10399-ACB’s 2023 Leadership Conference
Exercise and Fitness for All Act
February 23, 2023

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>>  I will make an announcement on media 6.  
>>  If we could not get it going we will have to start without it.  
>>  I will post a little bit.  
>>  Michael you should see the interpreter control.  
>>  It is there.  
>>  So choose Spanish.  
>>  You will then be gone.  You are on the Spanish channel.  You need to kill your Jaws my friend.  
>>  I will do that.  
(live Captioner on stand-by waiting for event to start)
>>  We will need to go without the CART.  I'm stumped on that.  
>>  Yeah.  
>>  I have a feeling it is not turned on in the meeting. Swatha Nandhakumar swath.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR:
>>  CLARK RACHFAL:
>>  I need to get out of the caption thing.  
>>  Yeah.  I don't think Michael is resolved.  We should not be able to hear him.  
There I am.  Now, I'm host.  Okay.  Hang on.  
>>  Michael you are on Spanish can you say something?  
>>  Hola.  Can you hear us good?  
>>  You are hearing that in the main?  
>>  Right.  Yes.  
>>  I turned my Jaws off so you would not be bothered.  
>>  I know.  You should have had a -- did you select Spanish as the thing you interpret in?  
>>  Well, I selected the interpretation.  But there is -- they had the thing that says interpretation available in two languages.  English and Spanish.  I could not find the button to select the Spanish.  
>>  You need to select the Spanish.  
>>  It is not letting me take -- I don't know what is going on here.  
Let me out of there.  Okay.  Here we go.  Here we go.  If it will let me.  Okay.  Let me in there.  I saw it and it jumped away.  I'm sorry.  
Here we go.  
>>  Are you able to hear me.  Michael you hit space bar on interpretation.  You arrow down to Spanish.  So it -- you will arrow down.  I just did it myself.  It said English and then Spanish.  
>>  Okay.  One moment here.  
>>  I think it appears differently Sunday.  You just selected it for an attendee.  That shows up differently for him as an interpreter.  
>>  Oh.  That might be true.  
>>  But --
>>  I don't think he was selecting it.  
>>  No he hadn't been.  
>>  He just left the meeting.  
>>  That could be a good thing.  
>>  That could be a good thing maybe he is in the other room now.  He could hear us maybe he could speak in Spanish.  I don't know if you would hear him.  We could not hear him hopefully.  
>>  Yeah.  
>>  I will mute I was trying to help.  
>>  We appreciate that Cindy.  
>>  We have a good audience.  So thank you everybody.  This is our first attempt.  Thank you for being here.  
>>  Are you streaming on media 7.  Could I hear anything.  
>>  This is on 6.  
>>  Guys one at a time.  I can -- six is --
>>  Did it give you the you go in the Captioner place and select the person.  Here we go.  Maybe.  Yes.  
>>  Michael you could speak in Spanish for us.  Just --
>>  Rick would be able to hear.  
>>  You are not hearing him.  
>>  I'm tuned into Spanish and hearing the main program.  I'm not supposed to be hearing.  
>>  Okay.  
>>  Okay.  We have the captioning.  
>>  We could go until 8:00.  It is important to get it right than worry about a few minutes.  You know, this is -- we're trying to -- everybody knows this is going to be difficult to try to get it going on the first time.  If you all feel like it is worth it.  
>>  So now, let me see.  So let me see.  If -- it should be he is over there I should see him in there; right?  
>>  I would think so.  
>>  He would appear on the panelist list.  He is not on the panelist list he left the meeting I think.  
>>  No.  He is not.  He is not in the panelist list.  He left.  He probably hit the leave button.  
>>  Probably.  
>>  We may have had an assumption Michael did this before.  With Zoom.  My recommendation we go.  Otherwise, --
>>  I don't think we will easily be able to resolve this.  
>>  I don't know how long it will be.  We need to -- work with the interpreters off-line to -- we practice everything except the interpreter side.  
>>  Uh-huh.  
>>  We are paying the price for that now.  
>>  Right.  So what -- he left the meeting?  
>>  Yes.  
>>  We have a way to contact him?  
>>  Well, assuming he is -- I don't have his phone number.  
>>  Leslie does.  
(laughing).  
>>  Okay.  I'm with Rick, I think we should go ahead and we will correct -- we will work and meet with our interpreter people for that.  We will get that figure -- I will check and make sure we have the right thing off in the accounts.  So the captioning will come up okay.  We will be -- it will be easier.  So but that is one we can't fix.  
>>  I want to give it another minute or 2 to get him back.  Let's give -- we start at 8:00.  But we let everyone know about it for days.  I like to at least see if we could get him back to try it one more time.  So okay.  
So let me -- we don't have his contact information?  
>>  Yeah.  And the difficulty that we're sort of challenged with, because he hasn't not done this, he is not familiar how to get there.  
>>  Right.  
>>  That is what is making it challenging.  
>>  Yeah.  I will --
>>  Rick and I did practice this afternoon.  We didn't have trouble.  
>>  We've been doing this all day.  It is -- frustrating on our end.  
>>  Yeah.  I know you were having just to get it set-up.  You got it configured now we need to get him through it.  
>>  He has to choose the right button.  
>>  Yeah.  
>>  .  
>>  Okay.  Let's see if we could get him back in.  I'll be back.  
>>  I will drown my sorrows in a Cannoli in a second.  
(laughing).  
>>  I'll be right over.  
>>  I like that.  With chocolate.  
>>  Everybody that is listening, this is Rick and the whole crew we want to apologize for the late start.  And we're trying to do interpretation for the first time.  And we're working through some of the -- the -- the procedures how to get set-up -- we thought we had it sorted out.  There is still a glitch.  Thank you for your patience.  We will start here soon.  
Clark Swatha will be worth the wait.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: My portion was the first half hour.  
>>  And are you done.  He is on contract.  
>>  He does that to you a lot Swatha.  
>>  He thinks he is smart.  Swatha.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: That is why we hired Ta bat ha we will promote her at 8:30.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Improve Clark.  New improved one.  
>>  Michael is trying to come back in.  He will come in with his e-mail invite and Jaws turned on.  
>>  Yeah.  
>>  Okay.  
>>  See -- then one more round, it doesn't work we will get started.  
>>  Uh-huh.  
>>  Then we will -- know we need to do practicing before Monday.  
(laughing).  
And as Rick and Deb and everyone said, thank you all for being patient.  
>>  Thank you.  
>>  We are on the bleeding edge of doing this.  We will get it done.  
>>  We will get it done.  The good news we will have this really dynamite in time for the leadership conference itself.  
>>  There you go.  
>>  We really thought we had it tied.  Thank you for your patience.  Hang in there, the session is going to be well worth your time.  Thank you.  
>>  Rick I'm not sure it will let us do both.  
>>  Let us do both what?  
>>  Now I do have the captioning working.  
>>  You think it will block out the interpreter?  
>>  Yes.  
>>  Oh, my God.  
>>  Supposed to be able to do both.  What is interesting here now, is that I've got interpreter turned on.  
>>  Uh-huh.  
>>  But there is no interpreter.  
>>  Right.  But I'm --
>>  You are the host; right?  
>>  I'm the host, yeah.  
>>  You are the host.  
>>  I could make you host if you like.  
>>  No.  
(laughing).  
Go to -- you go to interpreter.  
>> I go to interpreter, where the interpretation button doesn't activate.  
>>  Nothing is happening?  
>>  No.  That may because it was on, off, and I've --
>>  It should not matter.  No.  
>>  No, it should not.  We may be encountering bugs.  
>>  We had no way to actually test both -- we didn't test both together.  But it is -- the captioning is definitely working.  
>>  Right.  
>>  And the --
>>  Yeah.  
>>  Well, we don't know if -- you know, the problem with interpretation that is because of Michael coming in-and-out or the captioning.  It could be either one.  
>>  It should be.  But I --
>>  Well, Dan, you know, sorry.  I think we should --
>>  We will get started in four minutes at 8:00.  We will see if -- I still --
>>  Watching for Michael.  He comes if that makes -- maybe then I could open it up.  
>>  Uh-huh.  
>>  He has not come in yet.  
>>  Deb, if you have time tomorrow we will --
>>  Yeah.  
>>  I think the issue is trying to figure out how to navigate with the screen reader to the button.  
>>  Right.  
>>  So you and I -- I'm set-up -- we could set-up as an interpreter.  
>>  Yeah.  I don't have any problem.  
>>  Yeah.  
>>  But meanwhile we don't have Michael back.  So --
>>  Maybe he got locked out.  
>>  Yeah.  
>>  Zoom may have locked him out thinking we don't know how he left Zoom.  
>>  That is true.  
(laughing).  
>>  So yeah.  I will open up media 7 and tell folks what is going on here.  
>>  Okay.  And I'll go ahead --
>>  We will start in a couple minutes those on media 6.  We have had a significant tech challenge.  You know how those go.  That is why we're having these nice sessions to get it together.  We apologize for the delay.  We will have the whole program and starting in a just a minute or so.  
>>  Yeah those on media 7, good evening everybody.  And sorry to keep you waiting.  
It looks like we're going to proceed with the program here.  But it is going to be in English it looks like.  The translation will not be available tonight.  We will keep media 7 going through with the English.  So you are on here, waiting to hear from the Spanish you could hear the English without having to switch to 6.  And thank you very much.  We will have it sorted out for the next session that is Monday.  
So please, please return.  Hoping to hear the Spanish on Monday.  We will definitely have it worked out by then
>>  I still don't see him I will make Travis the host.  
>>  I will give him a call and tell him we got started.  
>>  Good.  
>>  Oh.  Okay.  All right.  
>>  Thank you.  
>>  Yeah.  
>>  Okay.  We're ready to go then.  
>>  Are we playing the instructions.  
>>  I don't think we will need them.  We are okay.  
>>  We are already streaming.  
>>  Okay.  
>>  Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Clark Rachfal.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thank you and good evening, ACB.  I like to thank you for joining this live community event.  That is also our advocacy update to debut first legislative impairment I'm Clark Rachfal for the American counsel of the blind I'm joined by.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: I'm Swatha Nandhakumar.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: A big thank you to everyone on Zoom as well as those listening in club house and streaming on ACB media.  You could visit the ACB website to learn more and still register.  For the ACBDC leadership conference registration closes on February 28.  
If you have advocacy questions you could e-mail us.  At advocacy@ACB.org.  
We will share ACB legislative imperative.  The exercise in Exercise and Fitness for All Act to give an overview, we --
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Thank you Clark this was an imperative last year.  Not only that new.  It is new Congress.  That will push for it to be introduced again.  So this bill, there is -- it is Exercise and Fitness for All Act that will require the act -- the governing body that sets guidelines for disability.  
To publish guidelines that would require the gyms and other facilities to have a certain number of accessible gym equipment and cardio and weights and all of that.  And it will also set standards for classes.  
So the classes you want to take.  It will now have a instructors qualified or trained in teaching a blind or low vision individual.  And this will also insure that there is at least one staff member that is present at the gym or facility that is trained and equipped to help out a -- or assist a blind or low vision individual.  Use equipment or take a class.  
So this bill introduced last Congress in 2021 by Senator from Illinois in the Senate.  And Representative is still on the air from California in-house.  Clark you want to give an overview of what it means for reference?  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Yes thank you so much.  And yes, I've been with ACB over four years now.  One of the issues that I have heard about and many folks in ACB discussed is the need for more accessibility when it comes to health and wellness.  Broadly.  
We certainly heard about that over the past two years.  Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  And that has helped spur on ACB get up and get moving campaign.  
Well the get up and get moving campaign is now a committee.  We also have a mental health and wellness committee.  So ACB is really taking the initiative here to make pragmatic changes to our organization to emphasize our focus on accessible health and wellness.
>>  Swatha Nandhakumar what it means for members is that we all know that blind and low vision people are more kind of -- they are more likely to experience other conditions that -- low vision loss or blindness.  And you know diabetes is the cause of blindness for working adults.  
Because of that we know that we have -- we know and CDC knows that fitness and exercise is important for health and wellness.  Especially for people with low vision population.  
So in that, we all know, it is important for health and our well-being.  But we also know that this is not -- it is not always possible for us.  It is not always easy for us to do work.  For us -- we can't walk outside and take a walk sometimes the sidewalks are not safe.  Or they are not -- you could not navigate that with your cane or guide dog or being disabled.  
So kind of -- because of that, we need physical equipment so we could take charge of our own health and well-being and be able to care for ourselves.  It is important.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: That is right Swatha that is what it means for our members.  What does it mean for manufactures and gyms and fit providers.  It means that they have to produce their equipment so it could be independently accessible to people with disabilities some may say that is too hard.  That can't be done.  
However, we know that is not the case.  Why do we know that at ACB?  We worked leading equipment manufactures over the past few years to do that.  Whether it is Peloton or concept to, there are companies that are making their equipment accessible out of the box.  They could do it by adding a tactile interface.  Audio output, by allowing people with disability to program the equipment and receive feedback from the equipment.  
What does it mean for gyms and fitness facilities?  It means they will have to purchase and install accessible equipment to make it available for people with disabilities.  Now, some may think, well no, no fitness center or hotel will do that.  Well, we already have a commitment from Planet Fitness, one of the largest gyms in the world with more than 2000 locations in the United States to do exactly that.  
So ACB and the coalition for inclusive fitness once the equipment is available they will purchase and install it.  This legislation would ensure all facilities gyms, fitness centers, have accessible equipment for people who are mind and low vision and disabled.  Finally, this means accessibility won't just stop at the door.  The ramp.  The electric door, the elevator, or 0 entry shower.  It means that people that are blind and low vision will be able to access not only the physical structure, of a gym or fitness facility, but the class instruction and the equipment as well.
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR:  We know that it could be done we have to get Congress to pass this legislation.  Once introduced.  We are asking for you all to do is at the seminar after the virtual questions and the conference is over we will have several meet at the hill.  We ask that you talk to your Senator about this.  Tell them what it means for you to be able to walk to a gym and use the equipment or take a class.  
What it means for you and your health well-being and what it means for the community and emphasize what is important to you and the entire community.  So once you meet with your Senator or representative on the hill, we ask that you fill out a hill visit feedback form or the feedback survey and tell us how the meeting went.  
Tell us whether -- what the Congress person was engaged or they communicated with the bill.  Please e-mail the form or send us the survey.  At advocacy@ACB.org and we will follow-up with the Congress if need be
>>  Thank you to everyone joining us for an overview.  Of the exercise and fitness for all act.  We like to open up for questions from our audience.  Then following any questions, we could clarify any information that has been presented thus far.  Then, we may have some time to do some role-playing for folks that are interested to speak with Representative from the State of Illinois regarding the Exercise and Fitness for All Act.  
>>  Or Senator Rachfal from Rhode Island.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: We have a host that is able to --
>>  Yes.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Take questions from the audience.  
>>  Yes, we have a couple questions.  First, phone number 4 07, ending 163.  
>>  Hi Clark and Swatha, it is Leslie.  Hey guys great presentation.  This is near and dear to me.  So yeah, we are doing it again.  You know, yeah to Planet Fitness.  You now, I hope it happens.  Sometimes, I hope that all of us could go into a facility and go to a class and just have a lot of blind individuals and take the class and workout on the treadmill and do the elliptical.  I look forward to the day this really happens.  So thank you to both of you.  
I'm advocate for this as strongly.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  
Real quick, Clark, we were in St. Louis over December and there was a Peloton treadmill it was accessible.  I was happy.  Thank you for your hard work
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: As an AVID fitness junkie and professional in this space, what -- help us -- as though you were talking to your member of Congress.  Can you explain what it means to you to have all of this equipment to be accessible?  Why is it important?  
>>  It is so important like you said before, the mental health part of it.  Endorphins kick in.  Feeling "Normal" we are all normal.  Feeling normal as you are-you know.  Para Olympian person.  It is important to go into a facility and be able to work out.  
To go on the treadmill or take a class.  Most people want to go to a facility or workout.  And get the same experience as our sighted peers get to talk to someone on the treadmill.  What movie did you see this week?  How is it going?  What is new in your life?  It is near and dear to me.  
The more we get out advocate for this, and get us down we do workout.  We are not the sanitary bunch of blind and low vision individuals, there is part of us, a lot of us that love to work out.  
And I think that's the part that they don't understand.  And that we need to educate the Senators and Congress people about.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thank you Leslie.  Not only do we want to, we need to as well right?  You mentioned the mental health benefits and endorphins.  Swatha mentioned the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension.  High blood pressure in our community the rates for all of those diseases are higher for people that are blind and low vision than they are for the general population.  And if we have access to these tools, we could take charge of our health and combat those trends.  
>>  You know this too, Clark just -- you and I have done this, we've worked out together.  And the competitiveness kicks in.  That is the fun part too going into a facility and saying hey I think I could run or walk faster than you.  We are all in it together and competing as a friendly competition.  That is the fun part you know.  
(laughing).  
I look forward to the day we go into a gym we put it up against the sighted people.  Thank you for all you do both.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thanks Leslie.  
>>  All right.  Next.  We have Sharon.  
>>  Good evening.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Hi there.  
>>  Hi.  This is Sharon from Massachusetts my question is, what the expectation would be if this legislation passed.  You could walk into a gym.  And assume that there are is a trainer or someone that could assist.  I went into a Planet Fitness with a friend, and there was a -- a clerk at the counter.  But otherwise, it seemed very empty.  So I just -- I'm not sure what this legislation would us expect?  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: The goal is to have one staff member trained assisting a blind and low vision person.  But yeah, that is -- Clark you want to answer that more?  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Sure that is a consideration.  That the bill requires.  But this -- once passed, this legislation would then require rule-makings for accessible equipment from the U.S. Access Board and then the -- excuse me for guidance to come from the U.S. Access Board.  And then that guidance would be turned into regulations by the Department of Justice.  
And as an item like this goes through the rule-making process it takes into account the size of the facility
>>  Right.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: How old or new the facility is.  Much like was done with different places of public accommodations.  And structures under the ADA it could still be a small fitness center doesn't have a trained staff member there; right?  That is something that is what we would advocate they all have them.  
Some companies or entities may have different points of view.  That is why we go through the notice in the comment and reply comment system for the regulatory rule-making process.  In an ideal world, yes there is informed staff available to assist people with disabilities.  Whether in class settings or with the accessible equipment.  
And that is what we're advocate for with the legislation
>>  That makes me feel better.  I think a real small facility that would be tough to come by without prior notice.  I would think.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Yeah.  But Sharon you probably had this experience you go to a gym on a regular basis.  Staff is excited to help you the firsthand of times.  
>>  Right.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: They are less attentive going forward.  We want the folks to have the full experience and full benefits and advantages of having --
>>  And -- would part of this legislation share potential training curriculum.  So staff would know what to do?  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: So again, I think that is something that would have to come out through the rule-making process.  Certainly, the staff will need to be knowledgeable of people with disabilities.  As well as the accessibility enhancements of the equipment.  
So they are able to demonstrate it and assist people with disabilities with it.  As far as the sharing of curriculums, I don't know if that would mean a Planet Fitness needs to share their class curriculum publicly or with another facility.  They need to assist someone with a disability in that environment.  
>>  Right.  Okay.  Thank you very much.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thank you.  
>>  Next up is Mona.  
>>  This is Mona, I'm in a fairly rural area in Southern Oregon.  I've been very active with local YMCA for many years.  And it is simply a matter of financing.  What we were talking about inactive, we need to look at getting the financing to help these areas actually do what we're asking.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thank you for that Mona I agree in part and disagree in part.  I think that -- well, it comes to financing, if a gym or fitness center is going to have equipment, they have the cost for purchasing and installing the equipment; right?  Whether that equipment is accessible or not, they have that cost.  
What we're advocate for is that equipment is accessible.  Now, the current equipment they have will have a natural life cycle.  And the beauty of passing legislation like this and having regulations, it will not happen overnight.  When your local YMCA then needs to replace or upgrade their equipment, our goal is that there will be accessible options for them to choose from.  And buy the manufactures incorporating the accessibility into the products.  There should not be additional cost for that equipment.  
To a YMCA that is part of the manufacturing process like everything else they take into consideration.  We think that will keep any costs increases to a minimum.  And if a YMCA is of a certain size or they have staff available, then that staff needs to be knowledgeable about the equipment they offer and the classes they offer.  To ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to their programming and services.  
>>  Okay.  Thank you.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thanks for the question.  That is a question that we receive a lot when we advocate for accessibility.  And again by insuring accessibility is part of the design process, available out of the box that will keep costs increases to a minimum.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: It is easier to have it -- accessible treadmill than go back and buy one or go and buy one.  So --
>>  Next we have Ray Campbell.  
>>  From the great State of Illinois good evening Clark and Swatha.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Hi Ray.  
>>  Hey.  I want to share with everyone, first of all from the financing thing, they have no problem taking our membership dues do they?  They will do it by gosh, they could buy us equipment and classes we could access.  But having said that, you know, and I know some of you -- some folks out there may say, well I've gone to the club and had no problems.  I could be accommodating.  I could start the treadmill and know how to do this and that.  I've been there.  I've been fortunate to go to health clubs.  
But can you do a time workout on the treadmill?  Can you monitor your heart rate?  Can you do all the other -- these pieces of equipment do a lot of things.  And we should have access to each and every function of that piece of equipment like everybody else does.  It is like every due paying member of that club.  I could ensure you we are working to get an appointment and I could assure you that we will be taking this to them.  Along with Senator and our representatives Nicky and definitely true.  You know, we -- last thing I want to say, Leslie was talking about a lot of the benefits to work out.  Think how good you feel about yourself after a good workout.  You feel -- I know I get up in the morning early and exercise.  I just feel so much better about myself when I do that.  Imagine being able to do that in an accessible way.  So definitely want to encourage everyone to advocate as hard as possible for the legislation.  It is something we deserve to have.  And it is easy to do and could be built-in.  It needs to be done.  That is all I have to say
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thanks Ray.  
>>  Next is phone number 510 ending in 4005.  
>>  Hi.  I think part of our advocacy should be contacting relations and saying that a committee hearing is forthcoming and let's talk about the wonderful accessible equipment.  Or say why equipment's are not accessible?  But please get ready for Congressional hearings.  I'm certain that 90% of people across America don't know what is coming in front of them.  That is all.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Great thank you so much.  
>>  Next is Collen.  
>>  Hello can you hear me?  
>>  Yes.  
>>  Okay.  My question is, for you guys talked about Planet Fitness.  Will that be for once hopefully this passes for all gyms?  I mean not just Planet Fitness?  I mean I guess, why is there the smaller ones to LA Fitness and stuff like that.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: This bill or once it pass it will apply to all gyms.  Planet Fitness is the first committing to it.  
>>  Okay.  Great thank you so much.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Great question Collen.  Planet Fitness is the leader in the space now.   In addition to ACB's work to reach out to gyms we are reaching out to hotels.  This is not only applying to -- that we -- that as written would not only apply to standalone fitness centers.  But it will apply to places that have gyms in fitness centers in them as well.  
So if anyone's employer or the office building you work, has a gym.  Or your college or University has a fitness center, it will apply to those settings as well
>>  Okay.  Thank you very much.  
>>  All right.  Phone number 715, ending in 443.  
>>  Can you hear me?  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Yup I could hear you.  
>>  Okay.  This is Jennifer.  My question is, not if, when this piece of legislation gets passed, what is the timeframe to start seeing things show up within fitness -- wherever.  Or what you said before, do they -- are they going to wait until time for them to update the machine.  Do they have a timeline once it passes?  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Swatha you want to take that?  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Sure.  So this timeline contingent when the DOJ publish guidelines regulations.  And as Clark mentioned there will be a -- notice and comment period.  That means, they are put on notice to make the rule on how many pieces of equipment a gym will have in it that is accessible.  
So then the public has time to comment on that.  And then all the feedback will be taken into account.  That is when the rules become rules.  So dependent on what the agency -- how quickly they could get it done.  Clark you want to add anything
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: I apologize my audio cut out.  The initial creation of the accessibility guidelines the U.S. access board has no more than 18 months to do that.  The Department of Justice has no more than 18 months to turn them into regulations.  
So for the regulations to be finalized we look at 36 months or three years.  That process would likely then have a phase in over time.  But that's the I guess, the speed of government; right?  For this equipment to be manufactured, and for it to be installed, I say that is pretty realistic.  We mentioned before about a product life cycle.  The more stuff is used the more it is replaced.  There is a natural kind of replacement cycle that occurs at all the facilities.  
Once legislation is passed, I think many places will start looking to make their equipment more accessible right away.  Because they will want to get a leg up on the competition.  
So much like it is when we look to make a technology accessible or expand audio description.  Or improve accessibility for medical devices.  And it is not something that happens overnight, there is a time period for the wheels and cogs of government to turn.  
>>  All right.  Next is phone number 508 the ending in six 13.  
>>  Good evening.  This is Jane.  From Massachusetts.  Good evening Clark and Swatha thank you for the presentation.  I like to make a comment and have a quick clarification.  The piece of the puzzle it comes to where gyms are located that you talked about hotel or workplace.  A club.  A corporate place like Planet Fitness that is the senior centers.  Two years ago we opened a brand new one they had a gym we could not find a trainer.  So the past fall they opened the gym found a trainer.  I take a one hour class Monday.  To learn how to use the equipment.  And then you could take the membership and use it as much as we want.  I went to take the class.  Because I just finished rehab.  And TT at home.  I've been in-and-out of hospitals, all last year they told me to use the equipment on my own.  I went to see the Director I used to be on the council, I said where is my reasonable accommodation.  I said I should be able to use the equipment with someone trying to help me a little bit.  
They said no you need to use it independently.  That is my concern with the senior centers there is a lot of senior centers with gyms we have a brand new one.  A lot of equipment it was donated by new balance.  I hope this bill is introduced into Congress.  And my clarification question is, obviously, it is not introduced yet it is new Congress.  So we speak to our congressman and Senators do we ask for their support to co-sponsor the bill.  That is my question.  Thank you for taking my question
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Yeah, so yes.  This bill has not been introduced yet.  We want the Congress person or Senator to be able to sponsor or co-sponsor the bill.  Yes.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Yeah.  So because the bill -- Swatha said the bill is not reintroduced to date that changes between now and the legislative seminar we will have great news to share.  Now, it is not reintroduced.  The ask is for your member of Congress to contact Senator and express their support for the legislation and seek introduction.  Or be co-sponsor once the bill is reintroduced.  The second part of your question, regarding senior centers, this Swatha what do you think it covers senior centers.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: It should.  I don't see why not.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: I agree 100%.  Senior centers, should definitely be covered.  And as you meet with your Senators and Representatives you have a experience like that, where you are told that you need to use a -- equipment independently and not accessible to you in reasonable accommodation is not provided that is a great example to share with your Senator and Representative.  About why this legislation is needed.  
>>  Next we have Martin.  
>>  Hey Clark and Swatha, Mark from New York.  Thanks for the presentation.  My -- this is -- like a general question I have.  So I did take part in some research with Peloton.  In New York City.  I did provide my feedback.  On their accessible equipment I was impressed.  Clark, you did talk a little bit about the wheels of government how slow they turn.  
A number of different products that manufactures like Peloton has been working on this.  You think there is an opportunity for this kind of accessible features built into regular equipment?  That will happen automatically.  As the life cycle moves of the equipment in the gyms that this will get there sooner?  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: That is a great question Martin.  I am glad you and other folks from New York were able to take advantage of that opportunity.  I think throughout the reach of the American counseling of the blind and you in and other members have been doing companies are hearing people with disabilities.  Many are taking more of an interests in adding accessible features to the products.  
Some cases, it is the accessibility already there.  They may just not have known about it.  Sounds funny to say.  Everything that Apple makes or Android operating system has accessibility built-in.  The manufactures need to activate it.  And code to it.  
To make it useable for people with disabilities.  Helping educate companies.  So we could close that knowledge gap, is very important.  But also, like one of the previous callers mentioned we get the question about the cost.  And many folks may have members in Congress ask about the costs.  
It is going to be so expensive to make the equipment accessible.  Not really it is already being done.  The technology exists.  It just needs to become mainstream across the industry.  So I think much like we saw accessibility in cell phones and wireless phones before it became mandated.  Much like we've seen some companies making websites more accessible.  Even though there are no strict regulations about that.  
There will always be leaders in the industry.  That is helpful to point to.  To show that this is -- we're not asking for pie in the sky here.  This is real.  It is tangible.  Rick said we pay for the memberships and they take the money we need access.    
>>  Club house we have anything in chat or club house?  
>>  No, we don't.  
>>  All right.  Cassie, you are next.  
>>  Thank you.  I got two interviews set-up on DC and Zoom.  I'm working on a third.  One of my interviews is from a Conservative congressman that used to be mine.  We redistricted him.  One question I see come up, okay, I support your legislation, what is ACB and Michigan council going to do to promote the use of the equipment amongst your members?  I could see that question asked.  What is the plan should we get it passed to move forward and encourage membership to participate.  In using the equipment.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Cassie what would you tell members in Michigan if we got it passed?  
>>  I would say that as President of the Michigan affiliation, I would start a campaign of encouraging physical fitness and use of the Y's or Senior Centers or fit facilities.  Because I could say from experience working out in staying in a physical exercise routine is healthy and helpful to your mind, body, spirit and everything else.  It is how I got through the COVID a lot with a lot of physical activities and also I would encourage people to use it because we need to not be so isolated as a community.  
And encourage people to get out in the public.  That is how I will respond.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Casey you are hired.  
>>  We -- I got asked this often.  We had the accessible voting machines passed.  I needed to go around my chapters and say hey, we got the machines use them.  That is the bases why I base the question.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Swatha what would you add to Casey's response there?  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: I would emphasize your experience why it is important.  For you.  For your members.  And why this is going to -- this is ground breaking and why it is important to you.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Any time if a member wants to help us get the word out they want to come join us, at our leadership conference or conference and convention to share the great work they are doing.  They want to learn more about how we advocate and educate even in places like the ACB community this evening, we have so many opportunities and so many communication channels to spread the word.  
To give folks the tools and resources to be able to advocate for themselves.  As well as their peers and the broader blindness community.  And if we are able to get the legislation passed, I'm confident we bring our communication channels to bear to scream it from the mountain tops that accessible fitness and equipment is coming.  Encourage everyone to use it.  For the reasons that Casey outlined.  Thank you.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Absolutely.  
>>  We have one hand left.  Repeat.  Are you taking repeats?  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: I think we could go ahead and take a repeat.  We are nearing the end here.  
>>  You got 15 minutes.  
>>  We are nearing the end we could take a repeat.  
>>  All right.  508 the ending in 61 three.  
>>  Hello.  
>>  Yes.  
>>  Can you hear me?  My phone went dead.  
>>  Yes.  
>>  This is Jane.  I'm better now.  This is Jane.  I want to reiterate, as you, advocate for us going forward to include the senior centers.  We age you need to keep the bones and muscles keep going.  I was told one time, motion is lotion.  Also, for those people that never gone or spoken to their legislative candidates, you put them in office.  You make them work for you.  And tell them a story.  Tell them why you think you need to have it done.  And, you know, I think it is important.  I thank you for allowing me to take my call.  It is pain less I hope you could do role-playing for others to see who are new at this how to do this.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: We have you or are you back on mute?  
>>  She is still here.  
>>  Say it again.  Are you talking to me.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: You have great Senators and Representatives therein Massachusetts that are supportive of disability rights and disability access issues.  So what -- we could do a little role-play now if you want.  How would you talk to your member of Congress?  About the legislation?  
>>  Are you talking to me?  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Yes, I am.  
>>  I'm sorry Clark I didn't know you would put me on the spot good afternoon represent the I've Clark I'm in your district I live in Massachusetts.  I really would like to talk about the imperative today.  The -- wellness and -- tell me the name of it.  It is late at night.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: No worries it is the Exercise and Fitness for All Act.  
>>  Exercise and Fitness for All Act I like to tell you that, you know, people need to be able to be active.  Stay healthy and live a long life.  And they do that by exercising and making sure their health is in check.  Also, that is the first thing they ask you all physicians ask you do you exercise on a regular basis.  I have other illnesses I have to try to exercise every day.  
And I've been in-and-out of hospitals and rehabs.  Now, I'm trying to get back to going on a regular basis.  And we have a brand new senior center that opened two years ago.  And we were looking for a trainer.  To open our gym.  And we could not find one.  We found one.  It is open.  You need to take a class in order to learn how to use the equipment.  They told me point blank you need to use the equipment independently.  And I said, really?  
I'm blind.  But I could be able to get on and off the equipment I can't see the dials.  I can't lower up and upper the seat on the bicycle or whatever other equipment.  I just need a little help that is all I'm asking.  And I think it is important that someone could help me.  
And I think it is a reasonable accommodation.  I hope you will consider this important legislation.  And contact Senator duck worth.  Who co-sponsored this back last year.  And we like to get it reintroduced in this Senate in this session and we hope we could ask for your endorsement and your support.  And even a co-sponsor.  We thank you for your time foreseeing me.  You have questions, yes it could be expensive equipment but it is needed.  Everything is expensive that is the way it is.  I'm sure there is a grant we could find or some sort of funding.  And we need to get up and get moving.  And I have information I like to leave with you along with my contact information.  And I hope you will contact me if you have questions.  And I believe congressman -- who is my congressman in the district could reach me at this information.  I thank you for your time.  And thank you for listening.  You have questions I'm happy to answer them you have a great day
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thank you Jane you have a great night that was beautiful.  
>>  I've gone it a a couple times at another organization.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Just once or twice I could tell.  
>>  Yeah.  
(laughing).  
It is late at night it has been a long day.  Thank you very much I didn't know I was going to be put on the spot.  Anyway,.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: You did great.  You did awesome.  
>>  You could go on the fly.  I learned that.  
>>  That clears us.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Awesome.  Swatha any points that you want to reiterate here this evening or things you heard that stood out to you?  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: I -- the cost estimate really is -- hard for me.  It is not on their to-do-list.  They exist.  It is a matter of putting it on.  I really would like to emphasize that you -- that you bring it up with your Senator.  This technology exists.  It needs to be turned on and activated.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Yeah.  And, you know, this came up when we talked about accessible equipment over the summer at our conference and convention in Omaha we got the question, isn't this equipment expensive?  Sure it is expensive if one of us is buying it to put it in our home; right?  
We're talking about Swatha buying one elliptical or Clark buying one treadmill.  We are talking about companies with thousands of locations that will purchase thousands of equipment.  Not only one gym or one hotel, but for thousands of locations.  
This will really drive the costs down.  And this will make it more available for companies to design with accessibility in mind.  In the first place.  
So I think one thing that will be mindful of, not for the legislation but as once it is passed and rule-makings is under way, you know, we're likely not going to get somewhere where all existing equipment's would need to be retrofitted; right?  That would be really expensive to do.  But to say in three years, I don't know, 75%, 80%, 100% of equipment needs to be accessible.  That is realistic.  Manufactures could plan for it.  It is a YMCA, senior center, University, or office building, or hotel they could plan for it as well.  That is more realistic to actually have progress and see, see something like this move forward and get the technology into the market.  
So we like to thank you all that joined us here.  Thank you to everyone for your questions.  And of course, Jane for just showing us how it is done.  When talking to a member of Congress.  And Cassie from Michigan, and being able to think and answer the tough questions once we get it passed, what is next?  How will you and your organization make sure that folks in the community know that this is available.  
Again, if folks have any questions, you could follow-up with Swatha and me by e-mailing advocacy@ACB.org.  And we look forward to continuing our advocacy going forward.  Swatha any final thoughts for the night?  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: No.  Keep advocate.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Keep advocate and come back to join us again.  We will do the community events on the remaining three legislative imperatives next week, Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th, and Wednesday March first.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: All Eastern.  
>>  CLARK RACHFAL: Thank you to our Captioner and big thank you to the community as well as ACB media and the tech team.  For helping us make this event and all these events possible.  So thank you everyone.  Have a good night.  
>>  SWATHA NANDHAKUMAR: Have a good night all.  
(end of event)