[Massachusetts-NFB] Fall Newsletter from MCB

[Massachusetts Commission for the Blind]

Email from Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Learn about our community, check out the latest news, and mark your calendar for upcoming events.   A Message from Commissioner Oliveira With the holiday season in full swing, I want to take a moment to send my warmest wishes to each of you. I hope this time of year brings you joy, peace, and the opportunity to spend time with loved ones. This is a great time to reflect on the past year and appreciate all we have achieved together. Looking ahead to 2025, I am excited about the possibilities and the work we will continue to do to create more opportunities for individuals who are legally blind. Together, we can make the coming year even more successful. I also want to acknowledge that December 3 was International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and the rights of individuals with disabilities worldwide, urging us all to continue our efforts toward a more equitable society. In addition, January is Braille Literacy Month. This month provides a special opportunity to celebrate braille, which remains a vital tool for communication, education, and independence for individuals with vision loss. This is a time to reflect on how braille opens doors to new opportunities. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our mission. I look forward to working with you all in the new year to make 2025 a year of progress, connection, and success. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a bright year ahead! White Cane Awareness Day Celebration The Massachusetts State House was filled with energy on October 18 as hundreds of people gathered for the largest turnout ever for the annual White Cane Awareness Day Celebration. Hosted by the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and Perkins School for the Blind, the event brought together people with vision loss, community partners, advocates, and lawmakers to honor the white cane as a global symbol of equality. Read more Listen: 2024 White Cane Awareness Day Celebration Empowering Voices: Celebrating Independence and Identity on White Cane Awareness Day Winners of 4th Annual Meg Robertson Mobility Award Honored at White Cane Awareness Day Boston Officer Hailed as Hero on White Cane Awareness Day After Lifesaving Act of Bravery Secretary Walsh Gifts Blind Barbie to Young Girl at White Cane Awareness Day Celebration Press Release Governor's Proclamation Media Coverage: The Berkshire Eagle: Maddelynn Burdette, a blind Pittsfield High School student, won an award from the state recognizing one of her 'absolute strengths': mobility The Eagle-Tribune: Low-vision student honored at White Cane ceremony at Statehouse Worcester Telegram & Gazette: 'Sound of freedom' raised at annual White Cane Awareness Day for visually impaired in Hub WWLP 22News: White Cane Day honors the vision loss community at the State House Boston 25 News: Raising Awareness of White Cane Law Chelsea Public Schools: White Cane Safety Day Assembly Teaches Students the Importance of Accessibility and Awareness National Disability Employment Awareness Month Throughout October, we celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month with our Visions of Employment Webinar and a Virtual Reverse Job Fair. These events highlighted the importance of inclusive employment opportunities and connected job seekers with employers who value diversity and accessibility. We are proud of the ongoing efforts to support individuals who are legally blind in the workforce.   Visions of Employment Webinar Our Visions of Employment Webinar provided valuable insights for employers on how to create supportive workplace environments for employees who are legally blind. Topics included accommodations, assistive technology, and training programs that assist both before and after the hiring process.   Webinar Recap Virtual Reverse Job Fair The Virtual Reverse Job Fair was a success, featuring 40 talented job seekers who are legally blind. These individuals had the opportunity to showcase their skills and experience to prospective employers. We are pleased to report that five job offers have been extended. Other job seekers are still actively interviewing with employers. Connections made during the event continue to create new opportunities for both job seekers and employers. Job Fair Recap   Media Coverage: GBH News: Innovative ‘reverse’ job fair helps blind job seekers in Mass. connect with employers CAPE-Youth: Breaking Barriers: Promoting Inclusive Work-Based Learning and Good Jobs in Massachusetts City of Boston: Mayor Wu and Disabilities Commission Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month   MCB Community Update November's episode of the MCB Community Update is now live! Guest: Emelie Perry, Children's Services Worker - Region 3 (Northeast) Watch on YouTube Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts   The MCB Community Update is a monthly webinar and podcast produced by Audible Local Ledger Executive Director Eric Joseph who interviews staff members about the latest happenings at MCB.   The webinar version is posted on YouTube. The podcast version is distributed to the Massachusetts Audio Information Network member radio stations for broadcast and is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.   A new episode is posted on the last Friday of each month.   December's Guest: Commissioner John Oliveira   New Staff & Promotions Please join us in welcoming these new staff members who joined our team in recent months: Sherraine Diaz Budget Director Mike Hall Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facilities Program Coordinator Hope Paulos Assistive Technology Specialist - Region 6 (Greater Boston) Cheryl Spencer-Cole Rehabilitation Teacher - Region 6 (Greater Boston) A big thank you to Perkins School for the Blind and The Carroll Center for the Blind for hosting our new hires, providing campus tours, and supporting our shared community.   In the Community   Plymouth Center for Active Living Presentation On September 10, Regional Director Chris Mittell had the pleasure of visiting the Plymouth Center for Active Living - COA to share information about the programs and services we offer to support Massachusetts residents who are legally blind. A big thank you to everyone who joined the conversation!   Danvers SEPAC Resource Fair Pre-Employment Transition Counselor Mayanne MacDonald-Briggs and Children's Services Worker Emelie Perry hosted a table at the Danvers Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Resource Fair on October 3. Our team was excited to connect with families, educators, and professionals from the Danvers area, sharing information about the services we offer to support students and families. This was a fantastic opportunity to engage with the community and raise awareness about the work we do!       “Focus” on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference We were thrilled to be a lead sponsor for the 16th Annual "Focus" on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference on October 1. This day-long event featured a multi-track educational program designed to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities and vision loss, as well as the professionals, family members, caregivers, and advocates supporting them. A few of our staff members participated: Commissioner Oliveira delivered remarks during lunch. Kara Peters and Karin Barrows presented on guiding techniques and dog guide etiquette. Susana Bergantim greeted attendees at our resource table, offering information about our services.   Central Massachusetts Fall Social We had a fantastic time hosting a Fall Social for children and families in Central Massachusetts on October 19! The day was filled with energy and laughter. A huge thank you to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Low Vision Club students and Dr. Kathryn Deliso for volunteering and helping plan fun activities. We also appreciate the Memorial Foundation for the Blind for its generous sponsorship and Mike Leo for his amazing music and leading a drum circle session. Special thanks to Children's Services Worker Kyle Stremel and Regional Director Mervyn Campbell for making this unforgettable event happen!   Community Calendar Upcoming Events December 21: Museum of Fine Arts Descriptive Tour on Zoom January 7: Housing Series Part One: Fueling a New Marketplace for Supportive Housing January 11: Braille Brush-Up Day January 31 & February 8: Ain’t No Mo (Audio Described Performances) Visit the Community Calendar Add an Event MCB maintains a Community Calendar to highlight events for the blindness community. If you're a stakeholder or community partner and would like to list an event on our Community Calendar, please email the details to mcbinfo at mass.gov "Focus" Talk The latest "Focus" Talk is now live! Featured Session: Individualized Approaches in Examination of Functional Vision and Vision Rehabilitation Presenters: Nicole C. Ross, OD, MSc, FAAO, Dip. AAO (LV), Associate Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry Listen to the Focus Talk (Registration Required) In the News The Boston Globe: Celebrating ‘Free to Be,’ a new little magazine, and a memoir about Braille and blindness WBZ-TV: School for deaf students in Boston has moved a lot, but this teacher's been an inspiration for 20 years UC Law San Francisco: Let the Record Show: California’s First Blind Woman Attorney Fought for Inclusion National Institutes of Health: NIH-led scientific team defines elements of brain-based visual impairment in children WCVB-TV: Invention of braille honored in Plymouth parade WCVB-TV: Boston's disabled residents earn less, have fewer housing options WCVB-TV: Better by the Mile: Legally blind runner aims for Boston Marathon after NYC triumph WCVB-TV: Artificial intelligence is opening doors for people with disabilities WHDH-TV: Local runner living with vision and hearing impairments sets goal of running Boston Marathon GBH News: What is it like to vote if you’re legally blind? WBUR: As Mass. tests its aging devices for voters with disabilities, advocates stress their critical role WCVB-TV: First-of-its-kind glaucoma treatment now being used in Massachusetts Holy Cross Magazine: Fitness For All: Inside Improvements Needed for Gym Accessibility Cape Cod Times: Perkins School for the Blind helps design new Audubon trail on Cape Cod. How it works. Sail-World: An interview with Duane Farrar about the 2024 Boston Blind Open Regatta The Boston Globe: Bricks for the Blind is hosting a blindfolded Lego-building competition in Cambridge WBZ News Radio: Non-Profit Hosts Blind LEGO Challenge At Cambridge Science Festival Sen. Ed Markey: Sen. Markey, Rep. Eshoo Applaud FCC Vote Advancing Video Conference Accessibility Features Boston 25 News: ADHD or a type of blindness? Experts say CVI is underdiagnosed and often misdiagnosed MassLive: Northampton author Andrew Leland details losing his sight in ‘The Country of the Blind’   Shape the Future: Become a Teacher or Specialist in Vision Education Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of people with visual impairment? Gain the skills to become a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) or an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist and empower people with vision loss to lead safe, independent, and fulfilling lives. The University of Massachusetts Boston Vision Studies MEd Program, ranked among the Best Online Graduate Education Programs by U.S. News & World Report, offers you the opportunity to explore cutting-edge educational technology and gain hands-on experience through fieldwork. Join an upcoming Information Session to learn more about these high-demand career tracks. Grant funding is often available to help you get started! Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) The TVI track trains you to work with students who are blind or have low vision, as well as their families. TVI students include general education leaders, special educators, and other specialists in related fields. The program also includes a practicum that partially fulfills the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements for initial licensure. TVI Information Sessions: December 19, 6 P.M. (EST) January 9, 6 P.M. (EST) Orientation and Mobility (O&M) The O&M track teaches you how to evaluate needs of adults and children with visual impairments. You’ll learn how to teach them how to use equipment, such as the long cane, and low vision aids, as well as the integration of a professionally trained dog guide so they may orient themselves and travel safely with confidence. The program prepares you to sit for the national professional examination in O&M offered by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP). O&M Information Sessions: January 14, 7 P.M. (EST) What You’ll Learn in the Information Sessions: Overview of UMass Boston’s academic programs Sample course of studies Application process Tuition, fees, and available grants Take the first step toward a rewarding career by signing up for an information session! For more details, contact Allie Fuddy, Program Manager, Northeast Resource Center for Vision Education, at alexandra.futty at umb.edu DCR Universal Access Program The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Universal Access Program (UAP) winter activities are in full swing! Whether it's snowing or not, UAP is bringing the frosty fun with adaptive sports and adventures all across the state. Check out the amazing events heading your way: Adaptive Program Schedule Discover paved rail trails and accessibly-designed hiking trails in Massachusetts state parks. The trails are listed by region and include:  Park Name City, Town, Community Trail Name Length (miles) Type of surface (paved, stone dust)  Description (urban, boardwalk, waterfront, benches, summits, views) UAP encourages visitors to contact the park for current conditions. Feel free to email UAP if you need any suggestions! Sign Up Now for an Information Session MassAbility On September 13, Governor Maura Healey signed legislation that renames the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to MassAbility. Governor Healey filed this bill last year to reflect the administration’s goal of expanding the agency’s reach and ushering in a new, more inclusive model for disability career services and independent living. The legislation also removes outdated terms from the general laws like “handicap,” “handicapped,” and “retarded,” replacing them with “barrier,” “person with a disability,” and person with an “intellectual disability.” Read the Press Release Executive Office of Elder Affairs Bring Digital Literacy Programs to Your Community   Are you interested in bringing digital literacy programs for older adults to your community? The Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) can help you launch a program or expand an existing one. Meet with EOEA's digital literacy expert, Isaac Carrasco-Ortiz, during his office hours to collaborate on digital literacy initiatives in your city or town. Isaac can help with the following topics:   How to launch a program on a budget How to expand grant-funded programs How to leverage intergenerational resources Much more!   Email Isaac at Isaac.Carrasco-Ortiz at mass.gov to schedule office hours. Certificate of Blindness & MCB Identification Card To request a Certificate of Blindness or MCB Identification Card: Email our Blindness Registry: BlindnessRegistry at mass.gov Call our Blindness Registry: 617-626-7415 Submit the Online Certificate of Blindness and MCB Identification Card Request Form Contact your MCB counselor We process requests within five to seven business days.  Mission & Vision Our Mission: To provide individualized training, education, and empowerment to people who are legally blind, and advocate for inclusive policies across the Commonwealth, with the goal of life-long independence and full community participation​ Our Vision: All residents of the Commonwealth who are legally blind are empowered to live a fulfilling and independent life, with opportunities to work and thrive Massachusetts Commission for the Blind 600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 1-800-392-6450             Massachusetts Commission for the Blind | 600 Washington Street | Boston, MA 02111 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
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