This is a terrible economic time in Washington State, and the crisis has reached your library. WTBBL has had to reduce staffing by six people. These cuts will directly impact your library service.

WTBBL is a program of the Washington State Library, which is a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. Please contact your legislators and ask that they restore funding for the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Tell your legislators that the funding for WTBBL appears in the Secretary of State’s budget.

Again, please phone your legislators to help restore the WTBBL budget in order to prevent any further devastating cuts. The phone number for the Legislative Hotline is (800) 562-6000.

March 7, 2009: CHICAGO!

ASL Interpreted Performance 1:00pm

Open Captioned Show 6:30pm

CHICAGO has everything you could want: knockout dancing, an edge-of-your-seat story and one showstopper after another. This triumphant hit musical is the recipient of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations. A sensational tale of sin, corruption and all that jazz!

March 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2009 7pm Silent Movie Mondays!

Trader joe’s present the Silents from the South Seas series.

March 8, 2010 - LeGong: Dance of the Virgins

March 15, 2010 - Sadie Thompson

March 22, 2010 - Tabu: A Story of the South Seas

March 29, 2010 - Trader Joes Wild Card (Vote at any Trader Joes!)

April 11, 2010: DREAMGIRLS!

ASL Interpreted Performance 1:00pm

Open Captioned Show 6:30pm

Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, DREAMGIRLS tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. With music by Academy® Award nominee Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tony® and Grammy®-Award winner Tom Eyen, DREAMGIRLS features the unforgettable hits: "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "One Night Only" and "Listen."

May 30, 2010: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF!

ASL Interpreted Performance 2:00pm

Open Captioned Show 7:30pm

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, The Tony Award winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal, embarks on its North American Tour. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has been lauded by critics again and again, and won the hearts of people all around the world. Filled with a rousing, heartwarming score, which includes “Tradition,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “If I Were A Rich Man” and “Sunrise, Sunset,” FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a timeless classic.

Purchase Tickets and read about more shows at: WWW.STGPRESENTS.ORG

Please post and bring your family, friends and co-workers:

Tickets/Info: Email

*Email to hold # of tickets under your full name [first & last name] and pay at door.

Best to hold your tickets as seats are limited. We want to guarantee that everyone see the film.*

Pictures from the Braille Reading Library Open House www.seattlelighthouse.org

Seattle Lighthouse held an open house on February 18th for our new Braille Reading Library, a quiet place for learning and reading braille. Donors, community members, and Seattle Lighthouse employees gathered to explore and celebrate the new addition to our Braille Training Program.

Pictures from the Braille Reading Library Open HouseOur Braille Training Program is designed explicitly to help blind adults achieve braille literacy, with one-on-one and small group curriculum. The new Braille Reading Library will provide a place for employees to practice and improve their braille skills, while learning from the books that are available in braille.

While the Braille Reading Library is open, we are still in need of additional braille books for employees. We need the support of generous people like you to grow our braille text collection, and we hope you will join us now by making a donation that will be used to purchase additional braille books for our library.

To make your gift today, simply donate online.

If you would like a specific text purchased with your donation,

indicate the text title in the reference line of the online donation form.

Below is a sampling of books that employees have requested,

and have been recommended by our Braille Training Program Instructor:

Health and Wellness

Safe Without Sight $14.00

After Diagnosis: Prostate Cancer - Understanding Your Treatment Options $15.00

Dr. Atkins Carbohydrate Gram Counter $5.00

For Women Facing Breast Cancer $5.00

Menopause Guidebook $5.00

Simple Ways to Control Your Weight $8.00

The Power of Acknowledgement $19.95

TechnologyPictures from the Braille Reading Library Open House

Blog On! Reading and Writing Blogs with a Screen Reader $10.00

Computer Braille Code Made Easy $7.00

Windows Visa Keyboard Commands $5.00

Windows XP Keyboard Commands $5.00

Eudora 6.1 with Jaws and Window-Eyes $5.00

Excel 2007 Keyboard Commands $5.00

Google It! A guide to the World's Most Popular Search Engine $14.00

Internet Explorer and Outlook Express 8 with Jaws and Window-Eyes $5.00

Internet Your Way to a New Job $11.95

Outlook 2007 Keyboard Commands $16.00

Office 2007 Keyboard Commands $16.00

Cooking

Diabetes Cookbook $6.00

Baking Illustrated: Chapter One $10.00Pictures from the Braille Reading Library Open House

Baking Illustrated: Chapter Six - Crisps, Cobblers, & Other Fruit Desserts $6.00

Baking Illustrated: Chapter Eight - Cookies & Brownies $6.95

Comforting Slow-Cooker Recipes $10.95

George Foreman's Indoor Grilling Made Easy $19.95

Miscellaneous

How to Read Braille Music $19.95

Label It! Braille and Audio Strategies for Identifying Items at Home and Work $12.00

Ghandi: Biography Series $6.00

Letters to a Young Poet $9.00

Mother Teresa: Biography Series $6.00

Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius $25.00

Knitting Patters: Plain and Fancy $10.00

Quick and Cozy Afghans $14.95

To make your gift today, simply donate online.

If you would like a specific text purchased with your donation,

indicate the text title in the reference line of the online donation form.

To view more photos of the event, visit our Facebook Page.

Thank you for your continued support!

Our address is:

2501 S Plum St

Seattle, Washington 98144-4711

United States

Participants may access the meeting remotely by telephone (voice only): Dial-in Number: (877) 216-1555 Passcode: 815648 OR by CART: Please use the following website to access the CART: http://www.streamtext.net/text.aspx?event=SILC.

 For more information CLICK HERE

More Details

The Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education heard SB 6491-the bill from the Governor's office that would move WSD and WSSB under OSPI. According to the report we heard, a number of people from both the deaf and blind communities attended and testified against the bill. No one testified in support of the bill.

Kathleen Drew from the governor's office indicated the two reasons for the bill were cost efficiency and improved government service to the public. She said that they expect cost efficiencies, but it will take time to identify them. The fiscal note that has been prepared refers to $14 million dollars (the cost of the two schools), but Drew stated that was not savings but rather simply a transfer from the current budget position to OSPI. She said that both schools need to be integrated more fully into the K-12 service delivery system in order to better serve all deaf and blind students.

For more information call the office of Rep. Jim Moeller 360-786-7872 or

  DOWNLOAD PDF FILE

Why is the Flu Vaccination an Important part of community & personal health?

Flu vaccines greatly contribute to the health of our entire com- munity, from the individual, to ourchildren, spouses, family members, teachers, clientele, and local community members. Vaccination promote herd immunity which inhibits the power of a virus, like the seasonal flu and H1N1, to infiltrate and entire population. Consider the following:

• School children have very high rates of flu illness, ex- ceeding 10% in most years. Children are one of the most important sources of flu transmission in the community. Adults often catch flu virus from children; therefore, immunizing children can also prevent ill- ness and death in our community.

WHERE DO I GET FLU SEASON 2009

Flu Shots can be found everywhere from your primary care physicians office to the following site in the community: SafeWay Bartell Drugs & Rite Aide Katterrman’s Pharmacy Walk in Clinics Local Area Hospitals & Schools

• Studies show that individuals vaccinated against the flu have fewer illnesses, fewer absences from school and work, and lower rates of illness overall in their families during flu season, when compared with unvaccinated people.

If I am healthy, and wash my hands often, am I at risk?

All people, no matter how healthy, are at some risk of developing severe and even fatal flu infections. Although rare, the flu virus can result in serious illness in healthy individuals. The CDC recommends giving a yearly flu shot to individuals with long term health problems in- cluding, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, and blood disorders. These people are at even greater risk of complications from the flu. The CDC and federal guidelines list health care professionals at the top of the distribution tier, directly under this high risk population. As a freelance interpreters, we routinely come into contact with a wide variety of people across the community spectrum. We often work in medical facilities, schools with children or young adults, or at doctor visits where illness is present. Not only are interpreters at a higher risk of illness, but we also work without sick pay or paid leave time, so keeping healthy affects us in many ways. Vaccinated professionals have fewer ab- senses from work by protecting themselves, and others, from the spread of illness. Vacci- nating contract interpreters, and others who have routine contact with sick individuals re- duces spread of flu in the community, starting with you and your loved ones!

Flu Shot Safety Information

• The flu vaccine is SAFE with few side effects observed. There is overwhelming scientific evidence of the flu vaccine’s safety. The flu shot is not a live virus, so is rarely associated with major systemic reactions, therefore most experts con- sider the vaccine safe even during any stage of pregnancy. 􏰀OTE: Flumist is not recommended for pregnant women because it is a live virus, however, breastfeeding mothers can safely be admin- istered either the traditional injection or the nasal mist.
• The flu vaccine is EFFECTIVE. The flu vaccine will prevent about 70-90 of every 100 people who receive it from developing moderate-to-severe flu infection.
• FLU SHOT Side Effects: The most common side effects following the traditional “flu shot” include soreness, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Occasionally one might develop a low fever and body aches as your body’s immune system responds to the vaccine. If these symptoms occur, they usually only last for 1-2 days
• FLUMIST Side Effects: Side effects are uncommon, but may in- clude: runny nose, congestion, cough, headache, muscle aches, fever, abdominal pain, or occasionally, vomiting and diarrhea. When they oc- cur, these symptoms usually last only a short time and go away on their own.

MYTH: The Flu Shot can give you the flu!

The flu shot does NOT cause the flu, however, you can experience mild side-effect symptoms as your body develops the antibodies that pro- tect you against the virus. It takes up to 2 weeks to develop these antibodies, so a person is still susceptible to the flu during this period.

H1N1 Flu VS. Seasonal Flu

The seasonal flu vaccine DOES NOT provide immunity against H1N1 flu.

All interpreters are “EXPECTED” to get both vaccinations this year.

It is important to note that to be protected against both flu strains. Everyone will have to be vaccinated against each strain separately. The current Seasonal Flu Vaccination will provide immunity against the regular seasonal flu. Seattle-King County Public Health Department and local health providers will offer public clinics later in November or early December when the vaccination is distributed to the general population. Mid- October through mid- November will be reserved for vaccinating the highest risk popu- lations.

The vaccine will be FREE, with some sites charging a nominal administrative fee.

Important information to know about getting both vaccinations:

• Both vaccines will be offered in injection and nasal mist form. • If you choose FluMist for both vaccines, there needs to be one month interval between nasal delivery.

• HOWEVER, if you received injectable vaccine for the seasonal flu, then you can receive either the nasal or injectable formula- tions of H1N1 vaccine as soon as they are available.

WHERE DO I GET THE H1N1 VACCINE?

The current plan is for Seattle-King County to provide the H1N1 vaccination for free at public clinics to be held in local community centers. Stay tuned for more information through the news media and Seattle-King County Public Health office.

For more information about H1N1 & the vaccine: http://h1n1.findaflushot.com

Flu Shot Safety Information

More Common Questions & Concerns:

Does the flu vaccine contain thimerosal?

Some do. Most traditional injected flu vaccines distributed in the U.S. currently contain only a very small amount of thimerosal as a preservative (less than 1⁄2 part per million, which is less than the amount contained in a can of tuna). There is no convincing evi- dence of harm caused by the small amount of thimerosal in vaccines. It is important to keep in mind that the benefits of influenza vaccination outweigh the theoretical risk, if any, for exposure to thimerosal. For more information, refer to the following websites: US Food & Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#t1),

CDC (www.cdc.gov/nip/vacsafe/concerns/thimerosal/faqs-thimerosal.htm) and www.immunizenc.com/Thimerosal_FAQ.htm

The nasal spray vaccine (Flumist) does not contain thimerosal or any preservative. More Resources On-Line:

FIND A FLU SHOT Website. Includes helpful information about both the seasonal & H1N1 flu and vaccine. info.findaflushot.com

Public Health Seattle-King County Website: General information about both Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu and vaccines in our community. www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1  -  www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health.aspx

Centers For Disease Control Seasonal Flu Information: www.cdc.gov/flu/

Centers For Disease Control Seasonal H1N1 Information www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

Resources

More Resources On-Line:

FIND A FLU SHOT Website. Includes helpful information about both the seasonal & H1N1 flu and vaccine. http://info.findaflushot.com

Maxim Health Systems Website. Includes an easy to use Flu Clinic Finder. http://www.maximwellness.com

Public Health Seattle-King County Webiste: General information about both Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu and vaccines in our community. www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health.aspx

Centers For Disease Control Seasonal Flu Information: www.cdc.gov/flu/

Centers For Disease Control Seasonal H1N1 Information www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/