The ACB Braille Forum Volume LVI May 2018 No. 11 Published by the American Council of the Blind ***** ** Be A Part of ACB The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, contact the national office at 1-800-424-8666. ** Contribute to Our Work Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Attn: Treasurer, ACB, 6300 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Suite 195, 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 (605) 475-8154 and choose option 3. Tune in to ACB Radio at www.acbradio.org or by calling (712) 775-4808. Learn more about us at www.acb.org. Follow us on Twitter at @acbnational, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlindOfficial. © 2018 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: Marrakesh Treaty Moves Forward in Senate, by Kim Charlson Cisco Collaborates on Phones with American Council of the Blind This Year’s Convention Gives You the Chance to Earn Continuing Education Units, by Carla Ruschival Inviting Exhilarating Memories and Successes: DKM First-Timers Make a Difference!, by Kenneth Semien Sr. Come Learn How to Use the Best Features of ACB to Build Your Membership Constitution and Bylaws Committee Poised to Take Proposed Amendments All Aboard the Number-10 Dillon Express, by Donna Brown Committee Stands Ready to Help Get Your Resolutions through the Gateway, by Mark Richert Calling All Riverboat Gamblers! Get the Scoop in the Gateway Gazette Do You Love the Forum? Would You Like to Win $5,000? Summary of the ACB Midyear Board Meeting, by Deb Lewis Affiliate News Letter to the Editor Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski 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. * Keep up with the most important ACB news and announcements without any other chatter. Subscribe to the ACB Announce listserv. Send a blank e-mail to announce-subscribe@acblists.org, or visit www.ablists.org/mailman/listinfo/announce and type your e-mail address and name where indicated. * Check out ACB Radio Mainstream to keep abreast of happenings in the blind community. * The ACB Radio Café features the work of blind artists 24/7 at www.acbradio.org/cafe. ***** President’s Message: Marrakesh Treaty Moves Forward in Senate by Kim Charlson The American Council of the Blind was pleased to announce in March the introduction of the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (S. 2559). The legislation, introduced by Sens. Grassley, Feinstein, Hatch, Corker, Harris and Menendez, demonstrates the current bipartisan support for improving access to print material around the world by individuals who are blind or have other print disabilities. At the time this issue went to press, the Senate was slated to hold a hearing on the treaty, where it could be voted out of committee. It would then require a two-thirds majority of the U.S. Senate to fully enact the treaty. Once passed, it will implement the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaty. The treaty will help to overcome the current accessible media shortage around the world for people who are blind or who have other print disabilities. We’re extremely excited that the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Foreign Relations have come together in a bipartisan manner to tackle the book famine existing across the globe for people who are blind and trying to obtain accessible materials. As a librarian, I’m far too familiar with the hurdles individuals who are blind in other countries face when trying to get books in braille or in audio formats from international publishers. Those obstacles will be wiped away as more and more countries ratify the treaty. ACB has been actively involved with treaty advocacy since its inception and was represented in Marrakesh on June 27, 2013 when the final treaty document was passed by WIPO. Commonly referred to as the Marrakesh Treaty, it aims to facilitate access to materials in a specialized format to eligible individuals. Publishers, libraries, and authorized entities would then cooperate to support acquisition of accessible materials from a wide variety of international sources. It is estimated that only 5 percent of printed materials around the world are available in an accessible format. The Marrakesh Treaty will help improve the coordination and availability of accessible materials by removing copyright restraints that have previously made it difficult to share U.S. published works abroad in alternative formats. ***** Cisco Collaborates on Phones with American Council of the Blind Today’s enterprise environment requires effective, reliable telecommunication solutions. For employees who are blind or visually impaired, this means solutions that are free of access barriers. Working with collaborative input from the American Council of the Blind, Cisco has taken steps to address this need by offering the first mass-market, enterprise-grade desk phone that includes built-in text-to-speech functionality capable of conveying vital information on the phone’s display to the user through audible voice and tone indicators. This new functionality allows the blind and visually impaired to more easily connect anywhere they work. The software update on Cisco’s IP Phone 8800 Series is a significant milestone in Cisco’s ongoing efforts toward making the digital workplace more accessible for employees who are blind and visually impaired. You can find the software update 12.1(1) on Cisco’s website, www.cisco.com, now. ***** This Year’s Convention Gives You the Chance to Earn Continuing Education Units by Carla Ruschival The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) has designated the American Council of the Blind as a RPPLE Category 1 provider of continuing education opportunities in the field of blindness and visual impairment. Rehabilitation teachers and counselors, teachers of the visually impaired, low-vision therapists, orientation and mobility instructors, and others can earn continuing education credits at the ACB conference and convention. Credits will be offered for a wide range of programs, workshops, seminars, and other events presented by ACB and its committees, special-interest affiliates, and representatives of government agencies and private industry. As of this writing, offerings are still being developed; subjects may include transition, employment, technology, health issues, orientation and mobility, self-advocacy, braille, low-vision issues, daily living skills, social skills, etc. ACB conference and convention dates are June 29 to July 6, 2018. Programs offering CE credits will begin on Saturday, June 30 and continue through Wednesday, July 4. Details on programs and workshops offering continuing education credits are posted on the continuing education email list as soon as they are confirmed. Join the list by sending a blank email to continuing-education-subscribe@acblists.org. Pre-registration for the conference and convention opens on May 15, and will include the ability to register for continuing education credits. This initiative is part of the 2017 ACB strategic planning process. For more information, contact Carla Ruschival, CE Chair, by phone at (877) 630-7190, or by email, continuingeducation@acb.org. ***** Inviting Exhilarating Memories and Successes: DKM First-Timers Make a Difference! The DKM First-Timers Reception & Reunion Celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, July 4th, in St. Louis. In accordance with the 2018 theme, “Then and Now,” the DKM Committee requests that you submit your best memories of DKM First-Timer Receptions. We will select the best and most fun submissions to be presented during this year’s festivities. Additionally, we want to hear from former recipients of the DKM First-Timers Award concerning your positive involvement and contributions to the success of your chapter, community, affiliate and/or on the national level following the year you received the award. The most encouraging and inspirational submissions will be highlighted at the reception as well. Send those stories without delay, then be sure to plan to join us for the 2018 DKM First-Timers Reunion in St. Louis, Mo. We’re honoring the legacy of Durward K. McDaniel. It won’t be the same without you! Email your submission for each area in 50 words or less by June 1st to semien@sbcglobal.net. If you have questions, contact committee chairman Kenneth Semien Sr. by email, or call him at (409) 866-5838. — Kenneth Semien Sr. ***** Come Learn How to Use the Best Features of ACB to Build Your Membership ACB’s 2018 membership seminar will be held on Wednesday, July 4, from 2:45 to 4 p.m. The theme this year is “Using the best features of ACB to build membership.” We’ll kick it off at 2:45 p.m. with the welcome and introductions, then move on to a panel discussion focusing on how your purpose, mission and vision can increase your membership. Panelists include ACB board member George Holliday and John Huffman, president of the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss. Not sure what the purpose, mission and vision are? Come and find out. There will be time for questions afterward. Our second panel will focus on advocacy – both self-advocacy and group advocacy – and how it can strengthen your membership. Panelists include ACB board member Jeff Thom. Yes, there will be time for questions afterward. Immediately after the last question-and-answer session, we will announce the winners of the 2018 Affiliate Growth Awards. As this issue goes to press, the numbers are too close to call! Is your affiliate one of the winners? Come and check! At the end of the seminar, we will pass out the different handouts and draw names for door prizes. ***** Constitution and Bylaws Committee Poised to Take Proposed Amendments This note is to remind ACB leaders and members of the procedures for proposing amendments to the organization’s constitution and bylaws. Proposed amendments must be presented in writing to the constitution and bylaws committee before the end of the first day following the day of the roll call session of the conference and convention. In 2018 this deadline is end of day (24:00) Central time, Sunday, July 1. Amendments received after that time will not be considered. Amendments, whenever possible, shall be submitted electronically in ASCII text format. Proposed amendments may be sent to me at j73.huffman@comcast.net. If you have questions, send them to the same email address, or call me at (317) 228-0496. Additional information about the amendment process or procedures of the constitution and bylaws committee can be found in Article XI of the ACB Constitution and in Bylaw 6, Section D. The current constitution and bylaws may be found at www.acb.org/constitution-bylaws. We encourage anyone interested in proposing amendments to review the current constitution and bylaws before doing so. — John Huffman ***** All Aboard the Number-10 Dillon Express It’s time to make your reservations for a seat on the Number-10 Dillon Express! This is the only train where space is not limited, the ticket price is the same regardless of your destination, and most importantly, you don’t have to be at the ACB national conference and convention to reserve your seat and ride this train. Registration for the 2018 ACB Walk is now open. You may register as an on-site or virtual walker online at https://acb.donorpages.com/2018ACBWalk/ or by calling the Minneapolis office at (612) 332-3242. The registration fee is only $25. Affiliates can also create teams and designate up to 50% of the money they raise to come back to their affiliate. Teams also have the opportunity to win prizes for raising the most money and for having the largest number of walkers present at the actual walk site. The 2018 ACB Walk will be held at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 30. The walk route will take you through some areas that you might not explore on your own just outside of the convention hotel. Our goal is to raise at least $67,000 this year. So climb aboard and be a part of the 10th anniversary of the ACB Walk, and help us reach this fund-raising goal by seeking donations from family, friends, co-workers, business owners, etc. As of this writing, there are already 13 teams signed up and 17 individuals registered. $1,050 has been raised so far, with the Florida Hurricanes and Leslie Spoone in the lead with over $400 raised. Now step right up to the accessible kiosk and purchase your ticket for the Number-10 Dillon Express, and begin raising money for ACB and your affiliate! Remember, virtual walkers are encouraged to be a part of this 10th anniversary walk. — Donna Brown, Walk Committee Chair ***** Committee Stands Ready to Help Get Your Resolutions through the Gateway by Mark Richert We are so very fortunate to be part of an organization that actively encourages each of us as members to exercise leadership in formulating our organization’s positions on critical issues and, thereby, to nurture the democratic spirit that is what ACB is all about. I am talking about ACB’s resolutions process, undertaken at each year’s conference and convention. In preparation for that important work this summer, here are a few things to know and some tips on getting involved in the process even before July. The resolutions committee will be meeting in person during our convention for five consecutive nights, Saturday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 4. Please consult the convention program for the meeting location and each night’s start time. To have your resolution considered by the committee, I must receive it from you no later than 9 p.m. Sunday, July 1, but I strongly encourage you to submit it to me well in advance of that deadline. Any ACB member is welcome to submit a draft resolution to me at any time up to and including during the July conference and convention, so long as I receive your submission no later than 9 p.m. Sunday, July 1. Drafts that are not received in a timely manner will only be considered at the committee’s discretion. In the event that a special-interest affiliate or similar group needs to formally approve the text of a resolution prior to its submission, and assuming that the affiliate or group must meet after the Sunday, July 1, 9 p.m. deadline, the resolutions committee will certainly entertain such resolutions. However, we will consider them if, and only if, the affiliate’s or group’s leadership lets me know before the deadline that the affiliate or group may be submitting a resolution. We ask this of you because it is critical that the committee be able to manage its work flow throughout convention week. Resolutions that are submitted outside of these parameters will only be considered at the committee’s discretion. Now I’ve said this to you before, but I hope this not only sinks in but also makes you smile just a bit. A draft resolution will only be regarded as having been received if I myself have received it. Rumors of drafts, drafts merely existing in someone’s imagination, drafts that are only titles of resolutions, drafts that are merely a couple words scribbled on a cocktail napkin, drafts written in Russian and smuggled out of Moscow or even out of the White House, or anything in any form whatsoever that is transmitted to another person other than me or that isn’t obviously something resembling a resolution will not be considered received. While you need not worry whether your resolution is in proper, formal resolution form per se when you submit it to me, the thing you submit to me must clearly be a communication that says that you want the communication to be considered as a resolution by the resolutions committee, and it must be written so that it plainly declares what you believe ACB should say or do. You may submit your draft resolution to me via e-mail at MRichert@afb.net so long as you make it clear in the subject line and/or the body of your message that you are submitting a draft resolution for consideration by the committee. I will also accept brailled copies of draft resolutions that you may hand to me during the convention, as well as commonly used word-processed electronic files shared with me directly on some sort of ordinarily available digital medium. Please do not ask another person, even someone whom you believe to be on the resolutions committee, to turn in your resolution for you. Between my email address, my general availability during this summer’s convention, and the regular hours during which the committee will be meeting, you should have plenty of opportunity to convey your draft. If none of these means for communicating your draft resolution meet your needs, I’m sure the ACB national office would love to hear from you and help you out. If you have any questions about the preparation of your draft resolution or about the resolutions process, please contact me via email or call me on my mobile phone, (571) 438-7895, including during convention week this July. I look forward to working with all of you. ***** Calling All Riverboat Gamblers! Are you coming to the banks of the Mississippi for this summer’s ACB conference and convention from June 30 to July 6 at the Union Station Hotel in St. Louis? If so, do you like to look for bargains, tussle with your friends and support ACB at the same time? If your answer to these questions is yes, then this year’s ACB auction, “Meet Me at the Auction,” is a can’t miss on your convention agenda. The 2018 auction will take place on Tuesday, July 3, at 7 p.m., with previewing of items beginning at 6 p.m. As always, there will be bargains galore due to the generosity of our many corporate friends, ACB affiliates and members who donate amazing items for the auction. Without you, this event just wouldn’t happen. For those donating an item for this year’s auction, but who do not want to bring it with them or who are not attending the convention, you can send it to the following address: Missouri Council of the Blind, Attention: American Council of the Blind Auction, 5453 Chippewa St., St. Louis, MO 63109. If you are shipping your item, it must be received by May 31. Also, whether you are shipping your item or bringing it with you, you must provide an item description by May 31 to auction committee chair Kim Hebert. You may send her the description by e-mail at kheb1960@gmail.com or by calling her at (337) 280-9106. Make sure that your description provides sufficient information to enable bidders to know what makes the item unique or worth having. So, all you crazy riverboat gamblers, come support ACB and have a wild old time and “Meet Me at the Auction.” ***** Get the Scoop in the Gateway Gazette Are you coming to convention? Do you like helping out where needed? The Marcia Nigro Dresser Communication Center is now seeking volunteers to help collate and staple papers, take ads and announcements, and staff the room. Sharon Lovering is the operations manager. She is seeking volunteers to fill two-hour shifts throughout the day (8-10 a.m., 10 a.m.-noon, noon-2 p.m., and 2-4 p.m.). The communication center will be open Friday through Wednesday, and be taken down Thursday morning; it will open daily at 8 a.m. and close to the public at 5 p.m. To sign up for a shift, contact Sharon at the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. This year’s convention newspaper will be called “The Gateway Gazette.” It will run from Friday through Wednesday in braille and large print. Ads and other items intended for publication must be in the center’s hands by 2 p.m. each day. Ads should be 75 words or less. By a directive from the board of publications, ads will be allowed to run for three days maximum – no exceptions. If you wish to advertise in the newspaper, please contact Margarine Beaman, advertising and sponsorship coordinator, at (512) 921-1625 or by email, oleo50@hotmail.com. The BOP’s editorial policy manual prohibits us from producing or distributing campaign materials. During the evenings, we will need people to help collate and staple the braille papers. Thanks to HumanWare, we will have three braille printers this year. Are you a night owl? Are you good at separating braille copies from each other, separating the pages, collating and stapling? Drop by and see if the communication center needs help. If you have signed up for home delivery of “The Gateway Gazette,” drop by the information desk and give them your name, room number, and format preference once you arrive. This will ensure that you don’t miss an issue. Hold onto your Friday issue; it will include all the suite numbers, phone numbers, and room changes. If your committee or affiliate needs something brailled, we will be able to do that. Make certain you label your thumb drive or memory card before bringing them down to the communication center, and tell us how many copies you will need, by what time, as well as how we can reach you (room number, cell phone, etc.). Please make sure that your document(s) are on the drive or memory card before you come down. Bring your items down in the morning before the general session to help us fit them in. Affiliates, if you know who your delegate, alternate, and nominating committee representative will be, please let Ray Campbell, ray153056@gmail.com, and Sharon Lovering, slovering@acb.org, know as soon as possible. ***** Do You Love the Forum? Would You Like to Win $5,000? We in ACB have loved and enjoyed “The ACB Braille Forum” for many years now, as it is our organ of public information, and a magazine which is good and informative for all of us. We must keep this public information organ alive and well, and hope that all of you will be willing and anxious to help with this ongoing project. How can you help keep this magazine alive? Participate in “The ACB Braille Forum” drawing! We are offering prizes of $500 for the third-prize winner, $1,000 for the second-prize winner, and a grand prize of $5,000 for the first-prize winner!!! This should be something to excite everyone who likes money. Tickets cost $50 each, or you and four of your friends can get together to buy a ticket for $50, with the understanding that if you win, your prize will be divided by five. If you wish to buy tickets in advance, by credit card, debit card, or check, call our Minneapolis office at (612) 332-3242. If you wish to buy your tickets at the convention, visit the ACB Mini Mall booth, or see David Trott, Allan Peterson, or any member of the resource development committee. We hope that many people will participate in this effort to support the Forum. The winners will be drawn at the convention banquet on Thursday, July 5th. Can’t make it? Listen to the banquet via ACB Radio and see if you win! ***** Summary of the ACB Midyear Board Meeting by Deb Lewis The American Council of the Blind board met in Alexandria, Va. on Feb. 24 in conjunction with the midyear meeting and legislative seminar. President Kim Charlson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. with all members present, except for second vice president John McCann and board members Jeff Bishop and Sara Conrad, who were excused. The agenda was adopted, and minutes of the Nov. 27 and 30 meetings were approved. Charlson moved directly into staff reports and incorporated her president’s report along the way. Executive director Eric Bridges reflected on ACB’s accomplishments in the past three years. In 2015, ACB had a financial deficit of $180,000; income increased 200% in 2016 and 52% in 2017. In 2018, the Alexandria office has added more office space. The new position, advocacy and outreach specialist, is being filled by former ACB scholarship winner Claire Stanley, who comes from the Mid-Atlantic ADA Technical Assistance Center. She has a strong background as an advocate for people with disabilities, and will assist Tony with ACB’s efforts in this arena. Eric reported that he will have traveled 27,000 miles between January and April on behalf of ACB. A joint press release is scheduled from ACB and the U.S. Business Leadership Network (BLN) announcing a strategic partnership for 2018. Tony stated that the messages to Congress are that we need to fight for what is most important and we need to encourage government to spend smarter to offset the budget deficits. The Medicare Demonstration Bill and the Cogswell Macy Act are examples of encouraging smarter spending. Recent regulatory activity included work with the FCC Program Access Committee on Emergency Crawls, with a positive outcome being webinars on best practices for audio description of emergency broadcasts. Transportation issues continue to be important, with ACB actively involved in negotiating with Delta regarding changes to their recently adopted service animal policy. Tony thanked Ray Campbell for his involvement to ensure a positive outcome with United Airlines and their service animal policy. There was lengthy discussion of the OMB rule that requires states to get prior approval for program service expenditures above $2,500. Tony will continue to seek clarification and resolution of this matter in collaboration with the rehabilitation issues task force. Kelly Gasque reported that the new website is scheduled to launch in late spring following rigorous testing from staff and volunteers. She noted that there has been specific input about features for low-vision users, and several enhancements have been made based on this feedback. All marketing materials are being redesigned for consistency, modernization, and to include the new logo. There are over 2,200 Twitter followers and 3,300 Facebook likes. Tom Tobin began the development report with outcomes of the year-end appeal and discussion of the upcoming spring appeal campaign. He also reported on the Angels program and recent outcomes in planned giving. Jo Lynn Bailey-Page emphasized the importance of relationship-building as a component of successful fundraising. She read a letter from Delta Gamma announcing their continued support for “The ACB Braille Forum” as an example of ACB’s fundraising strategy of preparation, personal cultivation and persistence. She reviewed statistics for grants in 2018 and noted that ACB’s strategic planning, along with consistent data collection, make us a prime candidate for funding from small foundations, which will in time set us up to approach larger entities. She observed that our long-term funding success will likely come through corporate consulting relationships being cultivated by Eric. Larry Turnbull, ACB Radio manager, said there were 95 stream listeners for the auction in December, with another 600 on the phone. Main Menu and Speaking out for the Blind have highest ratings on Mainstream. Treasure Trove continues to have the most listeners. There was discussion of improved access on the Amazon devices through Alexa, and discussion of the ever-changing phone numbers for Audio Now. Larry is seeking beta testers for the Android version of ACB Link, which will be available soon. Board members expressed concerns about the overall usability of ACB Link, which Larry will address through training opportunities and design review in collaboration with the marketing and communications team. Nancy Becker reported that affiliates can opt out of receiving confirmation updates in AMMS, and Sharon can now automate acceptance of specific ones. ACB is transitioning from paper checks to electronic transfer for affiliate MMS payments, with 50% completed. Preparations are under way for the annual audit. Fixed assets are being transitioned to one database for better management and accountability. Nancy reviewed the balance sheet and explained how the information is derived. Staff were missing Dee and hoped her position could be filled soon. The board voted to accept all staff reports. During lunch, the board met in executive session to discuss ACBES issues and other financial developments. David Trott reviewed the December financials, investments and budget report in detail; the treasurer’s report was adopted. Then he and Nancy presented the proposed endowment policy. The board voted to name the previously authorized fund the Legacy Endowment. After discussion and revisions, the policy was adopted establishing how unrestricted contributions above $25,000 will be distributed between the Legacy Endowment and board-designated reserves. Donna Brown introduced this year’s walk song for the walk’s 10th anniversary. Affiliates are encouraged to designate a local MMS coordinator to encourage participation at affiliate conventions. The resource development committee is developing a timeline for each fundraising activity, beginning with the Forum raffle, outlining program steps and monthly activities along with other program connections necessary to accomplish the goal. The auction will be part of convention again this year, and roll call was emphasized as an opportunity for affiliates to be publicly recognized for contributions to ACB programs. The board accepted the RDC report. Arrangements are in full swing for the 2018 convention in St. Louis, with registration from May 15 to June 17. The print convention program is longer this year to meet the requirements of ACB’s new large print guidelines, and the convention committee is considering ways to make it more manageable, including possibly dividing it into volumes as is done with the braille version. The fall board meeting in Rochester will be Oct. 5, and the 2019 convention dates in Rochester are July 5-12. Janet announced that the 2020 ACB convention will be held July 3-10 in Schaumburg, Ill. A motion was approved at the fall board meeting for Omaha in 2021, but there are other possibilities in Las Vegas and Phoenix, so the board approved a motion authorizing the convention committee to consider all possible venues for 2021. Janet’s report was accepted. The board of publications worked closely with the national office to eliminate both the cassette and CD versions of the Forum and to implement the cartridge version through a contract with Perkins. ACB podcasts are being added to the Alexa devices in collaboration with ACB Radio. The Editorial Policy Manual is being totally rewritten to reflect the BOP’s collaboration with other committees and groups within ACB as well as modernizing the language to be consistent and readable. This year the candidates’ forum will have a new look and feel as an online forum prior to convention, with a town hall meeting at convention. The writers’ workshop will focus on personal branding, which Deb hoped would be of great interest to affiliates and individuals. The BOP report was accepted. Each of the strategic action teams reported on their progress. Eric’s overall goal for 2018 is to communicate progress on the 5 action goals. Each team will submit an article to the Forum highlighting their work in the context of the strategic plan. The membership team conducted focus groups at convention and is conducting an affiliate survey with a goal of increasing membership by 3 percent. Marketing and communications is developing a communications plan with a new logo, consistency across media, and coordination of communications among programs. The meetings and conventions team announced that many convention sessions have been approved for professional accreditation through ACVREP. There is also a focus on enhancing the convention experience for scholarship, DKM and leadership recipients through mentoring and guidance. The team reports were accepted. Officer liaisons and committee chairs provided brief updates on committee activity, particularly focusing on planned convention programming. After completing all business, the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. ***** Affiliate News ** Teachers’ Features for the 2018 Convention Most teachers make lesson plans, but the American Association of Blind Teachers (AABT) has been making exciting convention plans for the 2018 ACB convention in St. Louis. We begin Saturday morning, June 30th from 8:00 to 10:15 with the AABT Food for Thought Breakfast. Come and share a book or quote that has shaped your teaching or saved your sanity. In addition to food for thought, there will also be good food to eat and time to socialize. Our annual business meeting will follow. Even though it isn’t an official part of AABT’s program offerings, we strongly encourage you to attend the Missouri School for the Blind tour on Monday afternoon, July 2nd. It’s always interesting to learn about schools in other states, and this promises to be an excellent tour. On Tuesday, July 3rd at 1:15 p.m., Amber Steet, the student representative of the American Association of Blind Teachers from Kutztown, Pa. will present a workshop titled “Transitioning from High School to College.” In her presentation, she will give us an analysis of effective transition planning for students with disabilities. We highly recommend this workshop for teachers and other professionals who work with students with disabilities as well as students and parents. Also on Tuesday afternoon, from 2:45 to 4 p.m., the Audio Description Project (ADP) is holding a workshop titled “Teachers and Audio Description,” which is chaired by AABT president Susan Glass. Programs like the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) and several published papers have demonstrated how teachers can use audio description as a classroom aid and can build literacy for all students. The ADP’s special initiative, Benefits of Audio Description in Education (BADIE), has been a tremendous success at encouraging kids to write about description and described programs they’ve enjoyed. Potential panelists include: Kim Charlson, ACB president and Librarian, Perkins School for the Blind; Jason Stark, Director, DCMP; AABT member Donna Brown, West Virginia School for the Blind; and an autism and AD specialist. Since the ADP is handling program, registration and ticketing details, AABT members interested in attending the “Teaching and Audio Description” workshop should visit www.acb.org/adp. As you can see, AABT has an interesting convention program planned for you, with plenty of opportunities for education and inspiration. You will be able to meet professionals in your field and compare notes with colleagues. You may even be able to earn CEU’s for attending some convention activities. We hope to see you there. ** AAVIA Moot Court in St. Louis As part of the ACB tour to the historic court house on Tuesday, July 3, the American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys (AAVIA) will present a moot trial regarding the historic court trial of Dred Scott’s suit to be freed from slavery after being taken by his owner to states and territories of the United States where slavery was outlawed. The multicultural affairs committee will also participate in this presentation. After considering appeals from the lower courts’ decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in 1857 which held that slaves were not citizens and the taking of Dred Scott to states or territories which did not allow slavery would not cause Scott to be freed. This controversial decision contributed to the sharp division in the United States in the late 1850s regarding slavery, and the beginning of the Civil War. The moot trial will present a courtroom drama which eventually resulted in the Supreme Court decision. It will be held in the original court room where the trial occurred in 1846, and be part of the historic court house building tour. ** ACB Diabetics in Action We have been working hard to get all members more interested in their affiliate by having more general meetings by phone. We meet on the third Sunday of each month at 8 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Pacific. The call-in number is (712) 432-3675; follow the prompts to room 0. Everyone is welcome. Our convention schedule is as follows: Saturday, June 30th, 1:15 p.m.: Diabetes seminar, $8 pre-reg, $10 at the door Monday, July 2nd, 4:15 p.m.: mixer, $15 pre-reg, $18 at the door Tuesday, July 3rd, 12:15 p.m.: luncheon and general meeting (prices TBA) Hope to see many of you participating in these activities. The fundraising committee is selling 50/50 raffle tickets. Tickets are $5 for one ticket, $20 for 5 tickets. To get yours, contact Sandy Feldman at (515) 729-8427, or email her, sandy.feldman3@gmail.com. ** Meet IVIE in St. Louis! On behalf of the Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE), I encourage you to meet me in Saint Louis because IVIE has some exciting activities planned for convention week! We kick things off on Saturday evening, June 30th with the annual RSVA/IVIE Mixer. This will take place immediately after the ACB opening general session. Join old friends and make new friends from the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America and IVIE as we share light refreshments, conversation and relaxation. The remaining IVIE activities for convention week will take place on Tuesday, July 3rd from 12:15 to 5:45 p.m. We begin at 12:15 with our annual luncheon, program and business meeting. The title of this year’s program will be, “From Employee to Entrepreneur.” In this presentation, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of moving from a job to having your own business. Our program presenter will be Mitch Pomerantz, independent ADA consultant/trainer and a former president of ACB from Pasadena, Calif. Our business meeting will follow Mitch’s presentation. The IVIE Business Expo will take place from 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. Blind and visually impaired business owners will showcase their products and services and answer your questions. The expo will also give you the opportunity to start your holiday shopping early, because you will doubtless find some unique gifts there. Browsing is free and no ticket will be necessary to be admitted. However, if you would like to have a booth at the IVIE Business Expo, you must reserve it in advance. The cost will be $10 for IVIE members and $25 for non-members, with the option of applying $15 of this cost toward annual IVIE dues. Since IVIE’s calendar year runs from July 1st to June 30th, this would be an ideal time to pay your dues. Annual dues for IVIE are only $15. You can reserve your expo booth and/or pay your annual dues online by visiting www.ivie-acb.org. Or, if you’d prefer, you can make a check payable to IVIE and send it to our president, Ardis Bazyn, 2121 Scott Rd. Apt. 105, Burbank, CA 91504. Please designate whether your check is for annual dues, an expo booth, or both. If you are submitting your dues, be sure to fill out and include the IVIE membership form, which can be found on our web site. If you have any questions about the IVIE Expo or this year’s program offerings at the ACB convention, contact Carla Hayes at (724) 941-8184, or via email, lengual@verizon.net. So, will you meet me in St. Louis? I can’t promise you a fancy movie set or autographs from famous actors, but if you make time for IVIE at this year’s ACB convention, you will be glad that you did! ** Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America 50th Anniversary Celebration RSVA is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year at the 2018 ACB convention. This year’s theme is “Celebrating fifty years of achievement and advocacy.” Activities will include the 50th Anniversary Awards Luncheon, where the featured speaker will be Jennings Randolph Jr. from St. Louis. He is a retired sports entertainer who often traveled with his father to vendors’ sites after the Randolph-Sheppard Act became law in 1936. His father, Sen. Jennings Randolph, was one of the co-sponsors of the landmark bill giving the priority to blind people to manage food service facilities in federal buildings. This act soon led to state laws known as mini Randolph-Sheppard Acts giving priority for food service facilities in state and county buildings. Watch for other special RSVA events during the upcoming conference. ***** Letter to the Editor The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, March 26, 2018. Letters are limited to 300 words or fewer. All submissions must include the author’s name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. ** Regarding ‘Diversity Enriches Our Society’ I was surprised and rather dismayed reading this article in the February E-Forum, which I thought was supposed to concern itself with blind people and their issues, rather than pushing a political agenda. I’d like to think that the vast majority of blind people judge others based on what kind of a person they are, as Martin Luther King said, on the basis of character, rather than anything else. If anyone is angry it’s because of political correctness being shoved at us from every conceivable direction. Of course, as humans, we all want the same things. But it gets really maddening when one is at a job, and you hear how there has to be a certain amount of this or that nationality recognized for promotion purposes, rather than getting on merit; that standards have to be lowered to be inclusive, rather than people being made to care enough to bother to raise their level; to not consider that other countries have their own borders, language, and culture, which they enforce, and that to maintain our national sovereignty we have the right to enforce the same, and to insist that people entering our country do so legally. Diversity can be strength, but not if multiculturalism excludes a nation’s people having common values as one people rather than not having common ground so as to be fractured by the manipulations of identity politics, which will only cause future strife. My opinions are more than you would typically be concerned with. The point is that this magazine is supposed to be about blind people and their issues and how we can deal with them. Political indoctrination can come from elsewhere. — Kathy Brandt, Laurel, Md. ***** Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date. ** Trigger for Macular Degeneration Discovered Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine recently discovered a critical trigger for the damaging inflammation that ultimately robs millions of their sight. The finding may allow doctors to halt the inflammation early on, potentially saving patients from blindness. Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati and Dr. Nagaraj Kerur have determined that the culprit is an enzyme called cGAS. The enzyme plays an important role in the body’s immune response to infections by detecting foreign DNA. But the molecule’s newly identified role in the “dry” form of age-related macular degeneration comes as wholly unexpected. ** Perkins Forms New Partnerships Perkins School for the Blind recently announced new partnerships in Russia, Indonesia and across Latin America to train educators through Perkins International Academy. This innovative teacher training program is part of Perkins’ global effort to educate 6 million of the world’s most vulnerable children by equipping educators with the knowledge and skills to effectively teach youth with multiple disabilities and visual impairment, including deaf-blindness. Russia has signed on to educate nearly 300 teachers from 40 different provinces around the country. Perkins also recently signed an agreement with Indonesia’s Ministry of Education and Culture, where 90 teachers will complete training before the end of the year. Perkins is currently in conversation with more than two dozen countries whose populations could greatly benefit from similar partnership opportunities. ** Free Class through Hadley Are you considering a guide dog? Hadley’s new story-based course encourages you to think about becoming a guide dog handler. The five-lesson course, number GDG-102, is available in braille, digital talking book, large print, digital talking book download, and online. Please note: This course is not intended as a training course for guide dog use. For more information, visit https://hadley.edu/ShowCourseDetail.asp?courseid=GDG-102 . ** Extra Mile Award Winners The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) recently presented the Extra Mile Award to FirstBuild, a “think tank,” design, development, and production facility operated by GE Appliances. Located in Louisville, FirstBuild opens its doors to people in the community who have ideas they want to turn into products. Workspace, supplies, and tools are all available, as is the expertise of design and engineering professionals. FirstBuild offers advanced manufacturing techniques and equipment, such as 3D printers and rapid prototyping tools, that individuals or small businesses may not otherwise have access to. Also receiving the Extra Mile Award this year is Jack DuPlessis, a 14-year-old freshman at DuPont Manual High School, who took his idea to make GE washers and dryers accessible to people who are blind and visually impaired to FirstBuild. The result of his work is the Talking Laundry Module, now being sold through FirstBuild. ** Lighthouse Guild Honors Scientists Lighthouse Guild recently honored two scientists for their significant achievements in vision research at the 2017 Alfred W. Bressler Vision Science Symposium and Award Luncheon and the Pisart Award Lecture. Dr. Russell N. Van Gelder was presented with the 2017 Bressler Prize, and Dr. Yoshikazu Imanishi received the 2017 Pisart Award. Dr. Van Gelder is the department chair for the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Dr. Imanishi is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. ** New from National Braille Press National Braille Press now has print-braille birthday cards available! The front of the card features a birthday cake with five burning candles; the message, “Wishing You a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” is above the cake, in print and braille. The inside of the card is blank. Also available is “You and Your Apple Watch: A Guide for Blind Users,” by Anna Dresner. It is available in braille, BRF, Word, and DAISY. Now available is “For Women Only: Health Information Just for Women,” written by Nutrition Action Healthletter. It is available in braille (2 volumes), and includes 11 tactile graphics. It is also available as an electronic (BRF) edition which does not include the graphics. Over in the children’s department, newly available is “Mouse Soup,” by Arnold Lobel. It’s available in contracted UEB for ages 3 to 8. Weasel is ready for his dinner, and poor Mouse is it. Can Mouse stop Weasel from serving up mouse soup for supper? Read and find out! For more information, contact NBP, 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115-4302; call toll-free 1-800-548-7323; or visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/index.html. ***** ACB Officers ** President Kim Charlson (3rd term, 2019) 57 Grandview Ave. Watertown, MA 02472 ** First Vice President Dan Spoone (1st term, 2019) 3924 Lake Mirage Blvd. Orlando, FL 32817-1554 ** Second Vice President John McCann (2nd term, 2019) 8761 E. Placita Bolivar Tucson, AZ 85715-5650 ** Secretary Ray Campbell (3rd term, 2019) 460 Raintree Ct. #3K Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 ** Treasurer David Trott (1st term, 2019) 1018 East St. S. Talladega, AL 35160 ** Immediate Past President Mitch Pomerantz 1115 Cordova St. #402 Pasadena, CA 91106 ** ACB Board of Directors Jeff Bishop, Kirkland, WA (1st term, 2020) Denise Colley, Lacey, WA (1st term, 2020) Sara Conrad, Madison, WI (final term, 2020) Dan Dillon, Hermitage, TN (1st term, 2020) Katie Frederick, Worthington, OH (1st term, 2018) George Holliday, Philadelphia, PA (final term, 2018) Allan Peterson, Horace, ND (final term, 2018) Doug Powell, Falls Church, VA (partial term, 2020) Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD (1st term, 2018) Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA (partial term, 2018) Ex Officio: Debbie Lewis, Seattle, WA ** ACB Board of Publications Ron Brooks, Chairman, Phoenix, AZ (2nd term, 2019) Donna Brown, Romney, WV (1st term, 2019) Paul Edwards, Miami, FL (1st term, 2018) Susan Glass, Saratoga, CA (2nd term, 2019) Debbie Lewis, Seattle, WA (1st term, 2018) Ex Officios: Katie Frederick, Worthington, OH Bob Hachey, Waltham, MA Berl Colley, Lacey, WA Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY ***** 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 (605) 475-8154. To subscribe to the email version, visit the ACB e-mail lists page at www.acb.org. The ACB Braille Forum is available by mail in braille, large print, digital cartridge, and via email. It is also available to read or download from ACB’s web page, and by phone, (605) 475-8154. Subscribe to the podcast versions from your 2nd generation Victor Reader Stream or from http://www.acb.org/bf/.