SCAVI NEWS
A monthly newsletter of the South Central Association of the Visually Impaired
SCAVI, P.O. Box 2216, Bedford, IN 47421
Facebook: [https://m.facebook.com/The-South-Central-Association-of-the-Visually-Impaired]{.underline}
Newsletter written and produced by President Regina Vonderhaar and Edited by Rita Kersh.
Regina may be reached at 812-675-0065
Cell 317-435-8216
e-mail rvonderhaar\@att.net
March 2022
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCAVI
Our next meeting will be Monday, March 7, at the Bedford Free Methodist Church, 630 R Street in the Fellowship Hall in the basement at 9:30 A.M. Our speaker will be Denise Mullis talking about her social work career.
SCAVI BIRTHDAYS
Dolly Sowder March 10
Kathy Reising March 10
ACB NEWS
Today, the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx®) Tech program announced a new effort to seek both short- and long-term solutions to improve at-home test accessibility. RADx® will consult and work with experts from NIH, national organizations who represent communities in need of accessible tests, and test manufacturers to inform the modification or development of more accessible at-home tests, including device design, packaging, modes of instruction, and other challenges. Though at-home COVID-19 tests were only invented last year, the Administration's investment in this technology has rapidly scaled up manufacturing to the millions per day.
This effort strives to ensure that all individuals have an option for at-home testing that can be used and interpreted without assistance.
• Calling on all rapid test manufacturers to prioritize accessibility.
Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a formal request for information (RFI) to ensure the preservation and expansion of current domestic manufacturing capacities for over-the-counter rapid antigen and point-of-care COVID-19 tests. The RFI specifically asks manufacturers to include an assessment of the accessibility of their tests—including self-administration and result interpretation—for people
who are blind or visually-impaired; individuals with physical, cognitive, or other disabilities; and individuals who need non-English language or literacy support? The RFI states, "If your company's product is largely inaccessible for these individuals, please provide a clear and definitive description of how you can improve accessibility." The Administration will use the RFI submissions to inform near-term investments.
• Updated COVID-19 guidance. In an effort to raise awareness around the importance of protecting people at high-risk for COVID-19, including people with disabilities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reviewed the latest science and published an updated list of certain medical conditions that put people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to include people with disabilities. Yesterday, CDC also released the agency's "How to Interpret Positive Self-Test Results" guidance in American Sign Language (ASL), a first step towards ensuring that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can access key information about how to protect themselves and their communities by using rapid self-tests.
The Administration will continue to build on today's announcements.
Osaremen Okolo and Kim Knackstedt
White House Office of the COVID-19 Response and Domestic Policy Council
HELPFUL TECH SUPPORT
Most of us have probably been in those situations where we had a question about using our iPhone or computer. There is free assistance available for the visually impaired over the phone. For windows computer tech support call 800-936-5900. For Apple iPhone tech support call 877-204-3930.
SCAVI MINUTES
The meeting of the South Central Association of the Visually Impaired was held on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 9:43 am in the basement of the Bedford Free Methodist Church. Present at the meeting were Rich and Regina Vonderhaar, Denise Mullis, Rita Kersh, Doug and Brenda Eads, Mike and Dolly Sowder and Loney and Ida Galey.
Regina led a discussion on how to increase membership. We decided to have 500 new brochures printed. Dolly made the motion to approve printing of brochures, Brenda seconded. The motion passed. We then decided to attend the Senior Fair for an outreach event.
We then talked about State convention plans. Dolly said she would contact State library to get talking book applications to give out at our table.
Last we talked about transportation in Lawrence County. Rich agreed to contact Uber to see if we had it here.
Brenda made the motion to adjourn, and Rita seconded.
We adjourned the meeting at 10:30 am.
Respectfully Submitted by Secretary Rich Vonderhaar