edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins
The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
And the 2025 Recipients of the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards Are …
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2025 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards, an award given to emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community.
The 2025 awardees are:
Fabiola Amaya – an undergraduate student at the University of Texas, majoring in social work with a minor in critical disability studies. Passionate about disability advocacy, she founded “On the Moov,” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing accessibility through community-driven support.
Dr. Ather Sharif – a researcher, software engineer, author, and disability advocate. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 2024. His research and work have increased the accessibility of data visualizations for people with disabilities. He will use the award to expand access to data to inform commuting decisions for people with mobility disabilities.
Candle in the Window Retreat 2025
This year’s Candle in the Window Retreat will take place Wednesday, August 13 through Sunday, August 17. It will be held at Camp Dogwood on Lake Norman Meeting & Retreat Center in Sherrills Ford, N.C. (near Charlotte). The topic is “Finding and Nurturing Community, Take Two.”
The cost for double occupancy, which includes room, meals, and round-trip transportation from the Charlotte Airport, is $530. Single occupancy costs $780. There is a $40 deposit to reserve your place. All fees are due by July 31, 2025.
Space is limited to 20 participants. For more information, contact Carlos Taylor at (765) 208-0882, or send an email message to candleinthewindow1@gmail.com.
Goalball Nations Cup Berlin Wrap-Up
Team USA’s Men’s and Women’s Goalball National Teams took the court in Berlin for the Vanda Berlin Nations Cup, competing against some of the top-ranked teams in the world. The event served as a key international checkpoint on the road to the 2025 America’s Tournament.
With dominant group-stage wins over Germany (12–4) and Spain (13–3), and a gritty 4–4 draw against Finland, the women battled their way into the semifinals. After tough matchups against Israel and Korea, they secured a 4th place finish.
The men went undefeated in the group stage with wins over Great Britain (16–6), Sweden (12–10), and Spain (12–2). They fell to 2024 Paralympic silver medalists Ukraine (1–6) in the quarterfinals but proved they’re a rising force on the global stage.
Both teams now turn their focus to the 2025 America’s Tournament in São Paulo, Brazil this August.
New Leadership at Lighthouse Guild
Thomas Panek has been appointed the President and CEO of the Lighthouse Guild. For the past decade, Mr. Panek has served as President and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Under his leadership, Guiding Eyes raised over $350 million in donations, exponentially expanding its budget, and strengthening financial reserves. He previously served as Vice President of National Industries for the Blind, and the Wounded Warrior Program. Additionally, he worked as a Senior International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Maura Sweeney has been appointed the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Lighthouse Guild. She has been a vital part of the Guild since 2010, most recently serving as Chief Program and Services Officer. She is the President of the New York Vision Rehabilitation Association, a member of the New York State Commission for the Blind Executive Board and the Statewide Rehabilitation Council.
Monica Traczik has been appointed the Director of GuildCare (Manhattan). GuildCare is the Lighthouse Guild’s Adult Day Health Care program. She brings extensive leadership experience from her previous role as Director of Nursing at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in Manhattan.
New from National Braille Press
National Braille Press has a number of new books and gift items available. One new book is “A Collection of Quotes,” which revisits the first seven volumes of the “Morning Quotations” series. It is available in braille and BRF.
Also new is a magnet that reads, “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” The quotation is in both print and braille.
One of the recent books of the month is “What If One Day…,” by Bruce Handy. Illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin. It is available in UEB, and is geared towards ages 4 through 8. This award-winning and thought-provoking, playful picture book explores the idea of how life would be if some of the things we love most were no longer here. It invites readers to celebrate the beauty and wonder of existence, and all that makes our world what it is.
For more information, call toll-free 1-800-548-7323 or visit shop.nbp.org.
Forum Contributor Publishes Books
Pinalben “Pinky” Patel, a contributor to the Forum, has written a number of books. One is an autobiography; one is a romance novel; and the third is a book of poetry. All Kindle books offer free text-to-speech, free samples, and the Kindle app is free.
“As Life Went On”:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6VHQ789
This autobiography, available as a Kindle book, paperback, and hard-cover book, contain details about Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA). FA is a rare degenerative disease. Pinky says, “My passion for writing stems from the fact that I was raised in a culture where looks were more important than feelings. Having a progressive disorder requiring me to stay at home in my adult years, I tried to change what was ingrained in me the best I could and raise awareness about that deceiving disability.”
“Caste Aside”:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFZFWC3M
This novel, available as a Kindle book and paperback, has information about my diseases in dialogue. A tear-jerker with comical moments set in Australia, this multicultural romance novel can take your mind off the long day!
“Life without Love Is Impossible”:
This book of poems, which is only available as a Kindle book, inspires love.