“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features articles on the candidates’ forum, Facebook Live from Guide Dogs for the Blind, advocacy updates, changes at NLS, and how to find the Mueller report on BARD.   Candidates’ Forum Get to know the candidates for office this year. ACB’s Candidates’ Forum will be held Wednesday, June 19th, at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific. The forum will be live streamed on Live Event. You can access ACB Radio online at www.acbradio.org, via ACB Link, via your Alexa smart speaker or by phone through Audio Now. For more instructions on using ACB Radio, visit https://www.acbradio.org. For more details, go to https://acb.org/2019-candidates-forum.   Facebook Live from GDB On June 6th, Claire Stanley went live on Facebook from Guide Dogs for the Blind. She talked about the training process, Dog Day – and at the end, her new guide dog made an appearance. To view the video, visit https://tinyurl.com/yxvwlw6f.   Advocacy Updates On the June 3rd edition of ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal discuss how the inaccessibility of exercise and fitness equipment may prevent some ACB members from getting their beach body prior to the convention. Richard Thesing, president of Mobility Fitness, joins them to discuss the higher obesity rates of Americans with disabilities; how exercise and fitness equipment could be made more accessible; and the introduction of the Exercise and Fitness for All Act of 2019. To learn more about Richard’s work, visit www.mobilityfitness.org. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-june-3-2019. Got an idea for a future podcast? Send it to [email protected].   Changes at NLS NLS has received final approval from the Librarian of Congress to change its name. Beginning on October 1, NLS’ name will change officially to National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, though we will continue to use the abbreviation NLS. Visit https://www.loc.gov/strategic-plan/ to learn more.   Mueller Report on BARD The Mueller Report is available now on BARD, and will be available on cartridge soon. It is DB94776. To download a copy, go to https://nlsbard.loc.gov/nlsbardprod/download/detail/srch/DB94776.

The following is a message from Aira: The Aira Team is looking forward to meeting you at Rochester, The Flower City. To match this year’s convention location, known as the entrepreneurial center of gardening excellence, we’ve got a lot in bloom for all Aira events at the 2019 ACB National Conference and Convention. We’re donating to ACB Affiliates with your help, enabling free Aira Access at all convention areas, hosting an exclusive party, providing special promotions at our booth, and more! Aira to Donate to ACB Affiliates. Here’s How You Can Make that Happen. Aira will donate $10 to an ACB member’s chosen affiliate for every person who creates a free Aira account for the first time and then fills out the form on ACB’s website at https://acb.org/free-aira-account. This program will launch today and run through the convention. 100% of all donations will be paid by Aira directly to the affiliate of your choice when you fill out the form and create a free Aira account. What’s on the form? First name, Last name, Phone Number, and Affiliate. That’s it! Free Aira at 2019 ACB National Conference and Convention Aira is proud to be a Crown Jewel Sponsor of the 2019 ACB National Conference and Convention. As part of our sponsorship, we’re providing free Aira Access for the event – Greater Rochester International Airport is already an Aira Access Partner and we’re enabling both the Hyatt Regency Rochester and the Rochester Riverside Hotel with free Aira Access. We’ve created this hyperlinked audio file to give an example of how Aira Guests and Explorers can use Aira for free from the moment they land at Rochester, to getting a rideshare to the hotel, to Convention exhibit halls and sessions, and even meeting up for dinner with friends. The audio file is also on www.aira.io/acb.  Celebrate with Us at the Aira Explorer & Guest Party on July 8 Just as in gardening, we’ve started from the ground up on cultivating a wonderful celebration with you on July 8 from 6-8:30 pm at the Riverside Lounge in the Riverside Hotel. On July 8, free Aira Guests and Explorers alike are invited to join us for a night of drinks, appetizers, and planting closer bonds together. Rather than spending money on your own celebrations, we wanted to plan an equally entertaining event that is free to you. More information will be shared on www.aira.io/acb in the next few days. Please note that you must have the Aira app already downloaded on your phone as a free Guest or subscribing Explorer to enter the event. Friends and family are welcome; just make sure they have the Aira app on their phone at the time of entry. Special Promo on July 6 and July 7 at our Booth Visit our booth on July 6 and July 7 for a special promotion, created exclusively for you and the 2019 ACB National Conference & Convention only. Other booth days will be exciting as well, but the best deals will be found on July 6 and July 7. Speaking Sessions and More Join us at our speaking sessions in Lilac Ballroom North to learn more about how we’re unlocking efficiencies and insights in education, employment, and the economy. Surprises will be included in the sessions so make sure you’re there! Speaking Sessions All locations will be updated on our webpage at www.aira.io/acb Saturday, July 6 at 9 am – How Aira Is Used to Land Dream Jobs Saturday, July 6 at 1:15 pm – Wow Your Boss With Aira Sunday, July 7 at 4:15 pm – The Real Power Behind Free Aira Access And Other Offers Suman’s Plenary Speech Join Suman Kanuganti, Founder of Aira Tech Corp., on July 6 as he gives his plenary speech to the 2019 ACB National Conference & Convention attendees. Here, he will share his insights about Aira and the impacts our partnership with ACB has, and will continue to have, on the industry. For updates on all Aira activities at ACB National Conference & Convention, visit www.aira.io/acb. We are looking forward to Exploring with you in Rochester. Sincerely, The Aira Team 1-800-835-1934

2019 is a pivotal year for the ACB because we will be holding elections for officers, and with several officers leaving the Board, there will be change. During the next several weeks, you will have several opportunities to get to know those candidates who have announced their candidacy to serve as an Officer of the ACB. One is the ACB Candidates page which is posted at http://acb.org/2019-acb-candidates. Your next opportunity will be the 2019 ACB Candidates Forum which will take place on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 beginning at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific. Come and meet the candidates,; hear their answers to questions forwarded from the BOP and from ACB members; and ask questions of your own. You can join online via the Zoom Conference app using your computer or mobile device, or you can listen via ACB Radio or by phone. Here’s what you need to know to join the conversation.   Date, Time and Location Wednesday, June 19, 2019 9:00 PM Eastern/6:00 PM Pacific Duration – Approximately 90 minutes Where – ACB Radio, by phone and online; see below for details.   Listening via ACB Radio The ACB Candidates Forum will be live streamed on Live Event. You can access ACB Radio online at https://www.acbradio.org, via ACBLink, via your Alexa smart speaker or by phone through Audio Now. For more instructions on using ACB Radio, visit https://www.acbradio.org. If you join by ACB Radio, you will not be able to interact on air, but you can email questions to [email protected]. In order to be accepted, your question must address a specific candidate or the candidates in general and must pertain to blindness-related or ACB-related business. You must also provide your full name and the state where you reside.   Joining by Phone If you wish to join by phone, you may do so, either to listen or to comment. Here are the dialing instructions: Dial - 669-900-6833, and Enter meeting ID: 3014709862# When dialing in by phone, keep the following commands in mind:  *6 is a toggle  that mutes and unmutes your line. *9 toggles between raising your hand to ask a question and lowering your hand. – If you want to ask a question, you need to raise your hand.   Joining the Candidates Forum Online Join the Candidates Forum online or using your smartphone using Zoom. If you have never joined a Zoom meeting, you will need to install Zoom software or the Zoom mobile app. The process is simple and free. Here are instructions to guide you on your way:   Installing Zoom Using a computer – Browse to https://zoom.us and download the Zoom Launcher. Once you install the Zoom Launcher, you will be able to enter Zoom meetings. For your mobile phone – You can download the Zoom Cloud app from the Apple App Store or from the Google Play Store. You can also install the zoom app automatically when you attempt to join the Zoom meeting directly at the time you join the meeting.   Joining the ACB Candidates Forum Online Joining from a smartphone or tablet: Open the Zoom app and join the meeting with the meeting ID number 3014709862. Joining from a Computer (2 options): Option 1 – Go to https://www.zoom.us/join and enter the meeting ID number 3014709862 . Option 2 - Click this link: https://zoom.us/j/3014709862.   For Technical Assistance If you are unable to join the meeting through any of the modes described above, send an email to Larry Turnbull at [email protected]. Larry will not be able to respond once the meeting gets under way, so keep the ACB Radio and phone information handy as these options are almost always available—even if the technology is struggling.   Not Your Last Chance Although we want you to join the conversation on June 19, you will have additional opportunities to meet the candidates. You can check out the candidate statements on the ACB Candidates Page by visiting http://acb.org/2019-acb-candidates.  You can also attend the ACB Candidates Town Hall Meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, beginning at 7:15 Eastern Time in Convention Center, Lilac Ballroom South.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features articles on ACB’s Facebook Live adventure from Harpers Ferry, ACB seeks input from Google Fiber customers, advocacy updates, inclusive workplaces, AFB’s transportation survey for those 55 and older, and a survey for those with Leber’s congenital amaurosis and Usher syndrome type 2.   Google Fiber Seeks Waiver Google Fiber has requested a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to delay regulatory requirements for providing accessible user interfaces. ACB has reached out to Google for more information to understand their reasons for requesting this waiver prior to filing comments by June 17. If you are a Google Fiber customer, please share your experience with the ACB national office at [email protected]. Additional information regarding this proceeding is below. Links to Public Notice: URL: https://www.fcc.gov/document/mb-seeks-comment-google-fibers-accessible-ui-waiver-petition Word: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-430A1.doc    Text: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-430A1.txt   Link to Petition: URL: https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/10513136520285/Google%20Fiber%20Amended%20TV%20Accessibility%20Waiver%20(13%20May%202019).pdf   Inclusive Workplaces Did you know companies that adopt best practices for hiring people with disabilities financially outperform their peers? Members of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Committee are joining an investor coalition with New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:IN to promote disability equity and inclusion in the workplace.   AFB Transportation Survey The American Foundation for the Blind is seeking individuals to participate in a research study titled Project VISITOR: Visually Impaired Seniors’ Independent Travel Opportunities and Resources through a telephone survey. To participate, you must be 55 years of age or older and should be blind or low-vision, or experiencing significant vision loss such that you are no longer able to drive.  The survey will take about 30 minutes. Call the research team at (888) 800-7704 or email us at [email protected] to indicate your interest in the research. Let us know your name, the best phone number to reach you and the best days and times for you to participate in a survey.  You can also leave any questions you have about the research.   Seeking Patients with LCA, Usher Syndrome Type 2 ACB recently received a message from a staffer at Medicys; they’re conducting a survey and would like to speak with patients who have been diagnosed with Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) or Usher Syndrome Type 2 (USH2). The study will include a short 15-minute questionnaire and a 60-minute telephone interview. Please also note that: Patients will be required to call a TC line for the interview. This and the passcode will be provided if they screen in. Patient’s personal information will be kept strictly confidential in accordance with data protection laws. They will be assigned a number code. This code and all of your private information will never be revealed to anyone outside our firm or our recruiting partners. We are looking for those that can offer valuable first-hand information about their experiences, helping us to understand LCA-10 or USH2, including what led to the diagnosis, the challenges faced and the doctors involved in the journey. If you have one of the above-mentioned conditions and are interested, contact Richard Davy at 1-800-276-6416 or Amy Bradshaw via email, [email protected].   Facebook Live from Harpers Ferry On May 22nd, Eric Bridges and Clark Rachfal, along with several D.C.-area ACB members, took a trip to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and brought viewers with them via Facebook Live. They explored the audio-described features and available accommodations at the park for visitors with disabilities. Bridges and Rachfal met with National Park Service leaders about work to insure greater access for blind and visually impaired people to the parks. You can view the video on ACB’s Facebook page,https://www.facebook.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlindOfficial/, or on YouTube, https://youtu.be/TUppIn_7OAk.   Advocacy Updates The May 27th ACB Advocacy Update features Chris Gray, former ACB president and the executive director of the Missouri Council of the Blind, discussing his experience being blind and living with diabetes. The inaccessibility of durable medical equipment for diabetics is a public policy imperative for ACB and its members. More information about this issue is available at www.acb.org. Listen via your favorite podcast player or online at http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-may-27-2019. In the May 21st ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal talk with Steve Tyler to discuss the 2019 M-Enabling Summit. Steve is the Director of Assistive Technology for Leonard Cheshire and is an active participant in the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ICT). This year’s summit theme is “Accessibility: Transforming Users’ Experience.” To hear the podcast, visit http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-may-21-2019. For more information about the summit, visit www.m-enabling.com, or e-mail [email protected]. If there are other advocacy related issues that you would like ACB to feature on our podcast, please email: [email protected]. 

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features articles on a new ACB employee, the JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows, the winners of the DKM First-Timers Awards, pre-registration information, Aira lowering hotel rates for ACB members, Facebook Live!, advocacy updates, and an announcement about Kim Charlson receiving the Campbell Award.   Get Ready to Pre-Register for Rochester Pre-registration saves time and money. This year, ACB members can register before pre-registration opens to non-members. If you have registered online in the past, there is a simple way you can ensure that your registration processes smoothly. Prior to the opening of registration on May 22nd, please do the following: Go to acb.org. Enter on the pre-registration link. Enter your username and password. You will receive a message that says, “Thank you for confirming that your login is linked to your member ID. You are ready for member pre-registration, which begins May 22nd at 7 a.m. EDT.”  Log out of the system. If you have difficulty, please contact the Minneapolis office at 1-800-866-3242.   Sneak Preview of Pre-Registration Form The pre-registration form is now available for browsing! For your sneak preview, go to acbconvention.org. Select the heading that says Browse 2019 Sessions and Tours. This is your chance to review the form and decide which activities you want to attend before pre-registration opens on May 22nd.  The form will also be available on ACB Radio and NFB Newsline. Convention registration will open on May 22nd for ACB members and on May 27th for non-members.   Aira Looks Forward to Welcoming You to Rochester! As you know, the 2019 ACB conference and convention will be held in Rochester, N.Y. July 5th through 12th. What you may not know is that this year’s reduced room rates come courtesy of Aira. ACB members attending this year’s convention can enjoy a reduced hotel rate of $82 per night. This is applicable for ACB members only.   Aira will also be providing free service during the event, meaning you can explore and experience everything the convention has to offer with Aira at no cost to you – from the moment you get to Rochester Airport, to entering your reduced rate hotel, to visiting exhibit booths and reading menus while at dinner with friends. Aira and ACB look forward to meeting you at this year’s ACB conference and convention. Come say “hi” to the Aira Team at their booth and attend their interactive talks. You can find all the details about Aira convention happenings at aira.io/acb. To become a member of the American Council of the Blind, visit: http://acb.org/user/register by June 6th.   A New Employee in Minnesota To read the full announcement, go to http://acb.org/membership-services-coordinator-announcement. We are pleased to announce the hiring of Cindy Van Winkle to be ACB’s Membership Services Coordinator. Cindy’s first day at ACB will be June 10, and she will be working in the Minneapolis office. Her email address will be [email protected]. Please join us in welcoming her to the team!   This Year’s Leadership Fellows Are … To read the full announcement online, go to http://acb.org/2019-leadership-fellows. The DKM First-Timers Committee has made its selection of this year’s JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows. The winners are: Donna K. Browning, Alexandria, Virginia Rosemarie Facilla, Muskegon, Michigan Donald L. Kalman, Medina, Ohio Rachel Schroeder, Springfield, Illinois Amanda Selm, Louisville, Kentucky   Introducing the 2019 DKM First-Timers! To read the full announcement online, go to http://acb.org/2019-dkm-first-timers. ACB and the DKM First-Timers Committee are pleased to announce this year’s first-timers. The DKM First-Timers Award is ACB's primary leadership development award and it is given in memory of Durward K. McDaniel, also known as the founding father of ACB. The winning applicants are Ted Boardman of Indiana and Steven Salas of Texas. Come join us at the DKM First-Timers Reception on Wednesday, July 10th, and meet Ted and Steven!   Facebook Live! May 16th was Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Eric Bridges, Claire Stanley, and Clark Rachfal talked about ACB’s work to increase digital access and inclusion awareness to better the lives of all blind and visually impaired consumers. To view and hear the talk, go to https://tinyurl.com/y5wsvqey.   Advocacy Updates On the May 6th ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal talk everything Amtrak. Topics covered include the accessibility of the Amtrak website, app and phone system; staffed and unstaffed Amtrak stations, and accessibility planning for new Amtrak trains. Listen via your favorite podcast player or online at: http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-may-3-2019.   Kim Charlson Receives Campbell Award Kim Charlson, executive director of the Perkins Library, has won the Francis Joseph Campbell Award. Given by the Association of Specialized, Government, and Cooperative Library Agencies, the prestigious award honors leaders in library services for people with visual impairments who have made remarkable contributions to the field. The award will be presented at the ASGCLA Achievement Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 22, 2019 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Please join us in congratulating Kim for this well-earned recognition!

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Cindy Van Winkle to be ACB’s Membership Services Coordinator. Since 2016 Cindy has served as Development and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Lighthouse for the Blind in Seattle. In her role at the Lighthouse she has been responsible for:  Providing coordination and oversight of volunteer, school tour, and workplace giving programs; Producing and posting appropriate and mission-related content across social media platforms; Leading tours and making presentations sharing the Lighthouse mission and history; and Working closely with and supporting the Development team on annual fund initiatives and fundraising events. Professionalism, enthusiasm, and a sincere heart for the rights of the blind community are attributes Cindy wears daily. She has spent all of her adult life working in the blindness arena. Cindy is a motivator by nature and finds great fulfillment in encouraging others to do well, providing them the tools necessary to be successful. She has been an active member of the American Council of the Blind for over 30 years and is a passionate supporter of our mission.  Cindy’s first day at ACB will be June 10 and she will be working in the Minneapolis office. Her email address will be [email protected]. Please join us in welcoming her to the team!

The American Council of the Blind and the DKM First-Timers Committee is pleased to announce the 2019 DKM First-Timers. Each recipient met all of the requirements necessary for consideration of the honor of receiving this award. Make plans to attend the DKM First-Timers Reception on Wednesday July 10th in Rochester to witness the honorees being recognized and to participate in our Gift Card Fundraiser and Sports Fans activities. The DKM First-Timers Award is ACB's primary leadership development award and it is given in memory of Durward K. McDaniel, also known as the founding father of ACB.  The DKM First-Timers Program and ACB honors recipients by funding round-trip air travel and supporting transportation, hotel accommodations (double occupancy), per diem allowance for meals and incidentals and leadership activities, reception, banquet tickets, the general convention registration fee, and other activities determined by the committee and ACB Board of Directors. The responsibilities of each recipient include but are not limited to attending the full week of conference and convention activities from Friday July 5 – Friday July 12; participating in daily general sessions, Keys to the Convention Seminar along with special-interest and committee seminars. Read below the introductions to find out more about the DKM First-Timers Program. Introducing Ted Boardman of Bloomington, Indiana as the 2019 DKM First-Timer (East of the Mississippi River) Ted works full-time managing information technology for an academic department at Indiana University. He also does freelance app and web development. Ted has worked hard to strengthen his chapter, Heartland ACB by assisting with administrative tasks and broadening awareness of their efforts, while also serving as chapter representative to the ACB of Indiana board of directors. Other efforts include actively advocating to improve access to transportation and employment. Even while facing challenges with progressive vision loss, he exhibits positive energy and is determined to serve and assist others while advancing his career goals.   Introducing Steven Salas of Austin, Texas as the 2019 DKM First-Timer (West of the Mississippi River) Steven is in his final year at Austin Community College as he works to acquire his degree in Music Business, Performance and Technology. He eagerly plans to move forward with a career in Music Business with a goal to become a music teacher and performing artist. Since joining the Austin Council of the Blind, Steven has served on the nominating committee and the public relations committee while assisting his chapter by maintaining a presence on social media, the chapter website and community projects, including public speaking. Steven desires to share his abilities as he identifies areas that he can contribute to throughout the organization.  To be eligible for consideration, each applicant had to meet specific requirements, which includes being age 18 or older; blind or visually impaired; an ACB member in good standing, and never have attended a previous ACB national conference and convention. In addition, two letters were submitted for each applicant — a letter of application from the interested member and a letter of recommendation from a state or special interest affiliate president. The letter of application introduced the applicant to the committee and contained reasons for applying for the award, a brief summary of education and experience related to the applicants community service, contributions to the affiliate, and the significance of the First-Timers award to the applicant’s personal or career development. The letter of recommendation included the applicant’s leadership contributions and potential. Applicants also participated in a 30 minute interview.

As ACB approaches its 58th annual conference and convention, we continue to place more emphasis as an organization on investing in the development of new leadership talent for the future. Tremendous thanks to the DKM First-Timers Committee for all their hard work interviewing the numerous candidates and helping to select the recipients. A special grant from JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) permits ACB to continue to offer a program which will bring five ACB members with recognized leadership potential to this year’s convention in Rochester, NY. Donna K. Browning is from Alexandria, Virginia. She serves as the vice president of NOVA (Northern Virginia Council of the Blind), as second vice president of ACB of Virginia, and chairs the communications committee, which oversees development of the website and social media presence. Within her community, Donna has served on the Commission on Persons with Disabilities for the city of Alexandria, Virginia, assisted in setting up a Spanish library at one of the local children’s hospitals, as well as, serving in her religious community in various ways. Rosemarie Facilla is from Muskegon, Michigan. She has a master’s degree in social work and is now enjoying retirement. Having been a longtime ACB member, she has held nearly every position in her chapter, served as second vice president of Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and currently serves as president. Rosemarie was instrumental in starting a phone chapter to better connect at-large members to the organization. She believes that a leader utilizes skills of members in the organization to move the affiliate forward, as well as, prompting the sharing of innovative ideas to ensure the health and growth of the organization. Donald L. Kalman is from Medina, Ohio. He served his local community as a volunteer fireman for 18 years. He was instrumental in getting audible traffic signals installed at four intersections in his hometown. He made his mark when he initiated a used CCTV loaner program for visually impaired people in the community and throughout Ohio. He has held several positions on the local and state level and commits to offering to assist wherever needed. Rachel Schroeder is from Springfield, Illinois. She is employed as an Assistive Technology Specialist with the Illinois Assistive Technology Program and currently holds the office of president of the Illinois Council of the Blind. She has membership in several special interest affiliates and serves on the ACB’s Women’s Concerns Committee, along with service on a variety of committees on all levels of the organization. Amanda Selm is from Louisville, Kentucky. She is a proud mother and wife, and holds a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary early childhood education from the University of Kentucky, and currently works as an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Inc. She is a founding member of the Kentucky Council of the Blind Next Generation chapter and also serves as secretary and shares her talents by serving on the KCB board of directors. As chair of the ACB Next Generation Committee, Amanda plans to use this opportunity to expand her horizons within ACB and to assist other young members to do the same.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features LEGO’s new braille bricks, Raleigh and Smart Cities for All partnership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settling disability discrimination allegations relating to the CPA exam, and advocacy updates.   LEGO Releases Braille Bricks To read this article online, visit https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/health/lego-braille-bricks-scli-intl/index.html. LEGO has unveiled a new project aimed at helping blind and visually impaired children learn braille in a "playful and engaging way." LEGO Braille Bricks, a concept originally proposed to the toy company by two charities, will allow children to learn the touch writing system through play. The bricks, which will launch fully in 2020, feature the studs used for characters in the braille alphabet, as well as printed characters allowing sighted people to read the bricks. They will be "fully compatible" with existing LEGO bricks, the company said in a press release. The Danish Association of the Blind suggested the concept to the LEGO Foundation in 2011, while the Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind, based in Brazil, proposed the bricks in 2017. A spokesperson for LEGO told CNN that the company had gone on to develop prototypes with both organizations, as well as the British charities Leonard Cheshire and Royal National Institute of Blind People, and the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted. The final set will comprise approximately 250 bricks, covering the complete braille alphabet, numbers from zero to nine, math symbols, as well as "inspiration for teaching and interactive games." Braille Bricks are currently undergoing testing in schools in Portuguese, Danish, English and Norwegian. Spanish, French and German versions will be tested later this year. They will ultimately be distributed free of charge to institutions through the partner organizations.   Raleigh and Smart Cities for All Partner to Explore Power of Technology and Inclusion To read the full story online, visit https://g3ict.org/news-releases/raleigh-and-smart-cities-for-all-partner-to-explore-power-of-technology-and-inclusion Raleigh, a city committed to being both smarter and more inclusive is piloting Smart City Digital Inclusion assessment tool created by G3ict and World Enabled with Microsoft’s support. This week, the Smart Cities for All global initiative, a collaboration of G3ict and World Enabled, two nonprofits with a history of leadership in inclusive, accessible design, has convened in Raleigh a team of global smart technology and inclusion experts to track the city’s progress and measure commitment to digital inclusion. The Smart City Digital Inclusion Maturity Model tool helps cities evaluate the current state of ICT accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in city digital and smart services. Focused on a broad range of functions important to all cities, such as communications, procurement, training, and technology standards, it defines key performance indicators and metrics to support advancing accessibility and digital inclusion in a smart city context. James Thurston, G3ict Vice President and Smart Cities for All Managing Director praised Raleigh’s commitment to using technology to benefit all people in the city, including persons with disabilities. In October 2018, Raleigh released its first ever Smart City strategy. That strategy defined five strategic priorities and an organizational plan to pursue them. The city, led by Chief Information Officer (CIO) D. Darnell Smith, conducted a comprehensive assessment to develop the strategy, including a benchmark survey of more than 200 city employees and multiple community and partner meetings. This week’s pilot assessment with Smart Cities for All will lead to a roadmap to complement to Raleigh’s Smart City strategy. During this week’s pilot of the Smart Cities for All Digital Inclusion Maturity Model, the expert team convened by G3ict and its partners is meeting with 19 city departments to understand how effectively the city coordinates its digital inclusion and smart city efforts to create inclusive experiences for everyone. The result of the pilot will be an assessment of Raleigh’s progress on digital inclusion and a roadmap for making more progress.   U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Disability Discrimination Allegations Related to the CPA Exam BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached an agreement with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) related to testing accommodations for individuals who are blind or have low vision who take the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam (the CPA exam).  This agreement resolves allegations of discrimination on the basis of disability under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “People who have vision-related disabilities deserve equal opportunities to take the CPA exam and gain licensure to the profession,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “We are pleased that AICPA and NASBA worked cooperatively to adopt measures that will ensure these individuals receive appropriate auxiliary aids so that their CPA exam results accurately reflect their aptitude rather than reflecting their impaired visual skills.” In order to become a licensed CPA, one must pass the CPA exam, which consists of four separate sections, available only on a computer. When the United States began its investigation in August 2017, there was no auxiliary aid software available to exam-takers with low vision that would allow them to both magnify the computer screen and have the computer read aloud sections of the text. Instead, those exam-takers had to use alternative auxiliary aids, and sometimes a human reader, for some portions of the exam, rather than the screen reader/magnifier they requested that was recommended by their qualified professional health care provider as appropriate for their disability. AICPA now makes screen reader/magnifier software available to exam-takers with low vision for all four sections of the exam and has made the text of the Authoritative Literature (resource materials for use during the exam) accessible through a screen reader. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, AICPA is continuing to work with advocacy organizations and auxiliary aid software developers to ensure ongoing accessibility of the exam to individuals with vision-related disabilities.  Additionally, the AICPA will pay $15,000 to an individual who was a subject of the alleged discrimination. The United States will also identify other aggrieved persons who are blind or have low vision and recently took the CPA exam with an inappropriate auxiliary aid. Each additional aggrieved person shall receive up to $10,000 from AICPA, based on the details and extent of discrimination they suffered. Individuals who believe they are aggrieved persons under the terms of the agreement should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (617) 275-8756.   Advocacy Updates On the April 19th ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal interview Carol Tyson, an advocate from the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. The three discuss numerous advocacy issues surrounding transportation and the work many different advocacy organizations are doing to fight for greater access to transportation. Listen to this episode via your favorite podcast player or online at: http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-april-19-2019-0?fbclid=IwAR1fmipqQkO0FbJS7Ac7OJbNm9vwTcQLGLC_G050hctCfj_1Zt0-NqoGz98.