The American Council of the Blind thanks the sponsors of the leadership meetings: Cisco, JPMorgan Chase, Aira and Vispero. With their assistance, we were able to provide scholarships to 10 participants to attend, as well as many fine speakers.
Monday, February 25, 2019
9:00 AM to 4:15 PM
9:00 – 9:15 AM: Introductions
Welcome attendees to the legislative seminar and go through housekeeping
Kim Charlson, President
Eric Bridges, Executive Director
Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist
Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
9:15 – 9:30 AM: Audience Introductions
Attendees will briefly introduce themselves.
9:30 – 10:15 AM: “Living with Diabetes: A Panel of People with Diabetes”
Three individuals will discuss issues faced by blind and visually impaired persons with diabetes. Panelists: Jeff Bishop, ACB board member; Tom Tobin, ACB Director of Development; and Chris Gray, former ACB president
10:15 – 10:30 AM: Break
10:30 – 11:00 AM: “Legal Implications: How to Legally Approach Discrimination of Those Living with Diabetes”
An attorney will begin to explore the legal possibilities to ensuring access for blind or visually impaired people with diabetes.
Stephanie Willis, Esq., Crowell & Moring
11:00 – 11:15 AM: “Proposing New Legislation”
A brief discussion of potential legislation to ensure the rights of blind and visually impaired people with diabetes.
Tony Stephens, Executive Director, Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance
11:15 – 11:45 AM: “What’s Happening at the Department of Transportation?”
Livaughn Chapman, Chief, Aviation Civil Rights Compliance Branch, U.S. Department of Transportation
Alex Taday, Supervisory Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation
11:45 AM –12:00 PM: “Update from the National Disability Institute”
Mark Richert, Director of Public Policy, National Disability Institute
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch
Guest speaker: Matt Handley, Esq., Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC
1:00 – 1:30 PM: “A Review of Low Vision Devices Legislation”
Tony Stephens, Executive Director, Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance
1:30 – 2:00 PM: “What’s New at the Federal Communications Commission?”
Will Schell, DAC Designated Federal Officer, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Rights Office, FCC
2:00 – 2:15 PM: Break
2:15 – 3:00 PM: “The Blind Can Finally Drive: A Panel on Autonomous Vehicles”
A discussion on autonomous vehicles and legislation to begin the production and regulation of such vehicles. Panelists: Carol Tyson, Government Affairs Liaison, Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund, and Reagan Payne, Manager, Emerging Technologies Policy, General Motors
3:00 – 3:15 PM: Sponsor Presentations
Presidential Sponsors:
Cisco Systems
JPMorgan Chase
Congressional:
Vispero
Ambassador:
Sprint
3:15 – 3:30 PM: “Tell Claire Everything!”
Claire Stanley, ACB’s Outreach Coordinator, would like to know what other issues the blindness community faces. Come prepared to discuss issues and potential solutions.
3:30 – 4:00 PM: “Building a Relationship with AmericaWalks”
Kevin Mills, Board Member, AmericaWalks, and Senior Vice President of Policy, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy