Duncan Council of the Blind

05/11/2026

NLS has a full slate of patron-focused online events this month.
On Thursday, May 14, the monthly Many Faces of BARD program will explore Typing Text Using the DA2. After a presentation and demonstration, NLS staff members will take your questions about all things BARD (our Braille and Audio Reading Download service) for the remainder of the hour. The program will begin at 7 p.m. eastern time and last for one hour. Get more information at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/many-faces-of-bard.
The topic for the Thursday, May 21, Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker online program at 7 p.m. eastern time will be Creating the Personalized Experience: Effectively Setting Volume, Speed and Tone in the My Talking Books Skill on Alexa. More information: www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/smart-speaking-to-the-smart-speaker.
Finally, That All May eRead resumes its regular schedule on Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. eastern time. Navigating DAISY Files on Your eReader is the subject of this month’s program. NLS staff members will answer questions about the Braille eReader for the remainder of the hour. More information: www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread.
[Image: Close-up photo of a person holding an NLS DA2 audiobook player.]

05/08/2026

We like to share information about vision loss for those who are as curious as we are about how differently people navigate life. Grasping the concept of “I can see, but I can’t. It’s complicated.” can be difficult for many people to understand. We believe the more we know, the better we understand our encounters with others in daily life and the more we resist the urge to judge. Sometimes visually impaired or blind people don’t carry a white cane or have outward identifiers indicating their vision loss.

We recently came across this short audio-described TED Talk by Andrew Leland and found it very relatable. Progressive vision loss is different for everyone, but what we all have in common is constantly adapting to a “new normal.” Many retina specialists and vision professionals describe the process exactly that way.

We’ll admit, many of us have envied people whose central vision was the last to go. But whether vision loss happens all at once, progresses from peripheral to central vision, or from central vision outward to the periphery, as Andrew says, “it sucks.”

Still, we keep learning new ways to see and adapt. It can be especially challenging for older adults who didn’t receive blindness education or access to assistive and adaptive technology earlier in life, when the learning curve may have been easier, and who still want to rely on usable vision. The challenge is that usable vision, combined with visual memory, isn’t always something we can fully trust.

When does vision loss become blindness? Writer, audio producer and editor Andrew Leland explains how his gradual loss of vision revealed a paradoxical truth ...

05/07/2026

DCB really enjoyed the opportunity to visit with the Practical Nursing students at Red River Technology Center - Duncan, Oklahoma, and we appreciate the warm welcome from the director, instructors, and staff as well.

It was a privilege to join the President of the Duncan Council of the Blind in presenting on a topic that matters deeply to us. We shared resources and discussed important considerations in accessible healthcare to better support people who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind.

We're always encouraged to connect with members of the community who are open to learning ways to create more inclusive, respectful, and effective interactions for people with disabilities. Opportunities like this help build awareness and move us toward a more accessible healthcare system for everyone.

Grateful for the chance to be part of the conversation.

04/30/2026

Can we talk about how wildly baffling it is that in 2026, I can unlock my phone with my face, order groceries from my couch, and have a robot vacuum silently judge my life choices… but I still can’t reliably tell U.S. paper money apart by touch?

Blind people have been out here folding bills like financial origami, using apps, asking strangers, or carrying extra devices just to know if we’re handing over a $5, $10, or $20.

That is not independence. That is a workaround wearing a government-issued trench coat.

And now we’re finally getting a raised tactile feature… on the redesigned $10 bill.

Just the $10.

Thank you for inviting accessibility to the currency party, but why is she entering one bill at a time through the side door?

Blind people don’t only use tens. We use ones, fives, tens, twenties, fifties — all of it. Accessible currency should not be sprinkled onto one denomination like a tiny compliance garnish.

Progress? Yes.
Baffling? Absolutely.

Our money should make sense for everyone who uses it. 💸

04/21/2026

in 1976, to commemorate both Thomas Jefferson’s 233rd birthday and the nation’s Bicentennial, the Federal Reserve issued a redesigned $2 bill. The new bill kept Jefferson’s portrait on the front but replaced an engraving of Monticello on the back with a vignette of John Trumbull's painting "Declaration of Independence." According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), five of the 47 people portrayed in the painting itself were cropped from the bill due to space.
You don’t see many $2 bills around nowadays. But 50 years ago — when gasoline averaged 57 cents a gallon and a typical fast-food meal cost less than $2 — that $2 bill had the purchasing power of more than $11 today.
Speaking of U.S. currency, did you know that NLS partners with BEP to provide free currency readers to eligible individuals who are blind or visually impaired? The compact iBill Talking Banknote Identifier announces a note’s value in one of three ways: by voice, a pattern of tones or a pattern of vibrations. Find out more — and download an application if you’re eligible — at www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/us-currency-reader-program?loclr=fbnls.
[Image: The front and back of a $2 bill. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, U.S. Department of the Treasury.]

04/20/2026

A big thank you to a very gifted and talented DCB member, along with her 3D printing mentor—her young grandson—for creating this wonderful braille practice sheet and cross pendant. These high-contrast, 3D-printed tools show just how useful and creative 3D printing can be for our community, and DCB members are going to enjoy exploring the possibilities.

The braille practice sheet features raised white letters and braille dots on a blue background for easy visibility and tactile learning, along with numbers and common symbols.

Reminder: The DCB Chapter meets the third Friday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the Stephens County Historical Museum in Fuqua Park, Duncan, OK.

04/08/2026

https://afb.org/research-and-initiatives/research/toolkits/best-practices-guide-hospitals

Best Practices Guide for Hospitals Interacting with People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Pages in this Section Video: Supporting Individuals with Visual Impairments in the Healthcare Setting, Part One Video: Supporting Individuals with Visual Impairments in the Healthcare Setting, Part Two Gene...

04/07/2026

Reminder: Duncan, don’t forget to vote today in the City Council election! 🗳️

It's sad how low our voter turnout is during some of these elections. These are very important for all of us and puts us in touch with representation for safer, accessible communities.

If you are blind or visually impaired, you have the right to vote independently and privately. Accessible options are available, including:

• Bringing a person of your choice to assist you

• Using an accessible voting machine with audio instructions and tactile controls

• Requesting assistance from poll workers if needed

There are also accessible absentee voting options available for upcoming elections, including the June 16 primary—so you can plan ahead.

Your voice matters, make a plan and vote!

You can learn more by visiting Oklahoma's Voter Portal. Find your polling place as well as review upcoming ballots. Screen readers work well with the site. We have a wonderful Stephens County Election Board office here and they can be reached at 580-255-8782.

04/02/2026

Cinema Fans: Check out new releases with Audio Description!

A Great Awakening [2026 Movie, rated PG-13, Drama, History]
The Drama [2026 Movie, rated R, Comedy, Drama, Romance]
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie [2026 Movie, rated PG, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy]

https://adp.acb.org/adp-search?provider_filter%5Bgeneric%7CCinema%5D=generic%7CCinema&type_1=All&language_filter=All&title=&title_starts_with= or go to https://adp.acb.org/adp-search and filter the search by "cinema".

02/20/2026

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