March 30, 2017 Video of DeafBlind Day at the State House [Photos of past or present ?events of Deafblind Awareness Days where shown. Location: State House’s Grand Hall. Transcript: MSAD Board of Director’s Joe Toledo (a Latino man with a goat t-beard, dressed in a navy blue polo shirt with MSAD white interface imprinted on the left): Good morning, I invite you to take a look at what’s going on (camera rolls to the action, Deputy Commissioner Tricia Ford can be seen interpreting for low-vision consumers, Linda Parkhurst and John Cunniff). Thank you for checking and just to let you know, Governor Baker approved state wide acclimation and recognition of Deafblind Week, annually starting in 2018. Make a note and plan to come to these events scheduled on June 26, 2018-July 2, 2018. Our DeafBlind community needs you and your support. Commissioner of MCDHH, Heidi Reed, recognized DeafBlind leaders, Kerry Thompson and Lori Seidman who are members the MCDHH’s Statewide Advisory Council (SAC) and SAC’s involvement and commitment in working with the Ma Commission for the Blind (MCB[A1] ). MCDHH continues to collaborate with MCB on a state level. [Video of people standing up, wrapping up their good-byes to leave the event] Joe of MSAD continues to narrate, now the event has come to close. It was sentimental to watch the personal stories of a few Deafblind people testify about their lives, journeys, struggles and hardships which made them able to grow into freedom and independence, more so to join the larger network as of Deaf community members. These stories brought the chills up my spine! DBCAN, DBCC and MCB intent for further and continued collaborations are special as life-giving. I appreciate hearing these stories. Additionally, it was mentioned that a new program is on the horizon, called iCanConnect under the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA. This program provides all kinds support, education and information of telecommunications, phone, online and with iPads or desktop computers that are available to the Deafblind statewide and nationwide communities. It is up to date with newest technology for the Deafblind people and that’s quite awesome! Glad to bring this information to you, thank you for watching! [Video recaps from this year’s Deafblind State House Day with yellow text reading, Keep an Eye on this Community with unity letters in red.]