FREE TAX PREPARATION HELP IN ARLINGTON
For taxpayers of low and moderate
income, Arlington County has
free tax preparation help available. Below are the schedules with locations and
a list of what to bring.
VITA and EDGE
901 South Highland
Street
From February 1st
through April 15th
Language English
Appointment
Required
Volunteer prepared
and self-prep are available.
For an
appointment, call 571-321-6976
Central
Library AARP Tax Help
1015 North Quincy
Street
February 1st to April 11th
Tuesdays: 10 am - 7 pm
Thursdays: 10 am - 5 pm
Appointments are
recommended, walk-ins are welcome in English and Spanish.
Make an appointment beginning
January 25th at Tax-Aide Information (novataxaide.org).
Learn more at the AARP Tax-Aide Information website or call 703-829-6192 after
January 25th.
Columbia Pike Library
AARP Tax Help
816 South Walter
Reed Drive
February 2nd
to April 13th
Tuesdays from
12:00 to 6:30 pm
Saturday s from
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Appointments are
recommended, walk-ins are welcome in English and Spanish.
Make an appointment beginning
January 25th at Tax-Aide Information (novataxaide.org).
Learn more at the AARP Tax-Aide Information website or call 703-829-6192 after
January 25th.
Important documents to
bring with you:
§ Social Security Cards (or ITIN letter) for each
family member
§ All W-2 and 1099 Forms
§ Information on all other income received in 2023
§ Copy of last two year’s return (if you have it)
§ For direct deposit of your refund, bank account
and routing number
§ Form 1095-A/B/C (if you purchased health
insurance thru the marketplace)
§ Income information for all your dependents
§ IRS Letters 6419 (if received)
###
THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION LAUNCHES PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR AIR
TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES
In preparation for the
busy holiday travel season, and in celebration of the 37th anniversary of the
Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has
launched a campaign, #AccessibleAirTravel, to raise awareness about the right
of air travelers with disabilities to safe, dignified, and accessible air
travel. An estimated 5.5 million Americans use a wheelchair, and many encounter
barriers when it comes to air travel.
The #AccessibleAirTravel campaign
will promote DOT’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights through
a quick and informative video that empowers individuals with disabilities to
understand and assert their right to safe, dignified, and accessible air
travel.
Learn more at DOT Launches Public Awareness Campaign to Ensure Air Travelers
with Disabilities Know Their Rights | US Department of Transportation.
###
OMB
RELEASES GUIDANCE ON SECTION 508 IMPLEMENTATION TO IMPROVE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE
Despite tens of millions of Americans
living with a disability, nearly half of the most popular federal government
websites are not fully accessible. In response, the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) has recently published guidance to help strengthen digital
accessibility and the management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Together
with the OMB memo "Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience" which also
requires accessibility, this guidance will aid in delivering a more
universally accessible digital experience for information and communication
technology provided by the federal government. This OMB memorandum, M-24-08 Strengthening Digital Accessibility and the Management
of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, tasks the
U.S. Access Board with several Government-wide actions. |
###
LSU HEALTH
DISCOVERY MAY OPEN NEW THERAPEUTIC AVENUES FOR DEGENERATIVE DISEASES OF THE
BRAIN AND EYE
Nicolas Bazan and
colleagues at Louisiana State University have identified a new mechanism that
protects against the excessive oxidative stress that precedes the development
of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and eye. LSU news story.
###
MARYLAND
STATE LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND PRINT DISABLED PODCASTS
The
Maryland State Library Agency has a series of podcasts on a wide variety of
topics available through several different platforms. Topics, links and
transcripts can be found at:
Maryland State Library Agency | Podcast on Spotify
Here are a few
samples to check out:
LBPD TUG: Integration Technologies Group, Inc.
LBPD Guest Hour - Friend of the Maryland State Library for the
Blind and Print Disabled
LBPD Live: Novel Writing 101
###
The following
performance will be described by a MWE volunteer. Note that recorded program
notes will be available at the theater just prior to the actual performance and
on Dial-In before and after the performance at Publication 8, Category 12,
Branch 11.
Annie
National Theater – 1-800-514-3849
Described Saturday, January 27th at 2:00 pm
& Sunday January 28th at 7:30 pm
###
Legal
Counsel for the Elderly Self-Help Office
Tuesday,
January 2ND from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library
For more than 45 years, Legal
Counsel for the Elderly has championed the dignity and rights of Washington,
D.C. elders by providing free legal and social work services to low-income
seniors in need.
The Self-Help Office Legal Associate
aids seniors with a variety of brief services such as getting answers to legal
questions, completing small claims complaints, writing consumer complaint
letters, assisting with small estate probate paperwork, obtaining a DC Real ID,
checking for public benefits, requesting DC services, assisting with legal
forms, and much more! Call 202-434-2120 to make an appointment.
###
Get
Up and Go: Stepping Into the New Year
Tuesday, January 2nd
and the 1st Tuesday of every month at 2:00 pm
Brr! It’s cold out there. How will
you get your steps in when the weather outside is frightful? Join this
Hadley Discussion Group to discuss creative ways to stay the course until
Spring. Don’t miss a step – stay motivated and healthy.
Sign up to join at Get Up and Go! Fitness | Hadley Discussion Group for the
Visually Impaired.
###
Travel
Talk: Remedies for Travel Hiccups
Wednesday, January 3rd
and the 1st Wednesday of every month at 5:00 pm
No matter how well we plan, we’re
sure to encounter a few hiccups in our travels. A fight is delayed, luggage
is lost, and any number of things go awry. What to do? Join this this Hadley
Travel Talk Discussion Group as they share ways to turn traveling woes around.
Sign up to join at Travel Talk | Hadley Discussion Group for the Visually Impaired.
###
POB
READS: Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions
Friday,
January 5th from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
A virtual event hosted by Prevention of Blindness Society
of Metropolitan Washington
This month, POB Reads
covers Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions, by Mario Giordano. On
her sixtieth birthday, Auntie Poldi retires to Sicily, intending
to while away the rest of her days with good wine, a view of the sea, and few
visitors. But Sicily isn’t quite the tranquil island she thought it would be.
When her handsome young handyman goes missing, and is discovered murdered, she
can’t help but ask questions. Soon there’s an investigation, a smoldering
police inspector, a romantic entanglement, one false lead after another, a
rooftop showdown, and finally, of course, Poldi herself, slightly
tousled but still perfectly poised. This “masterly treat” (Times Literary
Supplement) will transport you to the rocky shores of Torre Archirafi,
to a Sicily full of quirky characters, scorching days, and velvety nights,
alongside a protagonist who’s as fiery as the Sicilian sun.
To register, visit POB READS Sign Up Form – Prevention of Blindness Society of
Metropolitan Washington (youreyes.org) or call (301) 951-4444.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85372619909
Phone: 301 715 8592
###
Maryland
LBPD Technology User Group (TUG) Virtual Meeting
Saturday, January 6th
from 10:00 to 11:00 am
Echo Tips & HIMS SensePlayer
You do not have to RSVP for this event.
The Technology User Group (TUG) is delighted to
welcome two presenters to their inaugural Zoom Meeting. First up will be
David Ward from the Echo Tips podcast, who will be discussing tips and tricks
for your Echo device. Following this performance will be Christina Nixon
to highlight the many attributes of the HIMS SensePlayer.
Who should attend this meeting?
The sign in information to join the meetings is as
follows:
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://marylandlibraries.zoom.us/j/6562037293?omn=94648805523Meeting
ID: 656 203 7293
---
One tap mobile+13017158592, Meeting ID: 6562037293#
###
Monday,
January 8th at 7:00 pm
The featured
speaker will be Sam Seavey, creator of the extremely popular YouTube channel,
"The Blind Life,” on which he talks about living and thriving with vision
loss. He is an assistive technology expert and a visually impaired content
creator who films and edits all of his own material.
Sam
will be discussing the wide variety of canes available to blind and
visually impaired individuals. Something to note is that Sam tests the products
he discusses, so his assessment is based on personal experience.
Sam
started losing vision at age 11 as a result of Stargardt
disease. His website is: www.theblindlife.net.
Join
the meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86481244260?pwd=ekgxYldXMnlqYk16MFlua0lIQnozZz09
Meeting ID: 864 8124 4260
Passcode: 111222
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,86481244260
#,,,,*111222# US (Washington DC)
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 864 8124 4260
Passcode: 111222
Membership
in ACBVA is not required to attend this meeting.
For
more information about ACBVA, please email:
Info.acbva@gmail.com.
Visit the ACBVA website at: www.acbva.org to
learn more about the organization, find links to several resources and
learn how to become a member.
Please contact Paul D'Addario at 703-532-9138 or
Roseann Ashby
at 703-403-0226 with questions.
###
Social Security
Administration: Disability Benefits
Tuesday, January
9th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Prince
George’s Memorial Library Virtual
Branch
The
Social Security Administration provides protection for workers and their
families. Programs provide monthly income to seniors, workers with a
disability, children with disabilities, and families in which a spouse or
parent has died.
Attend
this virtual presentation to learn more about disability
benefits, eligibility requirements, and the application process.
The virtual
branch of the library is available 24/7 to PGCMLS cardholders. Please visit
their Online
Resources page to gain access to many worthwhile resources
or attend one of many virtual events by visiting pgcmls.info/events.
Need
help accessing a virtual program? Contact them via the Online Library Help form.
###
Writers’ Circle: Crafting Character Connections
Tuesday, January 9th and the 2nd Tuesday of every
month at 2:00 pm
Sign
up to join at Writers'
Circle | Hadley Discussion Group for the Visually Impaired
###
The Rockville Memorial
Library Talking Book Group Zoom Meeting
Wednesday,
January 10th from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. They will discuss
"Remarkably Bright Creatures," by Shelby Van Pelt. Here's a
summary of the book, where to get the audio version, and the Zoom info:
Staying
busy has helped Tova cope ever since her son disappeared decades ago. So, when
her husband dies, she takes a job at the local aquarium, where she meets
Marcellus, an octopus that deduces what happened to her son. Marcellus knows
more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight
arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son
disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body
can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late. Shelby Van Pelt's
debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past
can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. This book is 11 hours 8
minutes long. You can get it from Montgomery County Public Libraries on CD
or downloadable audio. The Talking Book BARD number is DB 107924.
Join
the event with your
Zoom app: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86867953753
Or Dial In by calling: 301 715 8592; use the
Meeting ID: 868 6795 3753.
###
Maryland Assistive
Technology Library Presentation
Friday, January 10th
from 2:00 to 3:00 pm
Hosted by Leisure World Lions Club
Leisure World of Maryland
(Clubhouse II)
3300 N. Leisure World Boulevard,
Silver Spring
With vision loss, we need
adjustments and technology to help us adapt. This state-run program can help!
Guest Speaker: Jerry Rice,
Program Manager
To RSVP, call Larry at (908)
770-9111
Sponsored by Prevention of Blindness Society
of Metropolitan Washington.
###
Crafting Circle: Crafting from Recycled and Repurposed Items
Wednesday,
January 10th and the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 5:00
pm
From scrapbooking to sewing,
knitting to painting, join this Hadley Discussion Group to learn and share
ideas to keep enjoying many creative projects. Why break the bank when there’s
a treasure trove of materials all around us? Get artsy with what’s right at
hand.
Sign up to join at Crafting Circle | Hadley Discussion Group for the Visually
Impaired.
###
Try Visual
Aids and Devices from Eschenbach
Thursday, January 11th
from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
POB Low Vision Resource Center
4948 St. Elmo Avenue #200, Bethesda
Learn about the various visual aids and devices
Eschenbach provides to individuals with vision loss. This includes handheld
magnifiers, video magnifiers and more!
By appointment only.
Sign Up: Call 301-951-4444 or email
scurry@youreyes.org.
###
|
Book Nook: Another
Time and Place
Thursday, January 11th
and the 2nd Thursday of every month at 12:30 pm
Join fellow Hadley book lovers and
cozy up in the Book Nook. Share favorite historical fiction reads that take us
on a trip to another time and place. Sign up to join at Book Nook | Hadley Discussion Group for the Visually Impaired.
###
Beginner
Braille
Saturday,
January 13th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library
Learn the basics of reading the
braille alphabet!
Learn the braille alphabet and
practice using slate, stylus, and Perkins Braillers.
###
Bristol
Virginia Local Peer Support Group Meeting
Tuesday, January 16th from Noon to 3:00 pm Belle Meadows Baptist
Church, 619 Wagner Road, Bristol, VA The Virginia
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired is excited to be able to help
start a local Support Group in this area. Join as you have the opportunity to
meet with their team and other individuals who are blind or vision impaired
and have guided discussions around self-advocacy and more. Children are
welcome with parents. RSVP or learn
more by emailing Andrew Davis, andrew.davis@dbvi.virginia.gov. |
###
Tech
Talk Tuesday: Accessible Pharmacy Virtual Event
Tuesday,
January 16th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Learn about a free home delivery pharmacy
service for people with vision impairment. They offer accessible packaging,
easy identification of medications through ScripTalk
or braille, and more!
Speaker:
Andy Burstein, Executive Director, Accessible Pharmacy
To register, call (301) 951-4444.
Hosted by Prevention of Blindness Society
of Metropolitan Washington
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81182511795
Phone: 301 715 8592
###
Norton Virginia Local Peer Support Group Meeting
Wednesday, January 17thfrom 11:30 am to 3:00 pm
First Baptist Norton, 9th Street
NW, Norton, VA
Handicap entrance on the right side of the Church when
facing the Church.
Lunch: Pizza;
bring cash to contribute to lunch costs; bring drinks!
The Virginia Department for the
Blind and Vision Impaired is excited to be able to help start a local Support
Group in this area. Join them as you have the opportunity to meet with their
team and other individuals who are blind or vision impaired and have guided
discussions around self-advocacy and more. Children are welcome with parents.
RSVP or learn more by emailing
Andrew Davis, andrew.davis@dbvi.virginia.gov.
###
Virtual
Low Vision Town Hall – Hope, Planning, Joy – Looking to 2024
Wednesday,
January 17th from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Join as Dr. Alibhai and Nina Glasner
share ideas to foster optimism for the new year and provide coping strategies
for the holiday season.
Hosted by Prevention of Blindness Society
of Metropolitan Washington
To register, call (301) 951-4444.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85208250758
Phone: 301-715-8592
###
Love
Your Eyes: Glaucoma Research Update and FREE Glaucoma Screenings
Saturday,
January 27th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Friendship Heights Village Center
4433 South Park Avenue, Chevy
Chase
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Presentation
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Free Glaucoma Screenings
Special Guest: Arthur Schwartz, M.D.,
Washington Eye Physicians and Surgeons
Learn about the latest research and updates on
glaucoma, a leading cause of vision loss and blindness. After the presentation,
there will be free glaucoma screenings. All are welcome!
To RSVP, call (301) 656-2797.
###
National
Federation of the Blind Washington Seminar Career FairMonday,
January 29th from 12:00 to 2:00 pm
From Stan Gowin and forwarded by
Sandy Neuzil
Join the National Federation of the
Blind for their In-person career fair to find your occupational passion
(employees) or add talent to your team (employers). This event is free of
charge for both employers and jobseekers. You must register by January 12, 2024.
Career Fair – Jobseeker Registration
FCC
Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) Meeting
Tuesday, January 30th
at 9:00 am
FCC Headquarters Commission Meeting Room, 45 L Street,
NE
The meeting will be open to the public and webcast
with open captioning at https://www.fcc.gov/live.
At this meeting, DAC members are expected to discuss a
working group report and recommendation on the transmittal of audio description
files to Internet Protocol programming.
Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities
are available upon request. Last minute requests will be accepted but may be
impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to: FCC504@fcc.gov or
call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the
event page at https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/events/2024/01/disability-advisory-committee-meeting.
Link to Public Notice: https://www.fcc.gov/document/dac-january-meeting-announced
For more information about the DAC, visit www.fcc.gov/dac.
For specific questions, please contact Joshua Mendelsohn, DAC Designated
Federal Officer, at 202-559-7304 or DAC@fcc.gov.
###
Alexandria
Low Vision Resource Group: Alexandria Accessible Travel
Friday,
February 16th from 1:00 to 2:30 pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Join to learn about accessible travel options in
Alexandria.
###
2024
ACB Leadership Conference
The 2024 American Council
of the Blind (ACB) Leadership Conference will be a hybrid event. ACB’s Board
Meeting, Presidents’ Meeting, Legislative Seminar, and Capitol Hill visits will
take place March 1-5, 2024, at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington,
VA.
Stay tuned for more details as they become available
on the conference page at: https://www.acb.org/acb-2024-leadership-conference.
###