by Deb Cook Lewis
We seem to spend a lot of time and energy in ACB talking about the future and what is changing around us. Everything from population shifts, new paradigms around vision loss, technology, etc. But what will the future really be like for ACB as a membership organization in our changing environment?
I am so excited because last fall, the ACB Board approved the kickoff of a new adventure we’re calling the ACB Legacy & Future Readiness Initiative, a multi-year project backed by donors. The goal of the first phase (all of 2026) is about really getting to know and documenting where ACB stands now — who’s involved, how things run, and what the organization’s culture is like — so future choices are based on solid info. During this phase, the Board and staff will work with our consultant to:
- Celebrate what ACB does well and its history,
- Spot chances for positive change,
- Imagine a "dynamic legacy" for ACB’s future, and
- Plan research and outreach with an eye to what comes next.
The main idea is to figure out what’s working, what should stay, and what could be better. The insights from this phase will set the stage for the next step: planning.
Key Steps in Phase 1:
- Review Documents & Roles (Jan.–Feb. 2026): Go over constitution and bylaws, resolutions, governance, past policies and actions, and other info to see who’s involved and what questions need answering.
- Leadership Interviews & Early Chats (Feb.–May): Hold listening sessions at the presidents’ meeting during the leadership conference and other online opportunities for leaders to talk about strengths, what to keep, and what could change.
- Check Out Other Groups & Compare (Feb.–June): Look at similar non-profit organizations to see what they’re doing, plus study other organizations who impact or serve the blind and low vision communities.
- More Interviews & Focus Groups (July–Sept.): Have deeper conversations with members and stakeholders at the ACB national convention and elsewhere to learn about their experiences and hopes.
- Test Early Ideas & Get Feedback (Sept.–Nov.): Share first-round recommendations with the Board and leaders, listen to feedback, and tweak plans before moving to the next stage.
Throughout this first phase, we are committed to using clear, welcoming language and keep everyone in the loop. It all wraps up with a detailed report that gives the Board practical options and next steps for strategic planning.
ACB has hired a consulting firm that has worked with us before to guide the process. They will be hosting both online and in-person sessions, interviews, and feedback meetings with the Board and other stakeholders. I hope every interested member will participate when the opportunity comes around.
What’s Coming Out of It: The main results will be summaries of what people say, comparisons to other groups, reports with insights, and a final report with findings and recommendations to use for future planning. Both ACB and the consultant firm have their own jobs to do to keep things moving and make sure everyone is participating and giving feedback.
I wanted to give you a heads-up early on so that you will be ready to take advantage of this opportunity to share your feedback, dreams and hopes. These are challenging and exciting times for all consumer organizations and I so appreciate that the ACB Board was willing to step forward to take this opportunity.