The Issue

Since 1975, Public Law 94-142, now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has revolutionized educational opportunity for all children and youth with disabilities. However, without key improvements, our national special education system cannot fully keep IDEA’s promise of a truly appropriate education for students who are blind or visually impaired. The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act is intended to do just that, to improve the delivery of appropriate special education and related services to all students who are blind or visually impaired,…

Background

In order to be full participants in the society they live in, people who have visual impairments must be afforded alternative means of accessing books, magazines, and other printed materials. Students need access to textbooks. Employees need access to publications related to their chosen work, and all of us need access to the books and magazines that influence the cultural life of our communities. Although advances in technology in recent years have given people with visual impairments many more options for accessing printed materials in accessible formats, the World…

Background

In November of 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promulgated a regulation that has had a detrimental impact on the lives of countless individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
 
To the dismay of the blind community, the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Acquisition Rule contains a provision entitled "Low Vision Aid Exclusion" which states that all devices, "irrespective of their size, form, or technological features that use one or more lens to aid vision or provide…

8:00 AM: Registration
 
9:00 AM: Opening Remarks – Kim Charlson, President, Watertown, MA; & Meeting Logistics: Melanie Brunson, ACB Executive Director, Arlington, VA
 
9:15 AM: Self-Introduction of Attendees
 
9:45 AM: Paths for Delivering Our ACB Message
Live on ACB Radio: Rick Morin, Waltham, MA, and Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA, Hosts of the Yin Yang Show on ACB Radio Interactive and Broadcasters for the 2015 ACB Mid-Year Meetings
www.acbradio.org or 231-460-1047
 
ACB Social…

Monday, February 23, 2015
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.   Introductions and Teeing Up the Day’s Events
Kim Charlson, President, American Council of the Blind (ACB)
Eric Bridges, Director of External Relations and Policy, ACB
 
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.  Legislative Imperatives I and II:  
Imperative I: H.R. 729, Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2015
/LILVdevice
Imperative II: The Reintroduction of the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act
…

Hello All,
 
As the result of a generous grant from JP Morgan Chase, ACB is very pleased to announce that we have the opportunity to provide several individuals and/or affiliate representatives with stipends to assist them with the expenses of attending the 2015 Midyear meetings. These stipends will cover the cost of travel to and from the meetings, hotel room charges (based on double occupancy) and meeting registration fees. Per diem and ground transportation costs need to be the responsibility of the individual selected or the affiliate they are representing. Because there…

You can begin by reserving your room at the Holiday Inn National Airport and completing your registration form.  You may register online, by phone or e-mail.  This year’s schedule is a bit different than in past years, so please seehttps://register.acb.org/ for more information.
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American Council of the Blind
2014 Presidents' Meeting Agenda

Dates: Saturday and Sunday, February 22 and 23

Saturday

11:00 AM:

• Opening Remarks - Kim Charlson, President, Watertown, MA
• Meeting Logistics: Melanie Brunson, ACB Executive Director, Arlington, VA

11:10 AM:

• Self-Introduction of Attendees

11:20 AM:

• ACB Social Media Team – John McCann, Twitter Team Liaison, ACB Board…

• The midyear meetings are Friday, February 21 through Tuesday, February 25, 2014.
• Board meetings are held on Friday, February 21.
• Affiliate presidents meeting will begin on Saturday, February 22 and continue on Sunday, February 23
• Legislative seminar begins Sunday, February 23 and continues through Monday, February 24.
• Capitol Hill day is Tuesday, February 25

Hotel

Once again, we will be meeting at the Holiday Inn National Airport, 2650 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington., VA.  Room rates will be $125.00…

Hi all,

Starting Sunday February 24, 2013 at 2:00 P.M eastern the coverage will be carried on ACB Radio Live Event.

To tune in go to http://acbradio.org. Then click on the link that says "listen to ACB Radio". Then browse through the different streams on the page until you get to the live event stream. You can do this by using the heading command of your screen reader as each stream has its own heading.  Under the live event heading you will see two links. The first link is for those who listen to internet radio via…