The ACB Braille Forum Volume LXIV April 2026 No. 8 Published by the American Council of the Blind ***** * Be A Part of ACB The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, contact the national office at 1-800-424-8666. * Contribute to Our Work Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Attn: Treasurer, ACB, 6200 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Suite 155, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office has printed cards available for this purpose. Consider including a gift to ACB in your Last Will and Testament. If your wishes are complex, call the national office. To make a contribution to ACB by the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. * Check in with ACB For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" 24/7 at 1-800-424-8666, or read it online. Tune in to ACB Media at www.acbmedia.org. Learn more about us at www.acb.org. Follow us on Twitter at @acbnational, or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/acbnational. © 2026 American Council of the Blind Scott Thornhill, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor 225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 660, Alexandria, VA 22314 ***** ** Table of Contents Pertinent Convention Information, by Janet Dickelman Soaring to Success: Apply Now to Be an ACB Scholarship Mentor, by Amanda Selm Summer Auction Celebrates 20th Anniversary, by Leslie Spoone Introducing Our Banquet Speaker, by Janet Dickelman Giving as We Gather, by Cachet Wells My Personal Journey from Inclusion to Belonging, by Michael E. Garrett It's Not Okay!, by Debra Trevino From Being Counted to Being Heard: Moving from Inclusion to Belonging with Low Vision, by Dee Ann Hart Symbiosis Is the Key, by Deborah Armstrong Moving from Inclusion to Belonging, by Peter Heide Belonging, A Fragile Thing, by Sharon Strzalkowski My Understanding of Belonging and Inclusion, by Pamela Metz The True Meaning of Belonging, by Melody Holloway Orienting Yourself, by Deborah Armstrong Beings from the Planet VentureQuest, by Beth Terranova Here and There, edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins ACB Officers ACB Board of Directors ACB Board of Publications Accessing Your ACB Braille Forums ** How to Submit Articles to the Forum If you wish to submit an article to "The ACB Braille Forum," please send it via email to slovering@acb.org as part of the message, or attached as a Word or ASCII text file. Articles should be between 500 and 800 words. Language should be family friendly. Longer articles may be divided into two or more parts. * Upcoming Forum Themes and Deadlines June 2026: Theme: Mentors in Our Lives; Deadline: April 24, 2026 July-August 2026: Theme: TBA; Deadline: May 22, 2026 If your committee or affiliate would like to claim an issue of the Forum, please contact Sharon Lovering, slovering@acb.org. * Are You Moving? Do You Want to Change Your Subscription? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll update the database. ***** ** Pertinent Convention Information by Janet Dickelman Registration for the 2026 American Council of the Blind conference and convention is just around the corner! Read on to learn all about registration, plus ordering dog food, how to be certified for paratransit, renting a wheelchair or scooter, assistance at the airport, and some very important information to consider when taking a tour. In-person/hybrid dates are July 24 through July 31, with Zoom-only sessions being held July 16 through 18. Don't miss the virtual-only ACB Summer Auction on July 11 (preceded by two days of appetizer auctions), and the official call to order via Zoom on July 13 with the reading of the convention standing rules and the first credentials report. * Registration Details Registration will open for ACB members on Thursday, May 28, at 7 a.m. Central time. Registration cost will be $55. On June 4, registration will open for non-ACB members. That cost will be $70. Registration will close on Monday, July 6 at 11:59 p.m. Central time. You may also register during the convention; however, the cost will be higher, $75 for ACB members and $90 for non-members. * What can you do now to prepare for registration? Make sure you can log into your member account at https://members.acb.org/. If you do not remember your login and password, you may select "password reset" or call the Minneapolis office at (612) 332-3242. If you have not created a member account at https://members.acb.org/, select the link labeled "Create an Account" and provide the information requested. After creating an account, you can log in, but it may take up to 24 hours before you will be able to complete a convention registration, as the Minneapolis office needs to link your member account to our database. Now is also a good time to create your account! When registration opens: • If you are registering online, log into your member account. Once you have selected the "ACB Convention" link on the members main page, it will open on an introduction page; after reading this information proceed to preferences to begin your registration. • Please verify that your contact information is correct. On this page you will also select whether you will be attending the convention virtually or in person. If you choose to be a virtual attendee, you will not be shown sessions that are only available to in-person attendees such as tours, social events, etc. • If you choose to be an in-person attendee, you will be shown all virtual and in-person sessions. • If you need assistance, telephone registration will be available by calling Janet Dickelman at (651) 428-5059 or the Minneapolis office at (612) 332-3242. * Braille or Large Print Program Requests If you are attending virtually and wish to receive the convention program in either braille or large print, it will be sent to your home address. If you are a virtual attendee requesting a print or braille program, you must register prior to June 15 in order to receive the program in print or braille. If you will be joining us in St. Louis, you will receive the program when you pick up your registration materials. All registrants will receive Zoom links for the Zoom-only events. If you are attending the convention in person, you can pick up your registration materials starting Thursday evening, July 23. * Planning to Take a Tour? Please read the tour description very carefully. Many of our tours require a lot of walking and/or standing. If this is difficult for you to do, please consider not taking the tour. Your health and comfort are very important to us. If you can't keep up with the group, there aren't options to stop or rest. If you require the use of a wheelchair to attend a tour, you must bring someone with you who will push your chair. That person must also register for the tour. Our volunteers are not able to assist as wheelchair pushers. If you use a wheelchair or walker, please make sure to indicate that on the registration form. Also, if you are more comfortable having your own guide, you might consider attending the tour with a friend or family member. We generally have one volunteer to assist 10 to 15 attendees, so cannot offer personal assistance. * Using Paratransit Service During the Convention In order to receive visitors/temporary eligibility while in St. Louis, individuals need to be registered with their paratransit service in their home city. If they are registered to receive paratransit in their home city, they need to have that agency fax to (314) 335-3419 a copy of their eligibility (start date, end date, if they require a mobility device/service animal). Also, include the dates they will be in town and the address of the hotel where they will be staying. I suggest that they start a day before they actually need it and extend it a day or two after their planned departure date, in case there are any emergencies and they stay longer than expected. 1. Once they know their information has been sent over, then they can call (314) 982-1510 and confirm that BiState has received everything and doesn't need further information. 2. I strongly urge you to have your documentation submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to coming, but you can do it as far out as they want. The sooner, the better. 3. Once you have submitted and confirmed your eligibility with BiState, you can book trips out a maximum of three days and a minimum of one day prior to 5 p.m. Reservations phone number is (314) 982-1505; press option 3 to schedule rides, and option 2 to check on already scheduled rides. * Wheelchair Rentals If you would like to rent a wheelchair or scooter, call Mobility City at (636) 329-6367. Weekly scooter rentals are $200; wheelchairs (any size) are $100. When renting a wheelchair, you will be asked for your weight and height to ensure you receive the correct sized chair. Once you have placed your order, call or email me so I can maintain a list to ensure all wheelchairs and scooters have been received. * Ordering Dog Food Don't want to weigh down your luggage with food for your dog? Keep it simple -- order food from Scoop Masters! Scoop Masters will provide and maintain our dog relief areas in St. Louis. Locations of the dog relief areas will be shared via email lists and posted in the convention newspaper as soon as they are set up. If you would like to pre-order dog food to be delivered to your hotel room, call Tim Stone at (661) 714-0749, or order online at http://scoopmasters.com/acb. Tim says, "It's a simple form that asks for your name, phone number, brand and type of food. I will call to get the details within 24 hours, and I will accept payments at the hotel." Food must be ordered by July 18 to ensure delivery. * Assistance at the Airport To assist airline personnel and Margarine Beaman and her cadre of airport volunteers, if you would like assistance when you arrive at the airport, please submit the following information. If you have a connecting flight, Margarine will need the information for all flights. • Your name • The name of the airline you will be arriving on • The city you will be traveling from • Your arrival flight number • Your cell phone number • Departure date • Departure time • Departure airline You can send Margarine Beaman an e-mail with "airline information" in the subject line at oleo501625@outlook.com or call her at (512) 921-1625. * Upcoming Braille Forum Articles In the May and June ACB Braille Forum, read all about what special-interest affiliates, ACB committees, and business partners have planned for the convention. * Hotel Details Room rates at the Hyatt Regency Arch, 315 Chestnut St., are $104 single or double, $129 triple, or $154 quad, plus state and local taxes (currently 17.92%). To make reservations online, go to https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/STLRS/G-ACBL. If you prefer to make your reservations by telephone, call central reservations at (888) 591-1234. Make sure to let them know you are reserving a room at the Hyatt St. Louis Arch at 315 Chestnut St., and use group code G-ACBL. The cut-off date for reservations is July 5, 2026. Don't delay -- make your reservations today! * Room Amenities All sleeping rooms have safes, ironing boards, refrigerators and K-cup coffee makers. The hotel has a 24-hour fitness center. It does not have a pool. There are no guest washers and dryers, but there is a dry-cleaning service. The hotel is cashless; any purchases must be made with a credit or debit card. * Staying in Touch The conference and convention announce list will be filled with information. To subscribe to the list, send a blank e-mail to Acbconvention+subscribe@acblists.org. If you received updates for the 2025 convention, you do not need to re-subscribe to the list. For any convention-related questions, contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059, or via email, janet.dickelman@gmail.com. ***** ** Soaring to Success: Apply Now to Be an ACB Scholarship Mentor by Amanda Selm, ACB Scholarship Committee Chair We have seen the power of mentorship in the American Council of the Blind over the past several years. Mentorship has the ability to change the trajectory of an individual's journey, whether that be leadership-focused, career-oriented, or through creating a welcoming experience to someone brand new in a place that seems like home to many. The relationship between a Mentor and Mentee is a powerful one. The ACB Scholarship Committee is excited to announce the return of the Scholarship Mentoring Program with a fun title, Soaring to Success. As we followed up after last year's program, we saw a slight increase in involvement within our 2025 ACB scholarship winners. Several reported that they kept in touch with their mentors, and others explored involvement within ACB affiliates. When Denise Colley and Patty Slaby launched this program last year, they began a wonderful tradition, which jumpstarted many thoughts on how we can work as an organization to engage these intelligent and energetic individuals. The ACB Scholarship Committee is seeking 21 ACB members to serve as a mentor to an ACB scholarship winner. The application period will run from April 1 through May 1. Anyone considering applying to be a mentor must commit to attending the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention in Saint Louis during the same time frame as our ACB scholarship winners. The 2026 class of ACB scholarship winners will be required to arrive in Saint Louis in time for their first event on Friday, July 24 and stay through Monday, July 27. Mentors will need to attend a Scholarship Mentor Orientation Session in May, a Meet and Greet Session with their assigned scholarship winner in June, and meet with their assigned scholarship winner via phone at least twice prior to arrival in Saint Louis. There will also be a Convention Prep Session for both ACB scholarship winners and mentors in July prior to the virtual week. Required convention events for both ACB scholarship winners and their mentors will be shared once the scholarship committee finalizes this list. Following the ACB conference and convention, mentors will be expected to continue reaching out to their assigned ACB scholarship winner via phone, and attend our celebration event. If you are interested in being a mentor to an ACB scholarship winner, there will be a form for you to complete. The Scholarship Mentor Form will be distributed via our ACB email lists. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Amanda Selm, ACB Scholarship Committee Chair, at amandaselm@outlook.com. We look forward to receiving applications from our ACB Family and "Soaring to Success" this summer. "Together everyone achieves more." -- Dan Spoone ***** ** Summer Auction Celebrates 20th Anniversary Hello ACB Family, We are so excited for the 20th anniversary of the ACB Summer Auction. We will have two days of the appetizer auction starting on Thursday, July 9th and Friday, July 10th, with the main auction on Saturday, July 11th at 5 p.m. Eastern time. The deadline for descriptions and pictures is Monday, May 4th, 2026. If you have any questions, contact Leslie Spoone at lesliespoone@cfl.rr.com or call (407) 929-9837. Happy bidding! -- Leslie Spoone ***** ** Introducing Our Banquet Speaker by Janet Dickelman We are extremely excited and fortunate to announce that this year's banquet speaker will be Precious Perez. She will speak with ACB about her life as a blind musician, her advocacy work, and entertain us with some of her music. Don't miss this great opportunity; join us on Thursday, July 30. Precious Perez was born with retinopathy of prematurity, a condition causing blindness from birth. At the age of 6, Perez received a Barbie karaoke machine. "I would sing along to the radio in my room by myself, and I loved it. I started getting involved in school chorus and music class, and as the years went on, I got more interested in writing my own music. I wrote my first good song when I was 13, and my first terrible one when I was 10," said Perez. "It grew into more than just a hobby; it became what I wanted to do." In 2021, Precious graduated with a double major in music education and vocal performance from Berklee College of Music and began her pursuit of a full-time music career. "Initially, I thought I would become a teacher and do gigs in my free time, trying to have the best of both worlds. But I quickly realized I'm not built for full-time teaching," said Perez. "I decided to just jump into freelancing and embrace my LLC, because I was getting more opportunities on the entertainment front. That was a scary leap to take." Since then, Perez has worked in accessibility testing, voice acted for a Paramount Plus miniseries, as well as a new Dora animated series, played in a local cover band, and written a book about her experience growing up blind. "I have so many irons in the fire, but my main passion is making Latin music. That's what all of this has been for," said Perez. With two new singles out since September and four more on the way, Perez's music career and content creation are at the top of her priority list. Perez has been working to create awareness for blindness and disability, as well as advocate for accessibility in the music industry. Working with Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD) has been a way to keep her goals at the forefront of her work. "My whole goal is to spread love and uplift all of my communities," said Perez. "It's so important to use whatever influence you have to empower other people. If your work touches even one person, you've already done what you came to do." Excerpted from The Dot Experience Cast: Precious Perez. Website: https://tinyurl.com/msz34f3d Learn more about Precious and listen to her music at www.PreciousPerezMusica.com. ***** ** Giving as We Gather by Cachet Wells What a great sense of fulfillment and community connection to partner with those we share common value and vision with! We are excited to announce the American Council of the Blind is sponsoring a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross Blood Services at this year's ACB national conference and convention at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Arch. We will have the privilege to give back and make an impact in a larger way, whether you are virtual or in person. Members will be able to go to the nearest American Red Cross and present our QR code to donate, or visit the in-person designated area at the Hyatt on Monday, July 27, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Gateway West room on the 18th floor. Members will be able to schedule an appointment for the in-person blood drive prior to coming to convention. Specific details on the virtual blood drive week will be given as we get closer to convention. For more information, contact Cachet Wells via email, Jbillray2@aol.com, or by phone, (904) 764-4573. ***** ** My Personal Journey from Inclusion to Belonging by Michael E. Garrett In my personal journeys through the gauntlet of first becoming included to the feeling of belonging, there have been many lessons learned. Let me share a few of those. Being included is just the starting point. Whether attained by the will of the people or by decree, having a seat at the table represents an opportunity. The ultimate goal is to reach the status of belonging. First, I learned that belonging is a two-way process. One must be willing to participate in the process in order to receive its benefits. Second, belonging means you feel a sense of genuine acceptance. Third, there is a sense of value and worth. And, fourth, there is an air of sincere trust. Let me give you three personal examples. When I met one of my dearest friends (who at this writing is clinging to life), he openly accepted me. My blindness did not stop us from developing a full-fledged friendship. Next, the year was 1994 (the year I outperformed all of my colleagues), and during our morning investment briefing, there were portfolio managers on the call from El Paso to Miami. As we were discussing a crucial matter, one of the managers said, "What does Michael say? I always make money on his recommendations!" Then, there was my mother-in-law. She was very skeptical of me as Carolyn and I married at age 20. But after several years of watching me take care of her daughter and my family, I became like a son to her. What I ultimately learned on my personal journey to belonging was that someone cared enough to look beneath the surface to see if I had something to offer. I believe that is a lesson for us all: take time to value one another; take time to discover another's character, and you'll never know what a jewel you might find. ***** ** It's Not Okay! by Debra Trevino (Reprinted from "Let's Go Loafin': A Story of Family, Friends, Faith and Fulfillment," copyright 2024 by Debra Trevino.) When I entered seminary, I knew I would experience growth in all areas of my life. However, I was surprised how soon that began to happen. The first required course was "Transforming Seminary Education," which took place over two weeks during August. The two professors worked to dislodge our "imbedded" theology, that which we held without examining its origin or implications. This is composed of what we are taught about God and the church and our place in it as children. It includes the subtle messages we internalize from the people around us. We learned to focus on the "other," which includes the poor and those struggling with racism, feminism, womanism or sexual orientation. We spoke of liberation theology and how those from impoverished nations who have been "marginalized" have found the way to speak out and advocate for themselves. I began to apply this new teaching as I spoke up for myself as a woman who is totally blind. The more I attempted to draw similarities and include the disabled in the accepted marginalized groups, the more I came against a stone wall. Each day started with a devotion prepared by three to five students. The final morning, we were instructed to pair up and sing to one another. I stood there not knowing what to do. As my anxiety increased, the group began to sing. "I need you, you need me, we need each other to survive. I won't harm you with words from my mouth. I need you. We need each other to survive." I was shocked in the face of the blatant hypocrisy and incongruity of these lyrics as I stood alone. The professors had been unable or unwilling to understand my advocacy efforts for people with disabilities. I left the room in tears. I sat on a sofa in the hallway examining my feelings of hurt, anger, rejection, and complete exclusion from my classmates. After all, I had been speaking of the need for a place at the margin for the disabled as so many others had been welcomed to the table. A young African-American woman came out of the classroom. "What's wrong, Deb?" she asked. "What happened in there?" "This proves what I have been saying for two weeks," I began through my tears. "There has been an elephant in the room that no one sees. When the entire class paired up and I was left standing alone, the professors didn't even investigate." "I'm so sorry," she said with obvious concern and sympathy in her voice. "It's okay," came my immediate and lifelong response. My way of trying to gain inclusion was an attempt to put others at ease by accepting their discomfort as a matter of course. She was silent for a moment. Then, with a firm voice, she said, "No, it's not okay." My life was changed in an instant. I write this story with tears in my eyes because of the beautiful gift of solidarity this young woman gave me. I was finally able to proclaim, "Damn it, it's not okay to treat me like I'm not here. You can't exclude me just because you don't know what it's like to be blind. If you took the time to know me, you would understand that we are more alike than different. Teaching inclusivity while being exclusive is downright hypocritical. I refuse to sit in my little corner and be silent anymore." I am not required to put others at ease; they must own their emotions and reactions. To be more exact, I must be comfortable in my own skin. Though blindness is an inescapable part of my life, it does not define me as a person. Throughout seminary, I continued to raise awareness. To become inclusive of the disabled, we need more than the wheelchair ramps and electronic door buttons installed while I was on campus. Sometimes simple things are needed. A document in accessible format so a person who is blind could become familiar with the chapel service. For those taking classes, accessibility and inclusion could mean the use of a microphone so that all can hear the professor. If you are interested in being part of true inclusion of the disabled, just introduce yourself and allow a conversation to begin. You could ask the simple question, "Would you like some assistance?" Your offer will either be accepted gratefully or politely turned down. Transforming Seminary Education transformed my life. Everyone should seek to be changed as we work to include the whole of humanity's gifts in the rich fabric of God's tapestry. ***** ** From Being Counted to Being Heard: Moving from Inclusion to Belonging with Low Vision by Dee Ann Hart, American Council of the Blind of Indiana For many of us navigating the world with low vision, the word "inclusion" has been the gold standard for decades. It's the ramp at the entrance, the screen reader software on the office computer, or the large-print menu at a restaurant. But while inclusion ensures we are invited to the room, it doesn't always mean we feel at home there. As we move deeper into 2026, the conversation is shifting. We are looking beyond mere access and toward belonging. * Understanding the Gap: Inclusion vs. Belonging To understand the shift, we have to look at how these two concepts function in daily life: • Inclusion is a Checklist: It's about compliance. It's the "What." What tools do you need to do your job? What font size do you need for this document? • Belonging is a Feeling: It's about culture. It's the "Who." Who are you in this space? Are you a peer, or are you a "special case" that requires extra work? When you have low vision, inclusion often feels like accommodation. You are the person who needs the lights dimmed or the PDF remediated. Belonging happens when those adjustments are so woven into the environment that you don't have to ask for them -- or feel guilty when you do. * The Pillars of Belonging for the Low-Vision Community Moving the needle from "present" to "valued" requires a change in both environment and mindset. 1. Proactive Design over Reactive Fixes Belonging begins when accessibility is the default, not the afterthought. • Inclusion: Sending a document, then re-sending an accessible version only after being asked. • Belonging: Using high-contrast templates and alt-text as a standard practice for everyone, ensuring the person with low vision never has to "out" themselves to get information. 2. Social Integration and "Sight-Neutral" Interaction The social tax of low vision is real. Belonging means your peers understand how to interact without making it awkward. "Belonging is when my co-workers announce themselves when they walk into my office, not because I'm blind, but because that's just how we respect each other's "space." 3. Psychological Safety True belonging allows for the "bad vision days" without the fear of appearing incompetent. It's the freedom to use your CCTV or handheld magnifier in a meeting without feeling like a spectacle. When a culture prioritizes belonging, your value is tied to your insights, not the mechanics of how you read them. * How to Advocate for Belonging If you are currently included but don't yet feel like you belong, here are three ways to bridge the gap: • Normalize the Tools: Use your assistive tech openly. When we treat our magnifiers or OrCams as standard productivity tools (like a mouse or a second monitor), we shift the narrative from disability to workflow. • Educate through Connection: Instead of a formal complaint, try a collaborative approach: "I can contribute much faster in these meetings if we use the high-contrast mode on the shared screen. Can we make that the team standard?" • Find Your Community: Belonging often starts with finding others who get it. Whether it's a local low-vision meetup or a digital forum, seeing yourself reflected in others builds the confidence to demand that same level of acceptance in the sighted world. * The Bottom Line Inclusion is a seat at the table; belonging is knowing you have every right to speak. For the low-vision community, the goal is no longer just to be "seen" (pun intended), but to be understood, integrated, and valued for the unique perspective we bring to the table. ***** ** Symbiosis is the Key by Deborah Armstrong Nowadays, nobody rejects us. We can walk into classrooms and sit at desks with other students. We can apply for jobs, ride the bus and join committees. Discrimination isn't blatant. But its more subtle nature is depressing, because it could cause us to stop believing in ourselves. Thank goodness, as a child, my parents taught me to believe in my abilities. I walked to my public kindergarten several blocks away with a few of my little friends. I never knew that my dad followed a block behind for the first few weeks, to ensure we were safe. He showed all of us how to look and listen before crossing the street, without calling special attention to me, but not leaving me out either. My dad says I was good at reminding the other five-year-olds to look both ways! Ten years later, I won the coveted summer job of 4-H camp counselor. I had the usual teen anxiety by then, worried about how I could control sighted children and how to make sure they would look up to me as an authority. But my parents reminded me I could ask for help without becoming helpless. If a child guided me on a hike, I was still in charge, and if I needed directions to the dining hall, it simply meant I was communicating with my charges as an equal rather than as a boss. I found by welcoming assistance from the kids, I became part of their group, respected as a leader because I was older and more mature, obeyed because I was respected. "Who's missing?" I'd ask when we gathered around the campfire, and "What did we do with the knot-tying rope?" -- things any sighted counselor would also ask if what they needed was not in plain sight. When one little boy grabbed my cane and said, "You don't need the magic stick, because I'm here now!" I realized that his taking responsibility was helping both of us grow. Today I work at a community college, where I often see students with disabilities whose pride gets in the way. One student, losing his vision, walked around our unfamiliar campus in 100-degree temperatures, until he collapsed from heat stroke because he was embarrassed to ask someone to read signs and help him find his air-conditioned classroom. The opposite is also true. Students who regularly ask for help with even the smallest tasks give others the impression they will never succeed. For example, one of my sighted students with severe dyslexia wouldn't take a computer class unless her mother was present. The 112 acres of our campus can be daunting for any blind person's mobility skills, but I make a point of traveling to unfamiliar buildings on a regular basis so I stay oriented. On the other hand, if I'm concerned I will be late to a meeting, I don't hesitate to ride the shuttle for the physically disabled. Though I cannot use the office photocopier, due to its inaccessible touchscreen, I'm the unofficial tech support solution when my co-workers have computer issues. It's not just us blind folks who struggle with interdependence, knowing when to ask for help and when to try on our own. Building partnerships, I believe, is the solution. It helps us master skills while removing the shame we could have felt when we were unable to accomplish something independently. Plus employers and volunteer coordinators always look for people with a teamwork mindset. If we want to truly belong, we must know our own strengths and what we can give back. A blind student can participate in visually oriented group project by taking notes, arranging meeting times and locations, baking snacks, procuring equipment like whiteboards and projectors, creating and administering an agenda, making suggestions to improve the project and following up afterwards to ensure everyone is on task. Even if the project results in a report full of photos and diagrams, the blind student knows he's fully contributed to the outcome. The student did not need to hold the camera or do the actual drawing to be a vital part of the group. In my early entry-level jobs I eagerly got everyone's coffee, answered phones, greeted visitors, neatened up the office, edited the employee newsletter, and volunteered for every project within my skill set. So if I needed help formatting a document, locating a building, filling out forms, filing some papers or even getting a ride, my co-workers did not feel put upon. I worked as hard as they did, and helping me, for them, was often more fun than the task they would have needed to complete, had I not volunteered for it already. Of course I made mistakes. Sometimes I spent more time trying to figure out how to do something instead of just asking someone else to quickly do it for me. Other times, I asked for help when it was something I could easily accomplish myself. But interdependence is a learning process, and many failures simply means you've committed to practicing becoming better. And this truth follows us throughout our lives. We may be included because nobody wants to discriminate, but we truly belong when we bring meaningful contributions. ***** ** Moving from Inclusion to Belonging by Peter Heide The sign outside said, "Join us. All are welcome." Believing the sign to be true, some friends of mine joined into worship at this church. They were greeted at the door, thanked for coming to be with them that day, and escorted to a pew in the sanctuary where they were left. People came and sat in pews near them, but no one said anything to them. Finally, one friend turned to engage the person behind him in conversation. He got no response. After worship, as they were leaving, the pastor shook their hands and said, "Thank you for coming today. I hope you will come again." My friends chose to be persistent. Each week, they came, were greeted, thanked for coming, and politely led to a place in the sanctuary before worship and left to themselves. In time, they decided they needed to be more proactive and become more active in the congregation. They joined a Bible study. As they became acquainted with the spaces of the church and began to learn the names of others in the group, they felt more comfortable in the community and talked about their new experiences to others. Then one night in January, when the temperatures were low, the air crisp, and the breeze brisk, my friends took a cab to church for the Bible study that week. They had a good time, and, after the study, they continued their conversation. The time got a little later than usual. When the time came to leave, my friends asked if anyone would be driving home in their direction. When no one claimed to live near them, they called a cab and went to the door to wait. While they were waiting, the pastor came by and thanked them for coming. He asked them if they would be OK. My friends assured him by saying, "Yes, our cab is coming." A few minutes later, the custodian said that he had to lock up. Would they just make sure that the door latched when they left? Now, alone in the church, my friends waited for their ride. After 20 minutes, they again called the cab company. Twenty minutes more, and they called the cab company again. The dispatcher told them the cab had been there twice, and the driver couldn't find anyone. The parking lot was empty, and the church was dark. Finally, one of my friends went outside in order to be seen by the driver. He stood in plain view with his white cane in 5-degree blustery winds. One hour after everyone had left, the cab finally arrived, and they were home shortly afterwards. We often claim to be inclusive; we say that all are welcome; we offer our business services to everyone; and we are sincere. Yet because we assume those who join us are like us or, at least, want to be like us, we harbor the conceit that what we have is what everyone wants, and the reason that others have come to us is a desire to share what we already have. Therefore, we do not take time to listen to the concerns of those joining us, and we do not avail ourselves of the life experiences and life perspectives they bring to our community. Saying we want people included is nice, but wanting people to belong requires hospitality, that is, warmth, friendliness, generosity. Hospitality is not just thanking people for showing up, but a willingness to move over, making space for the new person. Hospitality also means listening to their story and honoring their experiences. Hospitality means being willing to sacrifice what is familiar and comfortable in order to accommodate new ideas and ways of doing things. Hospitality means recognizing the person next to you, hearing what they have to say, and empowering them to participate in the work of the organization. This does not mean we surrender our identity, but that we are willing to enter into new styles of being. It means being open to new roads and paths to getting where we all want to go -- a world of belonging. When I lost my eyesight this last time, I was looking for a place to belong. Before coming to ACB, I tried a couple of other organizations. There I was tolerated, even included, but ACB is where I found I belong. ***** ** Belonging, A Fragile Thing by Sharon Strzalkowski On a fateful Saturday in November the vote was cast, and my church would soon be closed as a result of a merger with another parish. Even though I was on the leadership team and knew that this could happen, the grief, anger and fear were immediate for me, as for many others. Financial considerations and lower attendance precipitated this move to shore up the merged parish, and my rational self understood this. Then came the hard choices, which are still reverberating today. In an odd way I knew that I already belonged to the soon-to-be merged parish, because I knew many of the people, and knew that I would be welcomed there. But getting the inclusion stuff to work would be another matter. Could I get rides to their more distant location from my home? Could I navigate this old building with odd groupings of steps? Could I sing in the choir there, given a very steep choir loft? My other choice would be to go to a new parish a little closer to my home where I am not known, but where the physical plant is easier and where the community is well established, with good routines and administrative support. I have not yet decided what I will do. Inclusion and belonging are fragile and gradual things, I am learning. Inclusion takes advocacy on my part and being willing to have things not go perfectly. Belonging is more of an emotional acceptance on my part and that of my fellow parishioners. Going into a somewhat different culture is challenging. I feel sure that whichever community I choose will eventually be where I want to be, and I am trying to be patient with myself as I go through the grief of losing my parish of 30 years and embarking on a new adventure. I think about new members coming into our ACB state affiliates and chapters, and urge all of us to be patient with them as they go through different emotions, with perhaps some fits and starts as to their attendance and dedication. We can help them by just letting them participate in whatever way feels right, and then eventually inviting them to help with this committee or another. I wish all the best to those who are recent members of ACB and who are feeling their way to belonging. ***** ** My Understanding of Belonging and Inclusion by Pamela Metz Twenty-five years ago, due to an autoimmune disease, I became totally blind. I attended the training needed to learn to live as a blind person. By 2003, I was ready to be more involved in the blindness community and joined the California Council of the Blind (CCB). There were many reasons to get involved. I initially joined because I was getting my first guide dog and at that time, CCB was working on transportation and guide dog issues. I also joined because I wanted to be part of an organization that believed in and advocated for the independence of blind people. Yet it would take me over the next 20 years to feel that I was fully a part of CCB. Even though today, belonging has a different meaning, for me belonging means that I've paid my dues and that I am a part of an organization. My feeling at that time was that I was part of CCB but excluded because I lost my vision later on in life and was told that I couldn't fully understand the life of a blind person. I was part of CCB but excluded because I am an African-American woman and there were others who were uncomfortable with who I am. My personal sense of being included and being fully seen for the ideas, the perspectives and what I can contribute began in 2019, the first time I attended ACB national convention by myself. My skills, my commitment to books and library access, self-advocacy within the health care system and transportation were being recognized. It was a bittersweet realization that with the passing of my husband, I began to be more fully recognized for my abilities to contribute to the work of the organization. Additionally, the wider world was changing, and I think attitudes which existed prior to George Floyd's murder were changing. Today, I am a proud member of CCB who actively contributes to improving the lives of blind and low vision people locally, statewide and nationally. As a member of the Multicultural Affairs Committee, I have worked to improve cultural and racial and ethnic understanding within ACB. Within California I am on the CCB Board, lead Inclusive Diversity of California (IDC) and California Library Users of America (CLUA). As a member of CCB, I contribute to the rebuilding of CCB and the advancement of independence for blind and visually impaired people. For me inclusion means ignoring those who doubt me and focusing on who I am and what I bring to CCB. Today, I know that I belong and am included. ***** ** The True Meaning of Belonging by Melody Holloway Many first words which spring to mind when defining culture, inclusion, and belonging center around ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sexuality, income bracket, age specification, employment status, residential neighborhood quality, etc. Among the blind and low-vision community, visual acuity is an additional factor. Among the deaf and hearing-impaired community, auditory acuity equals. ACB's membership, convention, leadership, and subsequent survey data also focus on these areas. There is one vitally important category that is only occasionally considered. People living with several additional disabilities and chronic, often progressive health concerns, which if left behind by every community each individual is a part of, become more of a daily challenge to manage. Many choose not to disclose any other condition, disability, or identity due to fear of ridicule, shame, lack of understanding, and being sidelined and left out of conversation. We often have to divide ourselves into what bit or piece, each medical appointment, non-profit, group, club, or meeting is specified for at any given moment. No other part of us takes a break during those times. Past experience increases the uncomfortable weight of mistrust which follows us throughout life. This, in turn, causes wearing multiple hats to become exhausting, burdensome, and eventually results in a metaphoric crucifix too thorny to carry. It is easy to confuse or lump together inclusion and belonging unintentionally. If someone tells us we are included, they are basically checking what feels like a legal public relations box stating, "You are included. Of course you are welcome, only if the rest of us do not necessarily have to know key aspects of who you truly are." Are we then actually welcome if we feel 100 percent alone in a deafening, impermeable crowd of thousands? True belonging presents when someone forwards a new acquaintance or old friend that first ACB Community Events schedule, state or special-interest affiliate info, hands them a business card, places a friendly check-in call or text, reaches for a pesky technology device and offers expertise driven by firsthand experience, or walks over, takes a trembling, uncertain hand and kindly states, "Come with me. I am inviting you to sit at our table, share our food, sit with us fireside with a piping cup of hot cocoa to warm your feet, and join our unpredictable, yet informative book club. Today's topic of discussion is the one book we all share without the requirement of a Bookshare account. A book constantly being written by all of us with each page-turning breath." The lady I cared for is one of a succession of mentors -- advisors still ubiquitous to this day, more than four years after her physical body succumbed to assumption, perception, and lack of true belonging. She never failed to spot an underdog or a forlorn stray feeling lost, wondering where to fit in. She would walk over, reach her hand out, and ask in a tender quirky tone, "What are you doing out here by yourself?" The lost soul was then found. This is how we found each other. This is how my true calling was confirmed. I have joined forces with many other influential individuals, including a few within the American Council of the Blind, to spread true definition of belonging even before we knew what ACB is. I started life with someone who would prove himself over time as one of the most sincere, patient, compassionate, skilled technology advisors, welcomers, and lifelong personal copilots who led me to another definer of belonging wearing shared specific hats not to be taken for granted. I would like to extend my own hand to others who carry internal reservations fed by past experience of being knocked backward. I personally challenge ACB to do the same. Belonging is individual outreach, inviting someone to pay initial membership dues, assisting with the process, inviting them to their first chapter meeting, then to lunch, maybe offering to cover their meal, learn why attributes at first presenting unusual may be just what that newly formed subcommittee needs, find out the origin of these attributes over time, and slowly passing each other's book of life between yourselves and gaining from each unfolding chapter a sense of lifelong education, kinship, and satisfaction. Belonging is more than acceptance. Belonging is teamwork, partnership, and camaraderie. ***** ** Orienting Yourself by Deborah Armstrong Have you ever asked to be shown around a facility or outdoor area, and still felt disoriented after a helpful someone walked with you and described many things? It used to occur for me too often. But then I began to analyze how I was reacting to being oriented, and I changed my responses. At the college where I work, as I observed our staff orienting new blind students to the campus, including outdoor paths and indoor buildings, I realized there were many take-aways I could share. * Stay Curious It's often tempting to passively walk along during a tour, listening tentatively but staying quiet and polite. After all, if you are a tourist, it's important to let the tour leader do their thing. If you are in a museum, the docent is giving the tour, not you. But this behavior won't work when you must learn your way around a new place. So you need to ask questions of your guide. The guide may, for example, say, "We're turning right here." That's your cue to ask questions about the turn. What happens if you inadvertently pass that turn? Will you encounter a water fountain, a doorway, a particular shrub? Once you have that information, you'll know where you are, even if you pass the place where you were supposed to turn. And of course you'll also want to ask what you'll encounter if you turn too soon as well. Find out about signage in your area. My famous example is the sign reading "Audio Visual Services" near the back of the college library. Many sighted students wander about searching for the library due to the misleading nature of that sign. But if I wave my phone around while using an A.I. app, and it reads that sign to me, I know I'm near the library building. Likewise, if my cane touches the statue of a turtle, located in the center of a large patio area, I know which patio I'm on. Because that area is particularly disorienting, I've also taught my dog to take me up to the turtle so I can touch it. So ask your guide to show you any unusual landmarks that can help you stay oriented. Ask too about entrances and steps. One building may have many ways in and out, and knowing about all of them helps build your mental map. Many places have both stairs and ramps, so if you go down the stairs one day and up the corresponding ramp the next day, you won't think you are somewhere unfamiliar. So be sure to ask your guide questions about buildings, signage and other landmarks, even if they are only visual. Next time you are lost, you can ask your phone or another person what they see and that can help orient you as well. And your knowledge can also help orient even sighted people. * Simplify Maybe a route seems unnecessarily complicated. For example, instead of crossing a huge parking lot to get to a "big box" store, ask a helper if there's a back entrance with a sidewalk leading to it. Many sighted helpers often want to show you the shortest route, rather than a possibly longer and definitely safer route that is easier to master. A route with fewer landmarks, like a parking lot, where you must weave around cars, can be more disorienting and dangerous than having to walk an extra half mile. * Pay Attention My mind tends to wander when it shouldn't. But if I'm getting oriented, I try to focus on sounds, smells and other cues like the presence of a slope, whether a path is concrete or asphalt, the direction of the sun, the width and length of a hallway and the distance I travel between two landmarks. If you're with a trained O&M instructor, they are likely to point out these features, but not if you are being oriented by a co-worker or friend. So it's good to think about all the cues that can tell you where you are. Our campus has three decorative fountains, all in the middle of large plazas, but each has a different sound pattern which gives me important clues about my location. Doors to various buildings have distinctive squeaks, and even their air conditioning units have different sounding rumbles. My footsteps on a covered walkway sound different from footsteps in the open, and changes in light patterns can also clue anyone with residual vision in to their location. * Take Notes You won't remember all the details, so having a recording to refer to later can really help. If the person orienting you is OK with being recorded, take advantage of that. Otherwise, you can use A.I. technology or your own memory to log directions and descriptions. If you struggle with cardinal directions, take some time to log them and pay attention to them. Depending on whether you are facing a particular street, the bus stop could be on the right or the left. But it always is north of that side of the intersection. * Practice And last of all, get out and walk around. The only way to build a mental map is to explore, to make those wrong turns and learn what is where. People who drive do the very same thing. If they drive a great deal, they build a strong mental map. If instead they only drive one route, that's the only route they learn. So, a sighted driver can get just as lost in a city as a blind person if they haven't traveled around enough. Avoid feeling frustrated. Don't consider yourself bad at staying oriented without trying some of these tools. If a route is complicated, don't wait until you have to be on time to travel it. Explore when your time is free and you will avoid the stress of being lost. Explore different ways to arrive at the same location, and don't be afraid to ask someone to help you learn those different ways. As I walk across campus, sighted staff often ask me where something is located, simply because they've learned I know that sort of stuff. There's always a construction project under way, so a cyclone fence often blocks a familiar route, flummoxing my sighted co-workers too. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it took me several years to master its 112 acres. I'm still learning new routes. Orienting myself is simply a matter of mastering a few skills. It's not rocket science! ***** ** Beings from the Planet VentureQuest by Beth Terranova (Author's Note: I got the idea for this story after a "Tuesday Topics" show in 2 parts, starting on September 23, 2025, having to do with blindness myths. Though I have always had life accommodations, I grew up thinking in the sighted realm, since there is only one world, sighted, which we all live in. Even questions some call intrusive and stupid really come, I believe, mainly from curiosity, and we should treat them as coming from interest, just as the above beings desired. By the way, those beings are derived from an actual object, and I thank Envision Ally, a specialized blindness AI agent, for describing said object. Know what it is? Give up? It's a dryer ball, with the addition of faces and extremities. So, next time someone sighted annoys you with questions, just imagine a discussion with a dryer ball from VentureQuest; that should bring lightheartedness to the mix!) All canine, human and location names are purely fictional. "Okay, Kona," Jane patted her regal black Lab guide dog's head as she turned to grab her harness. "Good girl," Jane enthused as she buckled the harness on. "Let's go, girl!" she said as the pair exited their apartment. Once outside the building, Jane encouraged Kona to go faster, and they happily and quickly strode down the sidewalk toward the first intersection on the way to work. The weather showed great promise; the air was dry and the breeze inviting. Jane, totally blind, wondered aloud if it was a little overcast this morning, since she didn't yet feel the sun. She chuckled at the thought that Kona might verbally respond. "You'd better not, girl," she warned, "or you will find yourself living somewhere else. Fast!" "Hey, Jane." She instantly recognized Noreen's pleasant voice. They were neighbors and they said hi to each other about every morning. "Hi yourself," replied Jane teasingly. "How is this morning treating you?" "Well, I don't know." Jane immediately sensed that something was amiss. "What's going on?" "I don't have any idea how to say this so I'm just going to spill it." "Honesty is the best policy," Jane offered supportively. "Okay, but you won't believe me," replied Noreen. "When I came outside a few minutes ago, I saw quite a few ... well ... beings standing around. Not human. They are round, about tennis-ball sized, I think made of rubber, with a smooth surface but also with small spikes and bumps, with expressive faces, eyes which look very different from ours, thin but very detailed arms and legs, with very long fingers. Jane, they talked to me, just said hi, but that was enough for me!" "What?" Jane stopped short, to the point that Kona's head snapped up to look quizzically at her. "I am not kidding," replied Noreen. "I am puzzled and concerned about this." "Was there anything on the news?" wondered Jane. "I didn't hear any news this morning." "Well, guess there is nothing we can do about it now." Jane turned back in their travel direction. "I will tell you if I have any encounters of the spikey kind. 'Bye for now." As Jane and Kona walked along, Jane was mulling over what Noreen had said when she heard a high-pitched, fairly soft voice behind her ask, "Good morning, what are you and that beautiful canine up to this morning?" Trying to be matter-of-fact, Jane answered cordially, "On our way to work. I answer phones at the nearby hospital. Who, or what, are you? My neighbor just saw some of you guys." "Yes, we did run into her, not literally," laughed the being. "So, what about that four-legged friend? You mean dogs can go to work with people? Cool!" "Well," Jane explained with a grin, "she can because she is a guide dog, which is a service dog for the blind. They help with many things, including not bumping into things, people or ... beings. Noreen described you guys, since I have no vision. Do you also have 5 senses? Where are you from, and how and why did you get here? Do you marry, have children, live in houses, go to the bathroom? What is going on here? Are we being invaded?" "Whoa, hold on there," quipped the being. "No, you are not being invaded in a bad way. We are from a planet you earthlings know nothing about, called VentureQuest, and we decided to come see you. We have tech you would drool over, and we thought you would want to learn about us, as we have learned about you." "Wow!" Excitement flooded Jane. "I would, but I think my fellow earth people will mostly freak out about your coming. I hope not, because sharing info and lives instead of one-way education is the name of the game, to my way of thinking." "Well, at least we have one fan!" Tinkling laughter came from the being. "Well, I'm going to see who else I can scare, ha ha!" "Okay, good luck," chuckled Jane. "I know how you guys possibly feel about us. Being totally blind means I often feel like I am on another planet, since people can be so cruel and can ask so many intrusive questions, as I did before," she added ruefully. "Sorry. I have no leg to stand on when I complain about sighted people doing that to me if I do it to you guys, too." "Oh, don't worry about it," the being said reassuringly. "How are you going to find out about anything or anyone unless you ask? The unusual brings questions out in the same way honey brings out flies, and that is great! Fear is sometimes a part of it, but I tend to think that curiosity is the main reason for the questions, and curiosity is never to be disdained; in fact, it is to be celebrated and rewarded with kind and open answers. Hope to see you around again soon." "Okay, and thanks for your understanding," stated Jane. "My boss won't be understanding if I'm late." ***** ** Here and There edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The ACB Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering's mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date. * New Merchandise Collection: Vision Beyond Sight The ACB Mini Mall is beyond excited to unveil our brand-new merchandise collection: Vision Beyond Sight! This dynamic line represents an inspiring leap forward for ACB, and by convention time it will include 10 bold, innovative items -- many unlike anything we've ever offered in our classic assortment. Every piece proudly features the striking "Vision Beyond Sight" logo alongside the American Council of the Blind name. Here's a glimpse into what makes this logo so extraordinary: "This logo is abstract, modern, and powerfully symbolic. Instead of depicting a traditional eye, it blends dots, lines, and sound waves to express that vision is so much more than sight alone. It's energetic yet balanced, infused with motion and cutting-edge design. The logo radiates quiet bravery -- honoring every form of perception: sight, sound, touch, intuition, memory. It's not an eye that sees; it's an eye that understands." And the best part? The first two items are available right now at https://acbminimall.org! Check out the sleek long-sleeve T-shirt (in black or green) and the cozy 1/4 zip pullover (in red or blue). If you have questions, contact Chris Sawyer at csawyer@acb.org or (612) 257-6063. * National Church Conference of the Blind The National Church Conference will be held August 1 – 7, 2026 at the Radisson Hotel Nashville Airport, 1112 Airport Center Dr., Nashville, TN 37214. Please call (615) 866-4017 to make your hotel room reservations. Room rates are $104 per night, plus taxes. The cutoff date for reservation is July 10, 2026. The hotel will provide free shuttle service to and from the airport. Be sure to inform the reservation clerk of the dates you're staying at the Radisson Hotel. It is important that you tell the reservation clerk that your room reservation is to be placed in the block of rooms set aside for the NCCB conference from August 1st-7th, 2026. The theme for this year's conference is "Walking in Faith" (Hebrews 13:1-25). For more information, visit https://www.thenccb.com/. * Candle in the Window 40th Anniversary Candle in the Window will hold its annual retreat Wednesday, August 26 through Sunday, August 30. We will again be meeting at the Dogwood Conference and Retreat Center near Charlotte, N.C. This year's topic will be Milestones of Our Lives. Space is limited to 20 participants. A non-refundable $40 deposit will reserve your spot. All registration fees must be paid in full by August 7. Payment through PayPal should be sent to candleinthewindow1@gmail.com. If you're paying by check, send it to: Carlos Taylor, 925 S. Luick Ave., Muncie, IN 47302. Make check payable to Candle in the Window. For more information, contact Carlos Taylor, candleinthewindow1@gmail.com, phone (765) 208-0882, or Becky Davidson, beckyb1120@gmail.com, phone (914) 393-6613. ***** ** ACB Officers * President Deb Cook Lewis (2nd term, 2027) 1131 Liberty Dr. Clarkston, WA 99403 * First Vice President David Trott (2nd term, 2027) 1018 East St. S. Talladega, AL 35160 * Second Vice President Kenneth Semien Sr. (1st term, 2027) 8445 Allison Way Beaumont, TX 77707-1506 * Secretary Katie Frederick (1st term, 2027) 160 W. Wilson Bridge Rd., Apt. 40 Worthington, OH 43085-2679 * Treasurer Michael Garrett (2nd term, 2027) 7806 Chaseway Dr. Missouri City, TX 77489-2333 * Immediate Past President Kim Charlson 57 Grandview Ave. Watertown, MA 02472 ** ACB Board of Directors Christopher Bell, Bloomington, MN (2nd term, 2028) Donna Brown, Romney, WV (2nd term, 2028) Cheryl Cumings, Seattle, WA (partial term, 2028) Peter Heide, Baraboo, WI (1st term, 2028) Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Miami Lakes, FL (1st term, 2026) Cecily Laney Nipper, Covington, GA (1st term, 2028) Terry Pacheco, Silver Spring, MD (1st term, 2026) Rachel Schroeder, Springfield, IL (1st term, 2026) Koni Sims, Sioux Falls, SD (1st term, 2026) Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA (2nd term, 2026) ** ACB Board of Publications Zelda Gebhard, Chair, Edgeley, ND (3rd term, 2026) Deborah Armstrong, Milpitas, CA (partial term, 2026) Jeff Bishop, Tucson, AZ (1st term, 2026) Belinda Collins, Saint Pauls, NC (1st term, 2026) RaLynn McGuire, San Antonio, TX (1st term, 2027) **** ** Accessing Your ACB Braille Forums The ACB Braille Forum is available by mail in braille, large print, NLS-style digital cartridge, and via email. To subscribe to the email version, contact Sharon Lovering, slovering@acb.org. It is also available on ACB's web page, and on ACB Media, channel 10. Subscribe to the podcast versions from your 2nd generation Victor Reader Stream or from https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-braille-forum-and-e-forum. ###