by Grace Hart
By the time this article is published, it will have been nearly three months since the close of the 2026 ACB conference and convention. However, as I am writing this in mid-August, the convention is still fresh in my brain. This was my very first convention, and I had a great time meeting people in person and attending cool sessions. However, this segment is called Advocacy in Action, so I would be remiss if I didn't address the many advocacy sessions we held at convention.
First, Claire Stanley and I held a session called Advocacy Boot Camp. This was a great session for new and seasoned advocates alike. We discussed the three branches of the federal government, what advocacy looks like at each branch, and ways to advocate outside of the federal government. This includes using social media as a tool for advocacy (shoutout to Speak4!), as well as going directly to corporations to advocate when their products and experiences are not accessible. This session also included reminders to reach out to advocacy@acb.org for any advocacy needs. We rounded out the session with a Q&A and, of course, candy for participants.
Jason Eckert from VisionServe Alliance gave a rousing talk about the data obtained from the Big Data Project, including employment statistics for people who identify as blind or low vision. One thing this session taught me is that I should have paid better attention in my high school statistics class! In all seriousness, the information that Jason shared was invaluable, and I know Claire and I will be using it when we meet with people on Capitol Hill.
Next, our new legal counsel Brian Kempfer participated in a panel with co-panelists Chris Bell and Matt Handley surrounding the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Claire Stanley and Jeff Thom moderated this panel, which covered the impact of the ADA, what is in store for the fight for accessibility moving forward, and what additions could be beneficial to the ADA. This session was a celebration of how far we have come with the ADA and an acknowledgement of how much disability rights must be improved.
Finally, our telecommunication and broadcasting panel brought together professionals from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and the National Association of Broadcasters for a discussion regarding the telecommunication and broadcasting landscape of today. These are companies and organizations that ACB has great relationships with, and our panelists were kind enough to do a Q&A at the end and take questions from audience members on Zoom and in the room.
Overall, the advocacy sessions at the convention were incredibly informative -- I know I certainly learned a lot! Whether you attended in person, via Zoom, or you have listened to the recordings of the advocacy sessions, thank you for your participation and your advocacy!