmanprize.org/faq. ** Valentine Cruise My Limitless Vision will hold a Valentine cruise in 2019. The ship will depart from Port Canaveral at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, and return on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 8 a.m. We will have a fun day at sea on Monday, with special fun just for our VIP group. On Tuesday, we will be at Nassau, and on Wednesday, we will be at Freeport. We will be doing more research with Carnival on the best accessible excursions in the ports for those who may want to explore. If you’re interested, send Debbie Sanders your contact information and $25 per person reservation fee via PayPal at debbie@mylimitlessvision.com, or by check to MLV, 104 NE 7th St., Perkins, OK 74059. Want to go but need a roommate to share the cost? Let Debbie Sanders know. ** NYSSB to Hold Centennial Reunion The Alumni Association of the New York State School for the Blind will hold its centennial reunion June 7 through 10, 2018 at the Quality Inn and Suites, 8250 Park Road, Batavia, NY 14020; phone (585) 344-2100. At the same time, we will join students, staff and guests of the New York State School for the Blind in celebrating 150 years of outstanding service to the people of New York state. Reunion events will include a ceremony celebrating the school’s sesquicentennial, a presentation from the New York State Museum, the unveiling of a tactile mural which some of our members helped to create, and a picnic with students and staff. There will also be several chances to socialize with old friends and make new ones and to remember our alma mater. Our association began in 1918 and was incorporated in March 1924. The only time there wasn’t a reunion was during World War II. Membership is open to anyone at least 18 years of age who either attended the New York State School for the Blind or is recommended by a member in good standing of the association. Any applicant who did not attend the New York State School for the Blind must have a substantive relationship to the recommending member or to any other member in good standing. Annual dues are $15, with multi-year plans available. The deadline for reunion reservations is May 1, 2018. If you wish to become a member, or have questions about the reunion, contact Diane Scalzi at (586) 337-5226, or email dscalzi@comcast.net. ** What’s New from NBP? Now available is the “Windows Screen Reader Keystroke Compendium: Covering JAWS, NVDA, and Narrator,” compiled by Dean Martineau. It is available as one small braille volume, BRF, and Word. Braille-related keystrokes are not included. Also available are a variety of Microsoft and Windows Guides, iOS Guides, Mac OS guides, Android guides, and a guide called “Computers You Can Talk To: Siri, Alexa, Google Now, and Cortana,” by Anna Dresner. Newly available is “Diary of a Worm” by Doreen Cronin. It comes in contracted UEB, and is for ages 3 to 8. The diary documents a young worm’s daily life, from living with his parents to attending school. But he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, and because he doesn’t have legs, he can’t do the hokey pokey — no matter how hard he tries. Also new in the children’s section is “Brave Irene,” in contracted UEB for ages 3 to 8. Irene’s mother is a dressmaker, and one day, when she’s scheduled to deliver a ball gown to the duchess to wear that evening, she isn’t feeling well enough to make the delivery. So Irene volunteers to do it for her mother, despite the blizzard. Who can forget the stories of Shel Silverstein? Check out “The Giving Tree,” a book about generosity and unselfishness. It’s available in print with braille, and has picture descriptions. For more information, contact National Braille Press at 1-800-548-7323, or visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/index.html. ** AbleData AbleData is a source of comprehensive information on assistive technology (AT) products, solutions, and resources to improve productivity and ease life’s tasks. The company offers information that will assist domestic and international customers and their family members, as well as vendors, distributors, organizations, professionals, and caregivers in understanding AT options and programs available. AbleData has information on more than 40,000 AT products. To view the list of devices for those who are blind and have low vision, visit http://abledata.com/indexing-terms/blind-and-low-vision. The company also posts monthly guides related to assistive technology and different conditions. Some include: • AT for Individuals Who are Deaf-Blind, http://abledata.com/publications/individuals-who-are-deaf-blind • Wayfinding AT for People Who are Blind, Deaf or Have a Cognitive Disability, http://abledata.com/publications/wayfinding-people-who-are-blind-deaf-or-have-cognitive-disability • AT for the Would-Be Virtuoso Who is Blind or Has Low Vision, http://abledata.com/publications/would-be-virtuoso-who-blind-or-has-low-vision Information specialists are available Monday through Friday at 1-800-227-0216; email, abledata@neweditions.net. Or visit the web site, www.abledata.com. You can also find AbleData on Facebook and Twitter. Se habla español. Please note that AbleData does not sell products, nor does it endorse any product manufacturers or distributors. ** Wooden Games Back at Braille Superstore The Braille Superstore has brought back its wooden games, which are made of hand-crafted teak and carefully adapted for blind players. Titles include Connect Four, Chess, Shut the Box, Backgammon, Tangram, Parcheesi, Chinese Checkers, and Snakes and Ladders. For more information, contact the Braille Superstore at 1-800-987-1231, or visit www.braillebookstore.com. ** Seeking Maps Made by the Princeton Braillists? The collection of tactile maps and other drawings done by The Princeton Braillists over the last three decades has been transferred to National Braille Press, where arrangements are being made for ongoing distribution. The Princeton Braillists produced 35 books of tactile maps. The maps are detailed, labeled in braille only; some experience with tactile drawings is recommended. National Braille Press hopes to maintain and reproduce the current maps while looking into ways to update geographical information, re-code for Unified English Braille, and create new volumes of countries and states. For more information, call (617) 425-2442. ** ZoomText 11.7 ZoomText version 11.7 is now available! It contains updates for ZoomText 11 Magnifier, Magnifier/Reader and Fusion. These free updates provide important enhancements in the ZoomText software, improving performance, stability and functionality of ZoomText’s features and tools. They include support for the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, improved performance and navigation in AppReader and Finder, improved support for Chrome, and more. To learn about all of the changes in the 11.7 update, visit https://www.zoomtext.com/help/releasenotes. To get the ZoomText 11.7 updates (for Magnifier and Magnifier/Reader): • If you have a previous version of ZoomText 11 Magnifier or Magnifier Reader on your system, go to the ZoomText 11 toolbar and choose ZoomText > Manage License > Check for Updates. This will launch the update wizard and walk you through the fast update process. • If you need to install ZoomText 11.7 Magnifier or Magnifier/Reader on a new system (where ZoomText is not yet installed), download the full installer from http://zoomtext.com/downloads. Then go to the section titled “ZoomText 11” and choose the installer that matches your license type. For the Fusion 11.7 updates, visit http://zoomtext.com/downloads, then go to “Fusion 11” and choose the installer that matches the language you require. ***** ACB Officers ** President Kim Charlson (3rd term, 2019) 57 Grandview Ave. Watertown, MA 02472 ** First Vice President Dan Spoone (1st term, 2019) 3924 Lake Mirage Blvd. Orlando, FL 32817-1554 ** Second Vice President John McCann (2nd term, 2019) 8761 E. Placita Bolivar Tucson, AZ 85715-5650 ** Secretary Ray Campbell (3rd term, 2019) 460 Raintree Ct. #3K Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 ** Treasurer David Trott (1st term, 2019) 1018 East St. S. Talladega, AL 35160 ** Immediate Past President Mitch Pomerantz 1115 Cordova St. #402 Pasadena, CA 91106 ** ACB Board of Directors Jeff Bishop, Kirkland, WA (1st term, 2020) Denise Colley, Lacey, WA (1st term, 2020) Sara Conrad, Madison, WI (final term, 2020) Dan Dillon, Hermitage, TN (1st term, 2020) Katie Frederick, Worthington, OH (1st term, 2018) George Holliday, Philadelphia, PA (final term, 2018) Allan Peterson, Horace, ND (final term, 2018) Doug Powell, Falls Church, VA (partial term, 2020) Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD (1st term, 2018) Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA (partial term, 2018) Ex Officio: Debbie Lewis, Seattle, WA ** ACB Board of Publications Ron Brooks, Chairman, Phoenix, AZ (2nd term, 2019) Donna Brown, Romney, WV (1st term, 2019) Paul Edwards, Miami, FL (1st term, 2018) Susan Glass, Saratoga, CA (2nd term, 2019) Debbie Lewis, Seattle, WA (1st term, 2018) Ex Officios: Katie Frederick, Worthington, OH Bob Hachey, Waltham, MA Berl Colley, Lacey, WA Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY ***** Accessing Your ACB Braille and E-Forums The ACB E-Forum may be accessed by email, on the ACB web site, via download from the web page (in Word, plain text, or braille-ready file), or by phone at (605) 475-8154. To subscribe to the email version, visit the ACB e-mail lists page at www.acb.org. The ACB Braille Forum is available by mail in braille, large print, digital cartridge, and via email. It is also available to read or download from ACB’s web page, and by phone, (605) 475-8154. Subscribe to the podcast versions from your 2nd generation Victor Reader Stream or from http://www.acb.org/bf/.