by Ana Martinez
My name is Ana Martinez, I am 28 years old, and I am a guide dog handler. I work as a youth minister in Minnesota, and I am a member of ACB Next Generation. I've been involved with ACB since June of 2025, and my experience with ACB has been great!
So why did I start getting involved, and what keeps me in the organization? In honor of ACB's 65-year anniversary, here are 65 reasons why I love ACB and why ACB is the blindness organization I am choosing to affiliate with.
1. ACB is a member-driven organization. I love that the organization is shaped by the members and not by a hierarchical government.
2. I feel welcomed at ACB as a devout Catholic.
3. ACB's approach to being family-friendly in their activities and programs
4. ACB has been the first national consumer organization of the blind where I've felt welcomed as a guide dog user.
5. The people who make up ACB are awesome!
My first experience with ACB was at the 2025 national convention, and everyone that I met at convention was so welcoming, especially the Next Gen crowd!
6. Speaking of convention, I loved the activities geared towards guide dogs and their handlers!
From a doggie playroom, multiple sessions regarding the guide dog lifestyle on the agenda, Deb Cook Lewis and her guide dog's convention suggestions on the agenda, info on emergency vets on the agenda, and much more, my dog and I felt truly welcomed!
7. Convention is just so fun! Sure, there is business involved, but ACB truly knows how to have fun at their convention!! From tours to interesting workshops, there was always something going on that didn't involve sitting in long and boring meetings.
8. Joining ACB was so easy! Back in June of 2025, I joined GDUI and ACB Next Gen, and the process was easy and straightforward; I filled out an application, paid my dues, and boom, I was a member! No need to be voted in!
9. Speaking of membership, I love that in ACB, people can actually vote to elect ACB leaders. That's right, we don't just get to say "Aye!" when voting ... No, we get a ballot and actually vote for individual leaders.
10. Affiliates care about individual members' preferences; we not only get our personal ballot to vote, but affiliate leaders when it's time for an affiliate vote regarding a candidate or a resolution, affiliate leaders honor the members' wishes, and vote based on what the members of their affiliate actually want.
11. ACB advocates for the environment to be more accessible for blind people
Accessible pedestrian signals? Tactile dots in crosswalks and on train stations? We have those thanks to ACB!
12. ACB is a leader in audio description. Thanks to ACB, I can better enjoy movies and TV shows!
13. Candidates' Forum? Yeah, we get to hear from those running for ACB's board of directors before we actually vote for them.
14. Speaking of candidates, there are actually options to choose from.
15. ACB Community calls have something for everyone!
Feeling isolated? Wanting to make new friends? Or wanting to practice your leadership skills? ACB has lots of community calls every week on a variety of topics, and they are always open to new ideas!
16. At ACB, we are encouraged to use all our tools at our disposal, including our residual vision.
17. I feel safe at ACB's activities and conventions.
18. ACB members have membership perks, including Bookshare discounts!
19. ACB does not tell their members how to be a blind person; ACB values all its members regardless of their blindness skills or lack thereof.
20. ACB's leadership changes every few years. This gives members an opportunity to assume leadership positions within the organization, and keeps ACB from glorifying the leadership, and from becoming close-minded.
21. At ACB, there are opportunities for everyone to serve and give back regardless of skill or other disabilities. We don't wait for members to be perfect, or to have everything figured out. Every member has something to contribute.
22. ACB does not adhere to a strict philosophy of blindness. This makes room for different points of view, experiences, and resources regarding our blindness.
23. ACB maintains its main focus and priorities on our common characteristic which is blindness.
24. At ACB, there is no judgment on how you choose to live your life.
Do you use a guide dog? Awesome! Do you take paratransit to get around? That's great! Do you choose to be assisted at the airport? Fantastic! We all have different skills and experiences, and we are all welcome here.
25. ACB Next Generation affiliate!
26. ACB Next Gen membership perks
27. ACB not only advocates for things like employment and transportation, but we also advocate for audio description, accessible sports, etc. ACB recognizes that employment and transportation are important, but we are so much more than our work and getting around. We have hobbies and want to have fun like everyone else! So, advocating for sports and the ability to watch movies is equally important.
28. ACB convention swag bags. Imagine picking up your convention registration and not only receiving an agenda but also a bunch of goodies!
29. ACB convention T-shirts
30. ACB convention pins
31. ACB does not frame parents as enemies of their blind children.
32. ACB does not frame the general sighted population as enemies of the blind.
33. ACB does not frame blindness agencies as enemies of our cause or our organization.
34. ACB's national convention locations are different every year.
35. ACB's banquet speeches are given by someone different every year, making banquets more interesting.
36. ACB's Leadership Seminar has something for everyone.
37. ACB has state affiliates all across the country, making it easy for anyone to get involved.
38. ACB Media
39. ACB email lists
40. ACB has a bunch of interesting podcasts.
41. ACB's general sessions feel like a family meeting.
42. ACB has helped me become more humble.
43. ACB has helped me realize that a person's worth is not based on their skill levels.
44. ACB has given me a bunch of new friends!
45. ACB has given my guide dog Splash a few guide dog friends.
46. ACB has helped me realize that it's OK to ask for help when I need it.
47. ACB Community calls have given me a platform to express myself and help others.
48. ACB convention breakfast opportunities with different groups and affiliates
49. ACB Next Gen T-shirt by Blind Girl Designs!
50. ACB's Braille Forum!
51. There is a place for everyone to get involved at ACB's chapters.
52. All ACB's national board meetings are live-streamed for everyone to tune in.
53. ACB Mini Mall has great items!
54. ACB Next Gen's committees have a place for all young adults to get involved.
55. ACB's transportation committee
56. ACB's Dots and Dashes newsletter
57. ACB email lists
58. Guide Dog Users, Inc. shop!
59. ACB's convention program is well-rounded, and it is family-friendly for the most part, which I love!
60. Learning from fellow ACB members about the organization as well as techniques they use in their daily life has been great!
61. ACB has taught me that it's OK to not have it all figured out when it comes to my blindness.
62. ACB recognizes that our organization is just one aspect of our life; ACB members know that we all have other things we are involved in, so our lives do not revolve around ACB.
63. ACB has given me the freedom to be myself. I know now that I don't have to fit a mold as a blind person.
64. ACB's daily convention newspaper
65. I will say it again: ACB makes sure that safety is a priority in all their events and programs, including convention.