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Upcoming Events
Please check back regularly for updates.
Our Meetings
The Greater New York Council of the Blind meets on the first Saturday of the month from 2:00-4:00. You may attend in-person at the
Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, 40 West 20th Street in Manhattan, or via the following Zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 531 230 9378 Passcode: 135230
There’s also an option to call in on this number: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 531 230 9378 Passcode: 135230
Upcoming meeting dates are Dec. 7, Jan. 4, Feb. 1, Mar. 1, Apr. 5, May 3, Jun. 7, Jul. 12, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 6. All are welcome! Come on out and help shape the world!
Board of Directors:
President: Terence Page
Vice President: Fred Quick
Treasurer: Danielle Robinson
Recording Secretary: Shanel Cherry-Mitchell
Corresponding Secretary: Rachel Graff
Delegate to the State Board: Fitz Martin
Board Members: Victor Andrews, Larry McMillan, Karen Mongiello, Barbara Robins
Immediate Past President/Legislative Representative: Robert White
Things We Are Doing
Please check back regularly for updates.
Recent Things We Have Done
The Selis Manor Tenants Association and the Disability One Coalition Had Their First Annual New York City Disability Voting Expo!
The event took place on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at Selis Manor, located at 135 West 23rd Street in Manhattan.
This event showcased the newest ballot marking devices and voting machines for disability community voters to try out. What is an Accessible Ballot Marking Device or Voting Machine? An accessible ballot marking device, or voting machine, is a machine that ALL voters can use. For example, the voter can listen to what is on the ballot. There’s also an option to enlarge the ballot to read it, or listen to it in several languages other than English. A voter can mark the ballot without using their hands through the use of a Rocker Paddle, or a Sip-N-Puff, or by touching the screen with a part of their body. These are just a few examples and are not all inclusive.
The Automark is the current ballot marking device being used in New York City. It was displayed courtesy of the Board of Elections in the City of New York. There were three voting machine manufacturers that demonstrated machines. They included Democracy Live, Dominion Voting Systems Corporation, and Election Systems and Software.
Participants in the Voting Expo included the New York City Campaign Finance Board, the League of Women Voters of the City of New York, where you can register to vote, and the New York City Office of the Public Advocate.
Who is the Disability One Coalition? The Disability One Coalition, a group of disability organizations, believes that if one person with a disability is disenfranchised, then we all are! They want the disability community to understand their rights and the power of our vote. Organizations in the Coalition include:
Greater New York Council of the Blind, a chapter of the American Council of the Blind of New York State which is an Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind
Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York, Inc.
Downstate New York ADAPT
One Heart, One Vision
Vanguard Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind
On Feb. 14, 2023, GNYCB Members Attended the Celebration of the One-Year Anniversary of the Chief Officer of Disability and Recognition of Governor Kathy Hochul.
Photo: From left to right at the Marriott Hotel in Albany, NY, are Bob White, Fitz Martin, Terence Page, and Yasmin Campbell.
Our Membership and Social Media Director, Yasmin Campbell, interviewed by CBS New York
Voter Presentation at the Lighthouse Guild
by Yasmin Campbell
Photo: From left to right Jayden Mitchell, Rasheta Bunting, Danielle Mowery, Deborah Brodheim, and Yasmin Campbell. Please note: Kathy Collins also represented our chapter at the event.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, a wonderful collaboration took place. Four different organizations came together at the Lighthouse Guild in Manhattan to
give a presentation on voting and participatory budgeting to a group of teenagers in their Saturday program. Members from the Greater New York Council of the Blind, One Heart One Vision, the Lighthouse Guild, and the League of Women Voters gave an informative presentation on the importance of voting, how the teens could register to vote, and the different methods available to cast their vote. The presenters from the League of Women Voters did their presentation on participatory budgeting: The People’s Money. This included discussion with the teens on coming up with ideas on how millions of dollars should be spent in the five boroughs of New York City.
GNYCB Members Participate in PSA Video for ACBNY
Three of our members - Fitz Martin, Yasmin Campbell, and our President, Terence Page - recently participated in a PSA video for the ACBNY Diversity Committee. The goal of the video is to help the organization reach out to a more diverse population while highlighting the many strengths and accomplishments of ACBNY and our chapters. You can
Watch the Video Here
PASS Coalition Applauds New Level of Pedestrian Access for Blind and Deaf-Blind New Yorkers
The Pedestrians for Accessible and Safe Streets (PASS) Coalition was founded by eleven organizations that represent people from across the disability spectrum - most of which focus on the needs of blind and visually impaired people in New York City (NYC). Specifically, PASS has advocated for the expanded and proper installation of accessible pedestrian signals (APS) devices, which communicate critical information about walk signals through sounds and vibrations.
After two decades of gradual APS installation, at the end of 2020 (the latest data available) there were 749 locations with APS. That equals 5.6% of NYC’s
13,430 signalized intersections. Previous city proposals would have only achieved complete APS coverage by mid-century. The PASS Coalition congratulates
the American Council of the Blind of New York State (ACBNY, a PASS member) and Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), who went to court to seek a more equitable and accelerated plan for installation of these critical devices. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ruled that the city must install APS at a minimum of 9,000 of its signalized intersections by 2031, which, in addition to the approximately 1,000 already in place, will achieve 70% coverage over the coming
decade. Furthermore, the court has directed the city to have installed APS at all signalized intersections by 2036.
The PASS Coalition has always advocated for an accelerated timetable and this ruling roughly doubles the rate of APS deployment relative to city proposals.
We especially appreciate Judge Engelmayer’s recognizing the importance of prioritizing APS at intersections with Lead Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) and other
design features that present heightened hazards to people who are blind. The ruling lays out procedures for oversight and community input to make sure APS targets are being met.
PASS looks forward to continuing to offer its support and assistance to the Department of Transportation. With such a significant increase in annual APS
installations, it is especially important to ensure that these installations are happening in a consistent way that serves the needs of the blind community.
PASS Chair, Dr. Karen Gourgey: “PASS is proud to have partnered in this effort by documenting the problem and its dangers through letters from individual members, and by suggesting solutions through witness testimony.”
Member Hayden Dahmm: “When I moved to NYC in 2018, I was overwhelmed by the number of complex, inaccessible intersections in my neighborhood. As a blind person, I felt deeply unsafe and restricted. When a single nearby intersection was then equipped with APS, it dramatically expanded my independence and sense of security. I’m excited to think what thousands of added APS installations will mean for the mobility and basic dignity of blind New Yorkers.”
For additional information and inquiries, or to speak to a blind and/or low vision individual impacted by the court decision, contact PASS Chair Dr. Karen
Gourgey at kgourgey@verizon.net
or PASS Co-Chair Raymond Wayne at raywayne1959@gmail.com
ACB Community Events List
Sign up to receive daily emails containing announcements of virtual events scheduled throughout the day. Also includes notices of upcoming ACB conferences throughout the country. Membership in the organization is not required to join the email list or participate in any of the events. Subscribe to the list by sending an email to acb-community-events+subscribe@acblists.org
ACB National and State Legislative Imperatives for 2024
In NYC, Audio Description is available for select performances at the following theaters. Listening devices are issued which transmit a trained describer's description of what's happening on stage.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
165 West 65th Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10023
(212) 875-5375 e-mail for more information
Lincoln Center is pleased to offer a variety of programs that help extend accessible arts and education to all visitors. They provide large print and Braille
programs for most Lincoln Center performances and offer Verbal Description Tours of the campus. Audio Description is available for select performances.
Sound Associates provides links to various Broadway shows and lists available accessible services, such as audio description. You can reserve a particular AD listening
device for your show date.
YAI Arts and Culture provides tickets to audio-described performances at Broadway and Off Broadway theatres.
For information on upcoming performances, or to be placed on their mailing list,
Email Ulli Fenninger or call her at
(212) 273-6181
Achilles International
Walking, Running and more. Tuesdays and Saturdays in Central Park NY, Thursdays in Prospect Park Brooklyn, Sundays in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Queens
Adaptive Climbing Group
Indoor and outdoor adaptive climbing. Sunday and Thursday evening clinics in Brooklyn and Tuesday sessions in Queensbridge
Angel Eyes Fitness and Nutrition Provides blind and visually impaired individuals virtual group fitness and nutrition counseling programs. Classes offered complimentary three days a wk.: Monday 6:30 pm, Thursday 12 pm and Saturday
12 pm, also a fourth day every first and third Tuesday at 12 pm. Classes include dance fitness, chair exercise, stretch, walking fitness, boxing, tai chi and more.
Monthly membership of classes is offered for on-demand recorded classes.
Dark Room Ballet Offers an introductory dance curriculum based in both Royal Academy of Dance ballet training, Butoh and classical Japanese dance training to blind and visually impaired adults.
InTandem Cycling, Inc.
Saturday morning and Thursday evening bike-riding in Central Park NY plus special events
New York Metro Blind Hockey
Competitive and noncompetitive ice hockey for the blind and visually impaired community
NYC Parks
Granting full access to all recreation centers to people with disabilities for an annual Membership Fee of $25
Row New York
Year-round adaptive programming for blind and visually impaired athletes
Third Eye Insight
Classes include instruction in the practice of Martial Arts/Self Defense, Yoga and Meditation. (631) 445-3464
United in Stride
A tool for uniting blind and visually impaired runners with sighted guides
United States Association of Blind Athletes National organization that provides sports programs to athletes of all ages and abilities who are blind and visually impaired. Includes local grassroots
programs to the elite Paralympic level.
Health Matters
This section of our site is dedicated to the health and well-being of blind and visually impaired persons.
Accessible Pharmacy Joins Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes welcomes their first partner pharmacy onto the Be My Eyes app. Users in the United States will be able to ask questions about medicine, drug
interactions, and starting in December, order in-home COVID tests from trained professionals who know how to safely and effectively set up the tests. Learn more by visiting:
https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/accessible-pharmacy-joins-be-my-eyes
ACB is also a specialized help provider on the Be My Eyes app. Download the app today and locate ACB in the Specialized Help menu under Blindness Organizations. Make the call – our ACB representatives are ready and waiting!
AFB COVID-19 Resources
Topics include accessible education resources, safety of guide dogs and pets, telephone
support groups, and moving your conference or classes online
CVS Pharmacy Introduces New App Feature
Spoken Rx is a free new feature of the CVS Pharmacy app that reads a specific type of label. When the RFID labels are scanned by Spoken Rx in the CVS Pharmacy
app, prescription label information will be spoken out loud in either English or Spanish. For more information, and a list of active stores, visit
cvs.com/spokenrx
Fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting (always check with veterinarian or animal poison control expert before giving to your pet)
Ice pack
Disposable gloves
Scissors with blunt end
Tweezers
OTC antibiotic ointment
Oral syringe or turkey baster
Liquid dishwashing detergent (for bathing)
Towels
Small flashlight
Alcohol wipes
Styptic powder
Saline eye solution
Artificial tear gel
Phone number, clinic name, address of your veterinarian as well as local veterinary emergency clinics.
Foundation Fighting Blindness
Learn about research they fund to prevent, treat and cure inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Also provides information, resources and referrals.
God's Love We Deliver
An organization that prepares and delivers nutritious, high-quality, medically-tailored, heart-healthy meals to people that are within the five boroughs of NYC who, due to illness or disability, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. Vegetarian and pescatarian meals are available. Services are provided free to clients without regard to income.
HHS Launches Hotline to Improve Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Disabilities: The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is now available to help people with disabilities find vaccination locations in their communities and assist callers with making vaccination appointments. They also connect callers to local services, such as accessible transportation. Call
(888) 677-1199
from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
In-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations Available for Some New York City Residents: Eligibility is based on one of three categories: 75 years or older; a person with a disability; or fully homebound. Can request vaccine preference: Pfizer,
Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.
Request an in-home appointment
or call
(877) 829-4692
Vitacost.com: Items found in health food stores, including food that isn’t refrigerated or frozen
Silver Sneakers: Silver Sneakers is a program available to seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare Part C that provides free gym memberships. Please check for participating gyms.
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call Center: Provides 24/7 confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call 988 for assistance.
Walking Can Keep You Sane and Healthy by Terence Page
How do we stay sane during this COVID-19 thing? I’m not breaking ground by saying a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. Keeping this idea in mind, here are some simple exercises that can help you to stay moving which releases the chemical known as endorphins into the brain. Endorphins give you a feeling of happiness, joy, and lightheartedness. After completing these simple exercises, you will also feel a sense of completion.
So, this is what I recommend. We all hated calisthenics in school, but in this time of limited movement, running or walking in place is quite cathartic and fun.
Step 1: Clear an area to run or walk in place. This area must be buffeted on all four sides or at least three sides. When I attempt to do this in my apartment, I tend to drift in all four directions. My choice of places to do this exercise is between my bed to the left, the window and radiator to the right, and my chaise to the rear.
Step 2: Make sure that you are wearing sneakers or a very soft shoe with a lot of padding. If you have a padded non-slip rug or mat, that will help keep you from drifting because when your feet reach the edge of the rug or mat, you will recenter yourself. And a non-slip rug or mat will cushion your joints. If you have hand weights, use them.
Step 3: I suggest that you do this exercise for about 15 minutes and build up to 30 minutes walking. Then build up to a very light jog for 30 minutes. If you have an iPhone, you can say, "Siri, set timer for 15 minutes.” If you don’t have a smartphone or an iPhone, I suggest you play music or use your favorite TV show to time your workout. The average song is about four minutes long, so four songs is about 15 minutes.
Remember, before attempting any exercise, check with your doctor, and stretch your legs by trying to touch your toes. You don’t have to touch them - just try to touch them. Note: If you feel any pain or health issues, STOP!
Wishing you the best of health and reminding you to wash your hands!
Walmart Adopts ScripTalk Accessible Prescriptions at All Stores! - Advocacy Update Podcast
Happy 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! On this episode of the Advocacy Update Podcast produced by the American Council of the Blind, Clark Rachfal is joined by Amanda Tolson,
En-Vision America, and JoAnn Stephens and Carrie Farber, Walmart, to discuss how Walmart is making the ScripTalk accessible prescription solution available
at all Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs throughout the U.S. To get started with ScripTalk, call En-Vision America at:
(800) 890-1180
or speak with your local Walmart or Sam’s Club pharmacist today! If you have any feedback or questions about getting setup with ScripTalk, please let us know by
emailing usListen to the podcast
Life Apps
ACB Link: Stay up to date with ACB National events and items of importance to ACB members and friends; view a complete list of affiliates and make contact with them; and stream all seven ACB Radio streams. Price: FREE
Accessible Android: Provides Android accessibility tips, app reviews, and the latest news. Price: FREE.
Aipoly Vision: An artificial intelligence app. Point the camera to a thing or person, and it will learn to identify it. Price: FREE
Aira: Provides virtual sighted assistance by connecting you to a human being. Price: Free to download the app and for calls lasting less than five minutes each; monthly plans vary.
AppleVis: Community-based website provides blind and visually impaired users of Apple products information on accessibility features, podcasts, and blogs. Includes a list of 105 apps developed specifically for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
BARD Mobile: A digital book app from the Andrew Heiskell Library to download audio books, magazines, instructional music material, some in multiple languages or in digital Braille format. You must join the library first. Price: FREE
Be My Eyes: An app that uses the camera on your phone to identify objects or anything with a visual assistant (real person). This app is also connected to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for 24-hour computer assistance; Google products are also supported. Price: FREE
Blindfold Games: Games everyone can play but developed for blind and visually impaired persons. Price: Depends on the Game.
BlindSquare: A navigation app that lists locations of arts and entertainment venues, colleges and universities, restaurants and their menus, outdoors and recreation, nightlife spots, professional and other places, residences, shops, and services. While traveling, this app will also bring up a map and estimate your walking time to public transportation and how much it would cost to travel by Uber. Price: $39.99
EyeNote: An app that reads U.S. currency. Price: FREE
Google Duo: Allows iOS and Android users to make video calls to each other. Price: Free
Here We Go: Tells you how to get from one place to another; is easier to use than Google Maps. Price: FREE
KNFB Reader: Scans documents and will turn them into Word or emails. Price: $99.99 (price varies during the year)
Menus4All: An app that provides 500,000 accessible restaurant menus in cities throughout the U.S. and 250,000 throughout Canada. Price: Free for two weeks and then $2.99 per month.
Move It: A transportation app that tells you the nearest subway station or bus stop from where you are standing. This app will also tell you when the next bus or train arrives. Price: FREE
NaviLens: Tells the time of buses, how far away they are, and if they are crowded. Premieres on the M23. Price: FREE
Nearby Explorer: A navigation app that tells you where you are and what’s around you. Price: FREE
Netflix: A movie streaming app. A person can also request a movie on CD with audio description. A good portion of the movies are audio-described. Price: $13.99 per month
NFBNewsline: Provides access to the text of 400 newspapers and magazines, weather, TV listings, and retail ads. Price: FREE, but must register to use.
Notify NYC: Alerts you to city-related issues, such as road closures, transit disruptions, and emergencies within the five boroughs. Price: FREE
Oko: Provides the status of pedestrian traffic lights via audio and haptics when visible by the camera. Helps you to align with the crosswalk. Price: FREE.
OO Tunes: A digital radio. Gives you access to hundreds of stations in the U.S. and around the world. Radio alarm clock, records online radio shows, stores your favorite stations. Price: $4.99
Over There: Tells you what store you're pointing your phone at. Price: FREE
Read to Go: A digital book app brought to you by Bookshare. Digital audio books and Braille format accessible by downloading into your phone. This app is associated with joining the library. Price: FREE
ReVision Fitness: An app that provides accessible fitness instruction for all different levels. Detailed descriptions of various exercises are available in both audio and text in addition to actual workouts. Price: Free 14-day trial available, as well as various pricing plans.
Seeing AI: Scanning program that reads documents, labels, money, environments, faces, and handwriting, depending on the model of your phone. Price: FREE
Soundscape: A navigation app that tells you where you are and what’s around you in walking distance. Price: FREE
Spectrum TV: Allows a person to watch those cable features you have trouble accessing on your TV, such as the guide, shows on demand, and movies. The app has a library so you can go back and continue watching much later. Price: comes with your cable provider.
Talking Tuner: A chromatic tuner that helps you to tune any instrument by listening. Price: $.99
Tap Tap See: A camera app that describes pictures you have taken. Price: FREE
Voice Dream Reader: This app allows the listener to improve or change the voice on the Read to Go app and other places on your phone. Price varies depending on voice purchased.
Voice Dream Scanner: A scanning app that does the job better than KNFB Reader and Seeing AI. Text can be oriented in any direction, and your phone can be tilted in different directions. Recognizes text in low light and can save it in various file formats. Price: $6
VO Starter: An app that teaches the blind and visually impaired how to use VoiceOver. Price: FREE
Uber By Phone: (833) 873-8237
Call to access the Uber ridesharing service by phone. Request a trip and receive details about it via text. Available in AZ, CA, FL, NJ, NY, PA, and TX.
AppleVis Community-based website provides blind and visually impaired users of Apple products information on accessibility features, podcasts, and blogs. Includes a list of 105 apps developed specifically for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
A. T. Guys This company sells various products of interest to the blind and visually impaired community, as well as other tech-related products, such as speakers, headsets, keyboards, etc.
Blind Bargains Highlights tech news and podcasts of interest to the blind and visually impaired community. Offers a Classifieds section where various products may be posted for sale.
Blind Mice Mega Mall A shopping mall that contains stores carrying a great variety of products. Also includes a Movie Vault, where you can download the soundtrack of thousands of audio-described movies
Directions For Me A Web site that provides cooking directions or packaging information for thousands of products
Disability Benefits A comprehensive guide to the SSI and SSDI benefits programs from the Social Security Administration
Foundation Fighting Blindness Learn about research they fund to prevent, treat and cure inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Also provides information, resources and referrals.
NYC DOT Provides various methods for contacting the NYC DOT ADA Coordinator and Disability Service Facilitator. Can be used to report issues with APSs and other transportation-related matters.
NYC Housing Connect
NYC Housing Connect is New Yorkers' portal to find and apply for affordable housing opportunities across the five boroughs of New York City.
Restaurant Meals Program This program allows some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households the option to purchase discounted prepared meals at participating restaurants with their SNAP (EBT) card. It's designed to serve those who may not have access to food preparation, storage resources, or may be unable to prepare meals for themselves. Participating households receive a 10 percent discount on the cost of their meal. The program is not yet available in all areas and is being introduced on a limited basis in NYC, as well as in Rochester and Monroe County.
RS Games A site containing games that the blind, visually impaired, and sighted can play together
Sound Associates Provides links to various Broadway shows and lists available accessible services, such as audio description. You can reserve a particular AD listening
device for your show date.
64 Ounce Games Richard@64ouncegames.com
A company that provides accessibility kits that make mainstream board games accessible to the blind and visually impaired. Catalogue available.
Foundation Fighting Blindness
Learn about research they fund to prevent, treat and cure inherited retinal degenerative diseases. Also provides information, resources and referrals.
Hadley Vision Resources (800) 323-4238
An organization that empowers individuals who are blind or visually impaired by offering workshops, classes, audio podcasts, and discussion groups.
LiveOn NY's Benefits Outreach Program
Contact Kim Lerner, Director, via email or call (212) 398-6565 x228
An organization that assists older New Yorkers in applying for benefits programs such as SNAP, SCRIE/DRIE (NY's Rent Freeze Program), the Medicare
Savings Program, Medicaid, and Emergency Assistance, among others. They help people over the phone, by appointment in their office and can make home
visits if needed.
Mind's Eye Travel
A travel company that provides group tours designed for the blind and visually impaired. Includes experienced sighted guides, as needed.
Travel Eyes
A travel company that provides group tours designed for the blind and visually impaired. Each tour has sighted travelers who provide descriptions and serve as sighted guides.
ACB Partners with Be My Eyes: ACB has partnered with Be My Eyes, an innovative app that provides real-time video assistance for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. To contact
ACB through Be My Eyes, download the app from the
App Store
and
Google Play
and locate ACB under “Specialized Help”.
read the press release about this partnership
Access-A-Ride Changes Effective August 21, 2023: The On-Demand E-Hail pilot program, originally intended to be a one-year pilot and which ended in 2019, will continue through 2023. Effective August 21, the next
phase of this pilot will include an additional 2,400 AAR customers. If you elect to continue in the pilot, you will be part of the High Volume E-Hail pilot
program. In this program you can take up to 40 on-demand trips per month that are subsidized by AAR. Your initial charge for each trip is $4, and the MTA will pay for up to $25 of the cost of each trip, meaning that with the MTA’s subsidy you will only pay $4 for a trip costing up to $29 total. You can book a trip over $29, but you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance above $29. After your 40th trip in a month you will be responsible for the full cost of any additional trips.
Your traditional AAR service remains unchanged, and you can use it as you normally would, with no trip limits, whether you remain in the E-Hail pilot or not. Additionally, in this next phase of the pilot, new service providers will be added.
There is no action for you to take right now. AAR will be in touch in the coming weeks with more information about how to register with the new service providers and ensure you are prepared for the next phase of the E-Hail pilot on August 21. For further questions about the program, please view the
E-Hail webpage
or contact AAR at 877-337-2017 Option 8.
Accessible Station Lab: Learn about the Accessible Station Lab at the Jay St-MetroTech Station in Downtown Brooklyn, where the MTA is testing out various features designed to make subway travel more accessible to people with various disabilities, including blindness and visual impairment. Come test these features for yourself and provide feedback to NYCT.
AIRA offers free service in Target stores and at JFK International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International airports. They have also partnered with ACB to offer members special pricing plans. The ACB Member Intro Plan:
Minutes: 30 per month
Price: $20 per month
Plan Share: no additional users
The ACB Member Enhanced Plan:
Minutes: 140 per month
Price: $99.99 per month
Plan Share: up to two additional users
Plans are only available through AIRA's Customer Care Team. To qualify for these plans, one must be a member in good standing of the American Council of the
Blind or its affiliates or chapters for the current membership year. Membership will be verified through AIRA's Customer Care Team.
Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library:
Call center hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Walk-in hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 12:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. You may call
(212) 206-5400
You can order ten books per person per week, but you must call or email to order.
Tech coaching is available onsite and via phone and Internet.
Apple Offers Accessibility Classes: Josh Rifkin and Edwin Ramirez Pery, representatives of several Apple stores in Manhattan, have assured us that you can get a schedule of accessibility
classes from your local Apple store.
Get a listing of accessibility classes offered throughout New York City
We have also been assured that an Apple representative will speak to our chapter about the latest updates for Apple products (to be scheduled).
BRICKS for the BLIND provides text-based building instructions that enable the blind and visually impaired to build various LEGO sets.
"Can You Help Me Fill This Out?": How many times have you been to the post office and asked a postal employee to help you fill something out only to be told, “We are not allowed to do that. I could lose my job.” This is NOT TRUE! I repeat, this is NOT TRUE! When blind and visually impaired persons try to use our local post office, we are often told the above phrase. Since we do not have knowledge of the postal codes, we take this information as fact. But we do have the information now. We at GNYCB have also encountered such difficulties, so we are making available a letter from a lawyer for the post office that you can print out and hand to your local postal worker to back up your argument that, “Yes, you can fill this out.”
Post Office Letter (downloadable Word document)
Caribbean Club at Visions
The club helps individuals apply for services with the NYS Commission for the Blind and other agencies. They send canes to people who need them in the Caribbean and other countries, as well as to those in NYC. Recently, they collected money for the Bahamian hurricane
relief and for the earthquake in Puerto Rico. Contact Wayne McKenzie for further information.
Catholic Guild for the Blind:
Saying Goodbye to the Catholic Guild By Yasmin Campbell
The Catholic Guild for the Blind was an organization whose mission was to provide rehabilitation and education services to persons with vision impairments. It served New York City and provided services to help those in need which included independent living skills, employment training and placement, as well as information, referrals and other supports. Hearing of the Catholic Guild’s closing was a major blow to many people, especially the visually impaired and blind communities who depended on this organization’s services for assistance. We want to thank them for all their years of service and let them know the Catholic Guild will truly be missed.
Computer Center for Visually Impaired People (CCVIP) is now located at Helen Keller Services for the Blind. For more information, please contact them at ccvip@helenkeller.org
or call them at (718) 522-2122, ext. 2250
Spectrum now has Braille and Large Print Guides available for receiver remotes. Contact the Accessibility Help Desk at (844) 762-1301 to request any of the following:
Large Print Orientation Guide for Spectrum Receiver Remote
Large Print Orientation Guide for Spectrum Receiver Big Button Remote
Braille Orientation Guide and Tactile Map for Spectrum Receiver Remote
Braille Orientation Guide for Spectrum Receiver Big Button Remote
VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired:
A program is being offered at VISIONS Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Spring Valley, NY, for students who want to learn a trade, become work-ready and
want to be employed shortly after graduation. This job readiness program is for blind and visually impaired youth between the ages of 18 and 22 - until
their 22nd birthdate. The 15-week residential program was created to give youth who are not college-bound, and/or have dropped out of college, an opportunity
to gain more skills and experience. Participants will gain independence skills, learn technology and software-readiness skills, gain work experience and
complete a highly recognized Customer Service training from the National Retail Federation. There are opportunities to achieve vocational certificates
in programs including: Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Teacher Assistant, Veterinary Assistant, HVAC, Technology - including Web Development, as
well as other courses offered. Certification is reciprocal with other States.
If you have any questions, please contact: Carmen Thorne, VCB Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator
Office: (212) 625-1616, ext. 107 or
(845) 354-3003
Fax: (212) 219-4078 or
(845) 354-5130
Email:
cthorne@visionsvcb.org
Voting Issues and Problems: If you've had an issue or problem voting privately and independently and want to file a complaint,
contact either of the following people at Disability Rights New York:
Walmart+ Is Now Half-Priced for Families on Government Assistance
Families and individuals who receive government assistance through SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, TTANF, NSLP, and LIHEAP are now eligible for the Walmart+ Assist program. For $6.47 a month or $49 a year, benefits include:
Free shipping from Walmart.com
Free grocery delivery on orders of $35 or more
Free Paramount+ membership
Ad-free streaming on some Pluto TV content
Walmart will pick up returns from your home
Mobile scan-and-go at Walmart stores
Early access to Black Friday prices
Save 10¢ per gallon at Exxon, Mobil, and Murphy stations
A rotating selection of limited-time offers
Visit the Walmart+ Assist page where your eligibility will be verified through SheerID.
Black Lives Matter Statement: The GNYCB stands with the Black Lives Matter movement. We recognize that institutional racism was instrumental in the founding of our nation and that systemic racism continues to this day. We honor George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others who have sacrificed their lives in the African-American struggle for equality. We also believe that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, and/or disabilities.
Editor's Statement: We will not post anything that goes against the philosophy of the Greater New York Council of the Blind. In addition, we have the discretion
to edit all submissions for clarity, grammar and however else we deem necessary.
The Greater New York Council of the Blind is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
Photo: From left to right at the Marriott Hotel in Albany, NY, are Bob White, Fitz Martin, Terence Page, and Yasmin Campbell.
Photo: From left to right Jayden Mitchell, Rasheta Bunting, Danielle Mowery, Deborah Brodheim, and Yasmin Campbell. Please note: Kathy Collins also represented our chapter at the event.
