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The Washington Connection 11-10-26

Welcome to the Washington Connection, the legislative and information service of the American Council of the Blind. The Washington Connection is brought to you by the ACB national office. If you have any questions or comments on the information provided, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask to speak with Claire Stanley.

The Washington Connection is updated any time we have new information to share with you. The following articles are available as of November 10, 2026. Message 4 and 6 are new.

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.

Benefits of Audio Description in Education Contest Now Taking Entries

 

Once again, the American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project (ACB-ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) are co-sponsoring an exciting opportunity for blind and visually impaired young people, ages 7 to 21. This opportunity is the Benefits of Audio Description In Education (BADIE) contest. 

The young person chooses an audio-described film or video from the more than 6,000 educational titles available through DCMP — visit www.dcmp.org. They watch the film, and then write an evaluation of its audio description, commenting on the extent to which the description enhanced or detracted from their experience with the film. 

Contest winners receive first, second and third place prizes, and the grand prize winner is awarded an iPad mini, and the chance to read his/her winning essay at the American Council of the Blind's National Conference and Convention. Teachers of first-place winners also receive prizes. 

To register for the contest, find guidelines and prize information, learn how audio description is created, and get tips for writing a good review, visit www.badiecontest.org.

The deadline for contest entries is March 15, 2027. Winners will be notified in April.

 

Production of Accessible $10 Bill Pushed to 2027

 

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has filed their court-ordered semi-annual report on their efforts to make U.S. currency accessible. Unfortunately, the BEP asserts that they have run into additional testing and calibration needs for the accessible $10 note. Therefore, the note is now scheduled for production in 2027, instead of 2026. ACB is disappointed with this news.

Additional updates included in the report were that BEP continues to work with various entities across the United States to distribute currency readers to constituents, including libraries, Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Centers, and others. As of September 3, 2026, BEP states that the program has distributed more than 120,000 currency readers. Further, BEP continues to support mobile device applications which can function as currency readers. As of September 3, 2026, there have been more than 229,000 app downloads.

ACB will continue to keep members informed of progress on this issue.

 

ACB’s 2026 Audio Description Awards Gala Celebrates Media Innovation and Inclusion  

 

ACB and its Audio Description Project (ADP) invite audiences to experience the 6th Annual Audio Description Awards Gala, airing Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET — a star-studded celebration honoring excellence and innovation in audio description across genres and platforms.

The Gala recognizes the creators and innovators transforming how audiences engage with entertainment and information through audio description (AD). Since its debut in 2021, the event has featured legendary guests, including Stevie Wonder, Jason Momoa, and Kathy Bates, as well as accomplished presenters, many of whom are on the blindness spectrum.

This year’s show is hosted by Marilee Talkington and Ben Mehl, two talented performers with numerous stage and screen credits. Together, they will welcome presenters across entertainment and media to applaud the year’s leading achievements in Innovation, Popular Entertainment, Writing, Voicing, Education, International Media, Spanish Media (USA), Live Events, Talent Promotion, and Gaming. Marilee and Ben will also announce the winners of the AD People’s Choice Awards. 

Presenters and special guests include actors, authors, advocates, and influencers, such as: Alie B. Gorrie, Dr. Amy Kavanagh, Chad Allen, David Clarke OBE, Dr. Conchita Hernandez Legorreta, Hannah Weymouth, Ren Leach, and many more.

The 2026 Audio Description Awards Gala exemplifies how creativity and technology can merge to make the arts more accessible. The broadcast will include open captions, open AD, American Sign Language interpretation, and Spanish dubbing, captions, and AD, ensuring a fully inclusive experience. 

Access the broadcast on: 

Learn more at ADAwardsGala.org and adp.acb.org. 

 

DOJ Files Suit Against Lyft for Discriminating Against Passengers with Disabilities

 

On Monday, November 9, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Lyft in the Northern District of California for discriminating against passengers with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs and service animals. This lawsuit is similar to the ongoing DOJ suit against Uber for similar discriminatory conduct. The DOJ alleges that Lyft violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is seeking a court order to prevent Lyft from discriminating against individuals with disabilities, modify its policies to be fully ADA-compliant, and to train its staff and contractors on the ADA.

ACB applauds the effort to hold rideshare companies accountable for their discriminatory practices. If you would like to read the DOJ's press release on this case, that can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-lyft-denying-rides-passengers-service-dogs-wheelchairs

 

Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027

 

Baltimore, MD - The Social Security Administration (SSA) today announced a 3.6 percent benefit increase for 2027. Social Security benefits include Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by $75 per month.

Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2027. Increased payments to about 7.3 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2026. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).

“Social Security will implement this cost-of-living adjustment for 76 million Americans, giving them greater financial stability,” said Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. “Under President Donald J. Trump, Social Security is delivering better, faster, higher-quality service for the American people."

Individuals with personal my Social Security accounts can view their COLA notice online starting in late November—up to three weeks earlier than receiving a paper notice in the mail. Account holders can also choose to receive text or email alerts when a new message, including their COLA notice, is available in their personal my Social Security account’s Message Center. Individuals who do not have a personal account will need to create one and enroll in paperless notices by November 18 to see their COLA notice online. Create an account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Individuals who have not enrolled in paperless notices in my Social Security will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.

Social Security beneficiaries will receive a simplified, one-page COLA notice, which uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of an individual’s new benefit amount and any deductions.

Information about Medicare changes for 2027 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Medicare enrollees, the 2027 premium amount will be available via my Social Security Message Center starting in late November. Individuals who have not opted to receive messages online will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For more information, visit www.ssa.gov/cola.

 

All Recordings from the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention Now Available as Podcasts

 

All recordings from the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention are now available as podcasts, organized by topic in their corresponding podcast feeds. You can find them broken down by category at https://acbmedia.org/podcasts/. 

The 2026 ACB Conference and Convention cartridge will soon be available. All sessions that were recorded are on the cartridge.  This includes general sessions, the banquet, and all recorded special-interest affiliate, ACB committee and business partner programming.

If you purchased a cartridge on the convention registration form, it will be sent to you. If you did not pre-order one, you can still purchase the cartridge by calling the Brooklyn Center, MN office at (612) 332-3242. We would appreciate it if you place your order by November 24th.

 

Federal Judge Strikes Down CMS’ New Definition of Medical Frailty

 

On October 29, 2026, a federal judge in Massachusetts struck down the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' new definition of medical frailty in their rules implementing the Medicaid cuts passed by Congress last year in H.R.1. The judge found that the CMS rule contained a stricter definition of medical frailty than was included in H.R.1 and said that the CMS definition unlawfully went beyond what Congress intended. The stricken CMS classification of medical frailty would have required that Medicaid recipients prove that they were both medically frail and that their frailty "substantially impaired" their ability to comply with the work requirements. This extra burden of proving that you are substantially unable to comply with the requirements would have been a strict administrative barrier that Medicaid beneficiaries would have had to meet.

Keep in mind, CMS could still appeal this ruling to a higher court. Additionally, the broader work requirement rule is still intact, with the judge upholding other controversial requirements contained in the rule. However, ACB celebrates this small victory as it likely means fewer eligible individuals will improperly lose their Medicaid coverage when these rules start to go into effect.

You can read AAPD's statement on this ruling here: https://www.aapd.com/community-advocacy-update-positive-development-in-medicaid-work-requirements/

You can find a new article from PBS about this ruling here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/judge-blocks-trump-administrations-medicaid-work-requirement-rule-forcing-proof-of-medical-frailty

 

Notice of Digital Accessibility Settlement Concerning www.cookunity.com

 

A proposed settlement has been reached that would resolve the class action lawsuit Douglass v. CookUnity Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-01270 (W.D. Pa.). The lawsuit alleges that CookUnity violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, et seq., by failing to take the necessary steps to ensure its website and mobile apps do not discriminate against individuals who are blind and/or who have a visual disability. 

CookUnity strongly disagrees with the claims made in the lawsuit, but has agreed to settle this lawsuit to avoid additional cost and time with respect to the lawsuit. Under the settlement, CookUnity agrees to make its website and mobile apps accessible to individuals who are blind and/or who have a visual disability.

For a more complete summary of the terms of the proposed settlement, please visit https://www.cookunityADAsettlement.com. Have questions? Contact East End Trial Group at https://eastendtrialgroup.com.