Summary
December 2024
The Hull Foundation
Monthly Sight Loss News
Serving the Sight loss and Blind
Community since 1962
Website: hullflc.org
PH: 503.668.6195
“The publishing of this newsletter is a service of The Hull Foundation and Learning Center Inc. It is not an endorsement of any of its contents. All products, items and other information may be used at the sole discretion of the reader.”
Edited by Hull Foundation Staff
Contents
Our Mission Statement: 3
Making “Impossible” Thinking Possible 4
ABAPITA 7
Reading in the Dark Book Club 9
Holiday Spinach Pomegranate Salad 13
Picture Description 14
Poem 15
The Assistive Technologist 17
Hull Foundation Upcoming Events and Seminars: 20
Hull Foundation Presents Zoom Meetings: 22
Independence, finding solutions A to Z 23
Did you know?... 25
Jokes to Keep you Laughing 26
Contact Us 27
Our Mission Statement:
The mission of the Hull Foundation and Learning Center is to provide programs, facilities and services including social, educational, and recreational activities for people with blindness and sight loss.
*If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by email, or to unsubscribe, please call the Hull Foundation at 503.668.6195 or send an email to: oralhull@gmail.com
Making “Impossible” Thinking Possible
Part 3 of 3.
Teresa Christian, Sight Loss Instructor
Try this outrageous scenario on for size, the Jamaican Bobsled team. If you have never watched the movie “Cool Runnings” you might want to check it out sometime. When most people hear about a Jamaican Bobsled team, the first thing out of their mouths is “There isn’t any snow in Jamaica.” Yeah, and they are of course right; there is in fact, no snow in Jamaica. Talk about going for an impossible dream; that is, it is right there. Everyone laughed and made fun of them, from their friends and family to the Olympic officials and fellow athletes. They had a dream which looked on the outside impossible, but they figured out how they could practice in Jamaica even without snow, and they did it. Yes, it was hard! They allowed their passion to power them through the rough spots and boy oh boy were there some rough spots. To even entertain the idea, they had to do some serious out of the box thinking.
• “Destroy” the old model. For example, the first time the Jamaican Bobsled team went to the Olympics was 1988 and that is what the movie ‘Cool Runnings” was about. They had to obliterate all previous ideas of thought. It was impossible for Jamaica to have an Olympic bobsled team because they never had before, so therefore, they could never have a bobsled team then or ever. Not! Well, those Rosta cats did the impossible thing, and they did have an Olympic bobsled team.
• So, what can you take away from this? Envision multiple futures for yourself. What are some potential scenarios for you, and what will you need to succeed in each one?
The Jamaican bobsled team went back several times since then and after a twelve-year hiatus they were back in 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
Even though they did not take a medal, they made it there. They had to be good to make it to the Olympics at all!
Here is the important thing about all this. Yes, getting a medal is something to be proud of, no doubt. Yes, getting a medal brings with it a lot of $$, publicity, etc. They had the courage and persistence to go for their big dream in the face of “reality” logical thinking and against all odds even when their family, friends, Olympic officials, and fellow athletes were mocking and ridiculing them.
I have an important question for you. This is the most important question that anyone could ever ask you in your entire life.
What is your dream? Do you have or are you willing to grow the courage to make it happen?
Do not die with your dream still inside you. Set yourself free! Live your truth!
Open the door to your dreams!
ABAPITA
BY Marja Byers, SLI
ABAPITA is an acronym for “ain’t blindness a pain in the…anatomy!” Things that happen because, as I often say, “I miss a lot”-blindness can be a pain. This month’s story is more about taking advantage of a situation to inject humor in situations where sighted people might not expect it. It is one of our superpowers as blind people! This is one of my stories.
I had been shopping at Fred Meyer’s for a few things and feeling lazy, I thought I would catch the bus home. As I was leaving the store I had seen a group of 4-5 men in suits, carrying clipboards, talking, and making notes. I assumed they were from the corporate office, evaluating what might need attention in and around the store. I continued my way out the door to go to my bus stop but as I got about halfway to the stop, I heard the bus go by. I decided to just walk home and turned around to walk back to the street that I lived on. As I approached the store’s front door, the group from the corporation had moved outside still discussing maintenance issues. As my white cane and I approached they did what most sighted people do, they froze in place, and they got very quiet. As I walked through their group I quipped, “I don’t know guys, it looks pretty good to me!” That broke the tension, they all laughed, and they learned that blind people could have a sense of humor too!
Sometime blindness can be fun instead of APITA!
To share you’re ABAPITA send it to oralhull@gmail.com with ABAPITA in the subject line.
Reading in the Dark Book Club
By Marja Byers, SLI
Our books for November were “Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen” by Susan Gregg Gilmore DB72281, and “A Street Cat Named Bob” by James Bowen DB77202. They are very different books; we enjoyed both and they provided great discussions! Even if you have not read the book that we are discussing feel free to join us because the discussions are always interesting.
December books~
12/10 “Arthur: the dog who crossed a jungle to find a home” by Mikael Lindnord DB114421, 7:16.
“When you are racing 435 miles through the jungles and mountains of South America, the last thing you need is a stray dog tagging along. But that is exactly what happened to Mikael Lindnord, Captain of a Swedish adventure racing team, when he threw a scruffy, but dignified, mongrel a meatball one afternoon. When the team left the next day, the dog followed. Try as they might, they could not lose him and soon Mikael realized he did not want to. Crossing rivers, battling illness and injury, and struggling through some of the toughest terrain on the planet, the team and dog walked together towards the finish line, where Mikael decided he would save the dog, now name Arthur, and bring him back to his family in Sweden, whatever it took. In compelling pros, Arthur provides a testament to the amazing bond between dogs and people.”
12/24 “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote DB30913, 33 minutes.
A late November morning and the exclamation “Oh my, its fruitcake weather, “conjure up for Truman Capote, the memory of a beloved cousin, Miss Sook Faulk, and Queenie, a little rat terrier “who has survived distemper, and two rattlesnake bites.” They make fruitcake on this, their last Christmas together.”
And
“The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas” by James Patterson/Tad Safran DB116361, 6:07.
“At Christmas time, a family of three are missing someone, dear to them. Until unexpected guests begin to arrive at their empty house, filling it with Christmas memories in the making.”
We will be choosing our books for January-April this month so come and give us your suggestions; keep in mind that our books must be available from NLS/Talking Books.
We also hope you will join us December 18 at 1:00 pm PT for our monthly “Beyond Book Club” Zoom call, where we talk about all thing's books, sources for books, genres, authors, narrators…it is up to us what we will discuss.
Happy reading!
Holiday Spinach Pomegranate Salad
By Tina Christian – Sight loss Instructor
2 10 oz. Packages of baby spinach
1c. Chopped pecans
1c. of Feta
1/2 Medium red onion
1 c. Pomegranate seeds
1 Pear
1 Honey Crisp Apple
5oz. Arugula
1/4c-1/2c Pomegranate vinegarette
Slice apple, onion, and pear thinly. Rough chop the spinach, pecans, and arugula. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Add pomegranate vinegarette, toss, and serve.
Picture Description
Cooking Seminar in November, guests making dips and grating cheese.
Poem
By Tina Christian, Sight loss Instructor
Baby it's Cold Outside
Dashing through the snow
My fingers are cold
The wind bites
The cars driving by are chugging because it's cold
A passerby shouts in glee,
Don't you know?
Know? I know it's cold outside
The snowmen looking chilled
They shout, work is out!
School is done!
Time to gather with everyone!
My cheeks rosy red I smile
Down on the ground
my tree trails
Snow crunches
The path to my door is made
The fire crackling
Hot chocolate brewin'
Inspiration hits,
I throw the window open
Happy Holidays! I yell.
Brrrrrrr...baby it's cold outside
The Assistive Technologist
By Patrick Burton, CEO of Benvision
The Assistive Technologist
Hello everyone,
By the time you are reading this, Speakaboo Premium has launched - or will be launching very soon!
We are introducing Premium to help cover server costs, improve the app, and bring exciting new features to all users. The free version will always remain available, but Premium offers the best experience for those who want more.
New Free Features:
• Choose imperial or metric measurements
• Improved AI accuracy
Premium Benefits:
• A new button to repeat the last description and ask follow-up questions
• Voice selection
• More detailed responses
• Faster response times
• Unlimited uses
As a special holiday offer only through the end of the month, you can purchase a lifetime subscription to Premium, so you can pay once and enjoy Premium forever! But if lifetime is too big a commitment, you can subscribe month-to-month; or keep enjoying the free version. Your support helps us grow while ensuring accessibility for everyone.
If you have not tried Speakaboo yet, find it on the Apple App Store by searching “Speakaboo.” As always, feel free to reach out to me with questions or suggestions at patrick@ben.vision.
Last month, I mentioned a project that I worked on called ViddyScribe which uses AI to add audio descriptions to your videos. I am thrilled to share that ViddyScribe was just named Best Web App in Google’s Gemini API Developer Competition, selected from over 3,100 competitors around the world! It felt great to see Google recognizing digital accessibility, and our win bolsters our commitment to making video content accessible to all.
Vaze and I, who built these apps together - and whom many of you met at this year’s Summer Retreat - are over the moon and deeply grateful for your support! If you have not tried it yet, take your favorite video over to https://viddyscribe.com and give it a whirl!
That is all for now. I wish you a joyful holiday season, and I will catch you in 2025!
Warmly,
Patrick
Hull Foundation Upcoming Events and Seminars:
December 3rd- 6th Advanced Sight Loss Seminar
December 17th- 21st Winter Getaway, spots are available. Call office for details.
December 23rd- Jan 5th – Office closed.
February 3rd- 9th – Winter Retreat
March 11th – 14th – Intro to Sight Loss Seminar
April 13th – 17th – Spring Fling Retreat
If you are interested in any of our social getaways, one day fun days, seminars, and
recreational retreats, please contact our office and sign up! Spots fill up very quickly, so jump in with both feet, save your spot and come out to Hull Park! If you would like to volunteer as staff
or sponsor an event, please contact the office at 503.668.6195.
Picture Description:
Santa on a cell phone. Call our office to sign up for the Zoom meeting schedule.
Hull Foundation Presents Zoom Meetings:
Current zoom meetings will include topics on tech, cooking, crafting, book club, supporting loved ones of people with sight loss or blindness and a class on forgetfulness that has been a favorite. Bring a friend or spouse, sighted or not!!
If you would like to sign up to receive a weekly email with the weekly zoom schedule and links to the meetings, please email the office at
oralhull@gmail.com or call us at 503-668-6195. If you are not an email user, then you can call us on Mondays to receive that week’s classes and
the call-in number and meeting ID number for meetings you are interested in attending via phone.
Independence, finding solutions A to Z
by Todd Fahlstrom
'Independence: Finding Solutions A to Z' is a zoom class taught by Todd Fahlstrom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays each month from 10-11am PST. The goal of this class series is to teach independent living skills to those with vision loss including technology, daily living skills, home management, and career development. Independence fosters growth and confidence.
Past class topics include kitchen and closet organization, making shopping lists and shopping, planners and calendars, and bump dot management, among other discussions. December topics include Kitchen safety and budgeting. You are encouraged to attend a class and walk away with renewed confidence, perspective, and drive no matter the degree of vision loss or skills you currently have.
Did you know?...
Save the date for the Blind Health Expo Virtual Event 2024: Friday, December 6, 2024.
Visit our virtual presentations for the Hull Foundation and Learning Center
https://accessiblepharmacy.com/blind-health-expo-2024/
Shop and help support at https://twoblindbrothers.com/ where 100% of profits are dedicated to curing blindness. Learn more at fightingblindness.org
Jokes to Keep you Laughing…or Groaning!
Q. What did the haunted spice cabinet say when December arrived?
A. “Season’s Greetings”
Q. What do Snowmen eat for breakfast?
A. Ice Krispies
Q. What did the snowman say to the other?
A. “Is it just me, or do you smell carrots?”
Stay well, stay safe, and stay happy!
Contact Us
The Hull Foundation and Learning Center
Phone: 503-668-6195
Email: oralhull@gmail.com
Website: hullflc.org
Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/OralHullPark/?notif_id=1631758417290618¬if_t=page_user_activity&ref=notif
On Instagram: www.instagram.com/hull_foundation/