MCB Community Update

Commissioner Oliveira and Deputy Commissioner Muir provide a brief history on Louis Braille, whose birthday is January 4th, and the evolution of Braille Literacy through the devices that allow both reading and writing for people who are visually impaired.

Commissioner Oliveira gives a review of the past three months and what's to come in the next quarter, which begins with January being Braille Literacy month.

This month we speak with Emelie Perry, MCB Childrens Service Worker, and learn about the services and support that is offered locally and by MCB at different stages of development, from birth to adulthood.

This month we speak with Kara Sittig at MCB. Kara is the Region 3 Director, which encompasses the Northeastern part of Massachusetts. Her experience and institutional knowledge brings a great deal of clarity to the Registration and Vocational Rehabilitation processes. 

This reading is intended solely for People who are Blind and/or Print-Disabled. The Audible Local Ledger, a non-profit organization that is part of the Massachusetts Audio Information Network, reads local news and information to several hundred blind and print disabled listeners on the Cape, Islands and South Coast of Massachusetts. Along with our Sero iPhone app, smart speakers, specially tuned SCA receivers and cable streams, our podcasts are yet another channel we employ to bring our blind listeners their community and regional news 24/7/365. More info is available at:  www.audiblelocalledger.org or by calling 508-539-2030.

The MCB Community Update speaks with newly appointed Deputy Commissioner Justine Muir about her goals and the work that's getting done at MCB.

This month we speak with the Director of the Older Independent Blind Program, Karen Hatcher. The OIB concentrates on the unmet needs of elders coping with limitations imposed upon them by legal blindness, advancing age, and social isolation, MCB’s OIB Program provides direct and purchased services to eligible consumers so they can live independently and confidently in their homes and communities.

Join us as we explore the MCB registration process as well as the wide variety of Benefits that MCB offers to assist people who are blind and print impaired.

Join us on the last Friday of each month for an interview series with MCB leaders. We will interview Commissioner John Oliveira this month, and then again quarterly; address ongoing issues and concerns for people who are blind and print disabled; and bring to light developments in Assistive Technology (AT), Mobility and Orientation and many other services and training that the MCB provides. Produced by the Audible Local Ledger, a reading service based in Mashpee. More information at audiblelocalledger.org

Join us as we explore the wide variety of Assistive Technology (AT) devices that have been deployed and others that will be available in the near future to assist people who are blind and print impaired.

Join us as we meet and speak with Ally Bull, Director of Orientation and Mobility (O&M), about the services offered by Mass Commission for the Blind which assist people who are blind or vision impaired become both safer and more independent. Besides learning a bit about Ally and her team, some of the topics include: - How are MCB consumers assigned guide dogs and what basics are mandated before one can be considered? - The White Cane - different types of people require different types of canes - learn some of the distinctions. - Protecting the upper body - technology and the laws which help reduce head and torso strikes. Next month's guest is Alexander Pooler, who will provide updates and insights about the quickly evolving world of Assistive Technology. Learn about "Alexa" and the smart speaker's ability to positively impact your daily routines, along with emerging technologies that can make the world safer for people who are vision impaired. The "MCB Community Update" is produced by the Audible Local Ledger, a non profit, volunteer reading service for people who are blind or print impaired based in Mashpee, Massachusetts. Part of MAIN (Massachusetts Audio Information Service), you can contact us at 508-539-2030 or info@audiblelocalledger.org to donate, volunteer, or receive a way to listen if you are print disabled. 

Join us on the last Friday of each month for an interview series with MCB leaders. We will interview Commissioner John Oliveira this month, and then quarterly; address ongoing issues and concerns for people who are blind and print disabled; and bring to light developments in Assistive Technology (AT), Mobility and Orientation and many other services and training that the MCB provides. Produced by the Audible Local Ledger, a reading service based in Mashpee. More information at audiblelocalledger.org