­For Immediate Release

Contact:
Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
(202) 467-5081
crachfal@acb.org

ACB is a member of the VisionServe Alliance and has representation on the Aging & Vision Loss National Coalition.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features articles about the reintroduction of the low vision devices bill, Walmart and Sam’s Club providing accessible labels, ACB presenting an Audio Description Award to Dr. Brett Oppegaard, Facebook Live, the Exercise and Fitness for All Act, and the latest Advocacy Update podcast.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Joel Snyder, PhD, Director, Audio Description Project, ACB
(202) 467-5083

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2019 - The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the 2019 Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl Memorial Achievement Award in Audio Description, an initiative of the Council’s Audio Description Project (ADP).  

In conjunction with ACB’s 58th annual conference and convention in Rochester, N.Y., the award was presented at a plenary session of the conference before over 1,000 people who are blind.

WASHINGTON, DC –  Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) reintroduced the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act (H.R.4129) last week. This legislation would help Medicare beneficiaries live safe and independent lives by creating a five-year national demonstration project administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate the economic impact of allowing reimbursement for low vision devices under the Social Security Act, which are currently excluded from Medicare coverage.

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2019 - The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the 2019 Achievement Award in Audio Description-Media, an initiative of the Council’s Audio Description Project (ADP).  

In conjunction with ACB’s 58th annual conference and convention in Rochester, N.Y., the award was presented at a plenary session of the conference before over 1,000 people who are blind.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information about ACB’s new officers, Facebook Live with Dan Spoone, ACB and OrCam’s cooperative agreement, Advocacy Updates, and this year’s Audio Description Awards winners.

Introducing ACB’s New Slate of Officers

The American Council of the Blind elected new officers, a new board member, and a new member of the board of publications during its 2019 annual conference and convention. We thought you’d like to learn more about them.

BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 18, 2019 — Walmart and Sam’s Club are deeply committed to accessibility and medication safety for their blind, visually impaired and print-impaired pharmacy patients. To enhance their commitment, Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies provide En-Vision America’s ScripTalk audible (i.e. “talking”) prescription labels at Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies across the United States.

The American Council of the Blind elected new officers, a new board member, and a new member of the Board of Publications during its 2019 annual conference and convention. Learn more about them below:

President: Dan Spoone, Orlando, FL
Dan is retired; he formerly worked as a senior project manager for Siemens.

First Vice President: Mark Richert, Arlington, VA
Mark is the Director of Public Policy for the National Disability Institute and the founding President of Excelsis, LLC, a public policy consultancy.

The 2019 American Council of the Blind scholarship class represents 14 states and approximately 12 major fields of study. This year’s winners, where they’re from, and their fields of study, are listed below.