Updated on Friday, May 25^th, this is the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Information Update, available on the MCB Voice Information System at 617-626-7660 or 800-392-6450, extension 626-7660. 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.

The Mass. Commission for the Blind offices will be closed, Monday, May 28th for Memorial Day.

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 2013 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 5^th 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. On Wednesday, June 6^th from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at the Mass. Commission for the Blind office at 800 Purchase Street, Suite 290 in New Bedford and on Thursday, June 7^th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Mass. Commission for the Blind office at 600 Washington Street, Boston. All interested persons are invited to attend these hearings or to submit written comments on the plan updates.  Copies of 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 (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 10, 2012 will be considered. 

The next meeting of VIBUG will be held on Saturday, June 9, from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Building 5, Room 134, on the campus of MIT.

In addition to their regular question and answer period, Rich Caloggero, who works in web design at MIT, will discuss the basics of web design in lay terms and will explain some of the many reasons why sites may be inaccessible. They will also have Gadget and app day. Please bring your favorite piece of hardware, accessory or your favorite program or app to share. If you need to sign up for the member support email list or need the password for online access, please send a message to president@vibug.org.

To register for this seminar, follow this link.   

A tentative schedule of Upcoming Seminars at Hadley School for the Blind will be coming up with Woodworking on Thursday, June 7^th 11:00 AM;  Microwave Magic on Wednesday, June 13^th at 11:00 AM; Movies and More on the Apex on Wednesday, June 20^th at 12:00 noon; A Brilliant Way to Stay Social on Wednesday, June 27at 12:00 noon and Where Did I Put It? on Friday, June 29, at 3:00 PM. All seminars are at eastern daylight times and for more information go to www.hadley.edu.

Join Museum-trained guides for a Feeling for Form Orientation Tour with a closer look at the Museum’s Colonial Furniture Galleries on Sunday, June 3, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.  This program is free for blind and low vision visitor and their guides but pre-registration is required.  The registration deadline for this program is Wednesday, May 30.  For more information or to pre-register, contact Valarie Burrows, Accessibility Coordinator at 617 369-3302 or email her at vburrows@mfa.org. The Museum of Fine Arts is located at 465 Huntington Avenue in Boston and at www.mfa.org/visit/accessibility

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