Teachers’ Features for the 2026 Convention
by Carla Hayes
It’s hard to believe that it is almost time for the ACB annual conference and convention in Saint Louis. Per usual, AABT has a plethora of presentations and activities planned for you! Read on for more details.
We have two sessions planned during virtual week of the convention, both of which will be co-sponsored with the Braille Revival League and will take place on Friday, July 17th. First, at 10 a.m., we will have a fascinating session titled “Seeing Braille? Wait — I Thought I Had to Feel Braille!”
Seeing Braille, a program for the PC, lets blind or sighted presenters demonstrate braille to sighted audiences, in person or online. By exploring dot positions, letter patterns, numbers, punctuation, and uncontracted or contracted words or phrases, users can learn braille by sight and take the mystery out of braille for audiences such as parents, classmates of blind children, and the public in general. Our presenter will be Neva Fairchild (American Foundation of the Blind, aging and vision loss specialist from Dallas, Texas).
Immediately following this program at 11:30 a.m., join us for “Patty Goes To Peru.” Patty Slaby, itinerant teacher of blind and low vision from Arcadia, Wis., will tell us about her inspiring mission trip to Lima, Peru. She will share about her experiences at an orphanage where she presented and demonstrated how it is to live as a blind individual. She will summarize some of her adventures and describe the time she spent with the children being immersed in Spanish.
We kick off our presentations in St. Louis with our annual breakfast, which will take place on Saturday, July 25 at 7 a.m. For the first time ever, BRL and AABT will be co-sponsoring this event. Even if you cannot be in St. Louis, be sure to join us via Zoom at 7:45 a.m. for our breakfast program, “Rejuvenate Your Knowledge of The History of Braille.” Our presenters will be Carlie Lee, community relations facilitator, and Jane Herdth, director of outreach, Missouri School for the Blind, Saint Louis, Mo. Carlie will cover the history of braille at the Missouri School for the Blind, and Jane will discuss the use of braille in today's world, including technology and a program for deaf-blind, Protactile. Hands-on items will be available.
You’ll have a difficult choice to make on Tuesday, July 28th. If you prefer to remain in the hotel, you can join AABT, BRL and LUA, who will be co-sponsoring two sessions. At 3 p.m. LUA presents “Meet The Narrator,” where we will hear from a talking book narrator, and at 5 p.m. LUA presents “News and Updates at NLS.”
If a field trip would be more to your liking, AABT is recommending the tour to the Missouri School for the Blind from noon to 4:30 p.m. This historic school initially opened in 1865. Today it is a modern and thriving school. Visit the track, the gymnasium, the auditorium, classrooms, the library, and student dorms.
We have a variety of exciting activities planned for you. As teachers, we beg you not to be absent. After all, we wouldn’t want to have to send a truant officer after you! Please join us for all or some of our activities. You will be glad that you did!
What’s AAVIA Doing at Convention?
On Saturday, July 18 at 1 p.m., AAVIA will hold its business meeting via Zoom.
Sunday, July 26
1 p.m.: The Supreme Court Term in Review (hybrid)
Find out from a pre-recorded presentation from a St. Mary’s University Law School professor about the significant decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2025-26 term and its work generally.
3:00 – 4:15 p.m.: Documentary: No Mas Bebes on California Sterilization Case (hybrid)
Watch a film that describes the actions of the 10 women who were the plaintiffs in the Madrigal et al v. Quilligan et al class action lawsuit that resulted in major changes and protections of a woman’s right to determine the size of her family and to give informed consent.
5 p.m.: Commentary on California Sterilization Case (in person)
The lead attorney for the plaintiffs will discuss the preparation of the lawsuit, including the various steps taken to prepare for trial.
Monday, July 27
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.: Cybersecurity Safety and Risk Awareness for Attorneys After AI Implementation (in person)
This 75-minute certification program is a fully accessible, live session that delivers clear, practical general AI cybersecurity guidance lawyers can apply immediately. Participants who complete this program earn the AI Safety, Ethics, Data Protection and Risk Reduction for Attorneys Certificate issued by Safety and Security Source and the Business and Non-Profit Safety and Cybersecurity University™.
3:00 – 4:15 p.m.: Prosecuting State Administrative Law Cases Remotely Using JAWS (in person)
Find out what it’s like to prosecute an administrative law case against occupational license-holders and unlicensed individuals in Texas from a home office by an attorney with low vision using assistive technology.
Tuesday, July 28
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.: An Afternoon with AAVIA Law Students and New ACB Attorney (in person)
We will discuss how AAVIA can continue its history of offering counsel, hope, and mentoring to these individuals and the many who will follow. Then we’ll get to know ACB's new advocacy attorney.
ACB Lions: Come Roar with Us at Convention
ACB Lions has two events planned for this year’s convention. Come and join us!
Thursday, July 16, 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.: Lessons in Leadership: Organizing Our Lions Club for Action After the Eaton Fire (Zoom only)
On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire began, ultimately destroying 9,000 homes and buildings, including the homes of five members of the Pasadena Host Lions Club. Donna and Mitch Pomerantz will talk about their involvement in organizing the club’s response in assisting the Altadena, Northern Pasadena, and Sierra Madre communities to recover.
Sunday, July 26, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. (in-person only): ACB Lions Roaring Good Time Happy Hour
Join ACBL as we gather at the hotel bar. Mix and mingle after a day of meetings, exhibits and other convention events.
Convention Bytes from BITS
Blind Information Technology Solutions is offering an amazing number of sessions at this year’s national convention.
Thursday, July 16 (Zoom only)
10 a.m.: Smart Living, Stronger Access: Appliances, Community, and Advocacy
Be part of a conversation about appliances and accessibility, and why inclusive design must extend into every part of daily life.
1:00 p.m.: Capturing the World Through Photography with Confidence
This session is designed for smart device beginners or intermediate users, and will start with the basics of how to take photos using accessible features.
Friday, July 17 (Zoom only)
10 a.m.: What’s New with the Monarch?
Come learn about the Monarch multi-line Braille display from APH. Discover all about tactile graphics, Monarch apps, and the Monarch RISE project.
1 p.m.: Microsoft Narrator: A Tool for Making the Transition from Low Vision to No Vision
If using screen magnification and a mouse with your Windows PC is no longer working effectively for you, there is an alternative. Microsoft Narrator can enable you to read the contents displayed on your computer’s screen, as well as hear the text in documents, email, and webpages, as well as any other content on your computer screen.
Saturday, July 18 (Zoom only)
10 a.m.: Trends in AI and Making It Accessible
BITS, along with a panel of experts, will explore the latest trends in AI from a blind and low vision perspective. The session will highlight how tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, and Accessibility Agents are expanding access, creativity, and innovation.
1 p.m.: Accessible Blogging with Substack
We will explore this exciting platform, and hear from three users, who will share their experiences using Substack as a creative way to reach a wide audience.
The following Blind Information Technology Solutions sessions are all in-person only. The day-time sessions are $50 per session. If you register for 4 or more sessions, BITS will provide you with a $50 gift card. Please note each session repeats twice.
BITS Microsoft Sessions:
Monday, July 27, and Wednesday, July 29
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
From Blank Page to Polished Professional: Mastering Microsoft Word via Keyboard
Designed specifically for screen reader users and low-vision attendees, this session emphasizes efficiency and the art of producing "visual-ready" professional documents using only keyboard shortcuts. We will also explore the new Agent Mode in Word.
Monday, July 27, and Wednesday, July 29
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
The Cloud-First Professional: Mastering OneDrive Accessibility and File Management
In this session, we bridge the gap between local storage and the cloud, guiding attendees through the essential journey of saving, securing, and syncing documents. We will also explore the integrated AI agent within OneDrive.
Tuesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 30
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Dynamic Data Collection Building and Managing Accessible Microsoft Forms
We will guide attendees through the complete lifecycle of form creation. This presentation emphasizes the native keyboard commands necessary to build professional-grade surveys that are accessible to both the creator and the respondent. We will also explore the integrated AI agent within Microsoft Forms.
Tuesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 30
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
The AI Research Partner Mastering Synthesis and Generation with Copilot Notebook
Elevate your research and content creation with this deep dive into Microsoft Copilot Notebook. We explore the advanced "Notebook" interface, which allows for longer, more complex prompts and sustained creative projects. This presentation emphasizes the keyboard commands necessary to navigate the large-scale text areas and manage multi-turn conversations.
BITS Google sessions:
Monday, July 27, and Wednesday, July 29
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
From Blank Page to Polished Professional: Mastering Google Docs via Keyboard
This intensive session guides attendees through the entire document lifecycle, starting with the essential first step of enabling accessibility features. We will transition from basic text entry to advanced formatting, including the use of styles, headers, and sophisticated layout commands using native Google Workspace shortcuts.
Monday, July 27, and Wednesday, July 29
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
The Cloud-First Professional: Mastering Google Drive Accessibility and File Management
In this session, we bridge the gap between local storage and the cloud, guiding attendees through the essential journey of saving, securing, and syncing documents. We will also explore the integrated AI agent within Google Drive.
Tuesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 30
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Dynamic Data Collection: Building and Managing Accessible Google Forms
This session emphasizes the native keyboard commands necessary to build professional-grade surveys that are accessible to both the creator and the respondent. We will also explore the integrated AI agent within Google Workspace.
Tuesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 30
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
The AI Research Partner: Mastering Synthesis and Generation with NotebookLM
We will explore how to transform your personal documents, transcripts, and web sources into a powerful, interactive knowledge base. We will demonstrate how to leverage the integrated AI agent to act as a real-time research partner, answering complex questions based strictly on your provided data and even generating audio overviews for a hands-free learning experience.
Monday, July 27, 6:00-8:00 p.m. (in-person only)
Opening the Door to BITS Whisperer: Join Us for the App Launch
Join us for the official launch of BITS Whisperer, a powerful new transcription application for Windows and macOS designed to make audio more accessible, actionable, and efficient for everyone. Built as an accessibility-first solution, Whisperer combines professional-grade transcription with intelligent AI tools that transform audio into summaries, translations, meeting notes, and more. This event will be in person and streamed live in BITS Chat.
Tuesday, July 28, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (in-person only)
Opening the Door to Accessible Appliances: Join Us for the Portal Launch
Join us for the official launch of the new BITS Appliance Portal, a community-driven resource designed to help people with disabilities make more informed and confident purchasing decisions. Built as an accessibility-first platform, the portal brings together product information, real-world reviews, ratings, documentation, comparison tools, and community insight across a wide range of appliances and home products.
Wednesday, July 29
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.: BITS Reception
Join all your BITS friends at the 3rd Annual BITS Reception at the ACB convention in St. Louis. There will be a cash bar, prizes, and a live auction, as well as fun and games.
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.: Building an Accessible Future with BITS, Visual Studio Code, GitHub, and Open Source (in-person only)
This session will introduce Community Access, a project built to make accessibility more actionable inside modern development workflows, including VS Code, GitHub, and AI-powered coding environments, with a strong emphasis on WCAG 2.2 AA, screen reader usability, and community-driven contribution. Come learn, connect, and discover how you can help shape a more accessible digital future.
Seeing Braille? Wait a Minute …
What does the Braille Revival League have planned for convention?
Friday, July 17 (Zoom only)
10:00 – 11:15 a.m.: Seeing Braille? Wait — I Thought I Had to Feel Braille!
See the description in “Teachers’ Features” above.
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Patty Goes to Peru
Patty Slaby will tell us about her mission trip to Lima, Peru.
2:30 – 3:45 p.m.: Braille Games
Come join BRL to play games based on the use of braille.
Saturday, July 18 (Zoom only)
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Enhance your use of braille with four low-cost braille devices: the Braille Doodle, the VersaSlate, the Hable, and Braille LEGOs.
Saturday, July 25
7:00 a.m.: BRL and AABT Breakfast
7:45 a.m. Rejuvenate Your Knowledge of the History of Braille
See description in “Teachers’ Features” above.
On Tuesday, July 28, BRL will co-sponsor two sessions with LUA: 3:00 p.m.; LUA Presents Meet the Narrator, and 5:00 p.m.: LUA Presents News and Updates at NLS.
Get Your Creativity Flowing with FIA
This year’s Friends in Art (FIA) convention will feature a series of virtual and hybrid sessions centered on arts, poetry, and songwriting. Highlights include virtual sessions on accessible art with the Missouri Arts Council, poetic voices of resistance, a songwriting panel and a hybrid prose/poetry reading co-sponsored with AABT and facilitated by Carla Hayes.
Thursday, July 16 (Zoom only)
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.: Access Through the Arts
Piper Hudson of Access Through the Arts will share information on tactile art-making, multisensory installations, descriptive audio frameworks, and collaborative storytelling.
Friday, July 17 (Zoom only)
4:00 – 5:15 p.m.: Today's Poetic Voices of Protest and Resistance
Poets will be performing and discussing their works.
Saturday, July 18 (Zoom only)
2:30 – 3:45 p.m.: Perspectives in Songwriting
A diverse panel of writers and composers will share their experiences.
Sunday, July 26 (in person)
9:00 – 10:15 p.m.: Prose and Poetry Reading
Share some of your original work or just come listen. FAMILY FRIENDLY, PLEASE.
Come Join Us! Sit, Stay, and Listen
Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) offers a wide variety of sessions for you to choose from.
Thursday, July 16 (Zoom only)
11:30 a.m. –2:15 p.m.: Guide Dog School Update
Come hear updates from several U.S. and Canadian guide dog training programs.
Friday, July 17 (Zoom only)
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.: O & M for Everyone
Learn about the plethora of orientation and mobility programs offered by some of the guide dog schools from around the country!
2:30 – 3:45 p.m.: Finding Your Driverless Car
Driverless rideshare services are becoming more common. But how do you find the car if there is no driver to communicate with?
Monday, July 27
7:00 – 8:15 a.m.: Informal breakfast at Red Kitchen (in-person only)
GDUI would like to invite their members and friends to an informal time of breakfast and fellowship. Please email vickiecurley@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
5:00 – 6:15 p.m.: Best in Breed
Come and learn from guide dog handlers about a variety of guide dog breeds and why their owners love them!
Tuesday, July 28 (hybrid)
5:00 – 6:15 p.m.: Unusual Careers for Guide Dog Handlers
Come and hear some unexpected and unusual careers that some guide dog handlers are pursuing.
Wednesday, July 29 (hybrid)
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.: Have You Heard of the Pawsome Hava Hegenbarth?
Hava is an artist, a puppy raiser, a friend of GDUI, and much, much more. We will also present GDUI awards.
Indiana, Ohio Joint Convention
This year, ACB-Indiana and ACB-Ohio will kick off our second decade as convention partners. ACB-Indiana and ACB-Ohio will be holding our joint state convention Fri., Oct. 9 through Sun., Oct. 11, 2026.
We will be at the Wyndham Airport Hotel, 2544 Executive Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46241. Room rate per night will be $125 plus tax. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel main number/front desk at (317) 248-2481 and use the group code American Council of the Blind of Indiana. Reservations can also be made online.
On Thursday night, October 8, there are rooms set aside for those coming early. The reservation cut-off date for our group is September 17, 2026.
We have also planned a tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Rockin’ and Rollin’ with music of the ‘50s and ‘60s, a wide variety of breakout session, many vendors/exhibitors, an awards banquet and our annual live auction.
Registration for in-person attendees will be $80; for virtual attendees, $40. The registration form will go live on www.acb-indiana.org the first of August.
For more information, contact Rita Kersh at hoosierrita60@gmail.com or Dee Ann Hart at deeannhart3@gmail.com.