Welcome to VIBUG

VIBUG, the Visually Impaired and Blind User Group, is located in Massachusetts, and serves blind and visually impaired users of computers and other assistive technology. If you'd like to know more about us, you can download our flyer, which is available as a Microsoft Word document, or a braille formatted file. We encourage you to share this flyer with people you think would be interested in our assistive technology users group.

Vibug membership registration, dues, and notices

VIBUG membership costs $20 a year and includes the following benefits.

• VIBUG email support
• on-line attendance at meetings
• voting rights
• special technology classes

Vibug elections are held annually at every November meeting. Anyone wishing to vote in this election must be a paid member by the end of the October meeting.

For people who join Vibug as first-time members in November or December, their dues will carry over and cover their membership for the following year.

To Become a Vibug member and make a secure on-line payment with a credit card or your PayPal account, select the following PayPal button.

If you have any questions about making a payment to vibug, please contact our treasurer John Smith at vibugtreasurer@outlook.com

To join the VIBUG announcements mailing list, fill out the form at the following link.

https://www.freelists.org/list/vibugannounce

VIBUG Officers

• President: Frank Ventura
• Vice President: Margaret Gaffney
• Clerk: Jeanette Kutash
• Web Master: Tim Cumings
• Treasurer: John Smith

Notice Of VIBUG Meeting

Please join us for the ninth VIBUG meeting of the season.

When: Saturday, June 14, 2025, 1:00 PM Eastern Time

Where: Online only, no in-person attendance

online Participation

All persons are welcome to participate online. We are now using a program called Zoom. For details, look for a heading called "Zoom Instructions".

Please do not post the Zoom information on any social media platform.

If you are a VIBUG member the Zoom info has been posted to the support email list. If you are not a member and wish to attend, please send an email to the following email address prior to the meeting: vibugpresident@outlook.com

Meeting Format

• Introductions
• Announcements and technology updates
• Technology question and answer period
• VIBUG business
• Presentations and product demonstrations

THIS Month

• Jeanette Kutash, Amy Bower and Mika Pyyhkala will talk and entertain discussion about all things planning for and attending conferences. Jeanette will give a brief introduction followed by comments by Mikka who will talk about attending Seasun, and Amy and Mika will lead a discussion with VIBUG participants about attending and managing planning and attending conferences.
• Shawn Welker’s presentation will be postponed until September.
• We will have an open discussion on what technology has made staying at home life a little easier for anyone.

Attendees are encouraged to stay on after our meeting to socialize with each other.

Not a member yet? It's easy to join. Visit our website at http://www.vibug.org

Frank Ventura

Zoom Instructions

Current Vibug members are welcome to attend VIBUG meetings on-line. VIBUG is using a program called zoom. If you would like to participate on-line, you must download and install the zoom program. There are versions for pc and IPhone, and you can even call in over the telephone if you don't have a computer. We recommend that you initially download the pc version, since it is easier to use than the IPhone app.

1. Download and install the Zoom installation program for your computer.
2. Zoom installation program for pc
3. Prior to each VIBUG meeting, all members will be sent an email announcement containing the zoom link to participate in the online meeting.
4. To enter the Vibug online meeting, paste the link in to your browser of choice and press enter.
5. During the meeting you can mute or unmute your audio by using the alt a command.
6. We strongly suggest that you install the zoom program and do some testing in advance before attending your first online meeting. We will be happy to assist with that.

Check Out the VIBUG Site

• VIBUG Q&A - Computer questions answered at our monthly meetings
• Listen to past VIBUG demonstrations
• Listen to past VIBUG classes
• Read minutes of past VIBUG meetings.
• VIBUG's mission and structure

helpful phone numbers

• Microsoft Accessibility phone number 1-800-936-5900
• Apple accessibility phone number 1-877-204-3930
• Comcast Accessibility phone Number 1-866-668-6703

Additional Resources

• Resources for learning how to use the apple Mac computer
• IPhone Resources - information, apps, podcasts and publications
• Computer Related resources
• Consumer organizations and agencies serving blind people

contact info

Send questions or comments about VIBUG to vibugpresident@outlook.com

Send questions or comments about this site to Tim Cumings, our Webmaster.

last updated: sunday, June 8, 2025