March is Women's History Month, and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) is proud to honor Dr. Margaret Rockwell Pfanstiehl (pronounced FAN-STEEL), a lifelong advocate for people who are blind or have low vision and a pioneer in the fields of accessibility and audio description.

Alexandria, Va., March 18, 2024 – Scott Thornhill took office today as the new Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). Thornhill was voted in by the ACB Board to lead the 62-year-old organization.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to lead an organization with such a rich history,” said Thornhill. “The strength of ACB is a combination of our members, our supporters, and the larger blindness community that we serve. I look forward to us achieving even more impactful results in the years to come."

What do a chef, a museum, and a very large telescope have in common? They were all recipients of a 2023 ADP Award! The ADP Awards recognize achievement in audio description in seven categories, including media, performing arts, museums, the public sector, and research and development. Nominations will be accepted from January 8 to April 21, 2024, and the winners will be announced in July at the American Council of the Blind’s Conference and Convention.

Who Can Submit a Nomination?

Alexandria, Va., Dec. 22, 2023 – The American Council of the Blind (ACB) announces that Claire Stanley is joining ACB as the new Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs. Claire has been involved in the field of disability advocacy for over a decade. In her last role as a Public Policy Analyst at the National Disability Rights Network, she advocated for policies that impacted people with disabilities, and also collaborated with other disability organizations including ACB.

Alexandria, Va., Dec. 22, 2023 – The 2024 American Council of the Blind (ACB) Leadership Conference will be a hybrid event. ACB’s Board Meeting, Presidents’ Meeting, Legislative Seminar, and Capitol Hill visits will take place March 1-5, 2024, at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, VA.

Visit our conference page at: https://www.acb.org/acb-2024-leadership-conference for details. 

Alexandria, Va., Nov. 15, 2023 – The American Council of the Blind (ACB) announces the individuals and organizations honored at the 2023 Audio Description Awards Gala held November 14. Created in 2021 to recognize achievement in audio description in entertainment and educational media, the Awards Gala featured celebrity guests, film clips, and multiple award categories. For the first time, the Gala was broadcast in English and Spanish.

Alexandria, Virginia – The American Council of the Blind (ACB) announces that the 2023 ACB Audio Description Awards Gala will air on November 14 at 7:30pm ET. Created in 2021 to recognize outstanding achievement in audio description in entertainment and educational media, the Awards Gala features celebrity guests, film clips, and more than a dozen awards. The broadcast of the show will include captions, audio description, and a simultaneous Spanish translation.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 24, 2023 — Following a week-long bench trial in Los Angeles, a federal court in California found Quest Diagnostics in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and permanently enjoined Quest from continuing to violate the ADA.

The Benefits of Audio Description in Education (BADIE) essay contest asks students to write about their experience with audio description.

The American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project (ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) are now accepting entries for BADIE, or the Benefits of Audio Description in Education, an essay contest for young people (ages 7 to 21) who are blind or have low vision.