by Janet Dickelman
What an exciting time to be involved with the American Council of the Blind! Our 64th annual conference and convention is fast approaching!
Zoom Days
During the in-person portion of the conference, some of our sessions will be hybrid. They will be available via Zoom and broadcast on ACB Media. Many in-person-only sessions will be recorded and available as podcasts.
In addition to the in-person conference days, there is so much more that will be available via the Zoom platform and ACB Media.
Learn about candidates running for board positions at the Candidates’ Forum on Wednesday, June 11. Don’t miss the ACB virtual summer auction on Saturday, June 21 at 5 p.m. Central time, preceded by two days of appetizer auction items.
The convention will officially open virtually on ACB Media and the Zoom platform on Monday, June 23 with the reading of the convention standing rules and the first credentials report, followed by the nominating committee.
Beginning on June 26, we will offer three days of Zoom-only sessions for special-interest affiliates, ACB committees and our business partners. The Zoom-only sessions will also be broadcast on ACB Media.
The evenings of June 24 through June 27 will be dedicated to resolutions and bylaws, with voting on bylaws and amendments on Monday, June 30. There will be much more information about this from the pertinent committees.
Announcing Our 2025 Banquet Speaker
We are thrilled to have Dave Williams joining ACB in Dallas as our banquet keynote speaker. Dave is the Inclusive Design Ambassador, RNIB, and the Chair of the Braillists Foundation. He champions inclusive design principles to ensure equal access and opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.
For 25 years Dave’s work has driven change, enhancing accessibility across a wide range of industries, including technology, product design, the built environment and public services. Dave collaborates with stakeholders, including designers, developers, policymakers, and disability rights advocates, to raise awareness, influence decision-making, and create a more inclusive society for people who are blind or low vision to live our best lives.
Dave hosts RNIB Tech Talk, the UK’s leading radio show and podcast for blind and partially sighted technology users. He is regularly invited to speak with local, national, and international partners and clients about blindness and the transformative power of accessible and inclusive technology, braille literacy, parenting and participation in sport.
During his time as ACB Radio Director, from 2003 to 2006, Dave delivered hundreds of hours of live and on-demand content, including coverage of three ACB conventions and the General Assembly of the World Blind Union from Cape Town, South Africa.
Meet the 2025 Talking Book Narrator
Gary Tipton is honored to have narrated talking books at the American Printing House for the Blind for 40 years and has now completed well over a thousand titles. Originally from eastern Tennessee, he has lived in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Boston, but has called Louisville home since moving there to care for his mother after his father’s sudden death. In addition to narrating, he also acts, directs, produces and designs many different theatrical productions. His other jobs during his lifetime (teaching, bartending, part owner of a restaurant, real estate agent, retail sales and bank teller) are as varied as the books he records. His other interests include gardening, painting, walking and exercise in its many forms. Gary will address our general session on Tuesday, July 8, and also join Library Users of America on Tuesday afternoon.
Blood Drive in Dallas
The American Council of the Blind in conjunction with the Get Up and Get Moving Committee is hosting a blood drive with Carter BloodCare at this year’s convention. The blood drive will be held at the Hyatt on Monday, July 8th & Tuesday, July 9th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us as we save lives and impact our community, one donation at a time.
The most selfless act that has great beneficial significance to the donor and the recipient is giving blood. Donating blood can provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment while helping to meet the need of others and supporting the community. Your contributions are rewarding and impactful while being an important part of helping to save lives and improve the lives of others. Details on how to participate in the blood drive will be sent out to the convention registrants list.
Welcome to Dallas Party
The Dallas Host Committee will hold their welcome party on Friday, July 4th, featuring local musician Blake Cheek. Blake plays music from many genres, accompanying his vocals with his guitar.
Registration Reminders
Conference and convention registration will remain open through June 17th. For all things registration, visit the April edition of the ACB Braille Forum, https://www.acb.org/acb-braille-forum-april-2025.
Remember that you must have a member account to register. To set up your account and to complete the registration form, visit https://members.acb.org/.
Bring the Kids
We have great activities for our Kids Club (ages 5 to 13). Our wonderful leaders will have craft projects, swimming and a daily field trip. Check the convention registration form for all the details!
Hotel Details
Room rates at the Hyatt are $99 per night (single or double occupancy), $124 (triple occupancy) and $149 (quadruple occupancy), plus tax, which is currently 17.2%. To make reservations online, go to https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/DFWRD/G-AMCB. If you prefer to make reservations by phone, call (214) 651-1234, and use group code G-AMCB. The Hyatt is located at 300 Reunion Blvd. The cut-off date to make reservations is Monday, June 9. So don’t delay — make your reservations today!
Staying in Touch
The convention announce list will be filled with information. To subscribe to the list, send a blank e-mail to [email protected]. If you received updates for the 2024 convention, you do not need to re-subscribe.
Convention Questions
For any convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059 or via e-mail, [email protected].