The ACB Braille Forum Volume LX January 2022 No. 7 Published by the American Council of the Blind ***** ** Be A Part of ACB The American Council of the Blind™ 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. Listen to ACB Reports by downloading the MP3 file from www.acb.org, or call (518) 906-1820 and choose option 8. Tune in to ACB Media at www.acbmedia.org or by calling (518) 906-1820. Learn more about us at www.acb.org. Follow us on Twitter at @acbnational, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlindOfficial. © 2021 American Council of the Blind Eric Bridges, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor 1703 N. Beauregard St., Suite 420, Alexandria, VA 22311 ***** Table of Contents President’s Message: New Year’s Reflections for 2022, by Dan Spoone Happy New Year from the Auction Committee American Council of the Blind Salutes Audio Description Award Winners Come One, Come All to the 2022 D.C. Leadership Conference, by Clark Rachfal Announcing ACB’s 2022 Tours, by Janet Dickelman Call for Nominees for 2022 ACB Awards, by Carrie Muth and Koni Sims The BOP Seeks to Award Excellence, by Katie Frederick Reach Higher, Pursue and Succeed: Apply to Become a 2022 Recipient of the Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers Award, by Kenneth Semien Sr. Not Your Father’s … ACB Diabetics in Action Blind LGBT Pride International Welcomes You, by Melody E. Holloway Braille Is a Vital Link to Literacy Where Visually Impaired Artists and Audiences Thrive, by Peter Altschul Guide Dog Users, Inc. — We Can Help with That!, by Penny Reeder Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE) Summary of the October 9, 2021 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors, by Penny Reeder ACB Officers ACB Board of Directors ACB Board of Publications Accessing Your ACB Braille and E-Forums ** 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 make the changes for you. ***** President’s Message: New Year’s Reflections for 2022 by Dan Spoone Happy New Year! We made it. Another year of COVID-19. Sometimes it feels like this mess will never end, but I’m hopeful that we are headed in the right direction. This crisis has brought out the best in ACB. We’ve never worked this hard. I’m very proud of ACB and all we have accomplished this year under very difficult circumstances. We had a second wonderful virtual convention. The virtual D.C. Leadership Conference was amazing, with fantastic panel discussions on the most important advocacy topics impacting our community. We changed the constitution to allow all ACB members the democratic right to vote in our elections. We celebrated our 60th birthday. The inaugural AD Awards Gala launched ACB as the “chief influencer” in the blindness field. We hired five new employees, finished the year with over $5.5 million in investment reserves, and approved a resolution to integrate the Spanish language into our ACB communications. Community events are still going strong, with over 6,000 shows. We launched the ACB Media Network and hosted over 15 affiliate conventions. We’ve worked so hard and I’m very proud of our staff, members and friends for meeting the challenge. We did it! Thank you! Each year Leslie and I take a few hours to make our new year’s resolutions. This is our third new year’s resolutions article, and I thought it would be interesting to share our progress. What do they say? Life can get in the way of your best plans. The last two years are a perfect example of that. Here’s how we go about our new year’s resolutions. We make resolutions in seven different categories: family, friends, community service, education, health, finance and fun. You can create your own categories, but I think this is a good exercise, and we have lots of fun with it. Here are my 2022 new year’s resolutions. ** Resolutions 2022 * Family: 2022: My parents celebrated their 89th birthdays. They have moved into assisted living at The Bridge. Some days are very sad. Dad’s dementia has progressed, but they are still a blessing, and each day is a gift. My nephew got married on the Saturday of the convention, and we had Mom and Dad over at our house to watch the ceremony on Zoom. Thanks, Zoom, this was very special. We traveled to Las Vegas to see Leslie’s family for the first time in 18 months, and our nephew and his new bride came to visit us for Thanksgiving. This year our resolution is to cherish each day with Mom and Dad. We are looking forward to celebrating a 90th birthday for both of them. * Friends: 2022: Still no word from my colleague, Mike Gallagher. Is it time to move on? I’ll give him one more call. Also, my buddies have all made the resolution to go back to Las Vegas for March Madness in 2022. We had gone for 15 years before the pandemic, and we have already made our reservations for this year. So, I might be heading straight from Washington, D.C. to Vegas after the Leadership Conference. What a fun week! * Community Service: 2022: There’s hope. We had the president of our Lake Fairview Lions Club make a presentation to our local Greater Orlando Council of the Blind chapter in October. I now have a contact. They are coming out of the pandemic and starting to hold meetings again. My resolution is to attend a meeting and see what happens. Wish me luck. * Education: 2022: Learn more about the capabilities of my iPhone. I have a long way to go. My resolution is to add 10 new apps and learn how to use my Bluetooth keyboard. Hope I’m up to the challenge. * Health: 2022: This is a biggy. I was diagnosed with a major blockage in two arteries. After an emergency stent, I’m feeling fine. It was quite a scare. The good news is that I’ve lost 5 more pounds and I’m only 6 pounds from my 2020 resolution. My resolution for this year is to keep walking three miles each day, lower my cholesterol level and reduce my stress. It’s the last item that has me worried. Thanks in advance for your help in keeping us relaxed. I’m reading more books and trying to take off over the weekend. * Finance: 2022: We are getting a new roof. OK, we didn’t really do a good job of saving the money for the roof, but we had a hailstorm in April, and our insurance is replacing the roof. This should allow us to use our roof budget to replace the copper pipes in our walls that are springing leaks. Now, we need to save money for new paint, both inside and out. We still love our home, and it has been a wonderful blessing during the pandemic. Hopefully, our travel budget will return to normal this year. Key West, here we come! * Fun: 2022: My resolution for this year is “Balance.” We must commit to a good work/life balance. “No” is an acceptable answer. Our ACB staff has been amazing this year. We are doing so much. I’m very worried about burnout. We must resolve to take time to enjoy our family and friends. In a growing organization, there is always more to do. We must create the proper balance, or we will all hit the breaking point. Once again, we wish everyone a fantastic new year, and look forward to seeing everyone in person at the D.C. Leadership Conference or virtually on ACB Media. Let’s all raise a glass to the exciting possibilities for 2022. I’m really waiting for that big hug from Cindy Hollis in Washington, D.C.! ***** Happy New Year from the Auction Committee The auction committee would like to say, “Thank You!” We appreciate all of the wonderful donations from affiliates, vendors, members and friends of ACB. There were over 125 items donated to the holiday auction, from homemade goodies to jewelry, technology and crafts. Once again, thanks for supporting the ACB Media Holiday Auction. — Leslie Spoone ***** American Council of the Blind Salutes Audio Description Award Winners ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 18, 2021 — The American Council of the Blind would like to thank all those who participated in the 2021 Audio Description Awards Gala that premiered on November 18th on www.AdAwardsGala.org and on NBC’s Peacock TV, and will be available until Dec. 31, 2021. “We are thrilled with the level of commitment and support that the industry has shown for this event and for the continued expansion of accessible media for our community,” said ACB’s Executive Director, Eric Bridges. Thank you also to our special guests, who lent their talent to the event and support for accessible media for all, including Jason Momoa, Thomas Reid, Ahmed Fareed, Lex Gillette, Kurt & Brenda Warner, Zachary Levi, Charlie Cox, Christian Camargo, Nesta Cooper, Nefertiti Matos Olivares, Blake Stadnik and more! The Gala included many recognized presenters from the Audio Description Project and accessible media industry. The AD Awards Gala categories recognized the best-of-the-best in the field of audio description in media. This year’s award winners were selected by a diverse group of leaders from the audio description panel who have identified recipients as both audio description content leaders and media industry game changers! The evening began with honoring the legacy of the great Barry Cronin, Ph.D., Emmy Award Winner and creator of the Descriptive Video Service, WGBH-TV, 1994, for development of closed captioning and audio description. ** Award Winners • Audio Description Game Changer – Apple • Outstanding Achievement Audio Description Contribution Impact for Live Events – Comcast NBCUniversal • Outstanding Achievement in Audio Description Innovation – Spectrum • Audio Description Game Changer – Netflix • Outstanding Achievement Audio Description Accessibility Contribution – Canal 22 • Outstanding Achievement Audio Description Contribution Impact for Live Events – Disney-ABC • Outstanding Audio Description Visionary – Barry Cronin Tony Stephens, ACB’s Director of Development, added, “And finally, thank you to our sponsors: Silver Star Sponsors — Comcast NBCUniversal & Warner Media, as well as our Bronze Star Sponsors — Spectrum, ViacomCBS Streaming & American Printing House.” The Audio Description Awards Gala celebrated the inclusivity and accessibility of media by recognizing those in television, streaming and the film industry’s achievements in audio description for accessible media for blind and low vision audiences. For more details, visit www.AdAwardsGala.org. ***** Come One, Come All to the 2022 D.C. Leadership Conference by Clark Rachfal Registration is now open for the American Council of the Blind’s 2022 D.C. Leadership Conference! The D.C. Leadership Conference will take place in-person and virtually from Friday, March 11 through Tuesday, March 15. The leadership conference will provide opportunities for affiliate leaders to gain additional tools, network, and resources to better manage their organizations, and provide an opportunity for ACB members and affiliates to use our collective voice to share our 2022 legislative imperatives with our elected officials and policymakers in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. The in-person programming for the 2022 ACB D.C. Leadership Conference will be held at the Hilton Old Town, Alexandria, VA. This centrally located hotel is a short walk from shops, restaurants, and the King Street Metro Station in historic Old Town Alexandria. Virtual programming for this event will be available via Zoom and the ACB Media Network. An outline for the full event is as follows: Friday, March 11: Board of Directors Meeting Saturday, March 12: Affiliates Presidents’ Meetings Sunday, March 13: Conclusion of the Affiliates Presidents’ Meetings and Beginning of the Legislative Seminar Monday, March 14: Legislative Seminar Continued Tuesday, March 15: Affiliate meetings with members of Congress We look forward to your participation in this year’s D.C. Leadership Conference to strengthen our affiliates and share our legislative imperatives with your elected officials. For the latest news on the 2022 Leadership Conference, including the announcement of ACB’s legislative imperatives, please visit us online at www.acb.org/2022-leadership-conference. If you need assistance to register, or if you have additional questions, please call us toll-free, 1-800-424-8666, or e-mail us at info@acb.org. Thank you, and keep advocating! ***** Announcing ACB’s 2022 Tours by Janet Dickelman The question I receive most often is “what tours are we going on in Omaha?” The wait is over! Below is the 2022 tour agenda. Full tour descriptions and costs will be posted on the convention announce list, the acbconvention website and on the 2022 conference and convention registration form. ** Friday, July 1st Henry Doorly Zoo: This zoo is yearly rated number one or two in the country vying with the San Diego Zoo. This tour involves a lot of walking and is not wheelchair accessible. We will visit the rain forest, the stingray pools, the desert and nighttime exhibits. We’ll travel from area to area via tram, and enjoy a catered lunch. Friday evening meal event: Details about this tour will be forthcoming, but we are planning visits to a variety of ethnic food venues. ** Saturday, July 2nd City Bus Tour with a Twist: Travel by Olly the Trolley on your guided tour of Omaha! Immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of the city. (We will have two trolley tours on Saturday.) Boys Town: Founded 100 years ago by Father Flanagan, Boys Town is “helping America’s youth learn how to choose compassion over indifference, kindness over cruelty and love over hate.” We’ll take a campus tour and visit the museum and Father Flanagan’s house. Lunch will be included, and there is a great gift shop. ** Sunday, July 3rd Malcolm X Center and Black History Museum: Both these venues are rich in history and culture. The Black History Museum has many exhibits with lots of touchable items. Sports fans will enjoy the emphasis on sports memorabilia, including the Heisman Trophy won by Nebraska’s Johnny Rodgers! Materials about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are prominently featured at both venues, and the amount of thought-provoking and comprehensive information is very enlightening. When visiting both places you will cry, cheer and be forever changed. Lunch from a locally owned black business will be included. Mormon Trail: The Mormons traveled through Nebraska from Illinois on their way to Utah. Follow their amazing journey led by knowledgeable LDS members. Visit the cemetery, rooms with various historical themes, and view a film on the Mormons and their travels. Get Up and Get Moving with a walk across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Bob the Bridge is 9,000 feet long, spanning the Missouri River between Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa. The bridge is lit at night with multi-colored lights, and there are lots of fun things to do, such as dancing across the state line and visiting Omar the blue troll, who lives under the bridge. It’s a fun way to get some exercise and enjoy an evening outdoors! ** Monday, July 4th City Bus Tour with a Twist: Travel by Olly the Trolley on your guided tour of Omaha! Immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of the city. (We will have two trolley tours on Monday.) Strategic Air Control and Aerospace Museum: Join this white-glove tour where we’ll be able to have hands-on experience with various airplanes and space crafts. From an A-26 to F-117, you’ll be able to touch and learn about numerous aircrafts and space vehicles. “As the keeper of the Strategic Air Command’s history, the museum is exploring ways to better display its SAC artifacts and more effectively tell the story of SAC’s efforts to preserve the peace during the Cold War. Few, if any, museums are as well positioned to tell the story about this critical time in America’s history.” Baseball and Fireworks: Take me out to the ball game! Feast on pulled pork, burgers, and hot dogs and then enjoy watching the Storm Chasers, the minor league team for the Kansas City Royals. After the game we’ll stay for the Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza! ** Tuesday, July 5th Outlook Nebraska’s goal is “to positively impact everyone who is blind or visually impaired.” Outlook Nebraska produces and sells SKILCRAFT® quality, sustainable janitorial paper products for government, commercial and industrial use. In addition to visiting and learning about their manufacturing, we’ll check out the technology lab and have fun at their activity tables. Lunch will be included in this tour. Since we will be visiting a manufacturing area, only closed-toe shoes can be worn. No sandals! Lewis and Clark Visitors Center: Learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition through hands-on exhibits. Roam the gardens and learn about native plants. Take a short stroll on the pedestrian bridge and meet Omar the Troll, who lives under the bridge. Support the National Park Service and their work on audio description, and learn about what is happening with audio description in other national parks. Adventure tour: We are working with Treerush, where you can climb, zip and swing through the trees. Explore Fontenelle Forest from the treetops. ** Wednesday, July 6th Train Day: We will visit the Durham Museum and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Train travel brought Nebraska to the forefront of the westward expansion. We will get up close and personal with train cars, and much train memorabilia. This tour involves a lot of climbing in and out of train cars and going through very small doorways. If that will cause you difficulty, this tour is not for you. Sweet Tooth Tour: Baker’s Candies is known for their signature meltaways, decadent fudge, and gourmet confections. Built in 1991 and renovated and expanded in 2018, Baker’s is the largest candy store in Nebraska. We’ll hear all about the factory from one of the Baker brothers, try samples and spend time candy shopping. Riverboat Cruise: Cruise down the Missouri River with a buffet dinner and cash bar. What a way to spend a summer evening! ** Friday, July 8th Brewery tour: We will visit at least three breweries for tasting and brewing information. Lunch will be included. Crime Dinner: We’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and then hear from two amazing speakers who will talk about crimes in Omaha in the ‘20s and ‘30s and the “Squirrel Jail” where the perpetrators were housed. Why the name? Come to the “Do the Crime, Pay the Time” dinner and find out! ** Staying in Touch Want to get the latest and most up-to-date convention information? Subscribe to the convention list by sending a blank e-mail to acbconvention+subscribe@acblists.org. If you received updates for the 2021 convention, you do not need to re-subscribe to the list. ** Reservation Details To make reservations online, go to https://book.passkey.com/event/50221160/owner/22518/home. When asked to select guest type on the main screen, select attendee. For those who wish to call in and make their reservation, call 1-800-HILTONS (1-800-445-8667) and reference the name of the group block, American Council of the Blind. The group code if needed for those calling in is ACB. Room rates at the Hilton are $96 (single or double occupancy) with an additional $10 per person for up to four people per room. Room tax is currently 18.16%. One night’s stay will be charged to your credit card when you book your reservation. ** Convention Contacts Exhibits: Michael Smitherman, (601) 331-7740, exhibits@acb.org Advertising and Sponsorships: Tony Stephens, (202) 559-2045, astephens@acb.org For any other convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059, or via email, janet.dickelman@gmail.com. ***** Call for Nominees for 2022 ACB Awards by Carrie Muth and Koni Sims, Awards Committee Co-Chairs The awards committee is searching for nominees who you feel are deserving of national recognition for their work in ACB or the blindness community. Awards will be presented at the 2022 conference and convention in Omaha. Nominees will be judged on the quality of nomination letters and how well the person meets the spirit of the award for which they are being nominated. Please remember that the candidate must have national influence to be considered for the ACB awards. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2022. All nomination letters must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 1st, 2022. Please be sure to email your nomination letters to both Carrie Muth, carrie.muth.acbo@gmail.com, and Koni Sims, koni.l.sims@gmail.com. Once the committee has received your nomination letters, committee members will review and judge the entries submitted against the criteria. Please be mindful that these are national awards, and nominees will be judged accordingly. ** All About the Awards The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award is given in recognition of a blind person who may or may not be a member of a blindness organization but who has, through his or her personal characteristics and activities, unrelated to his/her employment, contributed most to the acceptance and understanding of blind people as capable, contributing members of the community. Originally called the Ambassador Award, this award was first given in 1963. The first recipient was Jearldine Noeller. More recent recipients include Durward K. McDaniel (1983), Roger Petersen (1999), Ed Walker (2003), Dr. W. Aubrey Webson (2017), and Allan Peterson (2021). The George Card Award is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to work with and for people who are blind, making a real difference and improving quality of life, for providing leadership and being a positive role model. George Card was the first recipient of this award in 1968. Card’s leadership roles included that of executive secretary of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, member of the ACB Board of Directors, and delegate to the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind. (from “People of Vision,” Chapter 4, in the section “1948: The 7th NFB Convention - Baltimore, Maryland.”) More recent recipients include Eugene Lozano (1993), Charles Crawford (1998), Abraham Nemeth (2002), and Camille Caffarelli (2020). The James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award is periodically given to individuals who have made important contributions which have advanced opportunities for the blind community. This award can be given to an individual or an organization. This award was originally named the Distinguished Service Award. It was renamed for James R. “Jim” Olsen following his passing in 2005. Previous winners include Kathy Megivern (1997), Shirley Keller of Creative Adaptations for Learning (2001), Jim Olsen (2005), Leroy Johnson (2007), and Kim Crowell and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (2021). The Robert S. Bray Award is given to a person who has made a contribution for improving library technology or communication devices. It could also be given for expanding access for all blind people, or for making opportunities within the mainstream media. This award was named for Robert S. Bray, who was chief of the Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress - now known as the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. The first recipient was Charles La Casce (1977). Other recipients include James Chandler (1983), Stephen Dwornik (1994), Jim Stovall (1995), Jim Fruchterman (2002), and Karen Keninger (2020). The Margarine G. Beaman Volunteer Recognition Award honors individuals who have given tirelessly of their efforts, resources, expertise or time toward improving the quality of life in the blindness community. The achievements, accomplishments or service, on which the nominations are based, must reflect ACB’s vision and mission. This award may be given to a deserving individual or organization. The award was named for Margarine Beaman, who was the convention’s volunteer coordinator. It was first given in 2016 to Margarine Beaman. Other winners include Sally Benjamin (2017), Patti Cox (2019), and Michael Smitherman (2020). The Affiliate Outreach Award is based on a recommendation by an affiliate president, which recognizes a local chapter for a new outreach program. This program must have a measurable outcome. The Affiliate Outreach Award was first presented in 2000 to the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. Other previous winners include the Middle Tennessee Council of the Blind (2009), ACB of Ohio-Columbus Chapter (2015), and Friends ‘n Focus-Medina (Ohio) chapter (2021). The Affiliate Growth Awards are based on the greatest increase in membership, as determined by the 2021-2022 membership reports. One award is given for the greatest percentage of growth, and another is presented to the affiliate with the largest number of new members. Last year’s winners are ACB Next Generation (for a 136.67% growth in membership) and Blind Information Technology Specialists (81 new members). ** Deadlines and Questions Nominations open on January 1st, and close on April 1st, 2022. Submit your nominations as soon as possible; late submissions will not be considered. If you have any questions, contact either co-chair Carrie Muth at (541) 269-1993, or Koni Sims at (605) 941-9512. ***** The BOP Seeks to Award Excellence by Katie Frederick The ACB Board of Publications proudly recognizes excellence each year with three annual writing awards. We are seeking nominations for the Ned E. Freeman Excellence in Writing Award, the Vernon Henley Media Award, and the Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Award. The Ned E. Freeman Excellence in Writing Award was instituted in 1970, and will be awarded based on the following criteria: • An article must have been first published between April of 2021 and March of 2022. • All articles published in “The ACB Braille Forum” in all forms and formats are automatically eligible for consideration. Individual articles published by any ACB affiliate in its official publication may also be nominated by the affiliate’s president or editor. Articles which have not appeared in “The ACB Braille Forum” in all forms and formats may be submitted in any format. • The article must demonstrate excellence in writing, novelty of approach and/or originality of the subject matter. • The author of the winning article will receive a plaque and a cash prize of $100 at the annual ACB conference and convention. The Vernon Henley Media Award is conferred based on the following criteria: • The Vernon Henley Media Award is intended to be a vehicle for publicizing ACB throughout the general media and to encourage excellence and accuracy in electronic and print coverage of items relating to blindness. • This award may be presented to an organization, company, or individual, either sighted or blind, who has made a positive difference in the press, whether in radio, television, electronic media, magazines, or daily newspapers, during the period encompassed by April of 2021 through March of 2022, by portraying the capabilities of people who are blind in a positive light, rather than focusing on outdated stereotypes and misconceptions. • Programs and/or articles written and produced specifically for a visually impaired audience, as well as those intended for the general public, are also eligible. • A variety of media are eligible for nomination for the Vernon Henley Media Award. Examples may include: television or radio programs; commercials or public service announcements; videos; articles from magazines, newspapers, newsletters, posters, or any other new or emerging media sources. Submissions such as books or recurring columns or blogs from the same person should include a synopsis and no more than three sample chapters for books and no more than three samples of the recurring columns or blogs nominated. Submissions should be accompanied by a letter of nomination as well as the sample copy of the item being nominated. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. • The BOP chairperson will annually send a letter to affiliate presidents, newsletter editors and other media markets encouraging nominations for the Vernon Henley Media Award. • A plaque will be presented to the Vernon Henley Media Award recipient at the annual ACB conference and convention. The Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Award will be presented based on the following criteria: • The Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Award is intended to promote best journalistic practices and excellence in writing in publications of ACB’s state and special-interest affiliates. • All periodicals of ACB affiliates, distributed no less than semi-annually, are eligible. • Nominations must be submitted by the affiliate’s newsletter editor or president. • Submissions must include the following: 1. Two issues of the affiliate’s publication from the previous calendar year sent electronically and in hard copy in the format which the affiliate recognizes as the format which best represents its readership. 2. Answers to the following questions: a) How many members are in your affiliate? b) How often is your publication published per year? c) In what formats is your publication produced? • Members of the BOP directly involved in the editorial process of any submitted publication will excuse themselves from judging/scoring that particular publication. • Criteria for judging submissions will include: a) The number of contributing writers in a single issue; b) The variety of information presented in each issue; c) How well the publication portrays the affiliate; d) The quality of writing throughout the publication; e) The overall layout and presentation of the publication. • A plaque will be presented to the Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Award recipient at the convention. And now the fine print: • All nominations must be submitted to the ACB Braille Forum Editor, Sharon Lovering, with a postmark of no later than April 1, 2022. You may also submit your nomination electronically to slovering@acb.org. All submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter providing details about the nominee, including name, address, telephone number and email address of the nominee, if known, and details about the submission, its origin, and any other pertinent information. The return address of the person making the nomination should be included in the cover letter. • Members of the board of publications, board of directors, and staff and contractors of the ACB are prohibited from participating. • Any individual or affiliate who has won a BOP award since 2018 is ineligible to receive the same award prior to Jan. 1, 2023. Reach Higher, Pursue and Succeed: Apply to Become a 2022 Recipient of the Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers Award by Kenneth Semien Sr. Prepare to experience an array of opportunities to learn and grow personally as you connect with other like-minded individuals. We’ll join together in Omaha, Neb. for the 61st annual ACB convention from July 1-8, 2022 and become more familiar with ACB’s wealth of inclusive convention activities. The Class of 2022 DKM First-Timers will be able to enjoy the privilege of connecting with the two previous classes of DKM First-Timers who were selected during virtual conventions. If you are an ACB member who has never attended an in-person ACB conference and convention, and you meet the criteria below, we invite you to learn more about and participate in ACB’s primary leadership development program. To be eligible for consideration, each applicant must be age 18 or older; blind or visually impaired; an ACB member in good standing (current on membership dues), and never have attended a previous in-person ACB national conference and convention. Two letters must be submitted for each applicant — a letter of application from the interested member and a letter of recommendation from a state or special-interest affiliate president. Please refrain from asking your chapter president to submit a letter of recommendation. Applicants are encouraged to be sure that they meet the award criteria before requesting that their state or special-interest affiliate president write and submit a letter of recommendation on their behalf. The letter of application should include your full name, physical address, email address containing your name, along with a home and cell number; then introduce yourself to the committee and include reasons for applying for the award, a brief summary of education and experience related to your community service, contributions to your respective affiliate and/or chapter, and the significance of the First-Timers award to your personal or career development. The letter of recommendation should include the applicant’s demonstrated leadership potential and contributions. In addition, applicants will be interviewed by a team of DKM committee members during mid-April. The DKM program and ACB honor recipients by funding round-trip air travel and supporting transportation, hotel accommodations (double occupancy), per diem allowance for meals and incidentals, leadership institute, reception, banquet tickets, the general convention registration fee, and other activities determined by the committee and ACB Board of Directors. Optional tours and other fun activities are not covered by the program. The responsibilities of each recipient include but are not limited to attending the full week of convention activities from Friday, July 1 through Friday, July 8; participating in daily general sessions and the Keys to the Convention seminar, along with special-interest and committee seminars, while interacting with ACB leaders and fellow members. The application and supporting letter should be submitted separately (the applicant submits a letter of application and the affiliate president submits a letter of recommendation) to Kelly Gasque, kgasque@acb.org, and must be received in the ACB national office no later than April 5th. The DKM Committee will select the 2022 First-Timers during the latter part of April. If you have questions, contact Kenneth Semien Sr., semien.k@att.net, or by phone, (409) 866-5838. ***** Not Your Father’s … The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL) has been quite busy lately. This special-interest affiliate of ACB is focused on, as you might guess, issues of aging. We seem to be in a moment where these issues are in the minds of policymakers at all levels, so we are trying to take advantage, and advocate for issues that have relevance to seniors who are blind or who have low vision. The area we are currently focusing our energies on is our Area Agencies on Aging Project. There are Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in all communities of the U.S. They fund a variety of programs and services, such as Meals on Wheels. Through a questionnaire we developed, our members are contacting AAAs in different parts of the country to see how they are similar and how they differ from one another. We are also asking members and interested blind citizens to become members of Advisory Councils associated with the AAAs so that we can start to bring attention to the specialized needs of our community, and to help the agencies reach out more effectively to us. If you’d like to get involved with this project, visit https://www.aavl-blind-seniors.org/aavl-area-agencies-on-aging#main-content/, or contact Anisio Correia, anisiocorreia1@outlook.com or (404) 539-4521. ACB and AAVL are also well represented in the VisionServe Alliance (VSA). This coalition of organizations of and for people who are blind or have low vision is currently focused on issues of aging as well, so we are collaborating with them to help our advocacy efforts. We have many other project ideas that are just waiting for you to join us. ACB’s special-interest affiliates have the age bases covered, from Students to Next Gen, to AAVL. Go to www.aavl-blind-seniors.org to check us out and get details on how to become a member, or call Kathy Gerhardt, AAVL treasurer, at (304) 283-7424 or treasurer@aavl-blind-seniors.org. If you join before Feb. 1, 2022, your name will be put into a drawing for a $100 cash prize. We look forward to your joining the fun. ***** ACB Diabetics in Action ACB Diabetics in Action began in 2005 under the steadfast leadership of the late Dee Clayton. We are a dynamic affiliate with multiple committees, and monthly board meetings that are open to the membership. Our annual dues are a bargain at $10, and aren’t due until March 1st. We provide an email newsletter, and our ACBDA email list is a very active one. Many of our members are Type 1 or Type 2 diabetics. But we also advocate for and assist family members or spouses who care for diabetics. Our workshops during national convention are structured to provide more in-depth guidance in the management and education about this disease, which has reached epidemic levels. On the second Wednesday of each month, we present topics of interest via Zoom and by phone. Before community calls were introduced, we had monthly Wednesday information sessions by telephone. Speakers have included representatives from podiatry, exercise and physical therapy, nutrition services, and vendors of products unique to diabetes. On the third Saturday of each month, at 5 p.m. Eastern, we sponsor a community social chat. We are currently collaborating with CNIB and NFB to ensure that Congress understands the need for accessible durable medical equipment, not only for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, but for such basics as oximeters, thermometers, and pacemakers. We must have the option and ability to test, monitor and manage our diabetes independently via these devices, just as sighted people do. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. As of this writing, a standing Peer Mentor Relations committee is being created to provide support on an individual level. Navigating a new or changing diagnosis can be less onerous if we learn from another who has successfully dealt with the combined hassles of vision loss and diabetes. Since the form of diabetes, degree of vision loss, and treatment regimen vary throughout our community, a new or existing affiliate member can be paired with a mentor who shares similar characteristics or circumstances. For example, a Type 2 diabetic being treated with oral medication has specific needs, contrasted with a Type 1 diabetic who uses an insulin pump. Monitoring and treatment products on the market are not created equal, so the level of blindness or low vision also will factor in when pairing a current user of these products with someone new to the method. Obstacles and barriers are frustrating, so linking up with a peer-to-peer mentor can be beneficial. To learn more, or to become a member, email us at acbdaorg@gmail.com. ***** Blind LGBT Pride International Welcomes You by Melody E. Holloway Blind LGBT Pride International is the American Council of the Blind’s special-interest affiliate founded and operated by and for people who live with visual impairment who also identify with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and allied community. Blind Pride International was previously known as Blind Friends of Lesbians and Gays (BFLAG). BPI was founded in 1996 in hope that both broader communities as well as society in general would accept, understand, support, and recognize the daily plight of individuals who live with intersectionality among us. BPI is known for a welcoming, non-judgmental environment as well as informative, enlightening, often delicious activities. These include advice about constructive methods of asking for help, topic-driven movies, wine tasting, legal advice for self-care as well as caring for our partners, relaxed fun chats, and a biweekly radio program called “Pride Connection,” which airs on ACB Media. “Pride Connection” features a wide variety of guests, from authors to musicians to artists to members themselves. They also discuss a broad spectrum of topics such as treatment of different ethnic populations, HIV education, standards of medical care, defining often misunderstood terms used by the LGBTQA community, personal accounts of coming out to ourselves and those we interact with, and the history of not only BPI, but of awareness, oppression, and acceptance of all who identify as not exclusively heterosexual. Blind Pride International is the ultimate “come as you are” affiliate, made up of a diverse group of members. Some are visually impaired. Some have sight. Many are on the LGBTQ spectrum. Some identify as straight. Some live with additional physical disabilities or chronic medical and/or mental health conditions. Many ethnicities, education, and employment backgrounds are also represented, as well as living situations. There are therapists, social workers, wine connoisseurs, life coaches, assistive technology specialists, parents, guide dog handlers, and white cane users. The only requirement to join BPI is that you support its members with positivity, patience, compassion, and an open mind. Blind LGBT Pride International invites you to come see who we are and what we stand for. The opportunity to open yourself up to different points of view is too vital to pass up. Divided we fall. United we thrive! ***** Braille Is a Vital Link to Literacy If you believe that braille is a vital link to literacy and provides greater productivity and employability for people who are blind or visually impaired, then we want you as a member of the Braille Revival League (BRL) to help support this vital cause. Join the Braille Revival League as a new member before February 15, 2022 and receive a special gift. Or give a gift membership to a friend, co-worker or family member, and you both receive the special gift. You don’t need to know braille to become a member of the Braille Revival League. Help spread the word and grow BRL. Contact treasurer Jane Carona at (301) 598-2131, or via e-mail at jane.e.carona@gmail.com. ***** Where Visually Impaired Artists and Audiences Thrive by Peter Altschul Friends-In-Art (FIA) is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). Our advocacy activities include: • Assisting museums to make their exhibits and facilities more accessible to blind and visually impaired people; • Advocating that concert programs be available in braille and large print; • Promoting audio descriptions of “visuals” (actions, costumes, and facial expressions) for movies, musicals, and television shows; and • Working with designers of popular music-related hardware and software to make their products more user-friendly for musicians who are blind. In order to enhance opportunities for artists with visual impairments, we: • Offer an annual $2,000 scholarship for budding artists who attend college or arts-related training schools. Deadline: February 15, 2022. To apply, visit https://acb.org/scholarships. • Assist music schools to develop strategies to better prepare visually impaired students to benefit from their programs; and • Create podcasts featuring visually impaired artists. Please check them out at https://artparlor.pinecast.co/. In conjunction with ACB’s annual conferences and conventions, we: • Produce an annual variety show known as the Showcase of the Performing Arts, where musicians, writers, and other artists perform for a live audience. This event is also broadcast worldwide through ACB Media, www.acbmedia.org. • Organize exhibits where painters and photographers with visual impairments can exhibit their work and compete for prizes; • Offer workshops to sharpen skills of musicians, writers, and other artists; and • Provide a space where people can sell CDs, books, and other arts-related materials. Many of us are singers, instrumentalists, writers, painters, photographers, and sculptors, while some of us enjoy being part of the audience. Whether you are an artist or an audience member, join us! For additional information, please visit www.friendsinart.org, or contact Mike Mandel, FIA president, at mjmandel@nyc.rr.com. ***** Guide Dog Users, Inc. — We Can Help with That! by Penny Reeder Have you been thinking about getting a guide dog? How do I get a dog? Would a dog make me feel safer than using a cane? Can people with low vision even qualify for a dog? Am I too old? Too young? You can find answers to all of these questions – and more – when you get to know Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI). A few years ago, we published a handbook for the prospective guide dog handler that answers many of those questions. It’s available from Amazon.com, https://tinyurl.com/abevzb2p, and from NLS and Bookshare. Books are great, but it’s even better to talk to somebody. GDUI is that somebody. We have a group of volunteers we call GDUI’s empathizers. Call GDUI’s office phone number, 1-866-799-8436, for more information. Are you trying to choose a guide dog school? Visit https://guidedogusersinc.org/resources/gdui-school-survey/ to look at our Guide Dog School Surveys and compare the various programs. GDUI hosts community calls which feature trainers from the various schools and programs. GDUI also has a newsletter called “Paws for GDUI News You Can Use.” In addition, we offer a chat e-mail discussion list for anyone who has an interest in guide dogs. We have members throughout the United States. Our annual dues are $15. Check out all the benefits of membership in GDUI at http://www.guidedogusersinc.org; join our Friends of Guide Dog Users Facebook group; follow us on Twitter at #gduinc; and get as involved as you like. ***** Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE) The Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE) is a national special-interest affiliate for visually impaired business owners or those interested in entrepreneurship. IVIE’s mission includes: • Providing a forum for blind and visually impaired business enterprises • Elevating the social, economic, and equality of blind and visually impaired business owners • Broadening vocational opportunities for blind and visually impaired entrepreneurs • Encouraging and assisting blind and visually impaired people who have a potential or existing business endeavor • Providing for the free exchange of ideas, opinions, and information of interest to blind and visually impaired entrepreneurs through publications, email listserv, community calls and annual national conventions, conferences and expos IVIE dues are $15 annually. Membership perks include “The ACB Braille Forum,” plus “The IVIE Motivator” newsletter, the annual IVIE conference, access to the IVIE email discussion list, monthly community calls, the book of the month call, your business listing on IVIE’s website, networking and mentoring opportunities, and more. IVIE would love your creativity, business entrepreneurial spirit, and your trials and tribulations as blind business owners. If you are interested in starting your own business, then come and join us! If you have any questions, please contact president Teresa Gregg at tmgchjld@gmail.com. ***** Summary of the October 9, 2021 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors by Penny Reeder The American Council of the Blind held its first-ever hybrid board meeting on Oct. 9, 2021. To hear the podcast version, visit https://www.acbmedia.org/2021/10/12/acb-board-of-directors-meeting-october-9-2021-hybrid-from-omaha/. President Dan Spoone convened the meeting at 10 a.m. All board members were present except Jim Kracht, who was excused. Minutes from the board’s Aug. 31 meeting were approved, along with reports included under the consent agenda. The board celebrated the achievement of providing audio description for more than 100 National Park Service (NPS) brochures through the collaborative efforts of ACB staff members and volunteers participating in the UniDescription (UniD) Project along with the National Park Service, the University of Hawai’i, and the ACB Audio Description Project. Executive director Eric Bridges noted that the project grew from our partnership with Google, who provides funding which has allowed ACB and NPS to make national parks more accessible to blind and low-vision visitors. Jo Lynn announced a new agreement with the National Park Service’s Midwest Accessibility Program which will fund audio-described brochures for Midwest national parks through 2026. The Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail Headquarters, located in Omaha, will be a tour venue for the 2022 convention. Janet Dickelman enthusiastically presented her report from the Omaha Hilton. There are a number of walkable restaurants, and the convention center is connected to the hotel via a skywalk. There’s also an accessible pedestrian signal for crossing the street between the hotel and convention center. (See “Announcing ACB’s 2022 Tours” elsewhere in this issue for details on the events being planned.) The convention committee recognizes that in-person and virtual conference experiences will be different, and is building that knowledge into marketing and planning for an inclusive convention. Dan appointed Deb Cook Lewis and Gabe Griffith as co-chairs with Ray Campbell on the Resolutions Task Force 2.0. Kenneth Semien will move from resolutions to the Voting Task Force 2.0. Pat Sheehan and Jeff Thom will chair the voting task force, and Koni Sims will be the communications lead. Both task forces will deliver reports at the leadership conference. Kim Charlson reported that Jose Viera, CFO of the World Blind Union, will be leaving to serve as executive director of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), a United Nations cross-disability organization. The WBU adopted a constitutional amendment to allow delegations from countries with smaller populations to pay lower membership dues. Dan announced the creation of an archives committee, which will be co-chaired by David Trott and Chris Gray. The committee’s mission will be to gather and organize archival materials from ACB’s last 25 years. Eric, Clark and Swatha attended the recent M-Enabling Summit, where Eric participated on a panel which focused on the challenge of finding a repository that can provide an accurate listing of audio-described content. He also conveyed ACB’s disappointment that some providers have failed to consult with consumers before deploying audio description that relies on synthetic speech. Clark participated on a panel regarding data security and privacy considerations associated with the use of navigation apps, emphasizing the importance of including people with disabilities in policy discussions on how data will not be exposed unnecessarily. Clark said that ACB is focusing on expanding electronic voting options for people who are blind and low vision in those states where electronic absentee ballots are being made available to voters in other than in-person categories. Although the John Lewis Voting Rights Act passed in the House, Clark stated that, as long as the filibuster continues to present an obstacle to passing voting legislation in the Senate, he doesn’t expect the legislation to come up for a vote or to pass any time soon. Clark explained the importance of Planet Fitness’ commitment to purchase accessible exercise equipment as it becomes available. This provides an incentive for fitness equipment manufacturers, hotel chains, fitness centers, etc., who make large purchases of fitness equipment, to prioritize accessibility. Clark said that ACB continues to follow up with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) regarding the importance of providing necessary accommodations for blind and low-vision athletes. ACB’s advocacy contributed to USOPC’s formation of a working group whose goal is to assure better outcomes for disabled athletes who will be participating in the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Clark pointed to one example of the benefits of long-nurtured relationships with our corporate partners. When Apple released the 15.0 update to the iOS operating system, and ACB began hearing from members about a problem that prevented Siri from responding to previously available commands, Eric contacted Apple right away. Apple quickly indicated their awareness of the issue, and their plan to repair the defect as soon as possible. Apple’s head of global accessibility thanked ACB for bringing the issue to their attention. During lunch, the board went into executive session to discuss legal issues and personnel matters. No motions were made. When the board meeting resumed, officers and board members met separately to select representatives to the executive committee. The 2022 executive committee consists of Dan Spoone, Denise Colley, Deb Cook Lewis, Jeff Bishop and Doug Powell. Tony Stephens, Director of Development, said that launching and sustaining the growth of ACB Media, initiating the Sixty for Sixty campaign, planning and promoting the Audio Description Awards Gala, and sponsoring “Get Up and Get Moving” events, are converting people who were already familiar with ACB into lasting friends. A new focus on communicating through video (in addition to audio) broadens ACB’s outreach to people with low vision, as well as their sighted families and friends, and the broader community. During our convention, ACB Media filled 10 streams with appealing and relevant information, and subsequently shared podcasts on eight tracks that rolled out over 166 episodes, equaling more than 400 hours of edited content. Kelly Gasque shared that the public awareness steering committee’s recent development and maintenance of a public awareness calendar improves our ability to keep track of upcoming events and to bring the public’s attention to our involvement in activities and events that can attract widespread interest. Last year, our top Facebook post reached 478 people; this September, our top post reached more than 25,000 people. ACB communications manager Jennifer Flatt elaborated on how data allows ACB to capture what is actually happening with respect to our outreach and communications. The new emphasis on data analysis lets us know who we are reaching and who we are missing. “We want to be able to speak to our members in ways that they want to receive the information, not via methods which don’t really interest them,” she stated. ACB can use data to evaluate our activities, our communications channels, and our audiences, and then tailor priorities to match what the data is telling us. Data is also a key factor for telling our story when we pursue grants, identify partners, interact with members, and report to the board. Cindy Hollis, membership services coordinator, highlighted statistics that reflect steady growth in community participation and events, in new at-large members joining ACB, and in the number of at-large members who are discovering and joining affiliates. She presented several proposed additions to guidelines for administering community events, and, after discussion, the board approved them. The revised guidelines have been shared with hosts and facilitators, and implemented for all community events. Nancy Becker described the process that staff and ACB committees will follow to develop the budget for the coming year. She reported that the scholarship committee was developing the 2022 scholarship application. She said that the ongoing pandemic continues to impact thrift store operations and revenues. Nancy and David provided the year-to-date financial narrative. The board approved a new travel policy and an internship policy. Clark presented a revised proposed reasonable accommodations policy. Chris Bell advised that the suggested policy was incomplete. The board adopted the policy, subject to rewrites and revisions, with which Chris will assist. Those revisions will be presented at one of the next two scheduled board meetings. Penny Reeder described recent BOP-sponsored training in keyboard commands for formatting with Word offered to ACB affiliate newsletter editors. The editors’ list continues to attract participation, and additional meetings are being scheduled. She reminded everyone that the BOP meets on the first Tuesday of each month, the meetings are streamed live, and guests are welcome. BOP chair Katie Frederick added that the BOP is collaborating with the public awareness steering committee to develop processes for submitting material to the ACB Voices blog and assuring that blog content is timely and of the highest quality. Jennifer Flatt shared statistics related to our virtual convention and the increasingly important role the ACB Media network is playing within ACB and in our communications outreach. She described the recent reorganization of ACB Media channels that allows listeners to know what kinds of programming to expect on which channels. Channel 5 is dedicated to ACB Community events; channel 6 is for ACB events and meetings. She said that the ACB Media team is developing a process for streaming state affiliate conventions, and the team needs to collaborate with individual state affiliates at least four to six months in advance of a scheduled convention. Since August, the team had streamed 12 state conventions, with four more scheduled for the coming weekend. Dan and Eric then asked the board to think about what is working with respect to the EOS steering committee reorganization. Board members agreed that in most ways, the EOS committee structure, consistent methodology for organizing meetings, and commonality of accepted terminology are serving the organization well. ***** ** ACB Officers * President Dan Spoone (2nd term, 2023) 3924 Lake Mirage Blvd. Orlando, FL 32817-1554 * First Vice President Deb Cook Lewis (1st term, 2023) 1131 Liberty Dr. Clarkston, WA 99403 * Second Vice President Ray Campbell (2nd term, 2023) 460 Raintree Ct. #3K Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 * Secretary Denise Colley (2nd term, 2023) 3611 River Bend Dr. Rosenberg, TX 77471-4484 * Treasurer David Trott (final term, 2023) 1018 East St. S. Talladega, AL 35160 * Immediate Past President Kim Charlson 57 Grandview Ave. Watertown, MA 02472 ** ACB Board of Directors Christopher Bell, Pittsboro, NC (1st term, 2024) Jeff Bishop, Kirkland, WA (2nd term, 2024) Donna Brown, Romney, WV (1st term, 2024) James Kracht, Miami, FL (1st term, 2022) Doug Powell, Falls Church, VA (2nd term, 2024) Kenneth Semien Sr., Beaumont, TX (1st term, 2024) Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD (2nd term, 2022) Koni Sims, Sioux Falls, SD (partial term, 2022) Michael Talley, Hueytown, AL (1st term, 2022) Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA (1st term, 2022) ** ACB Board of Publications Katie Frederick, Chair, Worthington, OH (1st term, 2023) Cheryl Cumings, Boston, MA (1st term, 2023) Zelda Gebhard, Edgeley, ND (1st term, 2022) Penny Reeder, Montgomery Village, MD (2nd term, 2022) Cachet Wells, Jacksonville, FL (1st term, 2022) ***** Accessing Your ACB Braille and E-Forums The ACB E-Forum may be accessed by email, on the ACB web site, via download from the web page (in Word, plain text, or braille-ready file), or by phone at (518) 906-1820. To subscribe to the email version, contact Sharon Lovering, slovering@acb.org. The ACB Braille Forum is available by mail in braille, large print, NLS-style digital cartridge, and via email. It is also available to read or download from ACB’s web page, and by phone, (518) 906-1820. Subscribe to the podcast versions from your 2nd generation Victor Reader Stream or from https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-braille-forum-and-e-forum. ###