edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins
The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
Executive Director
The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired seeks a visionary Executive Director to lead our management team. Headquartered in South Burlington, VT, VABVI is the only private, nonprofit, statewide agency providing training, services and support to infants, children and adults throughout Vermont. VABVI has an annual operating budget of $4.1 million. The successful candidate will possess a vision for the future and strive to fulfill a mission that encourages and assists blind and visually impaired people to achieve or maintain their independence and quality of life.
Complete details of the responsibilities and qualifications for this position, as well as the application process, are available at https://www.vabvi.org/careers. The application deadline is August 15, 2025.
Talking Prescriptions for Your Guide Dogs from Chewy
You can now receive ScripTalk Talking Prescription Labels on your guide dog’s medications from Chewy!
If you are interested in getting this free service, give En-Vision America a call at 1-800-890-1180, and their staff will work with Chewy to get you set up.
Newsreel Magazine Ceases Publication
“Newsreel Magazine,” a publication written by and dedicated to blind and visually impaired people, will cease publication in coming weeks.
Nolan Crabb, president of Newsreel’s Board of Directors, commended Editor Irwin Hott and Executive Director Kate Sniderman for their outstanding work for so many years that helped make the publication meaningful to its readers.
Ski for Light Returns to Colorado
From February 1-8, 2026, Ski for Light, Inc. (SFL) will return to Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, CO to celebrate its 51st international week of skiing. Active adults with visual or mobility impairments will gather to learn the basics of cross-country skiing.
First-time skiers will be introduced to basic techniques, while returning skiers will have an opportunity to enhance existing skills.
Applications and additional information will be available soon at www.sfl.org.
USABA Launches the 2025 Sport Ambassador Program
The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) has renewed its partnership with Google Pixel for the 2025 USABA Sport Ambassador Program. The program brings together a team of 11 ambassadors who will advocate for adaptive sports, lead community outreach, continue the shared mission of empowering athletes through inclusive technology, and support fundraising efforts to expand opportunities for blind and visually impaired athletes nationwide. The team will focus on refining AI-powered tools that enhance independence and performance for those who are blind or visually impaired.
The 2025 ambassadors are: Noah Beckman (Columbus, OH); Ricky Castaneda (Fort Worth, TX); Charles Catherine (New York, NY); Mindy Cook (Columbus, OH); Erika Deetjen (Miami, FL); Lex Gillette (Chula Vista, CA); Eliana Mason (Beaverton, OR); Cheyenne Meyer (McKinney, TX); Tyler Merren (Greenville, MI); Emma Pappariella (Pittsburgh, PA), and Calahan Young (Pittsburgh, PA).
4th Edition of The Windows Screen Reader Primer Now Available
Published by the Carroll Center for the Blind, “The Windows Screen Reader Primer” (4th ed.) is available in Word and ePub formats for free. The book is meant to help JAWS, NVDA, and Windows Narrator users work more effectively with the most important PC applications. The book covers a very wide range of applications, systems and actions. The book is intended for both beginner and intermediate users.
To download the book, visit https://carroll.org/the-windows-screen-reader-primer/. For more information, contact David.kingsbury@carroll.org.
New Director at the Iowa Department for the Blind
Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Stacy Cervenka as Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind. Cervenka most recently worked as Senior Director of Policy with RespectAbility (now Disability Belongs) in Fredericksburg, Va. Previously, she was Director of Public Policy for the American Foundation for the Blind and worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Sam Brownback. She earned a B.A. from the University of Minnesota, and an M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling from Texas Tech University. Cervenka will start in her role on July 7, 2025.
New from National Braille Press
Brand-new and available from National Braille Press is Judy Dixon’s “AI on the iPhone: Apps and Other Useful Features for the Blind User.” It comes in hard-copy braille, BRF, and Word.
For the 21 and older set, check out “Summer Cocktails and Mocktails,” which features 27 recipes and a few extra tips on making these beverages.
Also available are two newly updated technology guides: “Microsoft Word 2025 Keystroke Compendium” and “Microsoft Excel 2025 Keystroke Compendium.” Both are available in braille or BRF.
For more information, call toll-free 1-800-548-7323, or visit shop.nbp.org.