THE BULLETIN

of the

San Mateo Council of the Blind

June-July 2000 Vol. I No. 3

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President's Message

by Frank Welte

As I write this message I'm catching up on the mail missed while attending last weekend's spring convention of the California Council of the Blind. Our SMCB members Richard and Terry Coney and Phil Kutner and a couple hundred other blind folks and lots of guide dogs were on hand for the festivities.

What motivates me to pack up and traipse off to such conferences at least three times a year? Well, these events are a great source of information, but more importantly they are a great opportunity for me to be a part of a larger community of blind and visually impaired people. It permits me to participate in group meetings and hear experts in various fields relating to new equipment, services and the legal situation relating to the blind and visually impaired.

It's that kind of community I believe we can build right here in San Mateo

County. About two weeks ago SMCB members took part in a low vision seminar in Palo Alto. There were about 200 people in attendance, including several from the peninsula that I hadn't met before.

I'm sure there's a large blind community here in this area, but we all haven't gotten together yet. You can help this happen. Do you have vision impaired friends and acquaintances who aren't actively involved with other blind folks? Encourage them to contact us, or tell us where we can reach them. Let's all come together to make San Mateo county a great place for blind people to live in.

We're looking forward to Saturday, June 3, when, during our next SMCB meeting we shall hear from Tony Candela from the San Francisco office of the American Foundation for the Blind. Don't miss this chance to find out what's new at AFB. This is one of the premier agencies in the blindness field.

I'll be away attending the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Convention in Louisville, Kentucky in early July–so we are skipping our July meeting. We'll have lots of news from the blindness world to share with everybody when our regular meeting schedule resumes in August.

Don't forget that we meet on the first Saturday of each month at 10:30 AM. at the Bank of America at El Camino Real and 3rd Avenue in San Mateo. Feel free to call me for further information. Also if you have any questions about equipment, services organizations for which you would like more information.

Frank Welte, SMCB President

(650)508-8329

[email protected]

Center for Independence of the Disabled (CID)

This is the second in a series of services, organizations and facilities for the disabled– with emphasis on the blind and visually impaired. Bill is our treasurer and former president. He gets around with his Yellow Lab– Jimmy

CID is committed to helping the disabled to taking control of their lives. When the founders (1979) set their goals, it was to have the disabled take more control over the services and social conditions necessary to live independently. Even today a majority of the board of directors and staff are individuals with disabilities.

Through, and with CID, both disabled and non-disabled people in San Mateo County have worked to increase accessibility in communication, education, employment, transportation, and architecture (by promoting accessibility by use of outside rails and grab bars.) Payment is on a sliding basis and there is only a one-time payment of $10. Services are provided without regard to disability, age, race, religion or gender.

• Advocacy

• Accessibility

• CAP

• Financial Services Counseling

• Pre-Independence Living Skills

• Independent Living Skills

• Information & Referral

• Assistance for the Homebound

(Shopping Assistance)

• Money Management & Volunteers

Location: 875 O'Neill Ave., Belmont

Ph: 650-595-0783 TDD: 650-595-0743

Participate in an Important Study

Have you become a non-driver because of a visual impairment? Have you found ways to maximize your independence as an adult non-driver? Have you felt frustrated with being an adult non-driver? Your input is needed!