Updated on Friday, June 14th, this is the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Information Update, available on the MCB Voice Information System at 617-626-7660. And (800) 392-6450. You can say “tape” into the phone. This message is also available on "Newsline" the accessible newspaper service by pressing number 2, the local Channel and this message is in the "Mass. Commission for the Blind" section. This update is produced by Joe Weisse for MCB.

MassHealth invites you to join Rosalie Edes, EOHHS Assistant Secretary and Dr. Julian Harris, Medicaid Director on Tuesday, June 18th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the State Transportation Building Floor 2, Conference Rooms 2 and 3 at 10 Park Place in Boston. Working Together to Improve Communication with People with Disabilities to make suggestions for improving communication with MassHealth. For more information contact Elaina Brin MassHealth Disability Accommodation Ombudsman at masshealthhelp@ehs.state.ma.us or call 617 847-3468 or 617 847-3788 TTY. Comments may be made in person during the hearing, or you can e-mail them to masshealthhelp@ehs.state.ma.us.

Seminars@Hadley Presents: Braille Exchange: Drawing Pictures Using the Braillewriter Did you know you can use a braillewriter and slate and stylus as tools to create tactile braille pictures? Whether you know uncontracted or contracted braille, you too can take part in this fun activity. Join Seminars@Hadley and learn the skill of using a braillewriter or slate and stylus to create braille pictures. Hadley instructor Susan Fisher and 2010 Hadley Student of the Year Karen Santiago will discuss the steps involved in creating these tactile pictures. Please come prepared with your braillewriter (preferred) or slate and stylus loaded with paper. Have the left margin on the braillewriter set as far to the left as possible and the right margin as far to the right as possible. Bring several sheets of 8 ½ by 11 inch braille paper or several 5 by 8 inch index cards. Together, you will create a few pictures during this seminar and how you can make more on your own. this 60 minute seminar will include a question and answer session. Space in this seminar is limited. Please only register if you know you are available to attend so that others are not closed out. Register at www.hadley.edu for the Braille Exchange seminar on June 19.

The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind is developing updates to its State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Supported Employment Services for Federal Fiscal Year 2014 to meet the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. In order to solicit public comment on the plan and the updates, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind will hold public hearings on Tuesday, June 25th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Mass. Commission for the Blind office at 888 Purchase Street, Suite 203 in New Bedford, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Mass. Commission for the Blind office at 600 Washington Street in Boston ALSO FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. and on Thursday, June 27th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Mass. Commission for the Blind office at 436 Dwight Street, Room 109 in Springfield. All interested persons are invited to attend these hearings or to submit written comments on the plan updates. the plan updates are available upon request in large print, Braille, or text file. Please direct requests for copies, for directions to the hearings, or for accommodations to meet special needs, to Patricia Hart (617) 626 7502 or Mass. Toll free (800) 392-6450 extension 626 7502. Please send any written comments or requests for copies to: Patricia Hart, Policy Development Unit, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, 600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 (Patricia.Hart@state.ma.us). All comments received on or before June 27, 2013 will be considered.

Bank of America is rolling out new ATMs that allow the user to communicate in real time with a live person. They are called teller assisted ATMs. The machines with this new capability have been designed with accessibility in mind, and all features are designed to work with the talking atm functionality. The first of the new machines was installed at the Bank of America location at 133 Mass Ave at the corner of Boylston and Mass Ave in Boston with others around the state as well. Just opened with audio described movies is the CHESTNUT HILL SHOWCASE SUPERLUX theater, located at 55 Boylston Street in Chestnut Hill.

Take the AFB Described TV Survey! As you know, since July 1, 2012, America's leading broadcast and cable television channels have each been required by law to provide at least 50 hours of primetime or children's programming with description in every calendar quarter, approximately four hours per week per channel. Take just a few minutes and participate in AFB's Described TV Survey, and let them know about your experiences accessing television programming with video description. You will be invited to tell what your favorite described programs are and which programs that aren't currently being described you would very much like to have described. By taking this survey, you will help to better understand how well the major broadcast and cable networks are complying with the law and how satisfied viewers with vision loss are with program offerings. Your answers will be completely anonymous. You may choose, however, to provide your zip code when prompted. The law requires that video description must be provided in the top 25 TV markets, but all broadcast stations and cable companies must pass description through to customers unless some exception applies. Providing your zip code will help better track how well broadcast stations and cable companies in specific TV markets around the country are doing to comply with the law. To take the AFB Described TV Survey, go to: www.surveymonkey.com/s/CFTZRJ6. They will be collecting survey responses from now until July 15 and hope to report on their findings in late July. For further information, contact Mark Richert, Director, Public Policy, AFB at (202) 469-6833 or email MRichert@afb.net.

Thanks for reading this message and it will be updated again on Friday, June 21st.

This information is provided by the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.