ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 11, 2023) — The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is pleased to share the announcement of the ScripTalk Talking Prescription Label pilot program at Wegmans Food Markets. Wegmans is offering the ScripTalk system that allows blind or low vision patients the ability to audibly hear important prescription label information, ensuring their medication independence and safety. The chain will offer the service across five of its New York locations.

As many website and application users with disabilities know, far too many websites are inaccessible for users with disabilities. This reality is disastrous for Americans with disabilities. We live in a world where so much is done online or through our smartphones. When these applications are inaccessible, people with disabilities are suddenly prevented from completing essential tasks such as banking or completing employment tasks. A group of national disability advocacy organizations are collecting personal anecdotes and stories to illustrate this ongoing and growing problem.

With the departure of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Executive Director Eric Bridges, the following plan of action was established by ACB's Board of Directors on Thursday, March 9th to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. ACB will welcome Dan Spoone, the organization’s current president, as Interim Executive Director starting on Wednesday, March 22. Deb Cook Lewis, current first vice president, will become president. Ray Campbell will become first vice president.

Show Me the Money: Marching Together for Accessible and Inclusive Currency takes place on March 10, Harriet Tubman Day, at 1:30pm ET! The rally will be live streamed on ACB’s YouTube & Facebook channels. 

Take part in the American Council of the Blind Leadership Conference!

ACB’s 2023 Leadership Conference will feature both a virtual and an in-person component. ACB’s Presidents’ Meeting and Legislative Seminar will take place virtually from March 4-7, and will include a Fireside Chat on Sunday, March 5. The in-person portion of the Leadership Conference will take place at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town from March 9-12 in Alexandria Virginia. This event will take place in-person only. 

The 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards will be streamed Sunday, February 26, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT, with live audio description provided by Descriptive Video Works. Access the show with audio description through this link.

1. On July 7, 1972, ACB adopted a resolution calling for accessible currency. Similar resolutions were adopted by ACB in 1977, 1978 and 1980.
2. In 1983, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (“BEP”) conducted a study to evaluate possible changes in the design of currency which could be useful to the visually disabled.  

Find more details about Show Me the Money: Marching Together for Accessible and Inclusive Currency here! 

Dear friends,

Nearly 5 decades of broken promises to the blind and low vision community has left the United States an outlier in the developed world – the only country whose paper currency is inaccessible to those with disabilities. But together we can push the Biden Administration and US Treasury to put us on a course to accessible and inclusive currency for all.

ACB, along with legal counsel, has created a Dear Provider Letter for blind and low vision individuals to use in health care settings like doctor’s offices and hospitals. The letter was created in response to the challenges experienced by our members and the broader community that were brought to the fore-front during the COVID-19 pandemic.