Email: koni.l.sims@gmail.com
Cellphone number: (605) 941-9512
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/koni.raapsims
LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koni-sims
1. Please introduce yourself, indicate the position you are seeking, and explain why you are interested in serving in this role.
Hello ACB family, my name is Koni Sims. I have lived in Sioux Falls, SD with my husband, Seth, for thirty-nine wonderful years. I am seeking re-election as Board of Director for the American Council of the Blind (ACB). I currently serve as Past President of the South Dakota Association of the Blind (SDAB), and advocacy has always been close to my heart thanks to the values instilled in me by my parents. My dedication to advocacy has been recognized with the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Citizen with a Disability (2017), the Gus Zachte Award for Outstanding Service from SDAB (2018), and the JP Morgan Chase Fellow award from ACB (2020).
I am a retired Medical Massage Practitioner and Certified Lymphedema Technician, with experience working for chiropractors and managing a massage program at Sanford USD Medical Center and Hospital. My career in healthcare has fueled my passion for learning and collaborating with others to improve patient care.
Since 2021, I have served on the ACB Board of Directors and am eager to continue contributing to our community. I co-chair several committees, including Get Up and Get Moving, Awards, and Transportation, and work as Communications and Outreach Specialist for the Voting Task Force. My commitment is to serve all ACB members and help advance our mission. I respectfully ask for your support to continue my service as Board of Directors.
2. What do you consider your strongest contribution to ACB at the national, state, special-interest affiliate, or local chapter level? Please explain why you view this as your most significant contribution.
My most significant contribution to the American Council of the Blind (ACB) is my advocacy for accessibility and inclusion for blind and low vision individuals nationwide. My dedication and ability to connect with others have enabled me to drive meaningful change at national, state, and local levels.
At the state level, I was the only blind/low vision individual to testify before legislators, defending accessible voting. My advocacy preserved auto mark voting machines and helped defeat a bill mandating hand-counted votes, ensuring continued access and demonstrating the power of direct representation in policymaking.
Nationally, through ANSI and IBC, I worked with industry leaders to pass new building codes—introducing federal yellow for truncated domes, stair striping, improved lighting, and sign contrast. Marking the first advancements in these areas in thirty years. These achievements have elevated ACB’s reputation as the leading blindness organization, fostering respect and collaboration with architects and designers nationwide.
Locally, as an appointed member of the Active Transportation Board, I have championed accessible transportation. My efforts have shaped city planning and infrastructure, prioritizing safe, equitable travel for blind and low vision community members by ensuring accessibility is integral to public transit and pedestrian projects.
As a national board liaison to six affiliates, I provide guidance and support while being recognized for fairness. My service as co-chair of the Get Up and Get Moving, Awards, and Transportation committees, and as a member of the Advocacy Steering Committee and Voting Task Force, underscores my commitment to advancing ACB’s mission.
Through advocacy and leadership, I have opened doors, created lasting change, and ensured the needs of blind and low vision individuals are recognized and respected.
3. In your view, what is the most important challenge currently facing ACB? How would you work to help address this challenge if elected?
The most important challenge facing ACB is bridging the gap between our proud legacy and our future growth. Currently, this shows up as "internal friction": a board that needs more cohesive communication, a culture that can sometimes feel unwelcoming to newcomers or those newly blind, and a need for greater transparency regarding how our resources—like staff travel and time—directly benefit you, the member. We have many projects moving at once, but without a unified board and clear accountability, we risk staying "busy" without being "effective."
How I Will Address It:
If reelected, I will work to move ACB from a "club" atmosphere to a professional, inclusive, and member-first organization through specific actions:
A. Demanding Transparent Accountability: I will propose that the Board and Executive Director implement "Impact Reports" for all funded travel and major initiatives. You shouldn’t have to wonder if a trip was "worth it"; the board should receive, and share with you, exactly what was achieved for the mission.
B. Modernizing Board Leadership: I will push for collaborative work sessions between meetings to build trust and cohesion among board members. We need a "safe-to-speak" environment where every board member feels empowered to represent you without fear of being attacked. By improving how the board works together, we can stop micromanaging and start delivering the results you deserve.
C. Feedback and Continuous Improvement: I believe it’s important to seek suggestions from both new and long-standing members about what would help them feel more welcome and involved. This could be done through surveys, focus groups, or open forums.
D. Partnerships and Member Benefits: Additionally, I would like to explore partnerships with businesses that could offer discounts or benefits to ACB
4. What do you see as the most pressing issues facing the blindness community we serve, and how would you work to advance meaningful change in this organization?
I see three pressing issues facing our community: accessibility in the built environment, healthcare equity, and reliable transportation.
A. We must continue making the built environment accessible by strengthening partnerships with the sign, lighting, and construction industries. Through my work with the International Building Code (IBC) and ANSI, I have seen firsthand how critical these standards are. For the first time in 30 years, we have secured requirements for sign contrast, stair striping on egress stairs, and improved lighting. I will continue leveraging these technical relationships to ensure accessibility is a foundational requirement in every project.
B. Healthcare remains a critical frontier. From inaccessible websites to non-visual medical equipment, barriers to health information threaten our independence. Utilizing my healthcare background, I will lead efforts to educate legislators and industry leaders, ensuring they understand that accessible technology is a fundamental right for anyone seeking to live a healthy, independent life.
C. Transportation is the backbone of independence. As Co-Chair of the ACB Transportation Committee, I am deeply involved in advocating for everything from same-day paratransit to improved fixed-route bus systems and Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS). Because transit is managed locally, we must empower our members to be effective advocates on the ground.
Advancing meaningful change in ACB is not a one-person job. To succeed, we must foster a culture where members feel equipped to share their lived experiences as tools for education. As a Board member, I will provide the resources and national framework necessary for our members to lead. By working together to educate the public and hold industries accountable, we ensure that ACB continues to lead the way toward a more inclusive world.