* Below is the online White Cane Bulletin which includes a Table of Contents with live links leading to the start of each article. You may choose those links or read down the whole publication. You may also choose to download the following formats:
MS Word small print with live Table of Contents links
MS Word large print with live Table of Contents links
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THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN
Florida Council of The Blind, Inc.
May - June 2026
Articles for the White Cane Bulletin must be submitted to Sally Benjamin no later than the 15th of the month before it is published. Sally’s email is: editor@fcb.org.
If you do not have access to a computer and email, please find someone in your chapter to help you. We want to hear from anyone who wants to contribute to our newsletter, so if you cannot find a way to submit your article, call Sally and she will be glad to assist you.
Articles published in The White Cane Bulletin are in compliance with Public Law No. 104197, Copyright Law Amendment of 1996. This law allows authorized entities to distribute copies of previously published non-dramatic literary works in specialized formats, including Braille, audio or digital text that are exclusively for use by Blind people or those with disabilities. Any further distributing of such articles in another than a specialized format is an infringement of copyright.
To remember the Florida Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose in your Will or Trust. If your wishes are complex, please contact the FCB at 800-267-4448.
The FCB is a 501(c)(3) organization.
For other ways to support the Florida Council of the Blind, visit our Fundraising page found at www.fcb.org.
ARE YOU MOVING? – Sally Benjamin
If you are moving, please notify me of your new address so you will continue to receive your White Cane Bulletin. Also, if you know of anyone interested in joining FCB and who would like to receive the White Cane Bulletin and the Braille Forum, please contact me at: (850) 980-0205 or E-mail: editor@fcb.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Convention Thoughts by Sally Benjamin
Excellence On I-Drive ! by Cachet Wells
On the Road Activities by Greg Lindberg
Book Corner submitted by Sheila Young
Ms. Napier Goes to Washington by Chantale Napier
Sophia McCall DC Trip Reflections from Washington, DC
In The Spotlight by Alicia Eidson: Interview with Chantale Napier
Jottings from Jacksonville by Paul Edwards
Recipe Corner submitted by Sheila Young
Ricardo Salazar D. C. Experience by Ricardo Salazar
My Experience Using the OneCourt Device at an Orlando Magic Basketball Game by Greg Lindberg
Tech Tips by John Richards for the Technology Committee
FCB OFFICERS, 2026 – 2028
2026-2028 CHAPTER & SPECIAL AFFILIATE OFFICER LIAISONS
Handy Telephone Number References
Convention Thoughts by Sally Benjamin
Make Every year when I go to our state convention I never know what it will be like. This year I especially was filled with many emotions as I knew it was my last year as Membership secretary. And it would be the last time I called roll.
I did this job for a long time and it was time for me to retire from it but I also will miss talking to our members and getting to know the new ones. I also will miss being on the Executive Committee because we really became a family since we were a small group.
This decision was not easy since I do not like change. However, my health and the desire to be a little freer and have time to do some things for myself made me realize I needed to retire. So, at our convention one year ago, I happened to sit by Chantale at our banquet. In our conversation she asked me what I did in FCB. I told her I was the Membership secretary for the state. And she asked me what that involved. At the time Chantale told me “that sounds like something I could do”. So, when the time came Chantale decided to run for Membership secretary. I started last year around September training Chantale for the position. The reason I trained her is because the responsibility is a big one and the ACB has a database that you have to learn.
My hope is that others will see that we need to train up new younger leaders even if we think it is hard or not necessary. Whether we like it or not our bodies will not be around forever. By younger I mean under 50 cause most of us are that age or older and we just aren’t as able as when we are younger. Now, before you get upset we still need those of us who are older to support the organization now.
My hope is that we all will think about the future for the good of the organization.
***
Excellence On I-Drive ! by Cachet Wells
What an amazing year it has been that has culminated in a great time of celebration and recognition on I-Drive.
To all of our Chapters and Special Interest Affiliates who continuously do the work and support the vision of FCB in addition to the many members who work hard to bring those efforts forward alongside of them, we thank you. Thanks to all of you who submitted nomination letters for those deserving individuals. The Awards Committee appreciates you for seeing their value within this organization and in your communities. To the 2026 recipients of all of our State, Chapter and President's Awards, Congratulations to you on this exceptional accomplishment and keep up the wonderful work that you're doing.
Thank you to the members for allowing me to serve you, as we honor those whom have represented and have been recognized for each award nomination this year. To this exceptional Awards Committee who has worked diligently to navigate several working parts this past year, I want to thank you for working with me to do just that. I appreciate every minute, moment and memory that we've shared and created along this journey as this year's Chairperson.
Warmest Regards,
Cachet Wells
904-764-4573
***
On the Road Activities by Greg Lindberg
With so many great things happening around the Sunshine State, we don’t want you to miss out on any of them. No matter if it's to celebrate a special cause, gather to honor White Cane Day, or a fundraising event, we want to help provide an avenue to advertise to a wider audience of members to increase engagement in your planned events.
The Florida Council of the Blind Activities Committee invites you to share your upcoming Chapter and Special Interest Affiliate events with us that are being held throughout the month. This allows members to review and plan ahead to attend other local area events. We want to help you by supporting and promoting your efforts to raise awareness about what you're doing and maximize participation.
For each event, please provide the following:
- A detailed summary of the event (who, what, when, where, and cost)
- Contact information for the event (contact person’s name, phone number and/or email address)
The deadline to submit this information is the 5th of each month by sending to Activities@fcb.org to have it included in the FCB Activities Committee communications channels.
Thank you, and we look forward to helping support your activities!
The FCB Activities Committee
***
Book Corner submitted by Sheila Young
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
DB58402; 10 hours 50 minutes
Family, legal fiction, medical fiction
Read by Erin Jones
When Kate is diagnosed with a rare leukemia her parents create test-tube baby Anna to save her life. After years of medical procedures Anna, now thirteen, is expected to donate a kidney. She files for medical legal emancipation and throws the family into a fundamental moral crisis. 2004.
***
Ms. Napier Goes to Washington by Chantale Napier
First, I’d like to thank FCB for sending me to DC for an amazing Leadership experience. We didn’t attend the Hill visits in person, which I’m a little sad about, but I did learn.
This was a great networking experience. Saturday, there was the board meeting where they discussed MMs and Amm and of course other items which help make ACB run. The Welcome party was nice and I spent some time with Paul Edwards, Dave and Rhonda Trot and a few others.
Later that night me, Sophia, Alicia, and Ricardo went to dinner with Scott Thornhill. This was a great opportunity to see behind the curtain and what it takes to lead an organization like ACB.
At the dine around, the samosas were fantastic, we spent time with Rick Morin and Michael Garrett. These are some amazing people and they’re so personable; it was easy to ask them about their experiences and the roles they play within the organization.
One thing I find fascinating is being able to put voices with the names from the emails. Clare Stanley, Colby Garrison, Sharon Lovering, it’s such a treat.
Technology is changing at such a rapid pace, ACB is pushing for accessibility in this area to keep up. This means better integration of AI into items from smartphones to computers. Another key takeaway was ACB is looking to be more inclusive and attainable. One way they are doing this is by bringing up the next generation of leaders. If you have an old organization, you have a dying organization. So yes, ACB, is looking for younger, passionate members to takeover and continue the good fight.
Again FCB, Mikey, Sheila, and the rest of the Executive board thank you for trusting me to represent you.
***
Sophia McCall DC Trip Reflections from Washington, DC
I recently had the chance to attend a leadership conference in Washington, DC, and it was such an informative and meaningful experience. One of the highlights for me was being part of the conversations about the future of the American Council of the Blind. There was something really special about being in a room with others who care deeply about this work and getting to share ideas about what matters most moving forward. Those discussions felt honest, thoughtful, and energizing.
I also really appreciated the informational sessions—especially the one focused on local advocacy. The conversations from the speakers really helped solidify for me that persistence is key. I’m learning that advocacy is not easy, and it’s certainly not quick. Hearing about the impact that has been made—and the work it took to get there—was incredibly important and grounding.
Another helpful part of the conference was the breakdown of the imperatives, which gave more structure and direction to the work ahead. The session on web accessibility was especially meaningful for me. After the conference, I was asked to speak on this topic in our virtual meetings, and having that foundation from the conference made me feel much more prepared. It helped me better understand both the importance of the issue and how to talk about it in a way that connects with others.
I also had the opportunity to connect with presidents of other affiliates and hear about their experiences visiting Capitol Hill. Listening to their stories gave me a better understanding of the impact of advocacy and made me look forward to hopefully having that opportunity myself in the future. More than anything, what I’ll remember is the sense of camaraderie throughout the conference. There was a shared purpose and connection that made the whole experience feel really special. I’m grateful I was able to be part of it, and I’m already looking forward to attending again—and next time, hopefully making it to Capitol Hill as well.
***
In The Spotlight by Alicia Eidson: Interview with Chantale Napier
An Engaged Voice in the Florida Council of the Blind
Introduction
It was such a pleasure for me to interview one of our newest engaged FCB members. Chantale Napier was so fun and had so much for us to learn about her and what makes her tick.
Early Life and Family
Chantale was born in Flint, Michigan, where she lived with her parents and three siblings. Over the years, she lived in several other cities, including Dundy, Ann Arbor, and eventually Detroit, where she still has a home. While her immediate family remains in Flint, Chantale, along with her husband and children, made the move to Florida in 2015.
She is the proud mother of three biological children, now ages 32, 29, and 27, and a grandmother to four. Reflecting on her life as a parent, she shares that she truly enjoyed being a mom.
Discovering Vision Loss
One of Chantale’s earliest memories related to her vision occurred when she was about 10 years old. While playing Monopoly with her father, she found herself feeling around for the dice. When her dad asked if she could see them, it marked the first time she realized her vision might not be typical.
Until then, she believed her experience was normal.
Her father, who had retinitis pigmentosa, took her to his eye doctor. This began her journey of understanding her diagnosis. At Wayne State University in Detroit, she underwent extensive testing during full-day appointments—bright lights, measurements, and numerous evaluations.
Chantale is grateful she was able to drive and experience some “normality” before being diagnosed as legally blind at age 18. Today, she has light perception and can see some colors. As she explained, "It is hit or miss, whether I can see print 2 inches away,"
Independence and Mobility
Chantale travels with her guide dog, a decision she describes as life-changing. She shared, "That was a tough decision but probably one of the best decisions I've ever made."
Her guide dog, Sugar Cookie, has given her greater independence and ease navigating daily life. She received him in 2019 from Southeastern Guide Dogs in Florida, now known as Dogs Inc. Together, they have traveled by plane and train, and she says the partnership is working out wonderfully.
Involvement with the Florida Council of the Blind
Chantale became involved with the Florida Council of the Blind about five years ago. Her first state convention was in 2023 in Jacksonville, during the transition of leadership from Sheila Young to Mikey Wiseman.
From the beginning, Chantale jumped in wherever she was needed. She participated in a book club, helped lead a peer support group, attended rallies, and became an active member of her chapter. She also regularly attends the Living the Good Life With Vision Loss Expo and participates in fundraising efforts.
Convention Experiences
At her first state convention, Chantale recalls thinking, "Oh my gosh, there are people here like me!"
She was deeply moved by the grace, patience, and support she witnessed. Whether someone felt overwhelmed or needed guidance, there were always people ready to assist respectfully. She admired how attendees organized events, led presentations, and managed logistics—finding it incredibly empowering.
The exhibit hall was another highlight, where she met many interesting people and explored a variety of resources.
Her first national convention, also in Jacksonville, felt more overwhelming due to its size and energy. Despite only experiencing part of the exhibit hall, she embraced the experience and recognized that it was okay to take it at her own pace.
Memorable Moments and Discoveries
One exhibit that stood out to Chantale was a tactile statue representing Freedom of Speech. The varying expressions—from wide open mouths to completely closed—spoke volumes to her. The fact that it was tactile and designed to be touched made it especially meaningful.
She also enjoyed seeing decorative “bling” on canes and exploring accessible products.
Other highlights included:
- Watching The Blind Chef and learning about adaptive kitchen tools
- Participating in yoga workshops with Leslie Spoone
- Discovering a wide variety of accessible games
Leadership and Advocacy
With Florida elections approaching, Chantale has decided to run for an executive board position. Her interest was sparked after meeting Sally Benjamin and asking, "What does membership secretary do?"
Sally took the time to thoroughly explain the role, including how technology has evolved over her 30 years of service. Inspired, Chantale shared, "That sounds like something I could do. When the time comes, I think I'll go for it!"
Now, she is officially on the ballot.
Chantale is passionate about encouraging others who are losing their vision. She wants them to know that life is not over after blindness and that it can still be full, productive, and joyful. This message is one of her greatest passions.
Personal Interests and Talents
Outside of advocacy, Chantale enjoys:
- Singing
- Dining out and socializing
- Walking and traveling
She also attended the leadership conference in Washington, D.C., which she found both exciting and inspiring. She believes ACB is actively seeking a new generation of leaders and was thrilled to connect with others in the community.
Meeting leaders like Scott Thornhill and Deb Cook Lewis left a lasting impression. She appreciated seeing them as approachable and down-to-earth, even admitting to a few “fan girl” moments.
Creative Pursuits
Chantale is currently taking classes at her local Lighthouse. She creates body butters and sugar scrubs—something she truly enjoys.
She is also a published author of several books, primarily in the romance genre, ranging from sweet to heat, more intense themes, while also exploring mystery and suspense.
Those interested in her work or products can visit:
www.thehouseoflynn.com
Lighthearted Moments
Chantale shared a couple of humorous and relatable “blind moments,” including accidentally grabbing someone in a private area and mistakenly walking into the men’s locker room reminding us all to find laughter along the journey.
Words of Encouragement
When asked what she would say to someone struggling with blindness,
Chantale offered this heartfelt response:
"What they are feeling is fine. That is a good thing. Acknowledge what you’re feeling but don't stay there. There are ways to maintain your independence and the adaptive technology may be a way to keep your job or get a new one. There are so many resources that can assist. I would be sure to listen and let them know they are not alone."
Closing Thoughts
Chantale deeply values the support she has found within FCB. Her journey is a testament to resilience, growth, and the power of community.
Hats off to FCB for showing Chantale that she is valued and can depend on those she has met within the organization.
*If you live in Florida and would like to take part in one of our interviews, please write Alicia Eidson at the following email and let her know.
Prof.alicia.eidson@gmail.com.
***
Jottings from Jacksonville by Paul Edwards
The Time is Now
When the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 one of its strongest components was Title Two. This title concerned how state and local governments should deal with people with disabilities. In many communities in Florida and elsewhere substantial efforts were made to make counties and states more welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities.
1990 was a very long time ago. At the time the internet was still mostly a space where the military and universities played and it was at least a decade before the net truly became a major part of our lives. Some cities and states took seriously the need to create access and made web pages, email access and other online services somewhat accessible. The big problem that even those who wanted to do the right thing was that nobody could tell them what the right thing was. There were no regulations written that told either states or local governments what they should do. For many years the Department of Justice refused to do anything about digital access under either Title Two or Title three of the ADA. Though they didn't come out and say it, the Justice Department tried to say that, since the internet didn't exist then, access was mostly about brick and mortar. Buildings rather than web sites were the issue! ACB submitted detailed comments on a request for proposed rulemaking in 2010 and waited and waited and waited for the DOJ to actually publish a proposed rule and then, eventually, a fully fledged rule that would answer the many questions consumers and local officials had.
Finally, at the very end of the Biden administration, the rule was released. Actually the Final Rule came out in April of 2024 and cities were given two years to get their digital houses in order. Smaller communities were given three years.
Much has changed since this rule was adopted! At the Federal level many of the lawyers at the Department of Justice who enforce civil rights laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act have either resigned, been fired or have been reassigned to other duties. It has been made clear by the current administration that compliance with disability-enhancing laws are not high on their priority list. What this means is we cannot expect the kind of support from the Department of Justice we have taken for granted in the past. Even before this new rule was passed the DOJ found several cities out of compliance with Title Two and sent folks to help them develop plans that would correct failure to act. Essentially, they threatened to take legal action if folks didn't move in the right direction. We cannot expect much help from the current Department of Justice but it doesn't change what the law demands.
I did a training program over a year ago about title Two as one of Florida's community calls and what I said then still applies.
The rule makes it clear that communities and states must make their web sites and documents accessible. This means that they can't use files that can't be read by people using screen readers. It means that if other people can do things on line, people with disabilities ought to be able to do them too. It clearly cites the international web accessibility guidelines that local and state governments must meet.
What I suggested last year is that all of our local chapters should establish contact with their local governments and ask how they are doing! I encouraged folks to test web pages to see how they worked. Can you pay your water bill by yourself? Can you pay your property tax? Can you use the transit web site to see what buses run where?
Compliance with the current rule is not negotiable! Access to state and local web sites is a right for people with disabilities not a privilege. While we have to recognize that the climate is not in our favor, we shouldn't do nothing. Unless we challenge both the state and local governments to do what the law says they are obliged to do, we are failing to meet our obligation to do our best for the community we represent.
I would hope that chapters would go to local government folks and ask for a meeting. At that meeting ask for a report on what your local community is doing to meet the obligations it has under the new rule. At this point we are just gathering information. We will find out who the players are in local government. We will also see how seriously they are taking their obligations.
Most community web sites are huge and many contain an immense trove of documents many of which are likely not accessible. The job of our chapters is to see just what city officials are doing to make things better. There are priorities you can set as well. Try to explore with your local government what their citizens do on line. What are the most popular areas of their web sites? How are they doing with those? At least in the beginning we will not be adversarial! We are just trying to get a picture of what is going on!
At the state level I think our approach should be somewhat the same. We have a history of trying to encourage the state to fix problems we identified many years ago. For a while we thought we were moving in positive directions with the state but we were suddenly told they no longer wanted to talk with us. We filed a complaint with the Department of Justice and were informed that they were going to act on our case. That was at least a decade ago. The current regulations are much more explicit and I think it's time for us to think about taking the same approach with the state as we are taking with local governments. There is clearly a much stronger case that we can make. There is also certainly less sympathy for equal access than there was ten years ago. Perhaps we would do better to wait until after the elections that will happen in November. We know there will be a new Governor and perhaps there will be a legislature that is less ideologically opposed to creating equal access to state web pages.
What we cannot afford to do is stand back and do nothing. At the state and local levels we must be certain folks know that we are aware of the new responsibilities these regulations create. The law now says we have the right to access on line content. It's up to us to be sure that, at the very least, folks know we know what our rights are!
AFTERWORD
Since this article was written the Department of Justice has issued an "interim rule" that postpones the due dates by a year. Communities with a
population greater than 70,000 have till April 2027 to meet the requirements under Title Two. Communities with less than this population have two years before they have to meet these requirements.
An interim rule can just be issued by the Department of Justice and so they did just that! Much more could have been included in the rule. None of the requirements have been changed and that is a good thing. I spoke to a blind gentleman from Texas who is working for a university who is trying to make their institution compliant who says two things. First, he says it is a huge task. Second, he says they are not nearly finished! He argues that the additional year is a good thing.
States and communities have known this was coming for many years. ACB worked on comments as long ago as 2010. However, given the environment within which we are currently laboring, this outcome is remarkably good. It also gives us more time to create the relationships with the states and communities discussed earlier in this article. We can have an effect! We can make a difference! I hope we will!
***
Recipe Corner submitted by Sheila Young
Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
12 large eggs – hard-boiled and peeled
1 lb. elbow macaroni – cooked and cooled
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika (plus extra for garnish)
Salt and black pepper – to taste
1/2 cup celery – finely chopped
1/2 cup red onion – finely chopped
1/4 cup dill pickles – finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley – chopped (optional, for color)
Boil the eggs, then cut the hard-boiled eggs in half. Remove the yolks and place them in a large mixing bowl. Chop the egg whites and set aside.
Mash the yolks with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy.
To the dressing, add cooked macaroni, chopped egg whites, celery, red onion, dill pickles, and parsley (if using).
Gently mix until everything is evenly coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld.
Before serving, sprinkle with extra paprika for a classic deviled egg look.
***
Ricardo Salazar D. C. Experience by Ricardo Salazar
In the place where I grew up, access was not a system, it was a negotiation. In Maturín, a small city in the eastern Venezuelan state of Monagas, there were no organizations like the American Council of the Blind, no mentorship networks, and no clear pathway toward advocacy or leadership.
My name is Ricardo Salazar. I am 24 years old at the time of writing this article, and I hold a position at the American council of blind students as president.
A few days a week, I attended a small school for the blind with only four or five teachers. The rest of the time, I was in a mainstream classroom with no formal accommodations. I learned by listening carefully, knowing that anything I missed might not be repeated. My parents met with each teacher individually to explain my situation, but even then, we often had to create or purchase our own materials. Books were not simply read, they had to be transformed. By high school, I had taken on that responsibility myself.
Eventually, the school for the blind shut down as conditions in Venezuela worsened. My father found private tutors to teach me braille. I learned dot by dot using a slate and stylus, without access to a Perkins Brailler. As the situation deteriorated further, we made the decision to leave everything behind.
When we arrived in the United States, everything changed. For the first time, I had access to tools I had never experienced, including computers with screen readers and structured support systems. It was overwhelming, but access did not mean everything worked. There were still gaps.
In school, mobility was a constant challenge, counting hallways and memorizing routes. While accessibility departments provided support, it did not always match my needs. I remember requesting a sighted guide during a period of campus construction because it was unsafe for me to navigate alone, and I was told no due to liability concerns.
In the workplace, the pattern continued. After completing most of the training to become an over the phone interpreter, I was denied the position because I used a notetaker, something considered against company policy. Those experiences build quietly until you begin to question where you belong.
I knew I did not want to go through that alone. During my junior year of college, I was contacted by the president of the American Council of the Blind Students through an online forum. I hesitated, unsure if I would fit in, but I said yes.
Over time, I began to recognize my own experiences in others’ stories. What I thought were isolated struggles were shared realities. That realization changed everything. I became more involved, and by 2024 I was treasurer. In 2025, I was elected president.
That same year, I attended my first national convention with the American Council of the Blind. For the first time, I was surrounded by people who shared a common purpose: advocacy, independence, and accessibility.
Shortly after, I met Michael Wiseman, President of the Florida Council of the Blind. He encouraged me to attend the D.C. Leadership Conference. I was hesitant, but I went, and that decision changed me.
At the conference, I gained the tools to speak directly with legislators. One moment stood out: a session where all chapter presidents gathered to discuss the future of the organization. I was the youngest person in the room, but when I spoke, people listened. My perspective was taken seriously, and knowing our responses would be shared with the ACB Board made it even more meaningful.
That moment reframed what leadership meant. It is not about age or having all the answers. It is about showing up and contributing.
As I continued in advocacy, I realized something even more personal. I had become the kind of person I once needed. The student who had to fight for access was now helping others navigate those same barriers. The person who once lacked resources was now sharing them.
I left Washington, D.C. with clarity, confidence, and a sense of responsibility.
This journey, was not planned. It was shaped by challenges, strengthened by community, and guided by people who believed in me.
Belonging is not something you wait to be given. It is something you build, and once you build it, you have a responsibility to make sure others can find their way into it, too.
***
My Experience Using the OneCourt Device at an Orlando Magic Basketball Game by Greg Lindberg
In March, I had the opportunity to attend the Orlando Magic vs. Phoenix Suns basketball game at the Kia Center in downtown Orlando. This was the first time I got to use the OneCourt device for fans who are blind or have low vision. My friend and I went to guest services to pick them up. They took one of our IDs and we had to return them after the game in order to get the ID back. From my understanding, the Kia Center had five devices this season and is expected to offer them again next season. Apparently, the Jacksonville Jaguars had a few fans test them out at some of their games last season as well.
If you’re not familiar with OneCourt, it’s a startup company based in Seattle. They have developed a “pad” of sorts to make live sports more accessible to fans. When using the device for basketball, it has everything on one side of the pad – a tactile court on the righthand side and several raised buttons to the left of the court.
What really makes it unique is that it provides haptic feedback through vibrations. For basketball, you can track where exactly the ball is on the court. In turn, this allows you to tell which team has the ball and when a shot is taken. It also provides both haptic and audible feedback through speech when a shot is taken and the result, as well as whether an offensive or defensive rebound is made, fouls, and other details. An “Info” button gives the score, quarter number, and how much time is left in that quarter.
I also like the tutorial the device offers. For basketball, it walked me through all of the features of the court in terms of the location of certain vibrations and what each one actually means. While this is important to help you learn how to use the device, it’s also nice for those who might have less knowledge about basketball or who have never had usable vision to help orient them to the playing surface.
I will say it was a little challenging trying to balance the device on my lap, feel the action as it was happening, and then try to clap for a good play. Plus, the device comes with headphones in order to listen to the audible cues it provides. In the future, I’d probably prefer using earbuds so that my ears are less constricted and I can hear the natural sound in the arena and more easily communicate with those around me. Finally, some users have pointed out how the device doesn’t give much info about players, statistics, etc. It would be great to either have them add more capabilities to the device or to pair this technology with live audio description to help fill in the gaps and provide more context about a sporting event. In some testing, I understand that users have been able to listen to a live radio broadcast of the game, and this could certainly be helpful as well.
The OneCourt device is currently designed for the professional leagues across basketball, baseball, and football – no college sports at this point. I heard that the company is working on soccer, hockey, and tennis. As a lifelong sports fan, it’s very encouraging to see assistive technology now being developed for activities like following a sporting event. I can’t wait until the day I own a device or can walk into any stadium and pick one up at guest services. I’m confident either one – or both – of those things will happen down the road.
***
Tech Tips by John Richards for the Technology Committee
Vision Buddy Mini
The Vision Buddy Mini is a small wearable assistive device developed for people with low vision. The device weighs approximately 0.12 lbs. and offers an array of features.
It is capable of zooming up to 10x magnification for clear recognition of surroundings, faces, physical objects and text.
In addition, the High-Resolution Display: Features a 4K resolution (1832 x 1920 per eye) for crisp visuals.
This small wearable has three primary modes.
1. Magnifier Mode: For real-world viewing and spotting.
2. Reading Mode: Optimized for high-contrast text recognition (OCR).
3. TV Mode: Streams video directly from a TV Hub transmitter to the headset.
It also has Dual Power Options: Standard internal battery lasts about 2.5 hours; an external battery can extend use to 8 hours.
Adjustable Diopters: Built-in lens adjustment (up to 2 diopters) to account for individual eye clarity needs.
These wearables are becoming more light weight with each new innovation. If interested in this product, you can find it on the web; purchasing options and a YouTube demo are provided in the links below.
https://floridareading.com/products/vision-buddy-mini-pro-package?_pos=1...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yChGI1ne8c
***
FCB OFFICERS, 2026 – 2028
President, Mikey Wiseman
Miami, president@fcb.org (305) 331-4870
1st Vice-President, Cassandra Jessie
Tallahassee, vp1@fcb.org (850) 567-4288
2nd Vice President, Shelley Sawyer
Tallahassee, vp2@fcb.org (407) 403-2099
Treasurer, Mark Lear
Port Orange
treasurer@fcb.org (386) 788-0463
Post office box has been closed
Membership Secretary, Chantale Napier
Membership email: membership@fcb.org
Cape Coral, (810) 288-4116
White Cane Bulletin Editor, Sally Benjamin
Tallahassee, (850) 980-0205
White Cane Bulletin email: editor@fcb.org
Recording Secretary, Elizabeth Bowden
Tallahassee, recordingsec@fcb.org (850) 345-0822
Immediate Past President, Sheila Young
Orlando, sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200
FCB Administrative Assistant, Kati Lear
(800) 267-4448, (386) 763-3836 floridacouncil@comcast.net
***
2026-2028 CHAPTER & SPECIAL AFFILIATE OFFICER LIAISONS
Please contact your officer liaison if we can be of assistance or if you need anything from the Executive Committee.
CALM (Chapter At Large Members): Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org
(305) 331-4870
Greater Orlando Council of the Blind: Chantale Napier
treasurer@fcb.org
(386) 788-0463
Halifax Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200
Jacksonville Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Manatee County Council of the Blind: Chantale Napier
membership@fcb.org
(810)-288-4116
Miami Metro Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org
(305) 331-4870
Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822
Palm Beach Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jesse
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Pinellas Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200
Sarasota Council of the Blind: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099
Southwest Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822
Tallahassee Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200
Tampa Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Braille Revival League of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099
Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Guide Dog Users of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099
***
Handy Telephone Number References
Project Insight: (800) 267-4448
Bureau of Braille & Talking Book Library: (800) 226-6075
Division of Blind Services, State Office: (800) 342-1828
American Council of The Blind: (800) 424-8666
(Available 3:00 to 5:30 P.M. EST Monday-Friday only)
ACB Legislative Hotline: (800) 424-8666
(Available evenings 8:00 P.M. to 12:00 Midnight EST and weekends 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. only)
AT&T Disability Services: (800) 872-3883
Press 00 and speak with your long-distance carrier, or Florida only: (800)982-2891
BellSouth Disability Services: (800) 982-2891
(From anywhere)
Social Security: (800) 772-1213
(24-hour voice and touch tone accessible)