Home > Chronicle > October, 2026
The New Jersey Council of the Blind’s mission is to strive for the betterment of the blind and visually impaired community. The purpose of this publication is to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information that concern blind and visually impaired people.
President’s Message:
by Sabastian Warren
Hello NJCB Family,
Can you believe it is October already? It seems like this year has flown by, and there is certainly a lot to talk about as we head into the final few months of 2026.
First, I want to thank everyone who attended our most recent quarterly meeting. I know some people had to leave early, including our scholarship recipient Matthew Potter and his family. I certainly understand that schedules do not always allow everyone to stay for an entire meeting, but I wish they could have remained a little longer because I would have loved the opportunity to introduce myself and congratulate Matthew in person.
Luckily, I previously had the opportunity to speak with Matthew and his family while he was in St. Louis as an American Council of the Blind scholarship winner as well. It was wonderful to see one of our own being recognized at the national level. I also want to once again congratulate Jasmine, our second NJCB scholarship winner. Matthew and Jasmine both deserved these opportunities, and I hope they continue pursuing their goals and representing what is possible for blind and low vision students.
I also want to thank Jason Miller and Barry Fields of Brothers With Vision for joining us and sharing their experiences, knowledge, and information about the organization. Their work reminds us that our community is diverse and that organizations serving blind and low vision people can bring people together regardless of race, religion, background, or where we come from.
I particularly appreciated Jason sharing his personal journey and experiences. I hope his message empowered and encouraged people. I know it inspired me. As many of you know, I am a Black man, and I am proud of who I am, but when I am doing this work, blindness comes first. Advocacy for blind and low vision people means advocating for everybody in our community.
If there were things we could have done better during the quarterly meeting to encourage greater participation, engagement, or retention, I want to hear from you. We cannot improve as an organization if we are unwilling to listen to one another.
Once again, we did it.
Our second-ever New Jersey Council of the Blind convention, “Grassroots Returning,” was a roaring success. Twelve speakers brought us a tremendous amount of information, encouragement, knowledge, resources, and motivation throughout the day.
Wanda Williford started us off as our host for the first half of the convention, and Anthony Lanzilotti took over as our host for the second half and ultimately brought it home as our final speaker. Barbara Plunkett helped introduce our speakers by presenting their bios, while Anexis Matos kept the excitement going by announcing our raffle and prize winners.
I also want to recognize Eyes Like Mine Inc., our community partner, for being part of this special day and contributing a special giveaway connected to the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant, an incredible milestone for a program that continues to celebrate, empower, and provide opportunities for blind and low vision women. We appreciate Eyes Like Mine Inc. for sharing this milestone with the NJCB community and for its continued involvement and support.
A special thank-you also goes to Waymo for sponsoring our Grassroots Returning 2026 convention. Support from sponsors such as Waymo helps NJCB continue creating opportunities for education, advocacy, outreach, and community engagement. We appreciate Waymo believing in what we are building and investing in the blind and low vision community here in New Jersey.
From beginning to end, the convention was filled with information, encouragement, knowledge, advocacy, and community. It was spectacular.
Thank you to every speaker, volunteer, officer, board member, sponsor, community organization, and attendee who helped make Grassroots Returning 2026 possible. An event like this does not happen because of one person. It takes people who are willing to give their time, ideas, energy, and talents to make it work.
And yes, I am already looking forward to the next one!
But every successful event and every meeting should also leave us with something to think about. One of my biggest takeaways is that challenges are not uniform. Blindness does not affect every person in exactly the same way. Our circumstances are different, our needs are different, and sometimes even our approaches to advocacy are different. That means we have to be willing to adjust, listen, learn, and occasionally get uncomfortable.
Sometimes being a member means attending a meeting, listening, learning, and supporting the organization. But sometimes being a member also means becoming a little more active.
Sometimes it means speaking up.
Sometimes it means getting a little upset about what is happening around us.
Sometimes it means making some noise.
And sometimes it means deciding that instead of always being a passenger on this advocacy train, you are ready to help drive it.
You knew I could not make it through an entire Chronicle article without getting a little advocacy speech in there!
Advocacy remains at the heart of who I am and what I believe this organization should be. Resolutions, legislation, regulations, transportation, accessibility, employment, technology, education, and equal access do not change simply because we hope they will.
Progress requires people who are willing to speak up, communicate with decision-makers, educate others, and remain engaged even when change takes longer than we would like.
As my presidency begins moving toward its conclusion in 2027, I have also started thinking about what we leave behind for the next generation of NJCB leadership. Our Constitution and Bylaws provide for a convention every other year, and after successfully completing our second convention, I believe returning to that schedule deserves serious consideration. It gives our volunteers and leadership time to breathe, rebuild, learn from what worked and what did not, and come back with an even stronger convention the next time around.
For now, however, I simply want to say thank you.
Thank you for believing in NJCB.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for challenging us when necessary.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
And most importantly, thank you for continuing to advocate for yourselves and for one another.
You guys are wonderful, and I truly cannot believe it is October already. So I guess there is only one thing left to say:
Happy Halloween!
Be great and be well. Keep advocating.
Sabastian Warren
President
New Jersey Council of the Blind
October Quarterly Meeting Notice
Our October Quarterly meeting will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026. We will meet in person at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 1985 Pennington Rd, Ewing NJ 08618, (Find directions at the end of the newsletter.) The meeting will begin promptly at 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. A Pizza lunch will be from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm. A cost of $7.00 per person is requested to cover the cost of the food and drinks. For those planning on attending in person and want to eat the pizza, please RSVP at 609-672-7059 no later than October 21st. To attend virtually call 719-300-3278, no access code needed at 1:00 pm. We hope all of you will join us!
Review and Learn
by Sabastian Warren
As we move into October, we are coming off the excitement of the New Jersey Council of the Blind’s 2026 Grassroots Returning Convention. Rather than immediately moving on to the next thing, I want us to take some time during our October meeting to reflect, reconnect, and hear directly from our members.
I would like this meeting to have the feel of a fireside conversation. Members who attended the convention will have an opportunity to talk about what they enjoyed, what stood out to them, what they may not have liked, and what they would like to see us do differently in the future. This will also give members who were unable to attend, or who may have missed portions of the convention, an opportunity to hear about some of what took place and join the conversation. Our convention belongs to our membership, and your feedback can help us continue building an NJCB that reflects the interests and needs of blind and low-vision New Jerseyans.
We will also welcome representatives from the League of Women Voters, who will spend some time with our membership providing nonpartisan voter information and resources. For more than a century, the League of Women Voters has worked to encourage informed participation in government through voter education, advocacy, and community engagement. The League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates and works to provide voters with information they can use to make their own decisions.
Through the League of Women Voters of New Jersey and its Education Fund, New Jersey voters have access to voter registration assistance, election information, educational forums, candidate forums and other resources. The League also works to protect voting rights and promote accessible voting systems so that voters, including voters with disabilities, can participate as fully and independently as possible.
One of the League’s major voter-education resources is VOTE411, a free online resource created by the League of Women Voters Education Fund. VOTE411 provides information on voter registration, polling locations, early and mail-in voting, voting requirements, candidates and ballot measures, and other election-related information.
With the November election approaching, October is an especially appropriate time for this conversation. Whether you are a longtime voter, voting for the first time, have questions about accessible voting, or simply want to better understand the resources available to you, we encourage you to join us.
Our October meeting will be about conversation, information, and participation: looking back at where we have been through our 2026 convention while also making sure our members have the information and resources necessary to make their own informed choices at the ballot box.
I look forward to hearing from you, learning from you, and continuing the conversation together.
Advocacy update
by Anthony Lanzilotti
When it comes to outreach, we are making significant inroads all across the great state of New Jersey. This quarter I will be focusing on a meeting that I just had with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s MLCSS Advocates. MLTSS refers to the delivery of Managed Long-Term Services and Supports through New Jersey Medicaid's NJ FamilyCare Managed Care program. One of their Case Managers reached out to me, and referred a potential member, Lewis Edwards. Lewis is visually impaired and is interested in learning more about who we are as an organization. In addition, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s MLCSS Outreach Coordinators will be utilizing us as a resource and will be referring those clients TO us.
MLTSS was designed to expand home- and community-based services, to help individuals remain at home or in a less costly setting and to ensure quality of care and Member satisfaction. MLTSS was designed to care for the most complex and highest-risk populations within the State. This was a very productive meeting, and I believe this will not only be a very good connection but an excellent resource as well.
This concludes my report if anyone has any suggestions don’t hesitate to reach out, I am always accessible. My door is always open I may be reached at the following, C. 609-361-3038, E. tti777@gmail.com
Mercer County Happenings!
Podcast Love
By Wanda Williford
There are approximately five million podcasts registered globally, and the number is growing each and every day. The topics and host vary so widely, you can find a podcast to practically cover any topic that you can dream of. Cars, music, organizing, whales, childcare and the life of spiders. That's a lot of talking and exchanging of ideas and information. To say I love a podcast, is an understatement. I find them to be so inherently inclusive to those of us in the blind community. A good podcaster knows that most of the audience is listening and any action that is happening they must describe in detail to everyone within earshot, sighted, blind or in between. For me, it is an accessible way to learn about topics that I would have never ventured to research. The ability to stream these podcasts on my Smart speaker at any time of the day and by the sound of my voice is very empowering. Honestly, listening to podcasts is my primary way of receiving information, only behind my favorite local and national news broadcast. It is truly one of my guilty pleasures, and I probably listen to 30 to 40 hours per week. With that being said I'm going to share my top seven favorite podcasts. They are in no specific order, and they only scratch the surface of the total number that I consume. I hope that you will sample one of these and become hooked, and I mean that in a good way. Enjoy!
The Mercer County Association of the Blind does not yet have a podcast, however, who knows what the future holds. In the meantime, we are looking forward to transitioning from Summer to fall. There are lots of events on our collective calendar, including our annual holiday party, exciting guest speakers and general get togethers. On the advocacy front, we will focus on preparing for the upcoming midterm election. Additionally, we are excited to take a trip to the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton for a guided tour.
Reflecting, the MCAB annual picnic took place on a steamy August day. Gratefully, we were cool and comfortable in the AC at the Elks Lodge. We ate hot dogs and cherry pie to the sounds of singer Lynne Lockany. This awesome day wrapped up with the room dancing to ABBA's, Dancing Queen. Member Barbara Plunkett commented, that song took her back and she twirled around the dance floor like it was 1979. A great time was definitely had by all and we look forward to another awesome picnic in 2027. I would like to thank each and every member of the party planning committee for assisting in creating such an enjoyable event. The Mercer County Association of the Blind is a collection of beautiful people coming together to improve and enhance one another's lives. We are so fortunate to know and love each other.
Droopy Eyelids!
I am going to try to explain why you might have droopy Eyelids. My explanation will be in non-technical, non-medical language
Just plain and easy to read and hopefully understand. Since this information is simply what I learned from my doctors in “1970 until present day!”
Yep, 1970!
I am not diagnosing you, but, if you have the following symptoms; and, you have not been diagnosed by your eye doctor or even your medical doctor perhaps you might make an appointment with a good neurologist.
I and my droopy eyelids and double vision WALKED out!!
Now, remember, I had droopy Eyelids, Weakness, double vision along with my coke bottle glasses!
Second visit was to an Optometrist! I was getting weaker and weaker and while in the waiting room I actually almost fell off the chair!
Ok diagnosis, “Don’t know”!!! :Make an Appointment with a neurologist”! HELLO!
Neurologist! Ha! Three neurologists later, I had a doctor who decided that I was to have a spinal tap for a diagnosis!! OK! At least something seemed to be done?
Diagnosis after spinal tap! I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis: I joined a support group at Ocean Medical center! Four years later, 1974, I finally found a new eye doctor in PA. He knew what it was right after the Examination. He looked at me and said, “You have Myasthenia Gravis”. During those four years, I tried doctors at all the top medical centers, even Wills in PA. All of them said the same thing, “Sorry nothing we can do”! What made my new younger Optometrist give me that diagnosis was:
NONE of the other doctors even knew anything about myasthenia gravis!
But a younger doctor learned about it in medical school,
Lucky today doctors know about this disease, can find it also in Blood work; but not blood work alone. The symptoms are more important.
Now today, it is also noted on the doctor’s paperwork. Where it lists if you have any of the following diseases.
Today, there is even medications for Myasthenia Gravis and it is talked about in advertisements.
What is MG? It is muscle weakness which in turn also affects the nerves! That is why some doctors not educated in MG misdiagnose it as MS or MD.
What a difference in 46 years!
I see doctors at JFK medical center in Edison, NJ. Getting an appointment there is almost impossible; but any neurologist today should be able to make a proper diagnosis. Good Luck!
Regards
Patty Musico
Facilitator for CBVI
Author Patricia Musico
Easy Cooking Easy Clean UP
With Toaster Bags
Available on Amazon
Greetings, NJCB readers
by Krystle Allen
For those who may not know me yet, allow me to introduce myself. I am Krystle Allen, and depending on where our paths have crossed, you may know me from several different spaces within and around New Jersey's blind and low-vision community.
Academically, I am a current student at Rutgers University Newark campus with a major in social work and minor in disability studies. I volunteer as a peer support specialist with Eye 2 Eye Peer Support For Vision Loss program where I completed 420 practicum hours this past Spring 2026. Professionally, some of you have met me through my work as a Community Outreach Specialist with the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, better known as CBVI. But my commitment to this community extends well beyond my professional role.
I am also the President and Co-Founder of Eyes Like Mine, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in March 2014 within my hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Although Newark is our home, our impact continues to expand far beyond the city limits. Our mission is to share awareness about the abilities and potential of individuals with vision loss through community service initiatives, comprehensive empowerment workshops, and innovative social change awareness events. Our work has always centered on changing the narrative surrounding blindness and vision loss, creating opportunities, building confidence, connecting communities and showing people what blind and low-vision individuals are capable of accomplishing.
And before I go any further, I have to get one of my plugs in!
This year marks a very special milestone for one of our signature programs: the 10th anniversary of the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant!
For 10 years, the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant has provided empowerment platforms for women who identify with blindness, low vision, and deaf blindness with an opportunity to showcase their confidence, talents, personalities, leadership and individual beauty. Women have participated from beyond New Jersey, allowing this program that began right here in Newark to build connections on a much larger level. The 10th Annual Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant takes place October 16 and 17, 2026. Depending on when you are reading your Chronicle, you may still have a couple of weeks to get your tickets and join us for this milestone celebration.
And speaking of the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant, every Tuesday you can find us on Facebook and YouTube for Tiara Tuesday. It gives you an opportunity to hear from some of our past Ms. Blind Diva titleholders and learn more about the women behind the crowns. So yes, that is my first official plug of this article!
I also want to congratulate the recipient of the Ms. Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant Weekend experience that Eyes Like Mine proudly donated to the New Jersey Council of the Blind's 2026 Grassroots Returning Convention. We hope you enjoy the experience and get an opportunity to see firsthand what the Blind Diva family is all about.
But inclusive pageantry is only one piece of Eyes Like Mine Inc. Another signature program is entitled Dancing With the Blind, directed by Vice President, Co-Founder and friend, Naquela WrightPrevoe.
Think Dancing With the Stars — Eyes Like Mine style.
Dancing With the Blind brings blind and visually impaired dancers together with sighted participants to develop routines, learn choreography, build relationships and ultimately dance their hearts out in front of a live audience. Teams select their music and style, rehearse their routines and compete for the championship title. The program is about much more than winning a competition. Dance becomes a vehicle for inclusion. Sighted and blind people learn from one another, challenge assumptions about blindness and create something together. Dancing With the Blind has been bringing these communities together since its debut in 2016, and watching the confidence, friendships and understanding that can develop through the program continues to be one of the reasons we bring it back.
Our commitment to families is another important part of Eyes Like Mine Inc. Each year we organize our Marvelous Moms Community Baby Shower in Newark. The program provides resources, information, support and celebration for blind and low-vision mothers and families. This year we took another important step by intentionally welcoming fathers into the experience as well. Families are families, and fathers deserve to be part of the conversation, resources and support. For six years, our Marvelous Moms Community Baby shower continues to contribute to the true essence of what parenthood means to all who is gifted the opportunity to nurture a child. I am proud to share the return of our peer support group through the partnership with Parents Inc. Of NJ. This Fall season we will facilitate weekly virtual parent peer group sessions for mothers and fathers with disabilities leading up to our 2027 Community Baby shower in May.
Now I want to tell you about something new that is deeply personal to me. Eyes Like Mine Inc. is developing the I’m the Ish Success Training program in memory of my first nephew Ishmael, whose life was tragically cut short by gun violence in Newark at only 19 years old June 2026. Ishmael participated in dancing with the blind at 10 years old. Growing into a young adult, he became a self-made entrepreneur, tutored his peers in mathematics, and was preparing to begin HVAC technical school this September 2026.
Too many young people leave high school with dreams, ideas and potential but without the mentorship, resources, connections or opportunities needed to turn those dreams into something tangible. Too many young people are also lost to violence before the world ever gets an opportunity to experience what they could have become.
I’m the Ish is our way of transforming loss into legacy.
The program is being developed for young adults ages 19 and older who are graduating from high school, entering college or beginning the next chapter of adulthood and who have an interest in entrepreneurship. In keeping with the inclusive spirit behind programs such as Dancing With the Blind, we envision bringing blind and low-vision students together with their sighted peers so that disability does not separate young entrepreneurs from one another.
Participants will receive mentorship, leadership development, entrepreneurial education and other support designed to help them take an idea and begin building something real. At the completion of the program, our goal is to provide participants with a monetary stipend that can help them take the next step toward establishing the business structure that best fits their goals — whether that ultimately means a sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation or another path.
My nephew was 19 when we lost him. Through I’m the Ish, I want his name and his memory connected not simply to how his life ended, but to opportunities that help another young person begin theirs.
Now, I have to switch crowns.
As I mentioned at the beginning, outside of my work with Eyes Like Mine, I serve as a Community Outreach Specialist with the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. I take keeping these roles separate seriously, but both are important parts of who I am and the work I have committed myself to doing within the blind and low-vision community.
Through CBVI, I help connect individuals, families and communities with information, resources and opportunities. One of the ways we do that is through our Community Connection calls, where resource providers and informative speakers can share valuable information with members of the community.
One of my favorite parts of this work is creating opportunities for people to speak for themselves. Through segments such as In Our Own Voices, everyday people have the opportunity to tell their own stories about blindness and vision loss — the victories, challenges, adjustments, lessons and everything in between. There is power in hearing information from professionals, but there is also tremendous power in hearing someone say, "I have lived this."
That connection matters.
Whether I am wearing my CBVI crown , my Eyes Like Mine Inc. crown , my student crown, my Blind Diva crown or simply being Krystle, the common thread running through everything I do is community.
Before I close, I want to thank the New Jersey Council of the Blind for believing in the work of Eyes Like Mine, Inc. and welcoming us as a community partner for the first time. Organizations do not have to compete with one another to create change. We can bring different strengths, programs, experiences and perspectives to the same table.
Together, we can strengthen the blind and low-vision community throughout New Jersey and beyond. We can spread knowledge. We can increase awareness. We can create opportunities. We can amplify our own voices. And, of course, we can advocate. I am looking forward to the foreseeable future of continued growth as an NJCB member and learning more methods to maximize available opportunities for those I cross paths with. Please feel free to follow my work with links provided below. I am blind, booked, and busy while going, growing, and glowing!
Thank you for taking a few minutes to learn a little more about me and the different crowns I wear.
This is the Original Blind Diva, Krystle Allen, signing off.
Have a marvelous month!
Website:
www.Eyeslikemine.org
Email address:
events@eyeslikemine.org
2027 Dues are due.
At-large members please send your annual dues along with the attached membership form to our Treasurer, Steven Sowa. Annual dues for members at large are $10.00. Checks should be made payable to NJCB and mailed to PO Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095. To pay dues online go to New Jersey Council of the Blind (Dues Payment) (njcounciloftheblind.org).
Check out the NJCB Facebook Page
NJCB is on Facebook. Anyone interested in contributing to the success of this page please send your ideas and posts to our email address at njcounciloftheblind@gmail.com Please note all posts must be related to activities relating to your membership with NJCB or its affiliates. The page is www.facebook.com/groups/2255314534793147/. Just search for New Jersey Council of the Blind in Facebook.
Save The Date
Saturday January 23rd Time and Location TBD
Saturday April 24th Time and Location TBD
Saturday July 24th Time and Location TBD
The NJCB Chronicle is also available on Newsline. If you do not have a Newsline subscription, contact Reader Services at the New Jersey Talking Book and Braille Center at (800) 792-8322 to get signed up for a Newsline subscription. Four quarterly newsletters are sent to members free of charge by E-mail. You may obtain the current and back issues of the Chronicle and other information from our web site www.njcounciloftheblind.org. Feel free to write us at njcounciloftheblind@gmail.com.
The New Jersey Council of the Blind (NJCB) is a 501 (c) 3 corporation. Much appreciated tax-deductible donations may be sent to the Treasurer of NJCB.
The NJCB officers are.
President, Sabastian Warren (609) 672-7059
1st Vice President, Wanda Williford (609) 375-6682
2nd Vice President, Anthony Lanzilotti (609) 361‑3038
Secretary, Dan Bausch
Treasurer, Steve Sowa (848) 999-2079 or by mail to PO Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Directions
Get onto Route 95 heading south. (From Route 1 south, from Route 295 heading north or Route 195 heading west to Route 295 north)
Get off at Exit #4 making a left turn onto Pennington Road (Route 31 South toward Ewing)
Turn right at the 4th traffic light, Carlton Avenue. It is across the street from The College of New Jersey. Make the first left to enter the church parking lot. The meeting room entrance is close to the parking spaces and is a single door.
NOTE: Disclaimer. The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the New Jersey Council of the Blind officers and/or members. The editor reserves the right to edit articles submitted for both space and content.
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Make check payable to NJCB and send to:
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