We are pleased to announce the hiring of Clark Rachfal to be ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs.

Since 2017 Clark has served as the Program Manager, Public Policy at National Industries for the Blind. In his role at NIB he was responsible for researching and promoting legislative and regulatory policies that support the NIB mission. He cultivated relationships and collaborated with policymakers, national blindness organizations, and the cross-disability community on public policy priorities. He managed the NIB Advocates for Leadership and Employment Program, …

The ACB Board of Publications met via teleconference. Members present: chair Denise Colley, Ron Brooks, Marcia Dresser; ex officio members Berl Colley, Bob Hachey; ACB staff/contractors Sharon Lovering, Annette Carter, Larry Turnbull. Members absent: Doug Powell, Ron Milliman. Several guests also participated on the call.
 
Ron Brooks, acting as chair this evening, convened the meeting at 9:04 PM EDT. The agenda was adopted as distributed. The February 3 and midyear meeting minutes were tabled until the May meeting.

Resignation

ACB President Kim Charlson…

March to the Beat of a Different Drum
By Kenneth Semien, Sr.

Right, left, right, left, right. Step up to the plate to take advantage of future leadership opportunities. The DKM First-Timers Committee encourages members who have never attended an ACB Conference and Convention and have a desire to learn more about ACB and its rich history to march forward to participate in the DKM Experience while joining the class of over 40 current DKM First-Timers and interact with hundreds of other members during the 58th annual ACB Conference and Convention…

The Board of Publications met during the ACB midyear meetings in Arlington, VA. Several members participated via teleconference. Members present: Chair Denise Colley, Ron Brooks, Marcia Dresser (via phone), Doug Powell; ex officio members Berl Colley, Bob Hachey (via phone); ACB staff/contractors Sharon Lovering, Annette Carter (via phone). Members absent: Richard Rueda, Ron Milliman, Larry Turnbull. Several guests also participated on the call.
 
Chair Denise Colley convened the meeting at 7:05 PM EST. Ron moved and Doug seconded approval of the agenda as presented by Denise…

Members present:  chair Denise Colley, Ron Brooks, Marcia Dresser, Doug Powell, Richard Rueda; ex officio members: Berl Colley, Bob Hachey, Kim Charleson;  ACB staff/contractors Sharon Lovering, Annette Carter.
Members absent:  Ron Milliman and Larry Turnbull.
 
Chair Denise Colley called the meeting to order at 9:05 PM EST.  Doug moved and Marcia seconded adoption of the agenda as amended to add discussion on our BOP survey. The motion passed.  Doug moved and Denise seconded a motion to approve the December 3, 2014 meeting minutes; motion carried…

On October 9, 2018 the President of the United States signed the Marrakesh Implementation Act. Late yesterday, January 28th, we received the news that the President had signed the instrument of ratification and it is being sent to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) very soon.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information about ACB’s leadership meetings, the membership focus call, information about ACB’s scholarships, some information about RSVA’s Sagebrush Conference, and much more.

ACB Leadership Meetings

The American Council of the Blind annual president’s meeting and legislative seminar will take place from Saturday, February 23, 2019 to Tuesday, February 26, 2019 in Alexandria, Va. 

The registration deadline is February 15th,…

For Immediate Release

Contact: Joel Snyder
Director, Audio Description Project
jsnyder@acb.org - (202) 467-5083

American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project

Announces the 2019 “BADIE”* Awards

* Benefits of Audio Description in Education

WASHINGTON, January 22, 2019 -  The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is proud to announce the winners of the 2019 BADIE Awards (the Benefits of Audio…

We are excited to welcome ACB members to the Legislative Seminar in February. There are several issues that blind and visually impaired Americans continue to experience in 2019. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss these issues with their representatives and senators. To make an appointment with your representative, call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Interestingly, all of the major issues flagged this year touch in some way the continuing growth of technology in our society. The issues show both the positive benefits of accessible technology and the negative…

Happy new year! January is named for the Latin word for door (ianua), since it’s the door to a new year and an opening to new beginnings. I hope you all had a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. I’d like to take this time to go back through that door and review 2018.

In January, airlines were reviewing and tightening their service animal policies after a woman tried to board a flight with an emotional support peacock at Newark International Airport. ACB worked with Delta Air Lines, among others, to revise their guidelines and relax many of the stringent policies for individuals…