Court Decision will Dramatically Remake NYC’s Streetscape by Making Pedestrian Safety Accessible to People with Disabilities

New York, NY – In a decision that will remake the streetscape of New York City and improve safety and accessibility for all New Yorkers, a federal court ruled today that New York City’s failure  to provide accessible pedestrian signals (APS) at 96.6 % of its signalized intersections violates the civil rights of people with disabilities. APS are push-button devices attached to crosswalks that convey visual crossing information in…

October 19, 2020 - In a landmark agreement, advocates for people who are blind have obtained WarnerMedia’s pledge to increase the accessibility of HBO Max—the much-anticipated online streaming platform that was launched earlier this year. Among other commitments, the agreement provides that WarnerMedia will provide audio description on at least 1,500 hours of new and existing programming on HBO Max by the end of March 2021, increasing to 3,000 hours by the end of March 2022, and doubling again to at least 6,000 hours in total by the end of March 2023. 

…

2021 ACB Convention

The ACB Board of Directors met on Tuesday, October 13 to discuss several important items. One such agenda item concerned the 2021 conference and convention. Following discussion from all board members, a unanimous decision was made to hold the 2021 conference and convention as a virtual event. Holding an in-person gathering, given all the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, is not in the best interest of the members and friends of the American Council of the Blind. Stay tuned as the plans take shape for the 2021 virtual…

WASHINGTON (October 15, 2020) — On the 56th commemoration of White Cane Safety Day, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) applauds all those who have advocated for independence through their work to promote the public visibility and equality of people who are blind and visually impaired by lifting up awareness to the meaning and purpose of the white cane.

“It’s important we remind everyone on this day to the continued need to break down barriers of inclusion,” said ACB executive director Eric Bridges. “It’s particularly important at a time in our history when the impact of social…

Yesterday, October 8^th, 2020, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA). The CVAA, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 8, 2010, remains one of the greatest legislative achievements for Americans who are blind and visually impaired in the digital age.

On Facebook live, we welcomed leaders from our community, congress and the private sector who were instrumental in the passage of this landmark legislation. Our special guests included Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), his former Chief of Staff…

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Clark Rachfal, crachfal@acb.org

WASHINGTON (Oct. 7, 2020) — The American Council of the Blind celebrates on this day the advocates, industry, and congressional leaders who participated in the passage and signing of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. The CVAA, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 8, 2010, remains one of the greatest legislative achievements for Americans who are blind and visually impaired in…

This Notice has been approved by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.

Be advised of the preliminary approval of the settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by Valerie Brooks (the “Named Plaintiff”) against Pressed Juicery, Inc., and Does 1-10 (“Pressed Juicery”). The Named Plaintiff, individually and on behalf of all members of the Settlement Classes, as defined below, alleges that, as individuals with visual impairments, they were denied equal access to or enjoyment of the Pressed Juicery’s website,…

We’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) this Thursday, October 8th. Tune in to our Facebook Live feed by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yxhzlkvt at 10:30am ET as we welcome leaders from our community, congress and the private sector who were instrumental in passage of this landmark legislation. Our special guests will reflect on the power of collaboration, the progress made over the past ten years, and what opportunities rest just over the horizon.

The CVAA continues to…

ACB is pleased to share its annual report for 2019. The report highlights our key successes and provides an overall snapshot of ACB’s financial position at the end of 2019. The theme for the design is “Building Our Future,” highlighting the work undertaken in 2019, which has significantly helped in preparing ACB to weather the economic impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Kelly Gasque for her work on the design of the document. Visit this link to view our 2019 annual report.

On Tuesday, September 22, 2020, the National Coalition for Accessible Voting (NCAV) launched a “Plan Your Vote” guide to assist voters in developing a plan to assist them vote in November and future election cycles. This how-to work sheet guides voters through the various stages of voting, as well as the different options voters have when determining how they will vote. The guide was written in an easy-to-follow manner and structure to assist all persons in the planning process. More than ever before, voters must have a voting plan, and this guide offers several resources to equip…