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  • Home
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  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
      • 2001 ACB Board Minutes
        • July 7, 2001, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 20, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 22 & 23, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2002 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 30, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 17, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JUNE 30, JULY 5, 2002, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 41ST ANNUAL CONVENTION, HOUSTON, TEXAS
        • July 6, 2002, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 29, 2002, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 17, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 25, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 21 & 22, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2003 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 15, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 11, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 16, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 2, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 5, JULY 11, 2003, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 42nd ANNUAL CONVENTION, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
        • January 16, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 12, 2003, Post Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2003, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 4, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 25, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2004 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 1, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • April 22, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • August 11, September 1, October 6 & October 12, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 15 & 16, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 3, JULY 10, 2004, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 43rd ANNUAL CONVENTION, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
        • January 14, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 10, 2004, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 3, 2004, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 22, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2005 ACB Board Minutes
        • Convention Standing Rules, Adopted July 4, 2005
        • February 14, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 2 - JULY 9, 2005, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 44th ANNUAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
        • January 22, & 23, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 2, 2005, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 9, 2005, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 11, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 22, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 1 & 2, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2006 ACB Board Minutes
        • February 20 & 21, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 8 - JULY 15, 2006, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 45th ANNUAL CONVENTION, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
        • July 15, 2006, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 8, 2006, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 30, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 6, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 23 & 24, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2007 ACB Board Minutes
        • August 2, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JUNE 30 – JULY 7, 2007, CONVENTION RECORD, 46th ANNUAL CONVENTION, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
        • January 4, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 7, 2007, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 30, 2007, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 10 – 11, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 23, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 13, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 29, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2008 ACB Board Minutes
        • Convention Record of the 47th annual Convention of the American Council of the Blind
        • February 8 and 9, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • January 2, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 12, 2008, Post-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2008, Pre-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 4, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 15 - 16, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 1, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2009 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 15, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 20, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 11, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 4, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 21, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 12 - 13, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2010 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 13,2010 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • February 19, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 10, 2010, Pre-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 17, 2010, Post Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 9, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 22, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2011 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 14, 2011 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • January 11, 2011 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • Mid Year Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • October 1, 2011 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • Post Convention Meeting of the American Council of the Blind Board of Directors
        • Pre convention Board of Directors Meeting, American Council of the Blind
        • Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors, May 5th 2011
      • 2012 Meeting Minutes
        • December 12, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • February 23-24, 2012 Mid Year Board Of Directors Meeting
        • July 14, 2012 Board of Directors Meeting of the American Council of the Blind
        • July 7, 2012 Pre-Convention Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • June 7, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • May 9, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • September 15, 2012 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
      • 2013 Meeting Minutes
        • August 21, 2013 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • December 17, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • February 22, 2013 Mid Year ACB Board of Directors Meeting
        • January 3, 2013 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • July 5, 2013 Pre-Convention Board of Directors Meeting
        • Minutes of the American Council of the Blind 2013 Post Convention Board of Directors Meeting
        • October 30, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • September 28, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
      • 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • December 8th and 9th, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • February 21, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • January 30, 2014 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • July 12, 2014 Pre-Convention ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • July 19, 2014 Post-Convention ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • June 9, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • November 13, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • October 17 and 18, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
      • 2015 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • December 3 and 10, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • February 21, 2015, Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • July 4, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • October 30-31, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
      • 2016 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
        • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
        • American Council of the Blind Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • February 27, 2016 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
      • 2017 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes Aug 22, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Feb 25, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Jun 30, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Nov 27, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Oct 27, 2017
      • 2018 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • American Council of the Blind Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 29, 2018
        • Board of Directors Minutes Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2018
        • Board of Directors Minutes Oct. 5-6, 2018
      • 2019 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes August 22, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes Feb. 23, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes July 5, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes Nov 11 and 18, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes: Oct. 18 and 19, 2019
      • 2020 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes Apr 23, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Feb 22, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Jan 23, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Mar 30, 2020
      • John McCann for ACB Board of Directors
    • Board of Publications
      • 2009 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 6, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 20, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 5, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 5, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • March 2, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • November 2, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 14, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2010 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 5, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • August 2, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • December 6, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 19, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 4, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 11, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • June 7, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • March 1, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • May 3, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • November 1, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • October 4, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 6, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2011 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 4, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • August 1, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • December 5, 2011, Board of Publications Meeting Minutes October 3, 2011
        • February 25, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 7, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 3, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 10, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • June 6, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • May 2, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • October 3, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 5, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 2, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • August 6, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 10, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 24, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • February 6, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • January 2, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • July 8, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 7, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 1, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • August 13, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 2, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 22, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 4, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • January 7, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 6, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 4, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • October 7, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • September 9, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 7, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • August 4, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 1, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 21, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • January 6, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • July 13, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • June 2, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 3, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • October 6, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • September 8, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 6, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 2, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • June 1, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • March 2, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 4, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 9, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2016 BOP Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes-Apr. 4, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Aug. 2, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Dec. 6, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Feb. 8, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Jan. 4, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-July 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Jun. 6, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Mar. 7, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-May 2, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Nov. 1, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Oct. 4, 2016
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes for September 6, 2016
      • 2017 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes for April 4, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for August 1, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for December 5, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for February 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for January 3, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for July 1, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for June 6, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for March 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for November 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for September 5, 2017
      • 2018 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 30, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Apr. 3, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 7, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 9, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 5, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Mar. 7, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - May 1, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Nov. 13, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 9, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 4, 2018
      • 2019 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Apr. 2, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 13, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Dec. 3, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Feb. 5, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 8, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jul. 6, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 4, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Mar. 12, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - May 7, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Nov. 5, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 1, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 3, 2019
      • 2020 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Feb 4, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Apr 7, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 4, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 7, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 2, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Mar 3, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - May 5, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 6, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 1, 2020
      • April 14, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • August 4, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • BOP Editorial Policy Manual, 2015
      • Board of Publications Hosts Internet Candidates' Page
      • Board of Publications Minutes
      • Charles Hodge for ACB Board of Publications
      • December 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of December 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • January 30, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • July 6, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • June 2, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • March 3, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • Marcia Dresser for ACB Board of Publications
      • May 5, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • November 3, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • October 6, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • September 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • Thomas Mitchell for ACB Board of Publications
    • Committees & Task Forces
      • ACB Radio Management Committee
      • ACB Store-Mini Mall Committee
      • Advocacy Services Committee
      • Audio Description Project (ADP) Committee
      • Audio Description Project Task Force
      • Awards Committee
      • Braille Authority of North America
      • Constitution and Bylaws Committee
      • Convention Coordinating Committee
      • Convention Program Committee
      • Credentials Committee
      • Employment Issues Committee
      • Environmental Access Committee
      • Fitness Equipment Equity Task Force
      • Information Access Committee
      • International Relations Committee
      • Internet Oversight Committee
      • Investment Committee
      • Leadership Institute Training Committee
      • McDaniel Fund Committee
        • Recipients of the Durward K. McDaniel First Timer and J.P. Morgan Chase Leadership Fellow Awards Speak Out
      • Membership Committee
      • Monthly Monetary Support Committee
      • Multicultural Affairs Committee
      • National Library Service
      • Next Generation Committee
      • Nominating Committee
      • Other Representatives
      • PR Committee downloads
      • Public Relations Committee
      • Rehabilitation Issues Task Force
      • Resolutions Committee
      • Resource Development Committee
      • Scholarship Grant Committee
      • Sight and Sound Impaired Committee
      • Social Media Committee
      • Special Education/Schools for the Blind Task Force
      • Transportation Committee
      • Voting Task Force
      • Women's Concerns Committee
      • World Blind Union Delegates
    • History
    • ACB Resolutions
      • 2009 Resolutions
      • 2010 Resolutions
      • 2011 Resolutions
      • 2012 Resolutions
      • 2013 Resolutions
      • 2014 Resolutions
      • 2015 Resolutions
      • 2016 Resolutions
      • 2017 Resolutions
      • 2018 Resolutions
      • 2019 Resolutions
      • 2020 Resolutions
      • Resolution on Full Funding of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
    • Affiliates
      • Special Interest Affiliates
        • ACB Diabetics in Action
        • ACB Families
        • ACB Government Employees
        • ACB Human Service Professionals
        • ACB Next Generation
        • ACB Radio Amateurs
        • ACB Students
        • Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss
        • American Association of Blind Teachers
        • American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys
        • American Council of Blind Lions
        • Blind Information Technology Specialists
        • Blind LGBT Pride International
        • Braille Revival League
        • Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
        • Friends In Art of ACB, Inc.
        • Guide Dog Users, Inc.
        • Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers
        • Library Users of America
        • Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America
        • Visually Impaired Veterans of America
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Events
  • Programs & Services
    • ACB Community Events
      • Recurring Events
      • Weekly Events
    • Scholarships
    • Audio Description Project
    • Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
      • Advocacy
    • ACB Radio
      • ACB Radio Offers Variety of Programming for Your Listening Pleasure
    • Convention
    • Membership
  • Resources
    • Jobs
    • ACB Archives
    • Blind / Low Vision Resources
      • Scholarship Program
      • ACB Leadership List Guidelines
      • ACB-Chat List Rules
      • ACB-L List Rules
      • ADA Signage
      • AFB: Be a Better Champion for Specialized Services
      • Banks with Talking ATM Machines
      • Best Practices and Guidelines for Large Print Documents used by the Low Vision Community authored by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International An Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind Arlington, VA
      • Best Practices and Guidelines for Large Print Documents used by the Low Vision Community authored by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International An Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind Arlington, VA
      • Braille Resources
        • Braille Business Cards
        • Braille Instruction
        • Braille Paper
        • Braille Writer Repair Services
        • Description and History of Braille
        • Producers of Braille Documents
      • Diabetic Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired
      • Filing a Video Description Complaint with the FCC
      • General Resources
      • Guide Dog Resources
      • Homes for the Blind
      • Low Vision Resources
      • Medical Information Resources
      • Microsoft Office Accessibility Resources
      • Music Resources
      • Outreach RE Requesting Alternate Formats From SSA
      • Religious Resources
      • Resources for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
      • Resources for Parents and Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired Children
      • Resources for Persons with Low Vision
      • Section 904
      • Sports, Recreational and Leisure Resources
      • Where Taxpayers With Disabilities Can Find Online Help from the IRS
      • White Cane Laws for States
    • Affiliate Resources
      • Encouraging Affiliates with Techniques to Reach More Members
      • Exploring How Affiliates Can Reach New Members
      • Fundraising for ACB Activities Including the National Convention
      • Gaining and Maintaining Membership
      • Growing a Great Convention
      • How Can We Complete Our Business During Meetings More Efficiently?
      • How Can We Reactivate Past Members and “Wow” Our Current Members to Retain Them?
      • How to Find Blindness Related Resources and Sharing Them
      • Ideas for Affiliates and Chapters
      • Ideas to Interest Students
      • Involving Youth in ACB
      • Leadership Materials
        • Board Member's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
        • Creating a Media Kit for Your ACB Affiliate or Chapter
        • Simplified Parliamentary Procedure
        • The PSA Handbook for ACB Affiliates and Chapters
        • The Press Release Handbook for ACB Affiliates and Chapters
      • Membership Incentives
      • Networking, Communication and Contact
      • Officer’s and Board Member's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • President's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Reaching Blind and Visually Impaired Seniors
      • Reaching Out to Your Community to Educate and Inform People About Blindness
      • Secretary's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Strategies for Enhancing Membership
      • Strategies for Member Renewal and Reactivation
      • Tips for Successful Membership Recruitment and Retention
      • Tips to Retain Members
      • Treasurer's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Vice President's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
    • Peer Support
    • Handbooks / Manuals
      • "Modern" Signalized Intersections
      • Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)
      • Advocacy
      • Afterword
      • Appendix A: Letter from FHWA re Accessible Pedestrian Signals
      • Appendix B: Template for Your Letter
      • Appendix C: Four Case Studies
      • Appendix D: Glossary of Terms
      • Are You a Senior Citizen Struggling with Vision Loss?
      • Are You the Parents of A Blind Child?
      • Crossing Where There Is No Traffic Control
      • Finding the Crosswalk and Aligning to Cross
      • Guide to Successful College Experience
      • Mitch's Message
      • Pedestrian Safety
      • Pedestrian Safety Handbook
        • Acknowledgements
      • Regulations Related to Accessible Public Rights-of-Way
      • Rehabilitation Issues Task Force Revised Rehabilitation White Paper
      • Whitepaper On Rehabilitation and Training
    • Products & Services
      • Accessible Cards and Gifts
      • Computer Products, Publications, Training, and Information Sources
      • Funding Assistive Technology Resources
      • Magnifying Aids - Low Vision Center
      • Technology, Software, Related Resources
      • Travel Resources
      • Useful Products for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons
    • Professional Employment Associations
  • Publications & Media
    • News
    • Braille Forum
      • 2009 Issues
        • BF Dec 2009
          • Class Action ACB v. SSA
      • 2010 Issues
        • BF April 2010 downloads
        • BF August 2010 downloads
        • BF December 2010
        • BF February 2010
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AWARDS: THIS YEAR IT COULD BE YOU!
          • HERE AND THERE Edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • PASSINGS
          • SECOND ANNUAL ACB WALK by Dan Dillon
          • SPOTLIGHT YOUR AFFILIATE WITH A BOP AWARD!
          • THE MMS PROGRAM MAKES IT EASIER FOR YOU TO HELP ACB by Dena Wilson
          • THE SUNNY SOUTHWEST: ACB CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION 2010 by Carla Ruschival
        • BF January 2010
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
          • Here and There
        • BF July 2010 downloads
        • BF June 2010 downloads
        • BF March 2010 downloads
        • BF May 2010 downloads
        • BF November 2010
        • BF October 2010
        • BF September 2010 downloads
      • 2011 Issues
        • The Braille Forum, April 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, December 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • In Memoriam: Lola Siren
        • The Braille Forum, February 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
          • YOU CAN SHOP ANYTIME AT THE ACB STORE by Carla Ruschival
        • The Braille Forum, July-August 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, June 2011
          • Affiliate News: Convention Sneak Preview
        • The Braille Forum, March 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, May 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Library Users of America to Host Book Flea Market, by Peggy R. Garrett
        • The Braille Forum, October-November 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, September 2011
          • Affiliate News
        • The Braille Forum, january 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
      • 2012 Issues
        • Affiliate News
        • Here and There edited by Sue Lichtenfels
        • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, April 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, December 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, February 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
          • The Braille Forum, February 2012 Downloads
        • The Braille Forum, January 2012
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, July-August 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, June 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • BOP with 2012 Candidate's Page
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, March 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • The Braille Forum March 2012 Download Page
        • The Braille Forum, May 2012
        • The Braille Forum, October-November 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, September 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
      • 2013 Issues
        • ACB Braille Forum, February 2013
          • Affiliate News
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  1. Home
  2. The Washington Connection 12-11-20

The Washington Connection 12-11-20

Welcome to the Washington Connection, the legislative and information service of the American Council of the Blind.  The Washington Connection is brought to you by the ACB national office. If you have any questions or comments on the information provided, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask to speak with Clark Rachfal.

The Washington Connection is updated any time we have new information to share with you. The following articles are available as of December 14, 2020. Messages 3, 4, 7 and 8 are new.

  • Share Your Voting Stories
  • Federal Court Rules NYC Discriminates Against Blind and Low Vision Pedestrians by Failing to Make Crosswalk Signals Accessible to Them
  • New! Blind Hoosiers File Lawsuit Against Indiana Election Commission, Secretary of State
  • New! Department of Transportation Issues Ruling on Service Animal Definition
  • Accessibility Enhancements on the Horizon for HBO Max Customers Who Are Blind
  • Update on the Currency Case
  • New! U.S. AbilityOne Commission Announces AFB’s Successful Completion of Research and Studies Phase, and Decision to End Cooperative Agreement
  • New! Pandemic Exemptions to the ADA

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.


Share Your Voting Stories

 

Dear ACB members,

ACB, and your state affiliate, are eager to collect as much information as possible concerning your voting experiences in the 2020 general election. This information includes more than just what happens on November 3, if you decide to vote in person that day. Rather, we want to know your entire experience from when you registered to vote to when you received an absentee ballot in the mail to when you went to the polling site. In other words, please share any voting-related facts with us. Because there are numerous steps, you are welcome to submit more than one declaration. Ideally, we hope that your experience is seamless and you can vote easily and accessibly. But we have heard many stories about accessibility challenges for blind and visually impaired voters this year. As a result, we want to collect as many stories as we can to develop a kind of repository of declarations we can go to in the future when doing further advocacy work. These stories should be emailed to voting@acb.org.

When writing down such experiences, be sure to include the following:

  • Your name
  • Your city, state, and zip code
  • The date(s) on which the incident occurred
  • The name(s) of any Board of Elections employees or poll workers involved in the problem
  • A detailed summary of what took place

Examples of issues that would be helpful to learn about are the accessibility of the Board of Elections’ website for your county. Were you able to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot? How does your city and/or state administer absentee ballots? Were their practices partially or completely accessible? Were the poll workers helpful when you visit an in-person polling place? Include details about how they treated you when you asked to use an accessible voting machine. Again, these are merely examples. The voting process is accomplished through a number of steps, so please elaborate on any and all of the steps you walked through to discuss how accessibility was, or was not, handled. Email your stories to voting@acb.org.

 

Federal Court Rules NYC Discriminates Against Blind and Low Vision Pedestrians by Failing to Make Crosswalk Signals Accessible to Them

 

Court Decision will Dramatically Remake NYC’s Streetscape by Making Pedestrian Safety Accessible to People with Disabilities

New York, NY – In a decision that will remake the streetscape of New York City and improve safety and accessibility for all New Yorkers, a federal court ruled today that New York City’s failure  to provide accessible pedestrian signals (APS) at 96.6 % of its signalized intersections violates the civil rights of people with disabilities. APS are push-button devices attached to crosswalks that convey visual crossing information in audible and vibro-tactile formats accessible to blind, low vision, and Deafblind pedestrians.

New York City has over 13,200 signalized intersections with signals for sighted pedestrians that convey critical safety information: WALK or DON’T WALK. Yet only 443 of those 13,200 intersections — less than 4% — have APS that convey this information to blind people. Blind and low vision pedestrians are put in danger every time they must cross a street without APS, because they may cross against the light, in the path of cars. Additionally, the lack of APS denies them their independence and dignity. Plaintiffs have been grabbed by well-meaning strangers attempting to help them across the street, and forced to cross only in crowds and wait several lights — sometimes as long as twenty minutes — to make sure they are crossing with others. Some have avoided walking altogether by taking buses and getting out a stop early or a stop late in order to avoid particularly unsafe intersections, or taking longer routes.

Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) filed a class action lawsuit, American Council of the Blind of New York, et al. v. New York City, in June 2018 because this unlawful system denies blind and low vision pedestrians their independence to navigate city streets safely: to visit friends and family; go to work, school, or home; or shop or do business. On July 22, 2019, the Court certified a class of blind and low vision pedestrians harmed by these practices.

“For decades New York City has ignored the needs of blind and low vision pedestrians, while simultaneously touting its Vision Zero commitments to pedestrian safety,” said Torie Atkinson, Staff Attorney at Disability Rights Advocates. “The city has spent millions on pedestrian safety improvements, and now for the first time those improvements will be accessible to all New Yorkers. With accessible pedestrian signals, blind and low vision pedestrians can cross the street confidently, and we are thrilled with the dramatic changes that this victory will mean not only for those who are blind or low vision, but for all New Yorkers who want safer streets.”

“ACBNY has tirelessly advocated for decades to fix New York City’s widespread inaccessibility to blind and Deafblind pedestrians,” said Lori Scharff of the American Council of the Blind of New York, plaintiff in this case. “We are pleased that the Court’s ruling will help ensure that our blind and Deafblind constituents have equal access to the same information available to sighted pedestrians.”

“As someone who is Deafblind and requires tactile information to cross streets safely, I am thrilled by the Court’s ruling,” said plaintiff Christina Curry. “Up until now, at least once a day I almost get hit by a car because there is no APS telling me when it is safe to cross. This victory means that finally the city will have to install APS so that I and tens of thousands of Deafblind New Yorkers will have access to street crossing information and be able to travel safely, freely, and independently throughout the city.”

Plaintiffs do not seek money damages. They seek only that New York City’s street crossings be accessible to and safer for blind and low vision pedestrians.

 

Blind Hoosiers File Lawsuit Against Indiana Election Commission, Secretary of State 

 

INDIANAPOLIS, December 3, 2020 – The ability to vote privately and independently is a fundamental right and an essential component of democracy in the United States. However, in Indiana, these rights are not guaranteed to all voters. In fact, Indiana has one of the most restrictive absentee voting systems in the country for blind voters because it only permits them to vote at home by appointment with a “traveling board” of elections officials.  Hoosier voters who are blind or have low vision could easily vote privately and independently at home using electronic tools.  Instead, they are being forced to choose between giving up their right to vote privately and independently, risk exposing themselves to COVID-19 at the polls, or not voting at all.

In a lawsuit filed today in federal district court in the Southern District of Indiana, plaintiffs Rita Kersh, Kristin Fleschner, and Wanda Tackett, joined by the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services Commission and American Council of the Blind of Indiana, assert that the Indiana Election Commission and the Secretary of State are discriminating against voters who are blind or have low vision by not offering the necessary accommodations that these voters need to vote privately and independently when using the absentee vote-by-mail program.

In Indiana, the Indiana Election Commission and the Secretary of State have known for quite some time that the current absentee vote-by-mail system is inaccessible to voters who are blind or have low vision. “The American Council of the Blind of Indiana has tried to bring this problem to the IEC and SOS’s attention, but they have declined to work with us to implement an accessible way to vote at home.  That’s why this suit was necessary,” said Dee Ann Hart, a member of the Board of Directors of the ACB-I and its Advocacy and Awareness Committee Chair.

Furthermore, both the Indiana Election Commission and the Secretary of State have had over 30 years to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. 

The lawsuit provides concrete examples of successful, accessible absentee voting programs that are currently being used by other states and explains how Indiana’s existing accessible military and overseas voting options could be expanded to include voters who are blind or have low vision.

“Because of Indiana’s restrictive requirements, I was deprived of my vote during this year’s general election,” said Wanda Tackett, a plaintiff in the suit. “My niece has vision impairment and I work with a young boy who is blind, and through this case, I want to empower them and other future voters to make sure that this kind of violation never happens again.”

“Let’s make equal access an integral part of voting and find ways to increase civic engagement rather than make it hard,” said Kristin Fleschner, another plaintiff. “Our officials and policies will only represent our ideals if everyone is able to vote privately and independently.”

“Voting is one of our most important rights. By operating a voting program inaccessible to some people with disabilities, Indiana is creating unnecessary and unlawful barriers to the voting process,” said Tom Crishon, Indiana Disability Rights Legal Director. “Voters with disabilities must have equal access to all aspects of Indiana’s voting program, including absentee voting.”

“The right to a secret ballot is a fundamental right that most Americans take for granted,” said Jelena Kolic, an attorney with Disability Rights Advocates. “Unfortunately, Indiana has failed to respect that right for voters with certain disabilities. Through this case, we hope to ensure that all Hoosier voters are granted equal access to a private and independent vote.”

The plaintiffs are seeking only injunctive relief, not monetary damages, and are represented by attorneys from Indiana Disability Rights and Disability Rights Advocates.

 

Department of Transportation Issues Ruling on Service Animal Definition

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently issued a ruling on the regulations discussed in the notice of proposed rule-making that ACB submitted comments on in April of 2020. Two major topics were outlined and amended under the new findings.

First, under the ruling DOT has amended the definition of a service animal to align with the definition of a service animal found within the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as promulgated and enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Under this new ruling, the definition of psychiatric service dogs under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) is aligned with the definition of a service animal as found under the ADA. This means the requirements for service animals and psychiatric animals on planes are identical. However, DOT no longer allows passengers to travel with emotional support animals (ESA).

Second, the new finding requires service animal handlers to attest to the health and behavior of their service animal. To do so, airlines are permitted to ask for such attestations 48 hours in advance of a flight. However, this 48-hour rule is waived if a ticket is purchased at the last minute. The form that service dog users will be required to fill out will be developed by the DOT. The form does not require a veterinarian’s signature, but does ask for the date of the dog’s last rabies vaccination. Airlines are not required to adopt this form but must use the government’s form if they choose to enforce such written attestation policies.

Finally, the ruling did not alter the breed rule under the Air Carrier Access Act. Under the ACAA, service animals include all breeds of dogs. An airline cannot prohibit a specific breed of dogs from traveling on their flights.

 

Accessibility Enhancements on the Horizon for HBO Max Customers Who are Blind

 

October 19, 2020 — In a landmark agreement, advocates for people who are blind have obtained WarnerMedia’s pledge to increase the accessibility of HBO Max — the much-anticipated online streaming platform that was launched earlier this year. Among other commitments, the agreement provides that WarnerMedia will provide audio description on at least 1,500 hours of new and existing programming on HBO Max by the end of March 2021, increasing to 3,000 hours by the end of March 2022, and doubling again to at least 6,000 hours in total by the end of March 2023.

The agreement was reached between WarnerMedia Direct, LLC on the one hand and the American Council of the Blind (ACB); the Massachusetts-based Bay State Council of the Blind (BSCB); Kim Charlson; and Brian Charlson on the other. These blind individuals and advocacy organizations were represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a national non-profit legal center, and Disability Law Center, the Protection & Advocacy agency for Massachusetts.

HBO Max is WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer offering, bringing together HBO, a robust slate of new original series, key third-party licensed programs and movies, and fan favorites from WarnerMedia’s rich library including Warner Bros., New Line, DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more.

Under the agreement, WarnerMedia will ensure that audio description — a separate audio track that, when activated, provides a verbal description of visual elements on screen — is created on a going forward basis for all HBO original programming as well as all Max Originals that have entered post-production since the platform launched in May 2020. For more on audio description, visit ACB’s Audio Description Project.

In addition, over the next year, accessibility of the HBO Max website, mobile applications, and applications for Internet-connected TVs will be improved for individuals who are blind and use screen-reading software to navigate and interact with digital content. Screen-reading software enables blind individuals to access and interact with online services by rendering the text displayed visually on the screen as large print, synthetic speech, or onto a digital braille display. For screen magnification and screen-reading software to work, website and app developers must program for compatibility. HBO Max will release accessibility improvements incrementally as they are ready for distribution and, by the end of September 2021, the HBO Max website, mobile applications, and available internet-connected TV applications will substantially comply with standard international web accessibility guidelines.

Kim Charlson, Immediate Past President of the American Council of the Blind, commented, “This agreement opens doors for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to both enjoy what HBO Max provides in terms of entertainment and education, while also allowing blind and low vision people to share equally with family and friends in this truly universal pastime. By working together to bring thousands of additional hours of audio description content to HBO Max, along with the improved accessibility of the website, mobile apps, and smart TV interfaces, WarnerMedia and blind advocates are providing meaningful access to a significant aspect of our modern-day world.”

Staff Attorney Meredith Weaver of Disability Rights Advocates explains, “We are very pleased at the commitment HBO Max has made to ensure that customers who are blind or have low vision have access to its award-winning and expansive library.”

Tatum A. Pritchard of Disability Law Center, said, “With this year marking the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this agreement with WarnerMedia signals welcome and notable progress towards greater accessibility for people who are blind or visually impaired to streaming content that serves as an important source of both entertainment and information for our society.”

 

Update on the Currency Case

 

The three-person panel for the appeal court for the District of Columbia was made up of judges Henderson, Walker, and Silberman. Under the 2008 injunction, when ACB won its case, the Department of the Treasury was ordered to make the various Federal Reserve notes distinguishable for blind and visually impaired individuals no later than the next rescheduled design of each denomination. In other words, when the Treasury redesigns a piece of currency, it has to be accessible moving forward. However, the redesign process has been significantly delayed.

In 2016, ACB moved to impose a firm deadline to make the paper currency accessible for blind and visually impaired users. In other words, ACB asked that the Treasury be ordered to make paper currency accessible by a fixed date instead of waiting for redesigns to come out. Unfortunately, the district court denied this motion, and the court of appeals, in 2020, upheld the lower court’s decision.

Legal counsel for ACB argued that the district court inappropriately relied on the Treasury’s financial burden claim without obtaining concrete estimates of the financial burden. ACB further argued that the district court abused its discretion because its decision lacked evidentiary support. But again, the court of appeals disagreed on both arguments made by ACB and upheld the decision of the lower court. The Treasury, in the lower court, argued that setting a fixed date to make paper currency accessible for blind people is neither feasible nor secure. The court of appeals agreed with these two arguments. As a moving party, when bringing the new claim to the court of appeals, ACB had the responsibility to justify the modification to the ruling, and the judges found that ACB could not demonstrate such a justification.

When before the court of appeals, ACB argued that the feasibility argument made by the Treasury was not sound. ACB acknowledges that making currency with raised tactile features (RTF) is not the only way to make currency accessible. Alternative options, such as a rougher texture, could be used. But, because the original decision made by the Treasury was to use RTF to make currency accessible, this argument by ACB was unsuccessful. Furthermore, the court explained that it does not have the authority to dictate to the Treasury how to make paper currency accessible. The court emphatically explained that the courts should not impose remedies that interfere with the agency’s discretion. Thus, because the Treasury decided to utilize RTF early on, it is now the presumed form of accessibility that the Treasury will utilize.

Under Rule 60B of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), a decision can be reversed if the court applied the wrong legal standard, or relied on clearly erroneous findings of fact. A district court also abuses its discretion if it violates the mandate of the court of appeals. In this case, the district court was persuaded by the feasibility and security implications of developing RTF, and the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found that these two arguments do not stray from these requirements. ACB argued that the security and monetary arguments brought by the Treasury were not adequately quantified; they did not explicitly lay out how much they had to spend to make security improvements that would override accessibility changes. But the court found that the Treasury had no obligation to quantify the security rationale. The district court found that a short-term prioritization of the accessibility redesign by itself could impair the Treasury’s ability to execute a timely security redesign. Put another way, ACB asked the Treasury to show the math that was done to argue that the financial commitment was a burden. But the court agreed with the Treasury; Congress mandates the budget of the Treasury and it must work within the confines of that budget. The ruling stressed that quantitative evidence is not always required; the Treasury must juggle several variables and consequently, qualitative evidence is also compelling.

Furthermore, the court of appeals once again agreed with the feasibility argument made by the Treasury and upheld the lower court’s analysis. The court talked about the durability challenges of RTF; it would likely have to be continuously reproduced, costing the government more money. And redesigns of machinery would be needed to process the bills, which would cost still more money. The court agreed with this feasibility claim.

Next, Rule 60B of the FRCP provides that upon a motion, the court may relieve a party of an injunction if applying it prospectively is no longer equitable. The court should grant such a motion if a significant change either in factual conditions or in law renders continued enforcement detrimental to the public interest. But, to make this happen, ACB bears the burden of proving that this has taken place. In other words, ACB has to prove that enforcement of the 2008 injunction would be detrimental to the public interest. In this case, the Treasury does not dispute that circumstances have changed; the process has been substantially delayed. But the court of appeals insists that ACB should have been cognizant of the security implications that would have, and did, come up. The difficulty in making paper currency both accessible and secure from counterfeiting is complex, and thus, ACB should be aware that delays are warranted. The court of appeals does not view this as an abuse of power of the Treasury.

Although ACB was unable to win in the court of appeals, the Treasury is still bound by its original obligation; it must make future paper bills accessible. The first change must be carried out by 2026, when the $10 bill is redesigned. If the Treasury wants to delay this obligation, it will have to bring its argument before the court of the District of Columbia. At this time, it is too early to know what the Treasury will do. However, ACB believes that the Treasury will continue to push back its obligation by bringing the case before the courts. Therefore, it is likely that a new case will be brought to delay the requirement within the next few years. ACB can only wait and see. However, ACB is reasonably certain that the Treasury will continue to bring such cases, indefinitely delaying the implementation of accessible paper currency.

 

U.S. AbilityOne Commission Announces AFB’s Successful Completion of Research and Studies Phase, and Decision to End Cooperative Agreement

 

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 2, 2020 – The U.S. AbilityOne Commission announced today that the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has successfully completed the initial phase of its Cooperative Agreement with the Commission — a research and studies phase designed to identify innovative business models and practices that increase employment opportunities for blind individuals in knowledge-based careers.

Following this period of productive partnership and completion of its research and deliverables, AFB has decided not to pursue the second phase of the Cooperative Agreement with the Commission, thereby ending AFB’s status as an AbilityOne Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA) effective December 31, 2020.

“AFB’s successful performance in the research and studies phase has been particularly valuable in expanding the potential for more knowledge-based jobs in the AbilityOne Program,” said Jeffrey A. Koses, the Commission’s Interim Chairperson. “AFB’s contributions have significantly advanced the Commission’s understanding of technology-related and other emerging career fields that present opportunities for people who are blind. The Commission will use the knowledge gained to continue to explore additional opportunities to create more jobs in the AbilityOne Program.”

AFB was designated as an AbilityOne Central Nonprofit Agency on July 26, 2018, to provide the Program with an emphasis on competitive, knowledge-based opportunities at a time when changes in employment trends point to a new direction for AbilityOne jobs. AFB’s research and studies provided new insights and more detailed information about developing career opportunities in sectors such as information technology, financial management, and human resources, presenting growth opportunities for the AbilityOne Program. This outcome supports the Commission’s longstanding goal of creating more jobs, innovation and competition within the AbilityOne Program.

Recognizing that the current business environment evolves at a rapid pace, the three-phase Cooperative Agreement between the Commission and AFB was deliberately designed to provide both parties with the flexibility to end the agreement at any time. AFB informed the Commission that its decision to exit the Cooperative Agreement at the end of Phase 1 (the initial “Research and Studies” phase) is based on a reassessment of AFB’s strategic goals in the current business environment.  

The Commission designates Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs) to facilitate the distribution of federal government orders for products and services to nonprofit agencies employing people who are blind or have significant disabilities. The Commission currently executes the AbilityOne Program based on cooperative agreements with two longstanding CNAs: National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and SourceAmerica. NIB and SourceAmerica continue to represent nearly 500 nonprofit agencies in the AbilityOne Program and facilitate the creation and maintenance of almost 45,000 jobs for the AbilityOne Program workforce. AFB’s research and recommendations may be leveraged by NIB and SourceAmerica to facilitate employment growth in the Program.

 

Pandemic Exemptions to the ADA

 

In August, ACB sent a letter to Congressional leaders opposing any waivers or exemptions to the ADA as part of pandemic relief policy measures, specifically those referenced in the Safe to Work Act (S. 4317). These measures are under consideration once again as Congress debates another stimulus package. As we reiterate our opposition to any waivers or exemptions that would undermine the civil rights guaranteed by the ADA, ACB urges all of our friends to communicate your opposition to any ADA waivers and exemptions as part of COVID stimulus relief by contacting your members of Congress directly, or by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

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