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.
Perkins, Adaptation Ventures Collaboration
Perkins has announced a new collaboration designed to solve a long-standing problem for the disability community: namely, bringing more accessible products and services to market. The new collaboration with Adaptation Ventures will unite DisabilityTech innovators with early-stage investors, accelerating the development of accessible products and services that people with disabilities need. By aligning their complementary programs, Perkins and Adaptation Ventures will create new pathways for promising DisabilityTech startups to succeed. Perkins will draw on its connections across the disability and startup ecosystems to identify and refer high-potential companies, while Adaptation Ventures — a pioneering pre-seed VC fund exclusively focused on DisabilityTech — will support founders with early capital, strategic guidance, and investor networks. Together, Perkins and Adaptation Ventures aim to attract new investors, support emerging founders, and reduce friction points that slow the path from idea to impact. By connecting innovators with aligned capital and expertise, the collaboration will help bring accessible products and services to market for the 1 in 4 people worldwide who live with a disability.
AAPD Announces the 2026 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awardees
AAPD recently announced the recipients of its 2026 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards, an annual award given to two emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community. The recipients are Katie Drackert and Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson!
Katie Drackert (KD) focuses on advocacy, organizing, public speaking, and creating art in Austin, Texas. KD founded Clear the Air ATX (CTA) in 2023. CTA is an organization dedicated to providing access to free high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers and community education to reduce the spread of airborne pathogens and impacts of post-viral illnesses. In addition to founding CTA, KD has advocated for Long COVID care to the FDA, organized against anti-mask legislation in Texas, and spoken at local events. KD and the CTA team plan to expand Clear the Air ATX's reach and services.
Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson is an organizer based in Oakland, Calif. Brittanie’s work lives at the intersection of disability justice, care, and collective liberation. She has fought to expand Medicaid access, eliminate subminimum wages in Minnesota, and secure fair pay for home care workers, including helping win Hero Pay with SEIU during the pandemic. Her new project “Our Stories, Our Care” is a disability justice storytelling and care-rooted advocacy project to defend Medicaid and home care in California.
Eschenbach Introduces the Optaro (R) XL
Eschenbach Optik of America, Inc., recently introduced the new Optaro® XL iPad Video Magnifier. This innovative new product turns an iPad into a full-featured video magnifier and mobile screen reader. Optaro XL is a stand, camera and app that work together with a user's iPad to project a magnified image onto an iPad screen. The proprietary app includes many customizable features typical of a video magnifier such as variable magnification (2.5 - 22x), adjustable illumination, 14 color contrast modes, and underline & blinds. It also offers a choice of three different customizable OCR processing options that read text aloud. The system weighs 3 pounds and has an extended battery life of 6.5 hours.
Learn more at https://eschenbach.com/products/optaro-xl-13.asp.
Hot Off the Press from National Braille Press!
New in the children’s section is “The Mitten,” by Jan Brett. It is available in contracted braille (UEB) for ages 1 to 6.
In the technology section, the newest book is “The Power of AI on the iPhone: Apps and Other Useful Features for the Blind User,” by Judy Dixon. It is available in hard-copy braille, BRF and Word. If you’re curious about AI and how it can affect your daily life, you may want to check this book out.
Looking for something to fix for dinner that isn’t the same old thing? Newly available is “Dutch Oven Cooking for Two.” It’s available in hard-copy braille and BRF. Recipes include 30 main courses and 10 desserts. Note: All recipes are for a 5-to-7-quart Dutch oven unless otherwise specified.
For more information, call toll-free (800) 548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext. 520, or order online at shop.nbp.org
Blind Like Me
ACB member Dan Kysor’s book "Blind Like Me — The Danny Kysor Story" is now available on Amazon's Kindle Books. In his book, Kysor shares his personal journey navigating life with Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), a congenital eye disease that gradually led to total blindness in his 50s. He recounts his experiences from childhood, including humorous anecdotes and the challenges of adapting to a world designed for the sighted. Kysor also explores the perceptions of blindness, both from the sighted world and within the blind community, drawing on personal stories and insights, including his acquaintance with partially sighted Paralympian Mike May. Through heartfelt recollections and excerpts from his mother's book about raising a visually impaired child, Kysor offers a candid and engaging perspective on living beyond the limitations often associated with blindness, emphasizing adaptability, the power of other senses, and the importance of individual experiences.
If you’re interested in getting a copy, visit Amazon and type either Dan Kysor or the book title above into the search box.
Making Positive Changes
Jennifer Beiles is the author of two books, “Hear I Am” and “Making Positive Changes.” The second book, “Making Positive Changes,” is also available as an audiobook.
Jennifer teaches American Sign Language at the college level. She wrote these books based on her master’s thesis at New York University, program for Deafness Rehabilitation and Education, which was and still is “People with disabilities can indeed work, live in their homes or thrive in a school setting with the proper accommodations.”
The books include journalistic exercises and space for you to write and to better yourself in the areas of self-help, mental health, education and disability advocacy! “Hear I Am” is available in ebook, soft cover, and hard cover. “Making Positive Changes” is available as an ebook, as well as hard cover, soft cover, and audiobook.
You may contact the author via email, Jenny08520@aol.com. “Here I Am” is available through Amazon; the link is https://tinyurl.com/588d9fkj. “Making Positive Changes” is available through Barnes & Noble, https://tinyurl.com/3wa7x3jw.
See the World with See Sea Trips
See Sea Trips has a number of accessible adventures coming up this year and into 2027. If a cruise is one of your bucket list items, take a look at these.
Alaska – May 29 – June 10, 2026
You will spend 1 night in Anchorage, 2 nights Mt. McKinley, 2 nights Denali, then cruise to Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau and Vancouver.
Shrines of Italy – October 6 – 16, 2026
Highlights of this trip will be Rome, Catacombs, Holy Stairs, Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Papal Audience, Assisi, Basilica of St. Francis and much more.
Eastern Caribbean Cruise – November 29 – December 7, 2026
Cruise from Port Canaveral to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Turks and Caicos; Princess Cays, Bahamas.
New Zealand and Australia – March 4 – 20, 2027
Cruise from Auckland, New Zealand and visit ports of Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Fiordland National Park, Hobart, and Port Arthur before arriving at Sydney, Australia.
For more information, call Dave Kronk at (618) 409-0143, or visit the website, www.seeseatrips.com.
USA Goalball Women's National Team Qualifies for IBSA Goalball World Championships
The USA Goalball Women’s National Team has officially qualified for the 2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships following a strong 2025 international season. The team competed in two major tournaments, highlighted by a third-place finish in Brazil, and built on their success from the most recent Regional Championships. The women, currently ranked seventh in the world, will represent Team USA in Hangzhou, China, from June 5–15, 2026, alongside the Men’s National Team.
Men's National Blind Soccer Team Makes the Podium in Costa Rica
The USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team earned a third-place podium finish at the America’s Division “B” tournament. Team USA opened play against host nation Costa Rica, falling 5–0, before rebounding with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Guatemala, highlighted by a goal from Ethan Kunes (Baltimore, Md.). The team later dropped a narrow 1–0 decision to Panama, setting up a rematch in the third-place match where the U.S. delivered a standout performance with a 3–0 victory, powered by a hat trick from Alvaro Mora Arellano (Phoenix, Ariz.). Mark Baker Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.) was recognized for his outstanding play between the posts, earning the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.