Every year in July, ACB holds its trademark conference and convention in various cities around the country, and 2020 was scheduled to be in Schaumburg, Ill. There is no need to explain or expound on social distancing or the reason for the decision to transform this year’s convention from an in-person to a virtual platform. What we can all celebrate is the fact that ACB recognized how important it was to find a way to keep the most important event of the organization alive.

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the 2020 Achievement Awards in Audio Description, an initiative of the Council’s Audio Description Project (ADP).  

Rehabilitation teachers and counselors, teachers of the visually impaired, low vision therapists, orientation and mobility instructors, and many others may earn continuing education credits at the 2020 ACB Virtual Conference and Convention.  Individuals working in vision and other fields may also earn professional development hours during the conference and convention. Content will be delivered through the power of ACB Radio and the Zoom platform; participate from home or office - no need to travel. CEC's are recognized by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitatio

“Individuals with disabilities have a right to full participation in voting, including absentee voting,” stated Eric Bridges, Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind. “Persons with disabilities have fought for decades for their right to vote privately and independently. Now, especially in light of COVID-19, such persons are fighting for their right to vote via absentee ballot.”

June 3, 2020 – New York, NY – A federal court has approved an agreement between the NYS Board of Elections (NYS BOE) and disability groups that provides voters a more accessible absentee ballot for the upcoming June 23 Primary Election. Following a lawsuit filed on May 22 by a disability rights coalition, the NYSBOE has agreed to email accessible absentee ballots to qualified voters with disabilities. Voters can access an Accessible Absentee Ballot Request Form on the NYS BOE website to request an accessible electronically-delivered absentee ballot.

By Cindy Hollis Van Winkle, Membership Services Coordinator, American Council of the Blind

The American Council of the Blind believes that every human deserves dignity and respect. During these times when our voices seem sequestered by the weight of social distance, we loudly affirm our core values, echoing the collective voice of like-minded organizations who labor daily to dismantle the structural barriers that stand in the way of equal opportunity and full inclusion in our society.

The American Council of the Blind is proud to partner with Aira to make visual interpreting services available to more people. To encourage ACB members to try their service, Aira is extending special ACB Membership pricing from June 1 through December 31, 2020.

Aira Plans for ACB Members:

ACB Member Intro Plan

Minutes: 30 per month
Price: $20.00 per month
Plan Share: no additional users 

ACB Member Enhanced Plan

Minutes: 140 per month
Price: $99.99 per month 
Plan Share: up to two additional users 

For Immediate Release 

Lawsuit Filed May 22, 2020 in Federal Court – Full Complaint 

Congratulations to the 2020 ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows award winners!