On June 22, 2022, the federal government announced a new initiative to expand the availability of testing options that are more accessible for people who are blind or low vision and who use a smartphone. Now, people who are blind or low vision may order more accessible COVID-19 at-home tests. When connected to a smartphone application, these tests are capable of providing audible testing instructions and results to make the COVID-19 testing process more private and independent for people who are blind or low vision.

Testing is a critical part of the fight against COVID-19, but some people who are blind or have low vision face barriers using many of the COVID-19 tests on the market. 

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 BADIE Awards (Benefits of Audio Description In Education), a “Listening Is Learning” initiative of the Council’s Audio Description Project (ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP).  

The winners of this year’s honors (all young people who are blind) are:

Held Virtually

Monday, August 8 to Friday, August 12, 2022

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Eastern each day

Audio Description (AD) makes visual images accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. Using words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative, media describers convey the visual image from television and film that is not fully accessible to a significant segment of the population (more than 32 million Americans experience significant vision loss).

ALEXANDRIA, VA (June 13, 2022) —The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the 2022 Achievement Awards in Audio Description, an initiative of the Council’s Audio Description Project (ADP).  

The awards will be presented on July 4 during ACB’s 61st annual conference and convention, held as a hybrid event from June 23 through July 8, 2022.

Saturday, June 18 at 7:00pm ET

Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream - ACB Media One

Thanks to the Bay State Council of the Blind ($250), Merrilee Hill-Kennedy ($100), Council of Citizens with Low Vision International ($100), Illinois Council of the Blind ($50) and ACB Students ($50) for their generous donations for shipping.

Segment One: Cindy Hollis and Kolby Garrison

100 Two HomePod Minis

Donated by ACB Board Director Chris Bell

Opens Friday, June 17 at 12:00 noon ET

Closes Saturday, June 18 at 12:00 noon ET

Opening Bids Included

Appetizer Auction Rules and Information:

Contact Leslie Spoone at 407 678-4163 or email at lesliespoone@cfl.rr.com with your bid. Please provide your name, phone number, email, item number and bid amount.

Bids must be in $5.00 increments.

Leslie will send out Appetizer Auction information communicating the high bid on each item at 5:00pm ET, 8:00pm ET and 9:00am ET each day.

Opens Thursday, June 16 at 12:00 noon ET

Closes Friday, June 17 at 12:00 noon ET

Opening Bids Included

Recognizing the critical role that public transportation can play in promoting the physical, emotional and economic wellbeing of people who are blind or have low-vision, having a basic understanding of what public transportation includes, how it is funded, how it is evolving, and how blind and low-vision people can incorporate its use into their own lives is of critical importance for anyone who either lives as a person who is blind or has low-vision or who provides programs or services for blind/low-vision consumers.

The application on smart phones will usher in a new chapter of accessibility for public transportation that will benefit all riders of varying abilities.