<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Recording Secretary Julie McGinnity and President Christine Grassman thank Braden Flax for his assistance with the minutes. <div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM, due to some technical difficulties.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">About 15 individuals were in attendance. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">President Grassman welcomed speakers, minutes and treasurers' report were ratified without discussion.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">WMATA was represented by Karol Lopez, Barbara Melville, and Elmer Coppage.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">In discussion with chapter members, key points included:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Members should reach out when encountering any transit issues.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">We cannot currently have our cards on our phones for security reasons, because we travel for free. This is, however, under review.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Cards must rest on smart trip targets for 1.5 seconds before a tone can be heard.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">4-digit rail card number can be found on the call box at the end of the rail car, or in some cars, to the left of the center doors. There is a button which can be pressed to alert of inaudible or absent announcements or other significant issues. </span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">To report incidents or issues via email, online, or over the phone, you'll need this number, along with rail line and direction, and time and date; the same applies to the bus The bus number is below the fare box.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Something they've agreed to work on is the issue that when boarding a train, the color is not announced in sufficient time to get back off if it is crowded.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Bus operators do not have control over automatic announcements. Rebooting the system would require them to turn off the bus and restart it. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none"> email WMATA at <a href="mailto:access@wmata.com"><span style="font-kerning: none; color: rgb(11, 54, 198);">access@wmata.com</span></a></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Call 202-962-1100</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Accessibility advisory subcommittee meeting welcomes public participation, occurs virtually the second Monday of each month from 4 to 6 PM</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Andy Burstein represented Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Andy discussed how the company strives for maximum accessibility at every stage of the healthcare process.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">He assured members that there are abundant checks and balances to ensure the accurate labeling of medications. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Privacy is a high priority; only with patient permission does the company discuss care with anyone, including medical professionals.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Accessible Pharmacy Services offers summer opportunities for current blind college students interested in health, marketing, and other relevant fields. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Contact Andy at:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; color: rgb(9, 79, 209);"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none"><a href="mailto:andy@accessiblepharmacy.com">andy@accessiblepharmacy.com</a></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Shawn Calloway, NFB of DC Affiliate President and national Board Member, is facilitating a blind and low vision support group for Arlington residents beginning on Wednesday, January 18 and taking place biweekly via zoom from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 35px; text-align: center; text-indent: -35px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-kerning: none"><b><i>To register, callCLB at 240-737-5100 or email </i></b><a href="mailto:cbrown@clb.org"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-kerning: none; color: rgb(12, 54, 165);"><b><i>cbrown@clb.org</i></b></span></a><b><i> </i></b></span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Bryan Velazquez represented Omnium Circus.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">The circus prioritizes inclusion in employment, entertainment, and more.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">There is an Omnium Circus taking place at Capital 1 Hall in Tysons on February 25. Tickets can be purchased over the phone with waived service fees because of TicketMaster inaccessibility. The program begins at 2:00, and runs for ninety minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Patrons who are interested can come at 1:00 PM to check out props and costumes.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">The entire show will be audio described.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">For further information or group rates, contact:</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">bryan@omniumcircus.org</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">A more in-depth discussion of the show was planned for January 20 at 7:00 PM.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-kerning: none">Following a brief discussion of Washington Seminar, the meeting was adjourned at 8:47 PM. </span></p></div></body></html>