by Deborah Armstrong
Your Board of Publications inaugurates a new column, featuring special-interest and state affiliates, as well as local chapters. Our goal is to ensure Braille Forum readers know what's happening in different parts of the country in a plethora of ACB's diverse groups. By learning about the variety of ACB members and their activities, your own affiliate can also grow inspired.
This month we introduce you to ACB's Government Employees affiliate. To summarize their mission in a few words: small, but mighty support.
President Pat Sheehan is particularly proud of the therapeutic effect the affiliate had on its members during the government shutdown. "We had weekly calls," he says, "where people could talk openly about their concerns and fears." He also highlighted his "gloomy news of the week" informal newsletter, where he kept members informed. Vice President Liz Botner added, "We keep it pretty informal. We want folks to feel free to talk about their situation and challenges."
Weekly calls are held Saturdays on ACB Community; they are not podcasted or streamed. They are open to everyone, regardless of whether they are members of the affiliate. President Pat wanted Forum readers to know that his affiliate is there for individuals impacted by what’s going on with the current administration. Historically, they have even sponsored memberships.
All government workers are welcome, including their families and other allies, plus those retired from government service. Local, state and national employees are all represented: Liz said one misconception they often refute is that you don't need to be a federal worker to belong.
Besides direct support, the members keep each other informed through a mailing list and phone calls about developments with everything from Social Security and Medicare, to updates on rehabilitation services, veterans' affairs, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance — the SNAP Program and really anything going on with government. Workers have experienced probation, contract reductions or furloughs, and this affiliate is there to provide help and resources.
Teaming up twice with the employment committee, they presented a seminar on what it’s like to work for the government last October, and during a summer convention, a session on making a career change and surviving a layoff.
Advocacy is also a big part of their mission. For example, they were quick to respond when a direct final ruling endangered accessibility to the Department of Energy. "If we hadn't acted quickly," Pat said, "we could have lost Braille signage, wheelchair access, and the regulations which control lighting and color contrast which make the buildings accessible. And it could have expanded to negatively affect the accessibility of other federal buildings."
"If they’d been able to sneak it through," Liz said, "a disabled person would need to request access to a building as an accommodation, rather than the accessibility being present already."
You can contact this affiliate by email at acbgovernmentemployees@gmail.com, or phone president Pat Sheehan at (301) 922-2995. To learn more, you are welcome to join their weekly community call.