Yakima Valley Council of the Blind

04/11/2026

https://apnews.com/article/lego-bricks-for-blind-audio-braille-instructions-5a2a27de4354a0b1443171c3f24f29e4?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter&user_id=66c4ba295d78644b3a8d0f64

Matthew Shifrin loved building Lego sets as a child. But since he's blind, he relied on others for help.

04/11/2026

Reading After Vision Loss: It's Still Possible

One of the first things that can become more difficult after you've lost some vision is reading. There are many options and tools that can help, but what's right for you? In this episode, members of the Hadley community share what's worked for them, from magnifiers and large print to audiobooks, bra...

03/17/2026

🍀 Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Yakima Valley Council of the Blind! 🍀

Today we’re celebrating community, connection, and a little extra luck of the Irish ☘️

May your day be filled with laughter, friendship, and moments that brighten your path—just like the incredible spirit of our members who continue to inspire and support one another every day.

Here’s to finding joy in the journey, strength in community, and maybe even a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow 🌈

Stay safe, have fun, and don’t forget to wear your green!

03/13/2026

03/12/2026

⭐ Member Spotlight: Meet Dino Sanchez ⭐

Dino has been part of the Yakima Valley Council of the Blind for a little over two years, and like many of our members, he first connected with the group through a simple conversation that turned into a lasting friendship.

Our Member Spotlight series introduces the people who make our community special. This month, we’re excited to share a little about Dino — what he enjoys, how he got involved, and what being part of YVCB means to him.

“I’m a happy-go-lucky kind of guy and try to stay positive wherever I am.”

👋 Introduction

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about what you enjoy doing?
I enjoy doing fun things in a friendly atmosphere, like social events, concerts, and sporting events. I’m a big Mariners fan and usually try to catch two or three games each summer. It would also be fun to attend a Seahawks game again someday.

🎉 Fun Facts

What’s one fun fact about you that most people might not know?
I’m a happy-go-lucky kind of guy and try to stay positive wherever I am.

🤝 Council Connection

How long have you been involved with the council?
I’ve been involved for a little over two years now, going on three. When I first came to Yakima, I hopped off the airport shuttle on Fruitvale and walked into Smitty’s for a Manny’s beer and a burger. Lisa and Regi noticed my cane and came over to introduce themselves. They invited me to a council bowling night. It took me a couple of months to decide to go, but once I did, the rest was history.

🎳 Community & Activities

What do you enjoy most about being part of our council?
I really enjoy the camaraderie and just getting together to hang out. One of my favorite memories was going swimming at one of our members’ houses after bowling. It was nice to spend time talking with each other in a relaxed setting instead of a business meeting.

What community events or activities do you like to take part in?
I enjoy the parades in Yakima, the powwow at the Yakima SunDome, and the fair. The powwow is especially fun because I often run into old friends — people I grew up with on the reservation.

Can you share a favorite memory from a council activity?
I really appreciate the donuts that Sally and Don bring to the business meetings each month. They don’t have to do that, and I think it’s awesome.

What’s one way you like to stay active or engaged in the community?
Being involved with YVCB is a big part of staying active. I also enjoy walking places to do things, especially since I moved to a location where I can easily walk to get Asian or Mexican food.

🎶 Personal Interests

What hobbies or pastimes do you enjoy?
Bowling is one of my favorite activities. I’m mostly there for the good times. My dad actually got me into bowling — one Christmas he even bought me a bowling ball with my name on it.

Do you have a favorite place in town you like to visit?
The 2nd Street Grill. They have really good halibut.

What kind of books, music, or shows do you enjoy?
I’m a classic rock kind of guy, and I also enjoy reading a variety of magazines.

What’s something you’re looking forward to this season?
Going to a Mariners baseball game.

🌍 Encouragement & Representation

What do you think people should know about the blind and low-vision community?
It would be helpful if more people understood how to interact with someone who is blind or low vision. A lot of people aren’t sure what to do. For example, someone might offer to help me cross the street but then try to hold my hand. I’m more of a “shoulder guide” person — I’ll put my hand on someone’s shoulder and follow. It’s also important for people to understand that there are many different levels of blindness.

How has being part of the council made a difference in your life?
The council has helped connect me with resources that support my independence. Through the council, I learned about getting an advocate who now helps me with things related to my apartment. Howard encouraged me to look into that, and it made a big difference. Without that conversation, I might never have pursued it.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about joining us?
Be open-minded and be kind. Some people, especially older folks, can be set in their ways, but kindness goes a long way. When people are kind to us, we respond with kindness right back.

03/08/2026

What a great opportunity! Check it out!

Are you a young adult thinking about a getting a guide dog and interested in career exploration? Apply for Careers and Canine Connections with Guide Dogs for the Blind and APH CareerConnect! Discover more about this program for adults ages 18 to 26 and apply today: https://bit.ly/4kcdjLr

03/01/2026

To restart JAWS, press INSERT+SPACEBAR, followed by F4 if you are using the desktop keyboard layout, or CAPS LOCK+SPACEBAR, followed by F4 if you are using the laptop layout.

There are times when JAWS becomes unresponsive or you need to refresh its operation without rebooting your computer. When this occurs, you can easily restart JAWS without navigating to the program window or locating a menu option.

02/25/2026

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02/23/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17MTmxtCXp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/22/2026

All about Wikitrip:
This is a very cool free and fully accessible app that I heard about on a recent Applevis Extra podcast, not just for blind people.
When I find a good app, I want to encourage the developer to continue supporting us and improving it, so I posted the following review on the App Store.
It is difficult to find truly free apps on the Apple App Store these days, let alone outstanding free apps.
There’s a reason this app is receiving such good exposure on the Applevis website, and it’s well deserved. Thanks are owed to Bjorn, the developer, for giving this app an accessibility rating so that it can be more easily found by those who can most benefit from it. It’s a terrifically unique idea.


Description from the App Store: WikiTrip is your personal audio guide, powered by Wikipedia. Start moving — walk, drive, or ride — and WikiTrip reads aloud the stories behind the places you pass. No tapping, no reading — just listen and explore. HOW IT WORKS: Start WikiTrip and go. The app finds the most interesting Wikipedia articles nearby and reads them to you in a natural AI voice. A smart algorithm picks articles based on editorial quality, content length, and proximity.
TAP THE MAP: Curious about a specific place? Tap anywhere on the map to hear about it instantly.
13 AI VOICES: Choose from 13 expressive voices powered by OpenAI.
19 LANGUAGES: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, Turkish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Icelandic.
YOUR HISTORY: Every article you hear is saved with a link to the full Wikipedia page.
SET YOUR PACE: Adjust the minimum distance and time between articles to match your journey.

what’s new: 2.0.0, 1w ago, completely rebuilt from the ground up. Smarter article selection based on quality, length, and distance - Tap anywhere on the map to hear about a place - Article history with links back to Wikipedia - Customizable distance and time between articles - Fresh new icon, branding, and interface.

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02/19/2026

The Periodic Table for Monarch is an interactive app that gives braille readers in depth access to the structure and relationships of the elements.