Dear Conventioneers:
I know you must have the gambling spirit, because here you are at ACB's 44th convention in the lucky city of Las Vegas. We know the city feels lucky in having us, and we are incredibly lucky to have Las Vegas as the venue for our convention. No small part of the great things to come in this convention are due to our local host convention committee, chaired by Carol Ewing, and supported in so many ways by the membership of the Nevada Council of the Blind.
In coming here for your July 4th holiday and the ensuing week, you have the chance to obtain education, information, and nonstop food and fun opportunities day and night.
As in other years, we are extremely fortunate to be meeting in conjunction with the National Association of Parents of the Visually Impaired. A warm welcome to members and participants from this organization.
This year, ACB is also honored to be holding, in conjunction with Mississippi State University, a two-day series of sixteen seminars for educators and rehabilitation specialists of the visually impaired. They have a busy seminar schedule, but I'm sure we will meet and have the opportunity to visit with many of them during the week.
We are also joined on Saturday, Sunday and Monday by the managers of ACB's national network of thrift stores. This is the first time our store managers have had the opportunity to get to know the American Council of the Blind. Please help them become better acquainted with the organization and its members.
I want to express my personal appreciation and ACB's thanks to everyone who has served on committees this year. It is that team work that has kept ACB in the foreground on issues vital to the blindness community.
A warm welcome to all ACB members and friends from your President and from each member of the ACB Board of Directors, Washington, DC staff, and Minneapolis staff. Thank you for helping make this one of the largest and finest conventions in many, many years!
ACB American Council of the Blind
AADB Amer. Assn. of the Deaf-Blind
AAVL Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss
AAVIA American Assn. of Visually Impaired Attorneys
ACBDA ACB Diabetics in Action
ACBGE ACB Government Employees
ACBHSP ACB Human Service Professionals
ACBL ACB Lions
ACBRA ACB Radio Amateurs
AFB American Foundation for the Blind
BFLAG Blind Friends of Lesbians and Gays
BITS Blind Information Technology Specialists
BRL Braille Revival League
CCLVI Council of Citizens with Low Vision
CFVI Council of Families with Visual Impairments
DVS(R) Descriptive Video Service
FIA Friends-in-Art of ACB
GDUI Guide Dog Users, Inc.
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IVIE Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers
LUA Library Users of America
NABS National Alliance of Blind Students
NABT National Association of Blind Teachers
NAPVI National Association For Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
NCB Nevada Council of the Blind
NCI National Captioning Institute
NELDS National Education and Legal Defense Service
NIB National Industries for the Blind
RSVA Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America
SASI Sight and Sound Impaired Committee
VIVA Visually Impaired Veterans of America
WCC Women's Concerns Committee
YAC Youth Activities Center
For medical emergencies, dial 0 on a hotel phone or 911 on any other phone. Stay calm and speak distinctly. Give your name, exact location and a description of the emergency.
LOCAL HOSPITAL:
Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center
702-731-8000
3186 S. Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Contact Information for Emergency Veterinary Clinic:
Animal Emergency Center Of Las Vegas,
(702) 457-8050,
1914 E. Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Non-emergency vet care:
Dr. Scott Brown
Ark Animal Clinic,
(702) 648-8583
1651 N. Rancho Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89106
The general session, exhibits, and break-out meeting rooms are all located in the Conference Center (see below for a brief description). All suites are located in the Monte Carlo Tower.
Here's a quick key to locating your meeting room. It is assumed that you will begin where the Monte Carlo and Monaco halls intersect, that you have your back to the Monte Carlo hall, and that you will walk forward across the carpet to the tiled floor (about 50 steps).
Capri 101 and 102 are located to the right of the tiled area in the main lobby of the Conference Center. A volunteer desk is between these two rooms.
Registration will be located to the left of the tiled area.
The Information Desk is slightly to the left, across the tiled area.
All other rooms are located down the hallway that begins to the left of the Information Desk. The Grande Ballroom is on the left side of the hall; Rooms C, D, and G will hold meetings, and Room H is the ACB Cafe. A hall leads to the left between D and G to the general session room, A-B-E-F.
Back in the main hall, Capri Rooms 103 through 110 are on the right.
Next comes the entrance to the Royale Pavillion area; elevator and stairs on the left lead to the second floor skyboxes, numbered 201 through 212.
Continuing down the main hall: Exhibits are on the left in Royale Pavillion 1-2-3-4. The hall to the left after room 4 leads to rooms 5 and 6, and rooms 7 and 8 are past the hall. On the right of the main hall, across from exhibits and rooms 7 and 8, are Capri Rooms 111 through 116.
There will be five relief areas around the hotel and convention center complex. Upon arrival at the hotel, you may want to find a volunteer or hotel staff to orient you to the closest area to where you will be staying. We suggest that you stay in the Monaco Tower in order to be nearest the relieving area by your hotel room.
Convention Registration is located to the left of the tiled area in the main foyer of the Conference Center. Registration hours are as follows:
Thursday, June 30 (Pre-reg. pick-up only). . . .5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, July 4, 5, 6, and 7 . . .8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
You must register and pay the administrative fee to receive your white convention ID badge and a convention program, purchase tickets, receive a convention goody bag filled with information and surprises, and be eligible for some great door prizes. Wear your badge at all times, as it will admit you to the exhibit area, permit you to vote (if you are an ACB member), and assist hotel personnel and volunteers to provide better service.
If you are pre-registered for the convention, your packet will be waiting at the Registration Office. You may not pick up any packets other than your own. If you have any questions, comments or concerns with regard to your registration packet, or to purchase additional tickets, go to the Registration Office.
ACB will make NO refunds for the convention administrative fee, sweepstakes donation, or any unwanted tickets. Refunds will be issued ONLY for affiliate registration fees, meals, events, and tours provided that:
1. An individual has pre-registered; and
2. The individual requests the refund in writing to the AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, 120 South 6th Street, Suite 1005, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1839, or calls (612) 332-3242, on or before June 21, 2005; and
3. The individual does not attend any part of the convention. In case of illness during the convention, which requires you to return home or to be hospitalized, refunds will be issued only for the meals, events, and tours which take place after your absence begins. (If the guarantee meal count has already been given to the hotel, no refund for that meal function will be given.)
ACB will not replace tickets that are lost during the convention. All ticket packets are checked before they are distributed at the convention, and tickets that are lost or misplaced must be purchased again.
If you have purchased a ticket that you would like to resell, leave it at the convention Registration Office along with your name and room number. Tickets are resold on a first-come, first-served basis, and only if the event or tour in question is currently closed or no unsold tickets remain. If you are trying to purchase a ticket for an event or tour that is sold out, you should check daily in person at the Registration Office. If a tour or event was sold out before your pre-registration form was processed, a refund will be issued. ACB is not responsible for notifying you if you have tried to buy a ticket through pre-registration for an event or tour that is already sold out. Your name will be put on a waiting list in the event of cancellations.
No administrative fee will be charged for a blue name badge and voter certification. A daily visitor's badge is available at the Exhibit Hall entrance.
The Communications Center, in room 5 of the conference center, will be open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, July 1, through Wednesday, July 6. This is the place to sign up for "home delivery" of the convention newspaper, place ads in the paper, make copies, convert disks to braille, or volunteer to help produce the paper.
CONVENTION NEWSPAPER: This year's newspaper is "The Las Vegas Pair-A-Dice." It will be published each day, Saturday through Thursday, in braille, large print, and on cassette. The cassette edition will replace the Convention Ear, and will be available on "home delivery" and from the Information Desk right alongside the other editions.
The National Alliance of Blind Students (NABS) will deliver the newspaper to your hotel room door. For $5.00 (pre- registration) or $10.00 (registration), your paper will be waiting for you each morning when you wake up. After you sign up for delivery of the paper at the registration office, PLEASE make sure you drop by the Communications Center to give us your tower and room number, and be sure to specify your preference of braille, large print or cassette.
Hang onto the Saturday issue of the Pair-A-Dice; it will include all the suite numbers, phone numbers, and last- minute program changes.
ADS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ads and other items for publication must be in the Communications Center by 2:00 p.m. each day. The Board of Publications allows ads to run for only three days in order to give important convention announcements more space. Ads must be no longer than 100 words. Board of Publications editorial policy prohibits the production or distribution of campaign materials by the Communications Center.
Cost of advertising in the "Las Vegas Pair-A-Dice" is as follows: For-profit businesses - $35 per day or $100 for three days; Non- profit organizations and ACB affiliates - $10 per day (maximum of three days); Individuals - $5 per day (maximum of three days).
Ads will appear in all three editions of the newspaper.
BRAILLING AND PHOTOCOPYING: Photocopying is available at the Communications Center for 10 cents a copy. Please pay the registration office.
If your committee or affiliate needs something in braille or large print, bring disks with your files to us early in the day so we can fit your job in during the quiet time between other jobs. Make certain to label your disk(s), and tell us how many of each format you need, and by what time.
THANKS to Enabling Technologies for donating the use of the braille printers, and to Star Continuous Cards for their generous donation of braille paper.
Please remember that the Communications Center is a working room. While we understand that convention is a great place to see old friends and new, loud conversations make it difficult to hear the speech synthesizers on the computers which enable us to get the newspaper out to you, the readers. Help us help you get the information you need.
The ACB Cafe is back -- better than ever! Open for breakfast, lunch and snacks from Saturday, July 2 through Friday, July 8, in Room H, the Cafe has hot and cold sandwiches, fruit, pastries, snacks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and juice, and hot buttered popcorn! Watch the convention newspaper for daily specials and other announcements about the Cafe.
Calling all kids 6 to 17! Come enjoy a great week of fun and activities in the YAC.
Open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, in Room 5, behind the Communications Center; closed for lunch from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday. A special party is planned for Friday evening during the ACB banquet.
The YAC "Ticket to Fun" includes a whole week of activities for one flat fee ($20.00 pre-registration; $25.00 registration). Look over the schedule below, and then read the important information that follows.
Monday, July 4 - Kids sign in; YAC Splash (water games and swimming) in the morning; Fun at the YAC (crafts, indoor games, movies) in the afternoon. Closed during lunch.
Tuesday, July 5 - CFVI Day; YAC on the Go: Spend all day at the Circus Circus Adventure Dome (rides, Bungee jumping, rock- climbing, IMAX, and more); lunch included; return by 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 6 - YAC on the Go: Visit the Animal Habitat at Mirage (we might even pet a dolphin). Lunch included; return by 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 7 - YAC on the Go: Putt Putt golf in the morning (sponsored by ACB of Colorado); Fun at the YAC in the afternoon. Closed for lunch.
Friday, July 8 - YAC Splash and Fun at the YAC; closed for lunch. Kids meet for Friday evening pizza party and more YAC on the Go at 7:00 p.m.; sponsored by the Kentucky Council of the Blind.
Attention, teens 14 and up! Want to be more than just a YACster? Be a YAC counselor! Stop by the YAC for more details; requires YAC registration and signed parental consent forms.
Parents must accompany children to the YAC the first time in order to sign permission slips, waivers, etc. Children may not participate in any YAC activities or events if forms are not completed and signed in advance.
Children must be picked up on time. While the YAC volunteers love children, they need breaks for lunch and have other commitments after the YAC ends each day. Please be respectful of their time and other obligations.
For more information, or to find out how you or your affiliate can become a YAC sponsor, contact Patti Cox, YAC Coordinator.
Reservations for affiliate caucus rooms should be made at the Information Services Desk in the Convention Center. Caucus rooms are available on a first-come basis Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m. and after 4:00 p.m.
The following caucuses are scheduled as of the printing of this program. Refer to the convention newspaper for announcements of additional caucuses.
7:00 a.m. - California Council of the Blind Breakfast - 114-115- 116
2:15 p.m. - GDUI caucus - 8
5:00 p.m. - ICB Midwest States Caucus - 109-110
7:00 a.m. - ACB of New York Breakfast - 116
7:00 a.m. - Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Breakfast - 115
7:00 a.m. - Washington Council of the Blind Breakfast - G
5:00 p.m. - Missouri Council Caucus - 109
5:00 p.m. - Texas/Midsouth Caucus - Room C
7:00 a.m. - ACB of Ohio Breakfast - 116
5:00 p.m. Jewish Service - 107
9:30 a.m. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Service - 107
10:00 a.m. Interdenominational Church Service - 105
7:00 p.m. Gospel Sing - 101-102
It was not possible to arrange a Roman Catholic Mass on-site this year. Guardian Angel Cathedral is located about 2 blocks from the hotel at 336 Cathedral Way. Masses are celebrated at 2:30, 4:00 and 5:30 on Saturday afternoon.
5:00 p.m.: Registration Open until 7:00 p.m. (Pre-reg. pick-up only)
6:45 a.m.: London Bridge Tour
11:00 a.m.: Registration Open until 8:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.: Baseball Game Trip
7:00 p.m.: Convention Committee Meeting; 103
6:45 a.m.: Colorado River Float Trip
8:00 a.m.: Registration Open until 7:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m.: ACB Café Open until 3:30 p.m.; H
8:45 a.m.: Las Vegas City Tour
8:30 a.m.: ACB Board of Directors Meeting; 103
9:00 a.m.: RSVA Subcommittee meetings; RSVA suite
12:15 p.m.: Liberace Museum Tour
1:00 p.m.: Exhibits Open until 6:00 p.m.; 1-2- 3-4
2:00 p.m.: ACB Constitution and Bylaws Committee; 202
2:00 p.m.: BFLAG Volunteer Welcome; BFLAG Suite
3:00 p.m.: RSVA Pre-convention board meeting; 103
3:00 p.m.: SASI SSP Presentation and Match up; 112
4:00 p.m.: CCLVI Board meeting; 105
4:30 p.m.: BITS Pre-convention Board meeting; 104
5:00 p.m.: First Timers' Seminar; C
5:00 p.m.: Jewish service; 107
6:00 p.m.: AAVIA Board Meeting; 108
6:00 p.m.: ACB Exhibitors' reception (by invitation only) President's Suite
6:00 p.m.: BFLAG Dinner Board Meeting; Rainbow Lounge
6:30 p.m.: ACB Scholarship Winners' Dinner (by invitation only); 116
7:00 p.m.: CCLVI Nominating Committee; 105
7:00 p.m.: NELDS Folk Festival; 112-113
7:00 p.m.: FIA Board meeting; 106
8:00 p.m.: LUA Board meeting; 103
8:00 p.m.: NABS Welcome party; Executive Director's Suite
8:00 p.m.: Nevada Council Welcome to Las Vegas Party; 101- 102
9:00 p.m.: ACB Resolutions Committee; 201
9:00 p.m.: RSVA Mixer RSVA Suite
9:00 p.m.: ACBL Mixer/Pin Swap; President's Suite
7:30 a.m.: NELDS Board meeting President's Suite
7:30 a.m.: ACB Café Open until 3:30 p.m.; H
8:00 a.m.: Registration Open until 5:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m.: NABT Breakfast "Creating Your Own Happiness"; 116
8:45 a.m.: Las Vegas City Tour
9:00 a.m.: ACB Employment Issues Seminar; 109-110
9:00 a.m.: ACB Exhibits Open until 6:00 p.m.; 1-2-3-4
9:00 a.m.: ACBES Manager Training; 212
9:00 a.m.: RSVA Program; 114-115
9:00 a.m.: CCLVI/NAPVI Program; 112-113
9:00 a.m.: NABS Scholarship Breakfast (by invitation); 108
9:30 a.m.: LDS Church Service; 107
9:45 a.m.: NABT Business Meeting and Board Meeting; 116
10:00 a.m.: Interdenominational Church Service; 105
10:00 a.m.: ACBL Board Meeting; 104
10:00 a.m.: BFLAG Board Meeting (if needed)- BFLAG Suite
10:00 a.m.: BITS Program "Clash of the Titans"; D
10:00 a.m.: ACB Board of Publications Meeting; 103
10:00 a.m.: NABS Program and Business Meeting: "Taking Charge Without Charging"; 108
12:00 p.m.: ACB Sports Fanatics Luncheon; G
12:00 p.m.: GDUI Convention Area Orientation; 7
1:00 p.m.: ACB Credentials Committee; 104
1:00 p.m.: FIA Draw A Bead on Creating Your Own Jewelry; 211
1:00 p.m.: FIA Art Parlor until 4:00 p.m.:; 204
1:00 p.m.: Freedom Scientific Open Book focus group; 12
1:00 p.m.: VIVA Blackjack is Easy! (Fundraiser); C
1:15 p.m.: NAPVI Opening Session; 207
1:30 p.m.: AAVIA Program; 107
1:30 p.m.: BITS Technology Vendor Showcase; D
1:30 p.m.: CCLVI Program; 113
1:30 p.m.: NAPVI IDEA Update; 208
1:30 p.m.: NAPVI "For Dads Only"; 209
1:30 p.m.: NAPVI IEP Strategies; 210
1:30 p.m.: RSVA Team Building Techniques; 114-115
2:00 p.m.: BFLAG Viva Las Vegas Social; BFLAG Suite
2:00 p.m.: CCLVI Visit to Exhibit Hall
2:15 p.m.: GDUI Affiliate Roundup; 8
3:00 p.m.: ACBGE Mixer; Executive Director's Suite
3:00 p.m.: BRL Board meeting; 106
3:00 p.m.: NAPVI IDEA Update; 208
3:00 p.m.: NAPVI "For Dads Only"; 209
3:00 p.m.: NAPVI IEP Strategies; 210
3:00 p.m.: Seeing Eye Ice Cream Social; 101-102
3:30 p.m.: Newsreelers' Get-together; 108
4:00 p.m.: CCLVI Mixer; President's Suite
4:00 p.m.: First Timers' Seminar; C
4:00 p.m.: FIA Mixer/Showcase sign-up; 111
4:00 p.m.: GDUI Board Meeting; 103
4:00 p.m.: RSVA Nominating Committee Meeting; 114-115
4:30 p.m.: NAPVI Ice Cream Social; 207
5:00 p.m.: GDUI Convention Area Orientation; 7
5:45 p.m.: FIA Chorus Rehearsal; 111
6:30 p.m.: ACB Pre-convention Entertainment; A-B-E-F
7:00 p.m.: ACB General session; A-B-E-F
10:00 p.m.: BFLAG Support Get-together BFLAG Suite
10:00 p.m.: CCLVI Welcome Dance; 101-102
10:00 p.m.: RSVA Mixer; RSVA Suite
11:00 p.m.: (or end of general session): ACB ResolutionsCommittee; 201
6:30 a.m.: BFLAG Coffee and hospitality; BFLAG suite
7:00 a.m.: GDUI Breakfast Club; meeting place to be announced
7:00 a.m.: Guide Dogs for the Blind Graduate and Prospective Student Breakfast; 114-115
7:00 a.m.: IVIE Breakfast and Business Meeting; 116
7:00 a.m.: Career Opportunities with NIB; G
7:30 a.m.: ACB Café Open until 3:30 p.m.; H
8:00 a.m.: Registration Open until 2:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m.: ACB Pre-convention Entertainment
8:15 a.m.: YAC Open until 4:00 p.m.
8:30 a.m.: ACB General session
11:00 a.m.: ACB Exhibits Open until 6:00 p.m.; 1-2-3-4
12:30 p.m.: AAVL Luncheon and Program; 116
12:30 p.m.: RSVA Luncheon; 114-115
12:30 p.m.: Mormon Fort Tour
1:00 p.m.: FIA Art Parlor until 4:00 p.m.; 204
1:30 p.m.: AAVIA Program; 107
1:30 p.m.: CCLVI/CFVI/NAPVI Families Living with Vision Loss; C
1:30 p.m.: FIA MIDI Workshop; 111
1:30 p.m.: GDUI Opening Ceremonies; 8
1:30 p.m.: IVIE "The Best Made Plans..." Workshop; 104
1:45 p.m.: Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum Tour
1:30 p.m.: LUA Program; 103
2:00 p.m.: BFLAG/NABS Program Session; 105
3:00 p.m.: CCLVI/CFVI/NAPVI Sending a Family Member to College; Negotiating the Money Maze; C
3:30 p.m.: FIA Showcase Auditions; 111
4:00 p.m.: ACB/WCC Recreation Zone; Tai chi; 6
4:00 p.m.: ACB Roadmap; Financing Our Work; Developing Affiliate and National Strategies for 2005-2010; D
4:30 p.m.: ACB of NY Happy Hour; ACB of NY Suite
4:30 p.m.: Multicultural Reception; President's Suite
4:30 p.m.: LUA Wine and Cheese Reception; Executive Director's Suite
5:00 p.m.: ACB Constitution/Bylaws Committee; 202
5:00 p.m.: Kurzweil 1000 User Group Meeting; 112-113
5:30 p.m.: ACB Nominating Committee; 105
6:00 p.m.: ACB Speaker's Reception; First Vice President's Suite
6:30 p.m.: RSVA Auction Preview; 114-115
7:00 p.m.: RSVA Auction; 114-115
7:00 p.m.: ACB Gospel Sing; 101-102
7:00 p.m.: BFLAG Annual Meeting; BFLAG Suite
7:30 p.m.: DVS Movie Night "RAY"; C-D
8:00 p.m.: Alaska Independent Blind Hospitality Suite; President's Suite
8:00 p.m.: ACB Resolutions Committee; 201
8:00 p.m.: GDUI "Lucky Dogs" Reception; 6
9:00 p.m.: FIA Prose and Poetry Reading; 105
9:00 p.m.: Durward K. McDaniel First-Timer's Country and Western Jamboree Fundraiser; 101-102
9:00 p.m.: BITS Mixer; Executive Director's Suite
9:00 p.m.: RSVA Mixer; RSVA Suite
9:30 p.m.: BFLAG Pizza Get-together; BFLAG Suite
10:00 p.m.: FIA Chorus Rehearsal; 111
6:30 a.m.: BFLAG Coffee and hospitality; BFLAG suite
7:00 a.m.: GDUI Breakfast Club; meeting place to be announced
7:00 a.m.: AFB Breakfast; 114-116
7:30 a.m.: ACB Café Open until 3:30 p.m.; H
7:30 a.m.: RSVA Board Meeting; RSVA Suite
8:00 a.m.: Registration Open until 2:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m.: ACB Morning Entertainment
8:15 a.m.: YAC Open until 4:00 p.m.
8:30 a.m.: ACB General Session
11:00 a.m.: ACB Exhibits Open until 6:00 p.m.; 1, 2, 3, 4
12:30 p.m.: AAVIA Luncheon and Business Meeting; 116
12:30 p.m.: BITS Luncheon and Program; 114
12:30 p.m.: FIA Lunch and Meeting; 112
12:30 p.m.: GDUI Program; 8
12:30 p.m.: VIVA Luncheon; 115
12:35 p.m.: Bonney Springs Ranch Tour
1:00 p.m.: Mississippi State Technology Conference Begins; 206-212
1:30 p.m.: Blind Services Tour
1:30 p.m.: BRL Program; 113
1:30 p.m.: CCLVI Business Meeting; 103
1:30 p.m.: NABS Business meeting; 107
1:30 p.m.: SASI Program; 108
2:00 p.m.: BFLAG Program; 105
2:45 p.m.: GDUI Business Meeting and Elections; 8
3:00 p.m.: AFB The All-New CareerConnect: Great Resource for Job-seekers; 109
3:00 p.m.: FIA Meet the Artists Art Parlor; 204
3:15 p.m.: CCLVI Post-convention Board meeting; 103
4:00 p.m.: ACB Recreation Zone: Yoga; 6
4:00 p.m.: ACB Roadmap; Envisioning ACB in 2010; D
4:00 p.m.: "Fred's Head"–Tips and Resources for Home, School, Work and Play; 104
5:00 p.m.: ACB Agency Directors' Reception (By invitation); First Vice President's Suite
5:00 p.m.: ACB Constitution/Bylaws Committee; 202
5:00 p.m.: BITS Post-convention Board Meeting; 114
5:00 p.m.: Guiding Eyes for the Blind Wine and Cheese Reception; Welcome, Guide Dog Users; G
5:00 p.m.: NABT/Miss. State Reception (by invitation only)- President's Suite
6:00 p.m.: ACB Speakers' Reception; Secretary's Suite
6:30 p.m.: ACB Scholarship Reception; Executive Director's Suite
6:30 p.m.: Blind Justice Screening with WeSeeTV; 112-113
7:00 p.m.: All-in-play Poker Party (by invitation only); 114
8:00 p.m.: ACB Resolutions Committee; 201
8:00 p.m.: FIA Showcase of the Performing Arts; A-B-C-D
10:00 p.m.: BFLAG Support Get-together; BFLAG Suite
10:30 p.m.: FIA Post-Showcase Reception; 111
6:30 a.m.: BFLAG Coffee and hospitality; BFLAG suite
7:00 a.m.: California Breakfast/Caucus (members only); 114-116
7:00 a.m.: GDUI Breakfast Club- meeting place to be announced
7:00 a.m.: Seeing Eye Breakfast (Grads and their guests); G
7:30 a.m.: ACB Café Open until 3:30 p.m.; H
8:00 a.m.: Registration Open until 2:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m.: ACB Morning Entertainment
8:15 a.m.: YAC Open until 4:00 p.m.
8:30 a.m.: ACB General Session
10:00 a.m.: ACB Exhibits Open until 1:00 p.m.; 1, 2, 3, 4
12:15 p.m.: Sheri's Ranch Tour (21 yrs. and older)
12:15 p.m.: Liberace Museum Tour
12:30 p.m.: GDUI Luncheon; 8
12:30 p.m.: Multicultural Committee Luncheon; 116
12:30 p.m.: Women's Concerns Luncheon w/Red Hat Society; 114
1:00 p.m.: BFLAG Roller Coaster Extravaganza; Meet in BFLAG Suite
1:00 p.m.: FIA Art Parlor until 6:00 p.m.; 204
1:30 p.m.: AAVL Workshop; "Scams and Identity Theft"; 109
1:30 p.m.: BITS Program; C
1:30 p.m.: BRL/LUA Program; 103
1:30 p.m.: FIA Workshop "Making A Scene" with George Ashiotis; 111
1:30 p.m.: NABS Self-defense Class; 104
1:30 p.m.: NELDS Workshop "3R's of Copyrights"; 112-113
2:00 p.m.: CCLVI Support Group for Individuals Living with Low Vision; 110
2:15 p.m.: GDUI Caucus; 8
3:00 p.m.: ACBDA Business Meeting; 107
3:00 p.m.: ACBHSP Stress Management Workshop; 105
3:00 p.m.: FIA Writers' Workshop: "Tales: Told, Then Written, or Written, Then Told"; 108
3:30 p.m.: NABS Self-defense Class; 104
4:00 p.m.: ACB Recreation Zone: Goalball; 6
4:00 p.m.: ACB Roadmap; Strengthening Our Effectiveness in State Legislatures and Congress; D
4:00 p.m.: AAVL Musical Mixer; President's Suite
4:00 p.m.: ACB Scholarship Comm.; 106
4:00 p.m.: ACBHSP Business Meeting; 103
5:00 p.m.: ICB Midwest States Caucus; 109-110
5:00 p.m.: ACB Constitution/Bylaws Committee; 202
5:00 p.m.: ACB International Conversations; 114
5:00 p.m.: ACBDA Mixer; Secretary's Suite
5:00 p.m.: FIA Round and Harmony Sing; 111
5:30 p.m.: Lake Mead Dinner/Dance Cruise
6:00 p.m.: ACB Speakers' Reception; President's Suite
6:00 p.m.: CFVI Root Beer Float Social Fundraiser; Executive Director's Suite
6:30 p.m.: BFLAG "An Evening at La Cage"; Meet in BFLAG Suite
7:00 p.m.: GDUI "Lucky Dogs Take A Hike"; meet in 7
7:30 p.m.: NCI Family Night at the Movies "To Be Announced"; C-D
8:00 p.m.: ACB Resolutions Committee; 201
8:30 p.m.: CCLVI Game Night; 101-102
10:00 p.m.: BFLAG Support Get-together; BFLAG Suite
6:30 a.m.: BFLAG Coffee and Hospitality; BFLAG Suite
7:00 a.m.: ACB of NY Breakfast/Caucus (members only); 116
7:00 a.m.: GDUI Breakfast Club; meeting place to be announced
7:00 a.m.: Pennsylvania Breakfast/caucus (members only); 115
7:00 a.m.: Washington Breakfast/caucus (members only); G
7:30 a.m.: ACB Café Open until 3:30 p.m.; H
7:30 a.m.: FIA Board Meeting; 106
8:00 a.m.: Registration Open until 2:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m.: ACB Morning Entertainment
8:15 a.m.: YAC Open until 4:00 p.m.
8:30 a.m.: ACB General Session
10:30 a.m.: ACB Break-out #1 "Accessible Cell Phones, Our Generation"; A-B-E-F
10:30 a.m.: ACB Break-out #2 "Yawn On" Sleep Study Update; C-D
10:30 a.m.: ACB Break-out #3 "The Ayes Have it"- 107-110
12:15 p.m.: Star Trek Experience
12:30 p.m.: ACBGE Luncheon and Meeting; 114
12:30 p.m.: ACBL Luncheon; 115
12:30 p.m.: Hoover Dam Tour
12:45 p.m.: Clark County Museum Tour
1:30 p.m.: AAVL Program "What I've Gained and Lost from Vision and Hearing Loss"; 103
1:30 p.m.: ACBRA Program and Business Meeting; 107
1:30 p.m.: CARF Focus Group Meeting; 104
1:30 p.m.: CFVI Business Meeting and Program; 112
1:30 p.m.: GDUI Taking A Chance: Getting a Guide Dog Later in Life; 8
2:00 p.m.: ACB Membership seminar; C
2:00 p.m.: ACBGE Program; 113
3:00 p.m.: AAVL Business Meeting; 103
3:00 p.m.: AFB The All-New CareerConnect: Great Resource for Job-seekers; 109
3:45 p.m.: ACB Presidents' meeting; D
5:00 p.m.: Texas/Midsouth Caucus; C
5:00 p.m.: BFLAG Lake Meade Dinner Cruise; Meet in BFLAG Suite
5:00 p.m.: Missouri Caucus; 109
6:00 p.m.: ACB Resolutions Committee; 201
6:00 p.m.: ACB Speakers' Reception; President's Suite
7:00 p.m.: ACB BOP Candidates' Forum; A-B-C-D
8:00 p.m.: GDUI "Sit, Roll Over, and Relax with Your Lucky Dog"- 7
10:00 p.m.: BFLAG Support Get-together; BFLAG Suite
10:00 p.m.: NABS Comedy Club; 101-102
6:30 a.m.: BFLAG Coffee and hospitality; BFLAG Suite
7:00 a.m.: ACB of Ohio Breakfast (members only); 114
7:30 a.m.: ACB Café Open until 3:30 p.m.; H
8:00 a.m.: ACB Pre-convention Entertainment
8:15 a.m.: YAC Open until 4:00 p.m.
8:30 a.m.: ACB General session
12:00 p.m.: BRL Board meeting (time depends on lunch break from general session); 103
3:00 p.m.: BFLAG Board meeting; BFLAG Suite
5:30 p.m.: ACB Life Members Reception; Executive Director's Suite
6:00 p.m.: ACB Pre-banquet Reception; 114-116
7:00 p.m.: ACB ANNUAL BANQUET and Entertainment; 5-6-7-8
7:00 p.m.: YAC Pizza Party
10:00 p.m.: BFLAG Farewell and Recognition Party; BFLAG Suite
10:00 p.m.: CCLVI Farewell to Las Vegas Dance; 101-102
9:30 a.m.: ACBDA Diabetes Seminar: "All You Ever Wanted to Know About Carbs and Were Afraid to Ask"; 112
10:00 a.m.: ACB Legislative Seminar; 114-115
1:30 p.m.: ACB Post-convention Board meeting; 103
6:00 p.m. Entertainment: Raquel Silva and Eric Horvath, Las Vegas, NV
7:00 p.m. Call to Order: Christopher Gray, President, American Council of the Blind, San Francisco, CA Invocation: Dr. R. Jeffrey Parker, Retinologist and Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Las Vegas, NV
Presentation of the Colors: Nellis Air Force Base Color Guard, Las Vegas, NV
National Anthem: Linda Braithwaite, Salt Lake City, UT
Welcome to Nevada: Carol Ann Ewing, President, Nevada Council of the Blind, Las Vegas, NV
7:20 p.m. ACB President's Report, Christopher Gray
7:45 p.m. American Council of Blind Diabetics In Action Charter Presentation: Sue Ammeter, ACB Membership Committee Chair, Lake Hadlock, WA
7:50 p.m. Experiences as a Consultant to "Blind Justice": Lynn Manning, Playwright, Los Angeles, CA
8:15 p.m. Award Presentations, Charles S.P. Hodge, Chair, Board of Publications, Arlington, VA
8:35 p.m. Keynote Address: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Diversity"; Alex Valdez, Comedian, Brea, CA
9:00 p.m. James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award Presentation: Nola McKinney, Awards Committee Chair, Bonnerdale, AR
9:10 p.m. Life Membership Presentations
9:40 p.m. Credentials Committee Report: Judi Cannon, Chair, Watertown, MA
9:45 p.m. Roll Call of Affiliates, Donna Seliger, American Council of the Blind Secretary, Des Moines, IA
8:00 a.m. Entertainment: Sarah Alawami, Las Vegas, NV
8:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Rick Kuhlmey, Las Vegas, NV Invocation: Dr. Charlie Arehart, Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of Las Vegas, NV
8:35 a.m. ACB Business including Final Credentials Report; Presiding Officer: Ardis Bazyn, American Council of the Blind Treasurer, Burbank, CA,
9:15 a.m. Nationwide Survey of Breast Cancer Risk in Blind Women: Steven Lockley, Ph.D., Boston, MA
9:25 a.m. International Guest Mohamed Loutfy, Junior Professional Associate, Disability and Development Team, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
9:55 a.m. Access to Social Security: Arlene Mayerson, Directing Attorney, Disability Rights Education and Defense Funds (DREDF), Berkeley, CA
10:10 a.m. Las Vegas Centennial - 1905-2005
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. National Library Service Book and Technology Update: Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, and Michael Katzmann, Head, Engineering Section, NLS, Washington, DC
11:00 a.m. "Better Banking and Buying at Point-of-Sale Machines": Lainey Feingold, Attorney, Berkeley, CA
11:30 a.m. "The Life and Times of Kenny Johnson": Kenny Johnson, Comedian/Speaker, Las Vegas, NV
11:45 a.m. Recreation Zone Update: Oral O. Miller, Washington, DC
11:55 a.m. Announcements
8:00 a.m. Entertainment: Janiece Petersen Kent, Washington, D.C. and Lynn Hedl, Birmingham, Alabama
8:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Sandra Niccum, Las Vegas, NV
Invocation: Amos Mestas, Senior Pastor, River of Life Ministries, Las Vegas, NV
8:35 a.m. ACB Business Presiding Officer: Mitch Pomerantz, American Council of the Blind Second Vice President, Pasadena, CA,
9:00 a.m. Executive Director's Report: Melanie Brunson, American Council of the Blind Vienna, VA
9:30 a.m. Greetings from the American Association of the Deaf-Blind: Jamie Pope, Executive Director, Silver Spring, MD
9:40 a.m. "A Research Agenda: Tell it by the Numbers": Susan Jay Spungin, Ed.D., American Foundation for the Blind and World Blind Union Treasurer, NY, NY
10:00 a.m. An Update from APH: Dr. Tuck Tinsley, III, President, American Printing HouseLouisville, KY
10:20 a.m. Break
10:35 a.m. Las Vegas Centennial - 1905-2005
10:40 a.m. 2005 American Council of the Blind Scholarship Presentations: Patty Slaby, Chair, ACB Scholarship Committee, River Falls, WI
11:40 a.m. CareerConnect: Dr. Karen Wolffe, Program Manager, American Foundation for the Blind, NY, NY
11:50 a.m. Announcements
8:00 a.m. Entertainment: B. T. Kimbrough, Starkville, MS
8:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV
Invocation: Father Tony Vercellone, Vocation Director, Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas, NV
8:35 a.m. ACB Business Presiding Officer: MJ Schmitt, American Council of the Blind First Vice President, Rochester, NY
9:15 a.m. The Future of Rehabilitation Services: Panel Moderator; Melanie Brunson, American Council of the Blind Executive Director, Vienna, VA
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Las Vegas Centennial - 1905-2005
10:50 a.m. "Notes from the Narrator": Barry Bernson, American Printing House, Louisville, KY
11:15 a.m. "Braille Stories and Adventures In and Out of Prison": Bob Schmitz, Program Advisor, Folsom Prison Project for the Visually Impaired
11:40 a.m. Mississippi State Update: BT Kimbrough, Training Director, Jackson, MS
11:55 a.m. Announcements
8:00 a.m. Entertainment: Gordon Kent, Washington, D.C.
8:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Boy Scouts of America, Las Vegas Area Council
Invocation: David Childers, Senior Pastor, Spring Valley Assembly of God, Las Vegas, NV
8:35 a.m. ACB Business Presiding Officer: Donna Seliger, American Council of the Blind Secretary, Des Moines, IA
9:15 a.m. National Convention Report: Cynthia Towers, Convention Coordinator, Seattle, WA
9:35 a.m. Nevada Council of the Blind Award Presentation to Producer Gerald R. Molen, Presented by Carol Ann Ewing, NCB President, Las Vegas, NV
9:45 a.m. Coping and Adjusting of Adults with Retinitis Pigmentosa: Barbara Siple, Ph.D., Consulting and Psychological Services, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. ACB Break-out #1 "Accessible Cell Phones, Our Generation" - A-B-E-F
10:30 a.m. ACB Break-out #2 "Yawn On" Sleep Study Update - C-D
10:30 a.m. ACB Break-out #3 "The Ayes Have it"- 107-110
8:00 a.m. Entertainment: Janice Gable, Jackson, MS
8:30 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance: Girl Scouts of Frontier Council, Las Vegas, NV
Invocation: Dale Jensen, Retired United Methodist Minister, Las Vegas, NV
8:35 a.m. ACB Business Presiding Officer: Christopher Gray, American Council of the Blind President, San Fransisco, CA
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. "Blue Skies": John Fleming, President, Visually Impaired Veterans of America, Colton, CA
10:35 a.m. ACB Business: This session will begin with ACB 2005 Elections.
12:00 p.m. Lunch Break
1:15 p.m. ACB Business
2:45 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. ACB Business
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
6:00 p.m. Pre-Banquet Reception; 114-116
7:00 p.m. AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND ANNUAL BANQUET; 5-6-7-8
Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award Presentation
George Card Award Presentation
Keynote Address: Dr. William Rowland, President, World Blind Union, Pretoria, South Africa
9:30 a.m. ACBDA Diabetes Seminar - 113
10:00 a.m. ACB Legislative Seminar; 114-115
Many ACB boards and committees will be meeting during convention week. Check the Calendar of Events for meeting dates and times for the following:
ACB Board of Directors
ACB Board of Publications
ACB Constitution and Bylaws Committee
ACB Convention Committee
ACB Credentials Committee
ACB Nominating Committee
ACB Resolutions Committee
ACB Scholarship Committee
9:00 a.m. ACB Employment Issues Seminar - 109-110 Entitled "The Future of Vocational Rehabilitation and Its Alternatives," this important seminar discusses the rehabilitation system, its current problems and alternatives, and its future. See schedule below for more details.
9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks/Introductions - Mitch Pomerantz, Chairperson, ACB Employment Issues Committee
9:20 a.m. Making the Rehabilitation System Work - Naomi Soule, District Supervisor, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, State of Missouri
10:00 a.m. Alternatives to Rehabilitation? - Moderator: John Huffman, Human Resources Specialist, Veterans Administration Hospital, Indianapolis, IN; Presenters: One-Stop Centers - Doreen Wong, Workforce Development Consultant, Los Angeles, CA; Private Employment Agencies - Mike Gravitt, Team Leader, Bender Consulting Services Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
10:45 a.m. Rehabilitation/Consumer Roundtable: Small Group Problem-solving Session - Facilitator: Peter Altschul, Diversity Consultant, Washington, DC
11:45 a.m. Wrap-Up and Feedback - Mitch Pomerantz
4:30 p.m. Diversity in Leadership Reception - President's Suite People of all backgrounds and ethnicities are challenged and encouraged to take a more active role in ACB, and to contribute their unique talents and skills to make our organization better. Come and meet Board members to find out how they became part of the ACB leadership team. Sponsored by ACB and the Multicultural Concerns Committee.
12:30 p.m. Multicultural Concerns Committee Luncheon - 116 $25 - $27
3:00 p.m. Meet, Match and Learn - 112 Learn about how people who are both vision- and hearing-impaired communicate from Rich McGann, instructor, Interpreter Training Program, Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA. Here's a chance for people with both a visual and hearing loss who have indicated a need for SSP services to be matched with their SSP's.
1:30 p.m. SSP's: A National Project 108 Support Service Providers (SSPs) help someone with both a vision and hearing loss to be more independent in the community. Learn about an effort to build a national pilot project and how to participate in your area from Gail Ploman, Deaf- Blind Service Center, Seattle, Washington; Jamie Pope, Executive Director, American Association of Deaf- blind, Washington, DC; and Randy Pope, a leader in the deaf-blind community in Washington, DC.
3:00 p.m. MSU Update B. J. LeJeune, Mississipi State University Rehabilitation, Research and Training Center, will present updated information from a study being conducted regarding people who lose one sense, such as vision, and then lose another, such as hearing, later in life.
3:45 p.m. All About Devices for People Who Are SASI What devices do people who are SASI use to be more independent in the home? B.J. LeJeune, Mississippi State University Rehabilitation, Research and Training Center, and Paige Berry, Helen Keller National Center, will present information as well as a demonstration of some of these devices. Find out what is available and get ideas on what might help you or your clients.
4:00 p.m. Tai Chi - 6 Co-sponsored with Recreation Zone
12:30 p.m. WCC Luncheon with Red Hat Society - 114 Join in the fun with the rapidly growing Red Hat Society. Poems, songs, games, door prizes, good food and good times to be had by all! Wear your red hat and purple dress, or if you have not achieved your "birthatude" of 50, wear your pink hat and lavender dress! $27 - $29
5:00 p.m. ACB First-Timer's Seminar - C
6:00 p.m. ACB Exhibitors' Reception (by invitation only) - President's Suite
9:00 a.m. ACBES Manager Training - 212
4:00 p.m. ACB First-Timer's Seminar - C
6:00 p.m. Speakers' Reception - First Vice President's Suite
5:00 p.m. Agency Directors' Reception (by invitation only) - First Vice President's Suite
6:00 p.m. Speakers' Reception - Secretary's Suite
6:30 p.m. Scholarship Winners' Reception - Executive Director's Suite
6:00 p.m. Speakers' Reception - President's Suite
2:00 p.m. Membership Committee Seminar - C
3:45 p.m. Affiliate Presidents' Meeting - D
6:00 p.m. Speakers' Reception - President's Suite
7:00 p.m. Board of Publications Candidates' Forum - A-B-C-D
5:30 p.m. Life Members' Reception - Executive Director's Suite
6:00 p.m. Pre-Banquet Reception - 114-116
7:00 p.m. Annual Banquet - 5-6-7-8
10:00 a.m. Legislative Seminar - 114-115
Help chart ACB's course through the next decade and beyond. Members of our leadership will facilitate these conversations and listen to your thoughts and ideas that will keep ACB healthy, strong and growing.
4:00 p.m. ACB Roadmap: Financing Our Work - Room D
Developing Affiliate and National Strategies for 2005 and Beyond Facilitators: Melanie Brunson, Vienna, VA and David Trott, Talladega, AL
Come and discuss ACB's trials, successes and failures in fund-raising. Brainstorm with us about new ways for ACB and its affiliates, working in partnership, to achieve financial growth and success.
4:00 p.m. ACB Roadmap: Envisioning ACB in 2010 Moderators: Chris Gray, San Fransisco, CA and MJ Schmitt., Rochester, NY
If your ACB dreams could come true, where would you imagine ACB to be in 2010? Help us initiate a goal-setting and values-setting process to guide our organization in the next five years. We'll also discuss what to do to realize your goals.
4:00 p.m. ACB Roadmap: Strengthening Our Effectiveness in State Legislatures and Congress Moderators: Mitch Pomerantz and Day Al-Mohamed. Let's talk about what works and what doesn't when approaching Congress and your state legislatures. There may be new and exciting avenues to help us better succeed in these endeavors.
If you have never attended an American Council of the Blind national convention, you are about to hit the jackpot! Come to the First-Timer's Seminar, in Room C, either Saturday at 5:00 p.m. or Sunday at 4:00 p.m. to get an overview of what to expect and how to get the most out of the week's activities.
On Monday through Thursday evenings, ACB President, Chris Gray, hosts receptions for speakers on the convention program of that day. Each affiliate is invited to send two members per reception. This is a wonderful opportunity for ACB members to meet and talk personally with convention presenters. See "Other ACB seminars and Events" for times and locations.
4:00 p.m. Tai Chi - Room 6 Co-Sponsored by Women's Concerns Committee
4:00 p.m. Yoga - Room 6
4:00 p.m. Goalball Demonstration - Room 6
International dignitaries often speak to the ACB convention, but many interesting international guests are not included on the program because they have made plans to attend at the last minute, or because they choose to attend as ordinary participants.
Come to "International Conversations" at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday in Room 114 and meet our international guests. This forum offers a venue for recognizing guests from other parts of the world, gives them an opportunity to make a few remarks about their countries and organizations, and welcomes them warmly to the ACB national convention.
If you are one of our foreign guests, or for more information about "International Conversations", please contact Oral Miller, member of the ACB Board of Directors.
12:30 p.m. AAVL Luncheon - 116 Laugh about "the funny side of being blind" with ACB Immediate Past President, Paul Edwards. $27 - $27
1:30 p.m. "Scams and Identity Theft"- 109 Rip-offs and identity theft don't just happen on the Internet. Learn how to protect yourself from telephone and direct-mail scammers, and to protect yourself from thieves and con artists.
4:00 p.m. AAVL Musical Mixer - President's Suite A musical good time and a great drawing, too. $4-$5
1:30 p.m. "What I've Gained and Lost from Vision and Hearing Loss" - 103 Roundtable and audience participation; a great time for sharing.
3:00 p.m. AAVL Business Meeting
6:00 p.m. AAVIA Board Meeting - 108 Off-site dinner to follow
1:30 p.m. Welcome, Introductions and roll call - 107
1:45 p.m. Challenges and opportunities: a solo practitioner's perspective practicing in a special population community Chi-Yim Siu, Esq., New York, New York
2:35 p.m. "What's New with Notetakers" Learn more about the Braille Sense, the Braille Note PK, and Pac Mate with Robert Miller from Easytalk Computers and Rachel Bader from Florida Reading and Vision Technology. Audience discussion encouraged.
3:35 p.m. Break
3:50 p.m. "Employment Opportunities with the Anti Trust Division" Mitchell R. Chitwood, Esq., Assistant Chief, Dallas Field Office, Anti Trust Division, U.S. Department of Justice
4:35 p.m. "Ethical Considerations: Attorneys' Fees, Fee Sharing and Disclosure" David P. Adams, Esq., U.S. Trustees Office, Philadelphia, PA
1:30 p.m. Welcome, Announcements and Introductions - 107
1:40 p.m. "What's New with Our Supreme Court?" A review and discussion of the Court's recent decisions; Dr. Otis Stephens, Knoxville, TN
2:50 p.m. "The Social Security Accessible Format Lawsuit and More" Arlene Mayerson, Esq., DREDF (Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund)
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. "Practicing as a Social Security Administrative Law Judge who Just Happened to be Blind" A discussion of the experiences of a Washington State Social Security Law Judge and how things have changed for students and professionals of today. Judge David J. Delaittre
4:40 p.m. "Website Access for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: Yes, No Or ???" Lainey Feingold, Esq., Berkeley, CA
12:15 p.m. AAVIA Annual Luncheon - 116
2:15 p.m. "Intellectual Property Law -- Opportunities for a Lawyer Who Is Visually Impaired" - 116 Professor Leonard Duboff, Esq., The Duboff Law Firm, Portland, OR
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Annual Business Meeting
3:00 p.m. ACBDA Business Meeting - 107 Diabetics, family, friends - all welcome. We will elect officers, adopt our new constitution, and get our new organization off to a good start.
5:00 p.m. ACBDA Mixer - Secretary's Suite $8 - $10
9:30 a.m. ACBDA Diabetes Seminar: "All You Ever Wanted to Know About Carbs and Were Afraid to Ask" - 112- 113 $3 - $5 A great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about this extremely important topic.
3:00 p.m. ACBGE Mixer - Executive Director's Suite $10 - $12
12:30 p.m. ACBGE Luncheon and business meeting - 114 $24 - $26
2:00 p.m. "Equal Access and Opportunities in Federal Government Agencies" - 113 Mark Rew, Program Analyst for the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP), is leader for the blind and low vision team which provides assistive technology and accommodations. CAP ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to the information environment and opportunities in the Department of Defense and throughout the Federal Government. CAP focuses on adaptive technology that assists with assessment, procurement, and training and on technology for those who have visual or cognitive disabilities.
3:00 p.m. STRESS MANAGEMENT: The Key to Healthy Living - 105 Jessie L. Rayl, MA, LPC, invites you to join ACBHSP for a psychoeducational interactive group discussion on stress management. Learn what stress is and how it affects you physically and mentally. Measure your stress level and identify areas in your life that are imbalanced. Learn some ways of managing this stress more effectively, thereby bringing balance to your life and improving your physical and mental well-being.
4:00 p.m. ACBHSP Business Meeting - 103 Let's talk about the future of this affiliate.
9:00 p.m. Mixer/Pin Swap - President's Suite Meet fellow Lions from across the country; great hospitality. $5 - $5
10:00 a.m. ACBL Board Meeting - 104
12:30 p.m. ACBL Luncheon and Business Meeting - 115 Get involved and help shape the future of ACBL. $27 - $29
1:30 p.m. ACB Radio Amateurs Program and Business Session - 107 Kent Johnson, W7AOR, will tell us about amateur radio and the Internet, and will provide a live demonstration of IRLP, the Internet Radio Linking Project.
2:00 p.m. Volunteer Welcome - BFLAG Suite
6:00 p.m. Board Meeting (Dinner) - Rainbow Lounge
10:00 a.m. Board Meeting (if needed) - BFLAG Suite
2:00 p.m. BFLAG Viva Las Vegas Social - BFLAG Suite $15 - $15
10:00 p.m. BFLAG Social/Support Get-together - BFLAG Suite
6:30 a.m. Coffee Get-together - BFLAG Suite
2:00 p.m. "Safe Sex and Related Issues" - 105 Co-sponsored with NABS
7:00 p.m. BFLAG Annual Meeting - BFLAG Suite
9:30 p.m. BFLAG Pizza Get-together - BFLAG Suite
6:30 a.m. Coffee Get-together - BFLAG Suite
2:00 p.m. "Legal Issues of Domestic Partners" - 105
10:00 p.m. BFLAG Social/Support Get-together - BFLAG Suite
6:30 a.m. Coffee Get-together - BFLAG Suite
1:00 p.m. Roller Coaster Extravaganza - Meet in Suite $30 - $30
6:30 p.m. "AN EVENING AT LA CAGE" - BFLAG Suite $30 - $30
10:00 p.m. BFLAG Social/Support Get-together - BFLAG Suite
6:30 a.m. Coffee Get-together - BFLAG Suite
5:00 p.m. BFLAG Dinner and Boat Ride on Lake Mead $35 - $35
10:00 p.m. BFLAG Social/Support Get-together - BFLAG Suite
6:30 a.m. Coffee Get-together - BFLAG Suite
3:00 p.m. BFLAG Board Meeting - BFLAG Suite
10:00 p.m. BFLAG Farewell and Recognition Party - BFLAG Suite $15 - $15
4:30 p.m. BITS Pre-convention Board Meeting - 104
10:00 a.m. Announcements and Opening Remarks: Frank Welte, BITS Program Chair - D
10:10 a.m. President's Message: Robert Rogers, BITS President
10:20 a.m. "Introduce Yourself" Share brief remarks with fellow BITS members
10:30 a.m. "Clash of the Titans: The Big Four Blindness Technology Companies Square Off" Panel discussion: Jim Denham, Moderator. Representatives from Freedom Scientific, Humanware, GW Micro, and Optelec will be asked to compare competing products in various categories. Sparks could fly. Questions from the audience welcome.
11:45 a.m. Reading of proposed Constitution Amendments
1:30 p.m. BITS Technology Vendor Showcase - D Get the latest news from more than a dozen leading producers of blindness products.
9:00 p.m. BITS Mixer - Executive Director's Suite $10 - $10
12:30 p.m. BITS Luncheon - 114 Speaker: Charles La Pierre, Chief Technology Officer, Sendero Group. Sendero manufactures and distributes the "Cadillac" of wayfinding systems, the BrailleNote GPS. Specifically designed to meet the needs of people who are blind, and combined with BrailleNote GPS software, the BrailleNote is a powerful portable information system and wayfinding tool. $28 - $28
1:45 p.m. Break
2:00 p.m. BITS Business Meeting - 114
5:00 p.m. BITS Post-convention Board Meeting - 114
1:30 p.m. "Access with Longhorn and Other Accessibility Issues" - C
2:45 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. "Daily Use of Everyday Applications" Q&A with Susan Thompson and Rob Hubbard; your questions answered about Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, email programs and more for the average PC user.
4:00 p.m. Open Forum Plan activities and projects for the coming year.
3:00 p.m. BRL Board Meeting - 106
1:30 p.m. Welcome - 113 Lynne Koral, BRL President
1:40 p.m. BRL Business Meeting
2:15 p.m. "A New Look at Braille" Winifred Downing
2:50 p.m. "The Jenny Beck Chapter Braille Services" - 113
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. "A Technical Writer's Use of Braille" Christopher Gray, Technical Writer, Symantec Corp., San Francisco, CA
3:30 p.m. BANA Open Forum Kim Charlson, Chair, Braille Authority of North America, Watertown, MA
4:45 p.m. Adjournment
1:30 p.m. LUA and BRL Welcome - 103 Barry Levine, President, Library Users of America, Lynne Koral, President, Braille Revival League
1:45 p.m. "Meet the Narrator" Talking Book Narrator Barry Bernson, American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY
2:15 p.m. "Free Matter: Background, Practice and Current Regulations" Judy Dixon, NLS Consumer Relations Officer and Acting Head, Braille Development Section, Washington, DC Update on NLS Braille Development Section
2:45 p.m. Howe Press: Meet the New General Manager David Morgan, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. 2nd LUA Auction Barry Levine, LUA President
3:30 p.m. "More Braille Stories and Adventures In and Out of Prison" Bob Schmitz, Program Advisor, Folsom Prison Project for the Visually Impaired
3:50 p.m. "Meet Valley Braille Service Inc." Dennis Melton, Las Vegas, NV
4:15 p.m. "Downloadable Audio Books from Net Library" Brian Charlson, Vice President, Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, MA
4:45 p.m. Adjournment
12:00 p.m. BRL Post-convention Board Meeting - 103
4:00 p.m. CCLVI Pre-convention Board Meeting - 105
7:00 p.m. CCLVI Nominating Committee - 105
9:00 a.m. CCLVI Program Session - 112-113 co-sponsored by NAPVI
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions Patricia M. Beattie, CCLVI President, Alexandria, VA; Susan LaVenture, NAPVI President, Watertown, MA
9:15 a.m. "How and Why I Became An Advocate" Panel discussion with Judith Lesner, NAPVI At- large Representative; Josh Logan, Philadelphia, PA; Barbara Millville, Vienna, VA; and Barbara Friedman, NY, NY. What makes us decide to become an advocate? Got mad enough? Decided to "Do something about it!"? We'll hear from a visually impaired teacher who wanted her students to get appropriate services; a tournament contract bridge player, who designed a deck of cards usable by people with low vision; a visually impaired woman who teaches tai-chi after learning how much it improved her own balance; and the President of the National Capital Citizens with Low Vision, who shares her journey that led to her decision on how to present herself as a visually impaired person - with a cane? Dog? Or other?
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. "Then and Now: Education for Visually Impaired Students in Residential Schools, Public Schools and in Transition" Facilitator - Patricia M. Beattie, President, CCLVI; Panelists: Lynne Sadler, Teacher, Foundation for Blind Children, Phoenix, AZ; Judith Lesner, NAPVI At-large Representative; Today's residential schools Transition Truths: Lee Robinson, UT; Paul Edwards, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, FL
1:30 p.m. "What's New In the ACB Exhibit Hall for People with Low Vision"- 113 Bernice Kandarian, CCLVI First Vice President, Mountain View, CA, and Guest Exhibitors
2:00 p.m. CCLVI Visits the Exhibit Hall
4:00 p.m. CCLVI Mixer - President's Suite
10:00 p.m. "Dancing and Listening to the Music of Gordon Kent" - 101-102
1:30 p.m. "Kids, Parents and Grandparents Living With Vision Loss" - C Co-sponsored by CCLVI, CFVI and NAPVI, this panel discussion will be facilitated by Cindy Burgett, CFVI President. Susan LaVenture, NAPVI President and others will discuss issues and challenges facing families with visually impaired members of all ages.
3:00 p.m. "Sending a Family Member To College: Negotiating the Money Maze" - C Presenter: Lisa M. Boettcher, Doctoral Student, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; co- sponsored by CFVI, CCLVI, NABS and NAPVI.
1:30 p.m. CCLVI Business Meeting - 103
3:15 p.m. CCLVI Post-convention Board Meeting - 103
1:30 p.m. Living With Low Vision - 110
1:30 p.m. Introductions: Patricia Beattie, CCLVI President
1:35 p.m. "Let's Try a Little Tai-Chi": Barbara Friedman, NY, NY
3:00 p.m. Model Support Group: Charles "Carlos" Gourgey, NY, NY (invited)
8:30 p.m. CCLVI Game Night - 101-102 The Price Is Right, Battle of the Sexes, prizes, snacks and loads of fun!
10:00 p.m. CCLVI Dance - 101-102 Farewell To Las Vegas - music for your dancing and listening pleasure by Gordon Kent.
1:30 p.m. "Kids, Parents and Grandparents Living With Vision Loss" - C Co-sponsored by CCLVI, CFVI and NAPVI, this panel discussion will be facilitated by Cindy Burgett, CFVI President. Susan LaVenture, NAPVI President and others will discuss issues and challenges facing families with visually impaired members of all ages.
3:00 p.m. "Sending a Family Member To College: Negotiating the Money Maze" - C Presenter: Lisa M. Boettcher, Doctoral Student, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; co- ponsored by CFVI, CCLVI, NABS and NAPVI.
8:30 a.m. CFVI Day at the YAC The Youth Activities Center enjoys a day at Adventureland, Circus Circus, courtesy of CFVI.
6:00 p.m. CFVI Root Beer Float Social - Executive Director's Suite Fun for the whole family. Games, door prizes and Root Beer Floats (sugar-free also available).
1:30 p.m. "Connecting Families for the Future" - 112 Strengthening families through CFVI projects and activities; business meeting included.
2:45 p.m. CFVI Sharing Time Share tips, resources, frustrations and solutions.
Note: The FIA Art Parlor, featuring works from blind and visually impaired artists, will be open from Sunday through Wednesday in room 204. Hours are as follows:
Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Monday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m. FIA Board Meeting - 106
1:00 p.m. Draw a Bead On Creating Your Own Jewelry - 211 DeAnna Noriega of Quietwater Designs will familiarize participants with the basics of jewelry- making.
4:00 p.m. FIA Mixer/Showcase Sign-up - 111 Meet old and new friends; register for a showcase audition (required if you wish to perform in the FIA showcase).
5:45 p.m. First FIA Chorus Rehearsal - 111 Perform special arrangements created by Harvey Miller and Nancy Pendegraph as part of the 2005 FIA Showcase.
1:30 p.m. MIDI Workshop - 111 Gordon Kent and Mike Mandel will demonstrate techniques currently in use in rap, hip-hop, and other contemporary music styles.
3:30 p.m. FIA Showcase Audition and Rehearsal- 111
9:00 p.m. Prose and Poetry Reading - 105 Writers will read original works.
10:00 p.m. Second FIA Chorus Rehearsal - 111
12:30 p.m. FIA Luncheon and Business Meeting - 112 Speaker: Alex Valdez, professional comedian who is blind and performing at the Riviera during the convention
3:00 p.m. Meet the Artists - 204 Mingle with the artists who have entered their work in FIA's art competition.
8:00 p.m. Friends-in-Art Showcase of the Performing Arts - Grande Ballroom A-B-C-D A great show of ACB talent, complete with chorus and band. The best ticket in town, and far more pleasing than the cacophony of slot machines!
10:30 p.m. Post-Showcase reception - 111 Celebrate FIA's 20th anniversary. Tickets, $10.
1:30 p.m. Making a Scene - 111 Last year, George Ashiotis' workshop provided feedback to participants aimed at improving their public speaking skills based on their reading of dialogues. This year, participants will work in trios and quartets to enact more complex scenes.
3:00 p.m. FIA Writers Workshop - 108 Tales: told, then written, or written, then told. Presenter: internationally renowned storyteller and writer, John Dashney
5:00 p.m. FIA Round and Harmony Sing - 111 Come and sing those beautiful rounds and harmony songs we all know and love; learn some new ones, too.
7:30 a.m. FIA Board Meeting - 106
Notes: The GDUI suite is located in Room 7, just past exhibits. The suite will be open from Saturday afternoon, July 2, to Thursday afternoon, July 7. Carla Campbell, canine massage therapist, will be available for individual dog massage Monday through Wednesday morning, and Avid will offer free microchipping Tuesday and Wednesday mornings beginning at 10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m. Hotel and surrounding area orientation - Room 7 Explore all those winning routes you'll want to learn; led by guide dog instructors.
2:15 p.m. Affiliate Roundup - Room 8 Debbie Grubb, GDUI Affiliate Liaison and Immediate Past President. Everyone welcome, but a must for official GDUI affiliate reps.
4:00 p.m. GDUI board meeting - 103
5:00 p.m. Hotel and surrounding area orientation - Room 7 (see above)
7:00 a.m. GDUI Breakfast Club - Meeting Place TBA Step out with your canine or cane for a bite to eat before the sun gets the upper hand.
1:30 p.m. GDUI Opening Ceremonies - Room 8
2:00 p.m. "International Guide Dog Federation" - The IGDF is responsible for the high training standards used by the world's leading programs. This panel presentation is facilitated by Kae Madera, and includes Terry Barrett, Director of Training Operations, and Michele Pouliot, Director of Research and Development, IFDGS; courtesy of Guide Dogs for the Blind.
3:30 p.m. "Guide Dog Schools Show Their Cards" The latest news from top US training programs. Talk to school reps one-on-one to learn what you need to know when considering training with a guide dog. Jenine Stanley, Facilitator.
8:00 p.m. GDUI "Lucky Dogs" reception - Room 6 Some dogs have all the luck, and you could be one of those Lucky Dogs at GDUI's reception. Somebody's gotta win, and fun's the word! Jeff Lukacsena, Door Prize King.
7:00 a.m. GDUI Breakfast Club - Meeting Place TBA (see Monday schedule)
12:30 p.m. "Owner/Trainer Considerations: Don't just flip a coin" - Room 8 Basic how-to's; advantages and disadvantages of owner training.
1:30 p.m. "Resolving Advocacy-Related Conflicts" Becky Barnes, Manager of Consumer Outreach and Graduate Support, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, will discuss conflict resolution techniques and how to win advocacy battles.
2:45 p.m. GDUI business meeting and elections
7:00 a.m. GDUI Breakfast Club - Meeting Place TBA (see Monday schedule)
12:30 p.m. GDUI Luncheon - Room 8 Keynote speaker: Dr. Jane Brackman, leading expert on the cultural history and evolution of domestic dogs
2:15 p.m. GDUI Caucus - Room 8
7:00 p.m. "Lucky Dogs Take a Hike" - Room 7 An indoor excursion celebrating the home stretch of convention week.
7:00 a.m. GDUI Breakfast Club - Meeting Place TBA (see Monday schedule)
1:30 p.m. "Taking a Chance: Getting a Guide Dog Later in Life" - Room 8 Not everyone gets a guide dog while in college. Some of us take the gamble beyond age 50. Judy Dixon, Consumer Relations Officer, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.
8:00 p.m. "Sit, Roll Over and Relax with Your Lucky Dog" - Room 7 We're not down on our luck - just down on the floor with our dogs and Carla Campbell, canine and equine massage therapist.
Note: Please be sure to visit the IVIE booth in the Exhibit Hall where blind and visually impaired business owners will showcase their products and services.
7:00 a.m. IVIE Breakfast and Business Meeting - 116 Come and enjoy a great meal, elect officers and plan IVIE's future.
1:30 p.m. "The Best Made Plans Of Mice, Men And Business Owners: How to Plan For Success in Business And Life" - 104 90-minute workshop presented by William Benjamin, proprietor of The Piano Boutique, Tallahassee, FL, and author of the book "Metamorphosis."
3:00 p.m. Entrepreneurs' Round Table - 113 Blind and visually impaired business owners meet to discuss challenges, problems and successes, as well as to exchange ideas and tips. Would-be entrepreneurs welcome.
8:00 p.m. LUA Pre-Convention Board Meeting - 103
1:30 p.m. Welcome - 103 Barry Levine, President
1:45 p.m. "NLS: What's happening and what is on the horizon?" Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS); Michael Katzmann, Head, NLS Engineering Section
2:30 p.m. "Keystone Library Automation System" Kim Charlson, Director, Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library Demonstration of Web-PAC Accessible Online Public Access Catalog Training Course: Brian Charlson, Vice President, Carroll Center for the Blind
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. 1st LUA Auction
3:30 p.m. LUA Business Meeting
4:30 p.m. Adjournment
4:30 p.m. LUA Wine and Cheese Party - Executive Director's Suite
1:30 p.m. LUA and BRL Welcome - 103 Barry Levine, President, Library Users of America, Lynne Koral, President, Braille Revival League
1:45 p.m. "Meet the Narrator" Talking Book Narrator Barry Bernson, American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY
2:15 p.m. "Free Matter: Background, Practice and Current Regulations" Judy Dixon, NLS Consumer Relations Officer and Acting Head, Braille Development Section, Washington, DC Update on NLS Braille Development Section
2:45 p.m. Howe Press: Meet the New General Manager David Morgan, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. 2nd LUA Auction
3:30 p.m. "More Braille Stories and Adventures In and Out of Prison" Bob Schmitz, Program Advisor, Folsom Prison Project for the Visually Impaired
3:50 p.m. "Meet Valley Braille Service Inc." Dennis Melton, Las Vegas, NV
4:15 p.m. "Downloadable Audio Books from Net Library" Brian Charlson, Vice President, Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, MA
4:45 p.m. Adjournment
8:00 p.m. NABS Welcome Party: Join the students of ACB for some food, fun, and fellowship. - Executive Director's Suite
9:00 a.m. NABS Scholarship Breakfast for Scholarship Winners, Scholarship Committee, NABS Officers, and Invited Guests (by invitation only) - 108
10:00 a.m. "Taking Charge Without Charging": Whether you are transitioning from high school to college or from college to the real world, personal budgeting and finance skills are imperative to your future success. This program will provide you with insights and information about how to effectively manage your money. - 108
11:00 a.m. NABS Business Meeting - 114
2:00 p.m. "Safe Sex and Related Issues" - 105 Co-sponsored with BFLAG
1:30 p.m. NABS Business Meeting - 107
1:30 p.m. Self-Defense Class - 104 Back by popular demand, legally blind martial artist Cory MacDonald will offer his expertise and skill in teaching the tactics of staying safe on today's streets, including avoidance and preparedness techniques. Don't miss out on your opportunity to participate in this interactive event!
3:30 p.m. Self-Defense Class (session 2) - 104
10:00 p.m. NABS Comedy Night: NABS is proud to welcome not one, but two talented professional comedians to the stage this year. - 101-102
8:00 a.m. NABT Breakfast and Program: "Creating Your Own Happiness" - 116 Presenter: Phylis Burson, Psychologist and Professor, University of Maryland.
9:30 a.m. Break
9:45 a.m. NABT Business Meeting - 116
10:30 a.m. NABT Board Meeting - 116
The National Technology Conference for Rehabilitation Teachers: "What Works in the Real World?" - 206-212
Co-sponsored by NABT and the Mississippi State University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.
5:00 p.m. NABT/Mississippi State Reception - President's Suite (By invitation only)
9:00 a.m. RSVA Sub-Committee Meetings - RSVA Suite
3:00 p.m. Pre-Convention Board Meeting - 103
9:00 p.m. RSVA Mixer - RSVA Suite
9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks and Welcome - 114-115 Richard Bird, RSVA President
9:30 a.m. Roll Call of Affiliates Donna Seliger, RSVA Secretary
10:00 a.m. Committee Workshop Training session for all members on the importance of committee structure and the valuable work being performed for the organization
1:30 p.m. Team Building 114-115 Techniques on working together
3:00 p.m. Reading of Constitution, Bylaws, and Resolutions Vicki Hall, Constitution and Bylaws Chair; Ralph Sanders, Resolutions Chair
3:45 p.m. Announcements and Adjournment
4:00 p.m. Nominating Committee Meeting - 114-115
10:00 p.m. RSVA Mixer - RSVA Suite
12:30 p.m. RSVA Luncheon - 114-115 Speaker: Alex Valdez, Brea, CA, nationally known motivational speaker and comedian; also be performing during convention week as a comedian at the Riviera.
2:00 p.m. Business Meeting - 114-115 Richard Bird, President
6:30 p.m. Auction Preview - 114-116
7:00 p.m. Auction - 114-116
9:00 p.m. RSVA Mixer - RSVA Suite
7:30 a.m. Post-Convention Board Meeting - RSVA Suite
1:00 p.m. VIVA Presents Blackjack Is Easy! - C Support VIVA and learn the basic strategies of blackjack. For beginners as well as semi-experienced players. Covers rules, procedures, etiquette, and how to play each type of hand for the best result. Playing instructions available in large print and braille; all participants receive a complete book on blackjack in electronic form.
12:30 p.m. VIVA Luncheon and Business Meeting - 114 Dr. Ramu Komanduri, Chief of Staff of the Las Vegas VA Health Care System, will discuss the new VA Rehabilitation Center for the Blind to be established in Long Beach, CA; brief us on what is new in the VA Health Care System for veterans who are blind or visually impaired; and give an overview of what he sees for the VA Health Care System in the future.
9:00 a.m. ACB Employment Issues Seminar - 109-110 Entitled "The Future of Vocational Rehabilitation and Its Alternatives," this important seminar discusses the rehabilitation system, its current problems and alternatives, and its future. See schedule below for more details.
9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks/Introductions - Mitch Pomerantz, Chairperson, ACB Employment Issues Committee
9:20 a.m. Making the Rehabilitation System Work - Naomi Soule, District Supervisor, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, State of Missouri
10:00 a.m. Alternatives to Rehabilitation? - Moderator: John Huffman, Human Resources Specialist, Veterans Administration Hospital, Indianapolis, IN; Presenters: One-Stop Centers - Doreen Wong, Workforce Development Consultant, Los Angeles, CA; Private Employment Agencies - Mike Gravitt, Team Leader, Bender Consulting Services Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
10:45 a.m. Rehabilitation/Consumer Roundtable: Small Group Problem-solving Session - Facilitator: Peter Altschul, Diversity Consultant, Washington, DC
11:45 a.m. Wrap-Up and Feedback - Mitch Pomerantz
1:00 p.m. Freedom Scientific Open Book focus group - 112
7:00 a.m. Career Opportunities with NIB (Breakfast) - G BUSINESS AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES WITH NIB Do you want employment choices? Do you want a job that maximizes your skills? Would you one day like to become a business leader? Find out about your options with National Industries for the Blind. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the Convention Registration Office.
5:00 p.m. Kurzweil 1000 User Group Meeting - 112-113
3:00 p.m. AFB CareerConnect: great resource for job seekers - 109-110 Dr. Karen Wolffe and Scott Truax describe this interactive web-based tool for job seekers with visual disabilities. Major content areas include careers, mentors, tips, My CareerConnect, technology and resources and user-friendly features such as the resume builder. Materials related to using CareerConnect will be distributed to workshop participants.
1:30 p.m. "The 3R's of Copyrights" - 112-113 You say you want to write for a website or a magazine? Maybe you have some great ideas for greeting cards, or you want to publish that wonderful poem you wrote for a special occasion. Find out how to protect your intellectual property with Leonard Duboff, visually impaired attorney specializing in copyrights and trademarks.
1:30 p.m. CARF Focus Group Meeting - 104 ACB members will have an opportunity to attend a focus group, meet CARF staff, learn about the accreditation process, ask critical questions, make suggestions, and give advice. CARF needs and encourages input from the organized blind as it moves forward to develop and revise standards of quality and accountability for blind rehabilitation services.
3:00 p.m. AFB CareerConnect: great resource for job seekers - 109-110 (A repeat of Tuesday Workshop)
Below are events planned especially for guide dog users and sponsored by our friends at various schools.
3:00 p.m. Seeing Eye Ice Cream Social. All cane and dog users are invited to an ice cream social hosted by The Seeing Eye. Take a walk with "SIM" or "Juno," or just come and visit over an ice cream bar and a glass of refreshing iced tea. - Room 101-102
7:00 a.m. Guide Dogs for the Blind Breakfast; graduates and potential future students welcome. - Room 114-115
5:00 p.m. Guiding Eyes for the Blind Wine and Cheese Reception; welcome, guide dog users. - Room G
7:00 a.m. The Seeing Eye Breakfast; welcome, graduates and their guests. - Room G
9:00 a.m. NAPVI Program Session - 112-113 co-sponsored by CCLVI
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions Patricia M. Beattie, CCLVI President, Alexandria, VA; Susan LaVenture, NAPVI President, Watertown, MA
9:15 a.m. "How and Why I Became An Advocate" Panel discussion with Judith Lesner, NAPVI At- large Representative; Josh Logan, Philadelphia, PA; Barbara Millville, Vienna, VA; and Barbara Friedman, NY, NY. What makes us decide to become an advocate? Got mad enough? Decided to "Do something about it!"? We'll hear from a visually impaired teacher who wanted her students to get appropriate services; a tournament contract bridge player who designed a deck of cards usable by people with low vision; a visually impaired woman who teaches tai-chi after learning how much it improved her own balance; and the President of the National Capital Citizens with Low Vision, who shares her journey that led to her decision on how to present herself as a visually impaired person - with a cane? Dog? Or other?
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. "Then and Now: Education for Visually Impaired Students in Residential Schools, Public Schools and in Transition" Facilitator - Patricia M. Beattie, President, CCLVI; Panelists: Lynne Sadler, Teacher, Foundation for Blind Children, Phoenix, AZ; Judith Lesner, NAPVI At-large Representative; Lee Robinson, UT; Paul Edwards, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, FL
1:15 p.m. NAPVI Workshop Introductions - 207
1:30 p.m. IDEA Update - 208 Speaker: Julie V. Urban, Vice President, NAPVI, Phoenix, AZ
1:30 p.m. "For Dads Only" - 209
1:30 p.m. IEP Strategies - 210 Speaker: Judith Lesner, NAPVI At-Large Representative, Oakland, CA
2:45 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. IDEA Update - 208 Speaker: Julie V. Urban, Vice President, NAPVI, Phoenix, AZ
3:00 p.m. "For Dads Only" - 209
3:00 p.m. IEP Strategies - 210 Speaker: Judith Lesner, NAPVI At-Large Representative, Oakland, CA
4:15 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m. NAPVI Ice Cream Social - 207
1:30 p.m. "Kids, Parents and Grandparents Living With Vision Loss" - C Co-sponsored by CCLVI, CFVI and NAPVI, this panel discussion will be facilitated by Cindy Burgett, CFVI President. Susan LaVenture, NAPVI President and others will discuss issues and challenges facing families with visually impaired members of all ages.
3:00 p.m. "Sending a Family Member To College: Negotiating The Money Maze" - C Presenter: Lisa M. Boettcher, Doctoral Student, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; co- sponsored by CFVI, CCLVI, NABS and NAPVI.
NABT is proud to be a co-sponsor of "The National Technology Conference for Rehabilitation Teachers: What Works in the Real World?" presented by the Mississippi State University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.
Designed for rehab teachers but open to everyone, the conference will be held July 5-7 in conjunction with our convention. Topics include: assessment of clients; products and resources for high- and low-tech options; training; funding sources; maximizing the use of functional vision; braille on demand; and much more. Hands-on experience with products will be provided.
Discounts are available for NABT members. For more information, contact B. T. Kimbrough, director of training at Mississippi State, or Marcia Dresser, President of NABT.
Visit Oatman, Arizona, located on the original Route 66. Oatman is an old mining town that provided the U.S. Government millions of dollars in gold between 1906 and 1942. When the mines closed down, all the burros that had been used to pull the ore carts were turned loose. Today the area is designated as a burro reserve. Note: This area is not very wheelchair-friendly.
Then it's on to Lovely Lake Havasu, home of the world-famous London Bridge and Shugrue's Restaurant for lunch. Hear about Arizona history of the London Bridge, stroll across the bridge and explore the beautiful little Olde English village. Take a one- hour narrated lake cruise on the Dixie Belle.
Board the bus for Laughlin, Nevada, where after dinner you can mosey along the boardwalk on the banks of the Colorado River as you explore the local casinos. For a real change, ride from one casino to another - on a boat!
Enjoy an evening of AAA baseball from your seat near home plate as the Las Vegas 51's ( L.A. Dodgers) face the Portland Beavers (San Diego Padres). The perfect start to the Fourth of July weekend!
This well narrated 3 « hour float trip in Black Canyon, below Hoover Dam, will give you an understanding of the geological development of the area while you learn more about the fauna of the canyon. Be sure to bring your hat and sunscreen.
On this 3-hour tour, you will learn about the ever-changing Las Vegas Strip, some of the city's famous residents, and maybe even hear of one or two scandals.
Liberace's piano, automobile, and costume collections will beguile you as museum docents help you to learn even more about this flamboyant entertainer. We will also be treated to a piano concert featuring his works. There will be time for a visit to the gift shop for souvenir seekers.
Please see Saturday Tour for details.
When the first would-be miners came to this southern Nevada valley, they looked for an area with lush grass and running water. They initially called it Mormon Fort, but later the name was changed to Las Vegas. See and experience farming and mining artifacts of that bygone era. Note: Part of this tour is outdoors, so dress appropriately.
Meet over 100 actors, actresses, politicians and sports stars. But don't expect to carry on a conversation -- they are all wax! Docents will talk about the figures; you can touch them, too!
TUESDAY, JULY 5Step back in time at this replica of a mining town in the Old West, complete with shoot-outs on Main Street and even a hanging or two. Lots of souvenirs to buy and plenty of lighthearted entertainment. Note: Part of this tour is outdoors, so dress appropriately.
Presentations from the Bureau of Blind Services, the Clark County Talking Book Services, Valley Braille Production and the Blind Center of Nevada.
Enjoy a tour and high tea at the world's largest legal brothel. Sheri's Ranch is a destination resort with tennis courts, swimming pool, restaurant and lounge, golf course and a ten- room, off-limits-to-employees, motel. Tour limited to age 21 and older. Note: Part of this tour is outdoors, so dress appropriately.
Please see Saturday schedule for details.
Relax and cruise Lake Mead (behind famous Hoover Dam) under a warm Nevada sky. This 3-hour cruise includes sit-down plated dinner (your choice of prime rib, chicken, seafood or pasta) aboard the Desert Princess.
Hoover Dam, the nation's largest dam, connects Nevada and Arizona. See this awesome man-made wonder built during the Depression and benefit from the knowledgeable docents on this exciting tour. Gift shop browsing included. Note: Part of this tour is outdoors, so dress appropriately.
Get ready to encounter alien worlds, beam into The Klingon Encounter and fight the Borg in Borg 4D. Immerse yourself in the Star Trek Universe as you tour the museum, board a shuttlecraft and aid the crew to fight the Klingons. Celebrate the Commissioning of the Shuttle Moontype, the first Starfleet fan club dedicated to people who are visually impaired. Have lunch at Quark's Bar (not included in ticket price), where a model of the Enterprise hangs from the ceiling and numerous TVs replay your favorite Star Trek episodes. Shop for a galaxy of Star Trek and science-related merchandise, just like on DS9. Note: This tour is not sponsored by ACB.
Visit replica villages of the mining and early gaming eras. Much of this tour is hands-on. Experience life as the founders of Clark County did. Be sure to bring your sunscreen and hat.
You will be ready for a break, and a little fun, after all those meetings, workshops, seminars and business meetings. Below are some activities and events that take place at the hotel. For more fun ideas, see "Convention Tours," and check the agenda for the many affiliates and groups for more mixers, luncheons and parties.
7:00 p.m. NELDS Folk Fest - 112-113 Sing all those great camp and folk songs; lots of toe-tapping fun! 8:00 p.m. Welcome to Las Vegas Party - 101-102 Great music, great prizes, great fun! Get convention week off to a roaring start as the Nevada Council of the Blind welcomes us to Las Vegas.
12:00 noon ACB Sports Fanatics Luncheon - G The baseball park comes to the Riviera with ballpark food and speakers Dick Williams and Lynn Manning. Dick Williams was a distinguished major- league field manager from the late 1960s to the 1980s. Williams managed the Boston Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, and the San Diego Padres in their World Series appearances, and finished his major-league managerial career with the Montreal Expos. Lynn Manning won the world blind championship in judo fighting in 1990, and a gold medal as a blind judo fighter at the 1992 Paralympics at Barcelona, Spain. Mr. Manning is the blind expert advisor to the actor who plays the role of the blind police officer in "Blind Justice."
4:00 p.m. ACB Recreation Zone: Tai Chi - 6
4:30 p.m. ACB of New York Happy Hour - ACB NY Suite
7:30 p.m. DVS Movie Night - C-D What'd I Say? Free described screening of "Ray" sponsored by DVS and WGBH Media Access Group.
8:00 p.m. Alaska Hospitality - President's Suite
9:00 p.m. Country and Western Jamboree - 101-102 Wear your jeans and come on along for a country jam and sing-along fun. Meet Melanie Alt and Audrey Gunter, this year's winners. All proceeds benefit the Durward K. McDaniel First-Timer's Fund.
4:00 p.m. ACB Recreation Zone: Yoga - 6
4:00 p.m. ACB Recreation Zone: Goalball - 6
7:30 p.m. Family Movie Night with NCI - C-D Free described screening of "Aladdin," courtesy of National Captioning Institute.
The 2005 ACB Exhibit Hall is filled with everything from jewelry to information resources to the latest in appliances and technologies designed especially for people who are blind and visually impaired. Check it out in the Royale Pavilion Ballroom 1- 2-3-4.
Saturday, July 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Monday, July 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The following exhibitors were registered for the convention at the time the program went to press. Pick up a complete list at the front of the Exhibit Hall.
1. Freedom Scientific
2. Freedom Scientific
3. Freedom Scientific
4. Freedom Scientific
5. Freedom Scientific
6. Friends In Art
7. Friends In Art
8. Dancing Dots
9. Ether Bender
10. Polara Engineering, Inc.
11. Maxi Aids
12. Maxi Aids
13. RRTC On Blindness and Low Vision
14. Narrative Television Network
15. Christiansen Designs
16. Duxbury Systems
17. Handiworks
18. Viewplus Technologies, Inc.
19. Envision
20. Enabling Technologies
21. Descriptive Video Services/WGBH Media Access Group
22. Prophecy Design Cards
23. Aurora Ministries
24. World Health Power
25. GW Micro, Inc.
26. Human Ware
27. Council of US Dog Guide Schools
28. Council of US Dog Guide Schools
29. Quietwater Designs
30. Quietwater Designs
31. American Printing House f/t Blind
32. American Printing House f/t Blind
33. American Printing House f/t Blind
34. Piano Boutique
35. IVIE
36. Easter Seals Project ACTION
37. Nevada Council of the Blind
38. Low Vision Services, Inc.
39. Envision America, Inc.
40. IRTI
41. Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc.
42. Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc.
43. National Industries f/t Blind
44. National Braille Press
45. Beyond Sight, Inc.
46. Sendero Group LLC
47. The Hadley School f/t Blind
48. Magnisight, Inc.
49. Statler Center
50. Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind
51. Optelec US Inc.
52. Optelec US Inc.
53. Optelec US Inc.
54. Executive Products
55. Adaptive Technology Services
56. Braillerman.com/Ackley Appliance Service
57. Assistive Technology Center
58. Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
59. Weekenders USA
60. Independent Living Aids, Inc.
61. Top Gunn and Associates
62. Ableq.com
63. Damar Travel
64. All In Play
65. Pampered Chef
66. California Canes
67. ACB Store
68. ACB Store
69. CompSolutions Assistive Technology
70. AI Squard
71. Humanware
72. Humanware
73. Humanware
74. Social Security Administration
75. Kurzweil Educational Systems
76. NLS National Library Service
77. American Foundation f/t Blind
78. American Association Dear-Blind
79. Freedom Vision
80. Brigham and Women's Hospital
81. ACB Radio
82. ACB Radio
We wish to express our sincere thanks to the following companies who have provided major funding and/or in-kind support for the 2005 ACB convention. This partial list reflects those we were aware of at press time. Please watch the "Pair-A- Dice" for additional supporters.
American Printing House
Braillepaper.com
CaptionMax
Comp Solutions
Enabling Technologies
Freedom Scientific
Independent Living Aids
Kurzweil Educational Systems
Newsreel, Inc.
Nextel Corp.
President. . . . . . . . . . . . .Christopher Gray, San Francisco, CA
First Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . .MJ Schmitt, Rochester, NY
Second Vice President. . . . . . . . . .Mitch Pomerantz, Pasadena, CA
Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donna Seliger, Des Moines, IA
Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ardis Bazyn, Burbank, CA
Immediate Past President . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Edwards, Miami, FL
Alan Beatty, Ft. Collins, CO
Dr. Ed Bradley, Houston, TX
Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA
Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA
Oral O. Miller, Washington, DC
Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY
Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD
Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO
Cynthia Towers, Seattle, WA
David Trott, Talladega, AL
Ex Officio: Winifred Downing, San Francisco, CA
Charles Hodge, Chairperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arlington, VA
Winifred Downing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .San Fransisco, CA
Mike Duke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jackson, MS
Cindy Burgett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bremerton, WA
DeAnna (Quietwater) Noriega. . . . . . . . . . . .Manitou Springs, CO
Ex Officio:
Ralph Sanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Las Vegas, NV
Janelle Edwards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Manhattan, KS
Michael Garrett, Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Houston, TX
Paul Edwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miami, FL
MJ Schmitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rochester, NY
Oral O. Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington, DC
Carla Ruschival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louisville, KY
LeRoy Saunders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oklahoma City, OK
Melanie Brunson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Director
Patricia Moreira . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Exec. Assistant
Terry Pacheco. . . . . . .Membership and Affiliate Services Coordinator
Sharon Lovering. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Acting Braille Forum Editor
Day Al-Mohamed . . . . . . .Director, Governmental Affairs and Advocacy
Krista Merritt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Policy Analyst
Philip Strong. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Advocacy Specialist
Michael Keoghan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Executive Director
Quan K. Cu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supervisor Computer Operation
Le Chi T. Tran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accountant/Supervisor
Elaine Vining. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Secretary
George A. Westin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Accountant
Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cynthia Towers
Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarine Beaman
Youth Activities Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Patti Cox
Tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Berl Colley
Guide Dog Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margie Donovan
Communications Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sharon Lovering
Convention Finances and Registration Office. . . . . . . . Quan K. Cu
National Office Coordinator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Terry Pacheco
Contracts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carla Ruschival
Information/Convention Desk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pam Shaw
Exhibits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Smitherman
Officer Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donna Seliger
Host Committee Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carol Ann Ewing
Chris Gray, Chair
Melanie Brunson
Carol Ann Ewing
Terry Pacheco
Mitch Pomerantz
Carla Ruschival
MJ Schmitt
Cynthia Towers
Carol Ewing - Chair
Jay Bartos
Priscilla Corbet
Richard Dortch
Robert Essner
Vickie Essner
Rick Kuhlmey
Karen Masters
Dennis Melton
Richard Montano
Lori Moroz-White
Sandra Niccum
Phyllis Noblitt
Jean Peyton
Kae Pohe
Sharon Pritchard
Jeannie Root
Diana Shelburne
Luther Wilson
Veronica Wilson