June 25, 2026
From the Editor
It is officially summer! The annual American Council of the Blind National Convention is coming up, which means BayLines Express, along with the BSCB board and our committees, will take the month of July off and reconvene in August. We had a very informative Third Thursday session on June 18 about all aspects of the convention. This year, Sharon Strzalkowski will be our delegate, and Mary Haroyan will be our alternate. If you are a member, look out for further information on how to vote in ACB elections. We’ll see you in August!
Don’t forget about our blog! You can read member spotlight articles and all past member-submitted articles to BayLines Express by going to https://acbofma.org/blog. Blog posts are ordered newest to oldest, and there are several of them per page. Each individual post’s title is a link that will take you to the full body of text.
If you would like to contribute information or comment on ways to improve BayLines Express, please contact Dianna Leonard at newsletter@acbofma.org. And if you have an idea for a monthly article and would like to contribute your writing, please contact Myra Ross at newsletter@acbofma.org. The newsletter mailbox is shared between Myra and Dianna.
News from the Board
The Board last met on June 14. We welcomed a couple of non-board members who listened to the proceedings.
We will be participating in the American Council of the Blind affiliate score card, which is a tool to help us determine our strengths and needs for growth. The plan is that ACB national will assist in any needed training on areas of concern that we determine could be helpful.
We voted to send two people to the Disability Policy Consortium gala, and Brian Charlson asked to be allowed to attend, as his long-time friend Charlie Carr is being honored at the gala.
We will be holding a budget meeting on June 28 and are grateful for the work of our Treasurer David Kingsbury, and former Treasurer Nick Corbett, in keeping our accounts in good standing.
Brian Charlson asked all board members and everyone in our affiliate to support the ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk via our Patriots team. He will send out the team link again soon.
Social Committee Chair ElizabethAnn Johnson mentioned the upcoming strawberry picking event and has recently sent out a thorough announcement about it to our email list.
Transportation Committee Chair Myra Ross, and the committee members, are interested in how our members navigate from one regional transit authority to another, and what pickup and transfer points they can use. They will let us know more details about this project soon.
We are very pleased to say that we now have 225 members in our affiliate and are grateful to the membership committee for their hard work in certifying everyone.
The Board will not meet in July due to the ACB National Convention. The next Board meeting will take place on August 9.
Events Calendar
The next meeting of Blind and Visually Impaired User Group (VIBUG) will take place on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 1:00pm via Zoom. Further information and how to join is listed at https://vibug.org/.
The next Perkins Library Without Walls will meet in July of 2026. To RSVP or listen to the upcoming LWW schedule, call the voice mailbox system at (617) 972-7852.
The next Third Thursday with the BSCB will take place on August 20 at 8:00 PM via Zoom. Join us as we hear from Tatum Pritchard. Please be sure to subscribe to our Announce List at bscb-announce+subscribe@acblists.org to stay up to date.
Below are landing page links for the MCB Rehabilitation Council (RC), and the MCB Statutory Advisory Board (SAB). You may want to bookmark them and check them often for time-sensitive entries. They contain details of upcoming events and meetings, recordings of recent meetings, and other relevant information.
RC landing page: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/mcb-rehabilitation-council
SAB landing page: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/mcb-statutory-advisory-board
News from the Web
Aerin Glazer founded Tilt Beauty in response to the lack of accessible cosmetic solutions, and built the brand around ergonomic product design for easier use. Tilt Beauty has been around for about a year now, and you can learn more about it in the following article.
Inside Tilt Beauty’s Mission to Break Accessibility Barriers
Many of you have likely heard of OneCourt, the tablet that enables blind and low vision sports fans to follow along with live games while in-person. Some ACB staff members tried it out at this year’s Super Bowl, and it’s available in select cities during this year’s FIFA World Cup. Learn more about the impact it’s making below.
From putting traffic cones on monuments to bars running dry of beer, the Tartan Army took over the Boston area during recent FIFA World Cup games and formed a relationship that has Boston petitioning to be a sister city with Glasgow. Below is one of the many articles highlighting the festivities, which have since moved on.
Red Sox thank Scotland’s Tartan Army for unforgettable Boston presence
Finding My Place Through BITS
By Kayla Bentas
Two years ago, I joined Blind Information Technology Solutions, better known as BITS, because the organization had free memberships available. At the time, I saw it as a chance to connect with a group focused on accessible technology and the blind and low vision community. What I did not realize was how deeply BITS would become part of my life.
In the fall of 2024, I participated in the Microsoft Office 365 course that BITS offered at no cost. The course was excellent, but what stayed with me was more than the instruction. I noticed the encouragement, the practical information, and the feeling that everyone had something to learn and something to share.
I appreciated right away that BITS welcomed people at many different technology levels. Some members were just beginning to learn basic skills. Others were comfortable with everyday tools and wanted to grow. Some were advanced users, trainers, developers, and technology leaders. That range made the organization feel welcoming instead of intimidating. It showed me that BITS is not only for people who already know a lot about technology. It is also for people who are curious, nervous, unsure, or simply ready to learn.
That experience helped me decide to become a lifetime member. I did not want BITS to be temporary in my life. I wanted to keep learning, contribute where I could, and grow alongside people who understood both the challenges and the possibilities of accessible technology. Since joining, I have gained new skills, valuable knowledge, and friendships that go far beyond technology. I now have people I can learn with, laugh with, ask questions of, and depend on.
Building Confidence and Independence
One of the most meaningful examples of that support happened when I attended the ACB National Convention last year in Dallas, Texas. I went by myself, which was a major step for me. Traveling alone can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating airports, hotels, convention spaces, transportation, and unfamiliar surroundings. But I was not truly alone. I had help from BITS members, people I now call my friends, who guided me through the process.
That convention helped me build confidence as an independent traveler. If I got stuck, someone talked me through getting unstuck. If I was unsure where to go, I had people I could reach out to. We stayed together, attended presentations, helped at the BITS booth, and taught the BITS AI course. It combined learning, service, independence, and friendship in a way I will always remember.
That experience gave me the confidence to do it again. This year, I am going to the ACB National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. I booked my hotel and flight back in January, and I plan to arrange airport assistance from check-in to the gate and again when I arrive. That may sound like a small detail, but for me it represents independence. BITS helped me realize that I can travel, plan, ask for what I need, and participate fully.
BITS has also helped me grow in other ways. I have learned how to build WordPress websites from scratch, strengthened my Microsoft Office 365 skills, and become more comfortable using technology as something I can teach, support, and build with. I am now chair of the BITS Finance Committee, vice chair of the IT Committee, and a member of the Board. These are roles I am very proud to hold.
Who BITS Is
BITS empowers blind and low vision individuals through technology, education, community, and advocacy. The organization is built around the idea that technology should connect people, not divide them. That matters because technology can feel overwhelming, especially when it is not designed accessibly or when people do not have the training and support they need.
BITS helps make technology less intimidating by creating a community where people can ask questions, learn at their own pace, and receive encouragement from others who understand. The organization’s values spell out the word BRIDGE: Belonging, Respect, Inclusivity, Devotion to Community, Growth, and Empathy. Those values are not just words. They describe what many of us experience as members. BITS is a bridge between people and technology, between beginners and experts, and between uncertainty and confidence.
Why BITS Is a Place for Learners
Many people think they have to be “good with technology” before joining a technology organization. BITS proves the opposite. You do not have to know every application, setting, shortcut, or device. You only need curiosity and a willingness to learn. A person might join because they want to use Microsoft Word more efficiently with a screen reader. Another person might want to understand Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Google tools, artificial intelligence, WordPress, coding, web accessibility, or accessible apps. Someone else might simply want a friendly place to ask, “How do I do this?” without feeling embarrassed.
BITS provides educational opportunities, presentations, mentoring, technology support, member discussions, community events, product discounts, and resources that help blind and low vision people become more confident technology users. Courses are especially valuable because they are designed with blind and low vision users in mind.
Community is another major benefit. BITS hosts public chat sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM. These informal gatherings give people a chance to connect, ask questions, and get to know others. BITS also has email lists, member discussion spaces, mentoring, and technology assistance, so people can stay informed and supported.
My Invitation to You
BITS matters because technology is connected to almost every part of life, including communication, education, employment, healthcare, transportation, finances, advocacy, entertainment, and staying connected with others. For blind and low vision individuals, accessible technology can mean independence. It can mean being able to write a document, send an email, manage a spreadsheet, attend a virtual meeting, build a website, apply for a job, learn a new skill, or travel with more confidence.
Anyone interested in joining BITS can visit the BITS website and go to the membership section.
If you are unsure which membership level is right for you, you do not have to figure it out alone. If you need help signing up, have questions, or simply want to chat about resources, technology, or blindness overall, you are welcome to contact me at kayla.bentas@bits-acb.org.
Two years ago, I joined because a free membership was available. Today, I am a lifetime member, a board member, chair of the Finance Committee, vice chair of the IT Committee, a more confident traveler, a website builder, a lifelong learner, and someone who has found a community I truly value. BITS helped me find my place. It may help you find yours too.
BSCB Contact Information
Phone: (773) 572-6312
BSCB website: https://acbofma.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACBOfMA/