2019 National Conference & Convention Program: Volume 2

American Association Of Blind Teachers 
President: Susan Glass 
Program Chair: Carla Hayes 
Registration: $10 ($12) 

Saturday, July 6, Hyatt Crista 

8:00AM - 10:30AM:  "AABT Fun And Games Breakfast." $25 ($27) 

8:40AM:  Welcome And Introductions, Susan Glass, AABT President, Saratoga, CA.
 
8:45AM:  "Out-Of-Sight Jeopardy" (with Alexa Trebek Hayes), Try your skill at a lively and challenging Jeopardy game, especially designed with blindness-related categories and questions. 

9:30AM:  "normal 0 False False False EN-US JA X-NONE Making Learning More Fun: Gamifying Education With Mobile Games Tied To Each Student's IEP," ObjectiveEd provides games that teach visually impaired pre-K through 12th grade students skills outlined in Core Curriculum and EEC, tied to the goals and objectives of each student's IEP. Learn how students acquire skills faster and achieve objectives sooner by "gamify-ing" education. Presenter, Marty Schultz, Co-Founder, ObjectiveEd/Blindfold Games, Miami Beach, FL.

9:55 AM:  AABT Business Meeting and Elections.

 
Sunday, July 7, Riverside McQuaid 

1:15PM - 2:30PM:  "Notetakers: Choosing The Right One," $10 ($12). A discussion of notetakers, their features, and which one is right for you. Presenter, Steve Dresser, CEO, Jennco Productions, Reading, MA. 
 

Tuesday, July 9, Convention Center Highland A

1:15PM – 4:00PM:  LUA/BRL/AABT/FIA/IAC Joint Session

1:15PM:  Brian Charlson, President, Library Users of America, Watertown, MA; Paul Edwards, President, Braille Revival League, Miami, FL; and others will provide a welcome and give those present a chance to introduce themselves.
 
1:30PM:  Up Close and Personal: Gary Telles, Potomac Talking Books, Bethesda, MD; will meet with us to talk in more detail about his experiences as a narrator and will answer all the questions you didn't get to ask during his morning session presentation.
 
2:30PM:  Break
 
2:45PM:  When You Can't Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery; by Hannah Fairbairn, retired instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, MA, has written a first-hand account of her experiences and accumulated wisdom into a book to help others make the transition to independence after vision loss. 

3:00PM:  Picture the Feeling - Tactile Graphics today and tomorrow. In this session we will hear about what NLS and National Braille Press are doing with tactile graphics and will explore other sources for maps and pictures that blind people can access and use including the new Graphiti tactile graphic display. 
 

American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys
President: Steven Mendelsohn 
Registration: $25 ($25) 
 

Sunday, July 7 Riverside Silver 

1:15PM – 5:30PM:  AAVIA Program
 
1:15PM:  Introductions
 
1:30PM:  Bill Hiatt, Professor of Law, St. Mary's University Law School, San Antonio, TX will review the decisions handed-down during the just-completed 2018-19 US Supreme Court term. 

2:45PM:  My Life and Career as a Blind Attorney, Al Alter S. Fogel, White Plains, NY. Accomplished attorney and litigator Al Fogel will review his career as a blind attorney litigating personal injury and other complex cases in the courts of New York State.
 
4:00PM:  AIRA, the exciting opportunities AIRA opens to all of us and about their innovative plans for making it more widely available and affordable. Presenter TBA.

 
Monday, July 8, Convention Center Lilac Ballroom North

1:15PM– 4:00PM:  Employment Discrimination Mock Trial $6 ($8). Hear the facts and issues, beginning with inaccessible technology and leading to discord between the blind employee and the supervisor. See how such a case would be handled in a courtroom. This realistic simulation will provide you with new insights about employment and court proceedings. Sponsored by AAVIA.

 
Tuesday, July 9, Hyatt Regency C 

12:15PM – 1:15PM:  AAVIA Luncheon and Program $33 ($36). Robert Brenna, Senior Partner, Brenna Boice LLC, Rochester NY. Mr. Brenna will recount interesting and important anecdotes from his distinguished 40-year career as an attorney. 

1:45PM:  James R. Sheldon, Managing Attorney (ret) of Neighborhood Legal Services, Buffalo NY. Mr. Sheldon will discuss the ABLE Act with particular emphasis on its’ potential as a savings vehicle for employed people.
 
4:00PM:  AAVIA business meeting 
 

Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss
President: Jeff Thom 
Registration: $10 $12  
 

Monday, July 8, Hyatt Regency C 

12:15PM- 4:00PM:  AAVL Luncheon Program $30 ($33). “Upping Our Game for Services to seniors with Vision Loss.” The numbers of seniors with vision loss is dramatically increasing. We're fighting hard to maintain level funding while funding levels for other senior programs increase. Long-time blindness community advocate Mark Richert, Director of Public Policy, National Disability Institute, Arlington VA will address the issue of how we can make our advocacy efforts more successful. Co-sponsored by AVL and Rehab Issues Task Force. 

1:30PM:  “Innovations in Services to Seniors with Vision Loss.” Learn about new service delivery approaches to meet the complex needs of seniors suffering recent vision loss. Serving this rapidly growing population with the limited resources available is a major challenge and sharing success stories is extremely useful to improve service delivery nationwide. Panelists will be Brian Daniels, Director, New York State Commission for the Blind, Albany, New York, Nancy Miller, Executive Director/CEO, Visions/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, New York, NY, and Sara VanBortel, Assistant Director, Vision Rehabilitation Department, Association for the Blind, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, Rochester, NY, Sylvia Stinson-Perez, Director, Older Blind Technical Assistance Center, National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS.
 
3:00PM:  AAVL Business Meeting.
 

Tuesday, July 9, Hyatt RSVA Suite

4:15PM - 5:45PM: AAVL Mixer, $15 ($18). Join AAVL members and friends, relax from the stress of convention with food, libation and friendship.

ACB Government Employees  
President: Renee Zelickson 
registration: $10 ($10)

Hey, hey bring your resume! ACBGE and the Employment Committee are sponsoring sessions that will allow you to work one on one with a human resource specialist. Joanne McIntyre has over 20 years-experience working in the HR field. For your convenience, you may schedule a onehour session to meet with her in order to tweak and format your resume. Appointments must be made prior to the convention and are on a first come first serve basis Saturday through Wednesday. To schedule an appointment, contact Judy Jackson at [email protected] or call 940-255-9241. Meet in Eastman Board room in the Hyatt.
 

Tuesday, July 9, Hyatt Executive Directors Suite 

5:45PM – 7:00PM: ACBGE Mixer $15 ($18). Join fellow government employees for fun, food and conversation.
 

Wednesday, July 10, Hyatt Regency C 

12:15PM – 2:30PM: ACBGE Luncheon and Program $33 ($36). Presenter: Joanne McIntyre, Human Resource Specialist. Business meeting to follow.

ACB Radio Amateurs 
President: Harvey Heagy  
Registration: $5 ($7) 

Wednesday, July 10, Riverside McQuaid 

1:15PM – 2:30PM: ACBRA Program an Business Meeting. If you are a licensed radio amateur, or if you are interested in amateur radio, ACBRA is definitely for you. It is a fun hobby, and we are reaching out to all persons, especially younger people who are licensed hams or who are interested in pursuing this rewarding pastime. Details for our program are still being worked out. We will hold our business meeting 
and a raffle for an HT radio ($5 per ticket); you must hold an active amateur radio license to participate. 

Blind Information Technology Specialists 
Fifty Years of Accessibility Evolution 
President: Tom Jones 
Program Chair: Richard Villa 
Registration: $20 ($20) or BITS Package (all BITS events, $67 ($72)) 

Saturday, July 6, Hyatt Regency A 

10:00AM - 12:00PM: All Things Amazon. Presenter, Peter Korn, Accessibility Architect, Amazon. 

1:15PM – 4:00PM: AIRA, Instant Access to Information: Paul Schroeder, Vice President, Public Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Silver Spring, MD. 

Sunday, July 7, Hyatt Regency A 

2:45PM — 4:00PM: “Is it a Braille Display or is it a Notetaker?” An update on refreshable Braille products. Presenters: Michael Tindill, HIMS National Training Manager, Baltimore MD; Peter 
Tucic, Humanware Brand Ambassador - Blindness Products, Chicago IL; Brad Davis, Vice-President of Hardware Product Management, Vispero, Clearwater, FL. Sponsored by BITS and ACB 
Students 
 
6:00PM - 10:00PM: BITS Banquet $40 ($40). Cash bar, dinner, and speaker Larry Skutchan, APH, Director, Technology Product Research, Louisville, KY. 
 

Braille Revival League 
President: Paul Edwards 
Registration: $10 ($12)  

Saturday, July 6, Riverside Eastman

1:15PM: - 4:00PM: BRL Orienteering $7 ($10). Compete for prizes, follow clues and answer questions as you walk around the hotel. Participants must be braille readers and writers and must have some way to record answers. 
 

Sunday, July 7, Convention Center Highland C/D 

5:45PM – 7:00PM: MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! $7 ($10). A panel moderated by Brian Charlson, LUA President, Watertown, MA and Paul Edwards, President, BRL, Miami, FL, will lead a discussion of what is available through the Music Section of NLS and others. We will also explore what recorded music offerings are available from the Library of Congress archives and how to access it; music software that is accessible; and learn about the current state of braille music notation. Joint session of BRL, FIA, LUA and IAC. 
 

Monday, July 8

7:00AM – 8:15AM: BRL International Breakfast, $30 ($35), Riverside Carlton. Enjoy a meal while we learn how our brothers and sisters from around the world benefit from using, reading and writing braille. Our featured speaker, Fredric Schroeder, President of the World Blind Union and former RSA Commissioner, Vienna, VA, will share initiatives being taken to advance the interests of braille around the world. 

1:15PM – 4:00PM: BRL Program, Riverside Gleason 

1:15PM: Welcome and introductions: Paul Edwards BRL President, Miami FL. 
 
1:30PM: Two amazing devices compared: the BRAILLE Me and the Orbit Reader 20. Paul Edwards, Miami FL, and Lisa Salinger, Mystc Access, Wilkes-Barre, PA, will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of two braille displays that can be bought for around $500 and are a part of the braille revolution that is making electronic braille an affordable option for many people. Members who own and use these devices will also be encouraged to share their experiences.
 
2:30PM: Break.

2:45PM: BRL Business Meeting and Elections. 

4:15PM – 5:30PM: Games with Ralph. $7 ($10), Riverside Gleason. Use braille to play a number of word games and win prizes; see just how good you are at braille, words and quick thinking! 
 

Tuesday, July 9, Convention Center Highland A  

1:15PM – 4:00PM: LUA/BRAILLE/AABT/FIA/IAC Joint Session. 

1:15PM: Brian Charlson, President, Library Users of America, Watertown, MA; Paul Edwards, President, Braille Revival League, Miami, FL; and others will provide a welcome and give those present a chance to introduce themselves.
 
1:30PM: Up Close and Personal: Gary Telles, Potomac Talking Books, Bethesda, MD; will meet with us to talk in more detail about his experiences as a narrator and will answer all the questions you didn't get to ask during his morning session presentation.
 
2:30PM: Break
 
2:45PM: When You Can't Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery; by Hannah Fairbairn, retired instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, MA, has written a first-hand account of her experiences and accumulated wisdom into a book to help others make the transition to independence after vision loss.
 
3:00PM: Picture the Feeling - Tactile Graphics today and tomorrow. In this session we will hear about what NLS and National Braille Press are doing with tactile graphics and will explore other sources for maps and pictures that blind people can access and use including the new Graphiti tactile graphic display. 

Blind LGBT Pride international  
President: Gabriel Lopez Kafati 
Program Chair: Will Burley 
Registration: $10 ($12) 
 

Saturday, July 6

11:00AM – 2:00PM: Bubbles and Mingles. Join BPI's Board of Directors for Brunch! Chat and mingle with directors, members, and friends. Take advantage of this opportunity to share your thoughts about our organization's future in an informal setting. Meet in the Hyatt lobby. 

3:00PM– 5:00PM: Audio Described Movie: Boy Erased $5 ($7), Hyatt Crista. The son of a Baptist preacher is forced to participate in a churchsupported gay conversion program after being forcibly outed to his parents. 
 

Sunday, July 7 

2:45PM – 4:00PM: VR, Self-employment and You $6 ($8), Convention Center Lilac Ballroom South. There are several ways of working with your Vocational Rehabilitation agency to start your business, whether it is running a food service facility or starting your own business from scratch. This panel will discuss multiple resources for pursuing your dream. Speakers: Dan Sippl, Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America, Eau 
Claire, WI; Ardis Bazyn, Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs, Burbank, CA; Darien Slayton Fleming, Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, Gresham, OR; and Will Burley, Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), Austin, TX. Co-sponsored by Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, BPI, IVIE, RSVA.
 
4:15PM – 6:30PM: BPI Business Meeting and Caucus, Riverside Board Room. Bring your ideas to the table as we look into the future. Participate in BPI's 2019 election process.
 
8:00PM – 11:00PM: Welcome to the ROC! $12 ($15), Riverside BPI Suite. Exciting as always! Full of surprises as usual. Join BPI's famous mixer as we welcome members and allies to Rochester! 
 

Monday, July 8 

1:15PM – 2:30PM: It's All About Kombucha! $12 ($15), Riverside Silver. Living Wellness and Yoga will explain what kombucha is as well as the history and benefits of this ancient beverage. Learn how to make this tasty and healthy beverage for yourself!
 
2:45PM – 4:00PM: Yoga for Warriors $12 ($15), Riverside Silver. Through breath and gentle movement this trauma-sensitive yoga workshop/class can be a healing resource for anyone effected by trauma, anxiety, depression or chronic stress. Yoga can help us to reestablish a connection to the body, cultivate self-awareness, increase emotional and physical resiliency and become more present in our daily lives.
 
4:15 PM – 5:30PM: For the White Wine Lover $20 ($20), Riverside BPI Suite. Sparkling to Woody; Dry to Sweet! A Wine Consultant led tasting will give 20 guests an opportunity to learn about, experience and order exclusive, artisan white wines handcrafted and available nowhere else.

5:45PM – 7:00PM: Mixed Monday Wine Tasting $20 ($20), Riverside BPI Suite. Reds & Whites; Best of Both Worlds. A Wine Consultant led wine tasting will give up to 20 guests an opportunity to learn about, experience and order exclusive artisan wines handcrafted and available nowhere else. 8:00PM - 10:30PM: ACBS and BPI Present: Story Slam! Hyatt Regency C. Unwind. Tell us a tail, or simply listen in as others share personal stories meant to entertain, engage and inspire. Tonight is yours. Cash bar available.
 

Tuesday, July 9 

1:15PM – 2:30PM: Becoming Your Own Beacon, Riverside Silver. Certified Life Coach, Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Miami, FL, will facilitate this empowering "Wrap session." Join in the discussion around the importance of looking for answers from within, whether LGBT, or straight, sighted or vision impaired. This session is for you! Join us on this path of no-judgement where you will be motivated and empowered to become your own beacon in life. 

2:45PM – 4:00PM: Consent in the Age of Me, Too! Riverside BPI Suite. Go beyond the definition of consent in the abstract and learn how permission applies to women, men, disabled and everyone in between. Join Laura Miller as she guides the discussion and makes us think outside the box when it comes to our daily relationships in work and at play. 

4:15PM – 5:30PM: For the Red Wine Lover $20 ($20), Riverside BPI Suite. Lite to Oaky; Fruity to Tannic! A Wine Consultant led tasting will give up to 20 guests an opportunity to learn about, experience and order exclusive artisan red wines handcrafted and available nowhere else.

5:45PM – 7:00PM: Toast Tuesday Wine Tasting $20 ($20), Riverside BPI Suite. Reds & Whites; Best of Both Worlds. A Wine Consultant led wine tasting will give up to 20 guests an opportunity to learn about, experience and order exclusive artisan wines handcrafted and available nowhere else. 

10:00PM – 12:00AM: Dare to Share, Riverside BPI Suite. The night falls… Secret conversations arise! Share a daring story. Listen to adult jokes. This intimate space will seat a maximum of 30 guests. 
Crazy door prizes!
 

Wednesday, July 10 

1:15PM – 2:30PM: LGBT Digital, Riverside BPI Suite. During this exciting workshop we will navigate around the most popular LGBT apps. Learn about and share the trendiest apps for the 
LGBT community from dating, events, health information and more. We will cover practical uses, etiquette and of course accessibility.
 
2:45PM – 4:00PM: Yoga with a Vision $12 ($15), Riverside Lilac. Crishti Yoga teacher Nicole DeVieere will share with us how Crishti is our inner sight, our outward gaze, what we choose to focus on in life. This practice is for everyone and it is based on alignment. We will learn how to aliign our bodies and how to translate this alignment to our daily lives.
 
4:15PM – 5:30PM: Wino Wednesday, Reds & Whites; Best of Both Worlds, $20 ($20), Riverside BPI Suite. A Wine Consultant led wine tasting will give up to 20 guests an opportunity to learn about, experience and order exclusive artisan wines handcrafted and available nowhere else. 

5:45PM – 7:00PM: Wino Wednesday Part 2 Reds & Whites; Best of Both Worlds $20 $20, Riverside BPI Suite. A Wine Consultant led wine tasting will give up to 20 guests an opportunity to learn about, experience and order exclusive artisan wines handcrafted and available nowhere else. 10:00PM – 12:00AM: Last Call, Riverside BPI Suite. Help us say goodbye to Rochester and wish our incoming board of directors the best for the year ahead. 
 

Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI): 
Celebrating Forty Years of Low Vision 
Expertise 
President: Sara Conrad 
Program Chair: Jim Jirak 
Registration: $20 ($25) (or package all CCLVI events) $94 ($113) 

Saturday, July 6 

3:30PM — 5:30PM: Scholarship Winners Mixer $15 ($20), Hyatt Executive Directors Suite. While reacquainting with old friends and making new, come meet the 2019 Fred Scheigert scholarship winners.
 

Sunday, July 7 

1:15PM — 2:30PM: Low Vision Vendor Showcase, Riverside Douglas. See what is new as exhibitors demonstrate the latest in low vision technological advances.
 
7-00PM— 8:00PM: 40th Anniversary Party, Riverside Riverview Ballroom. Join CCLVI for our 40th anniversary celebration with all the party fixing’s including a cake and a cash bar. Test your knowledge at pre-game night trivia.
 
8:00PM — 11:00PM: CCLVI Game night $15 ($20) (in CCLVI pkg), Riverside Riverview Ballroom. After a busy day of information and networking, unwind and have some fun with general trivia through the decades. Cash bar available. 
 

Monday, July 8, Riverside Douglas 

12:15PM — 2:30PM: CCLVI Luncheon $36 ($38) (in CCLVI pkg). Clark Rachfel Director of External Relations & Policy and Claire Stanley Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Alexandria, VA, discuss the importance of advocating for the inclusion of low vision devices as well as diabetic equipment being covered by Medicare.
 
2:45PM — 4:00PM: Smart Houses $8 ($10). Have you ever imagined what life would be like in the future? It's 2019 and we are living in a world full of technology. Get ready to learn how to make your home run more efficient with innovative devices and explore how they can make life easier for you. Discover a world you can control with your voice using Amazon Alexa. Presenter: Peter Korn, Accessibility Architect, Amazon, Mountain View CA.
 

Tuesday, July 9, Riverside Douglas 

1:15PM - 5:00PM: CCLVI Annual Membership Meeting. Elections and adoption of proposed constitutional amendments, bylaws and resolutions. 
 

Friends-in-Art of ACB 
President: Lynn Hedl 
Program Chair: Lynn Hedl 
Registration: $12, ($15) 

Saturday, July 06 Hyatt FIA Suite 

7:30AM – 9:30AM: FIA Board Meeting 

3:00PM — 5:00PM: Showcase Audition and Rehearsal. Visit the FIA suite to sign up and rehearse your number for the FIA showcase. 
 

Sunday, July 07 

12:45PM - 2:30PM: How the Pros Mix Music $5 ($7), Hyatt FIA Suite. This interactive workshop will provide hands-on opportunities to have some fun mixing tracks of a familiar song using accessible hardware and software. Presenter: Derek Lane, Audio Engineer, Morganton, NC. 
 
3:00PM - 5:00PM: Showcase Audition and Rehearsal. If you missed your chance to audition on Saturday, visit the FIA suite to sign up and rehearse your number for the FIA showcase. 
 
5:45PM – 7:00PM: MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! $7 ($10), Convention Center Highland C. A panel moderated by Brian Charlson, LUA President, Watertown, MA and Paul Edwards, President, BRL, Miami, FL, will lead a discussion of what is available through the Music Section of NLS and others. We will also explore what recorded music offerings are available from the Library of Congress archives and how to access it; music software that is accessible; and learn about the current state of braille music notation. Joint session of BRL, FIA, LUA and IAC
 
7:15PM — 8:30PM: Beginning Yoga For the Blind and Visually Impaired $6, ($8), Hyatt Morgan. Presenter: Marty Klein, blinded veteran, author and long-time yoga practitioner, Woodstock, NY.  Learn how to improve body alignment and strength; increase breath awareness, enhance emotional stability, and quiet the mind through simple ancient yoga exercises. Participate in basic movement and breathing exercises and learn some simple chants. A CD collection produced by Mr. Klein describing these practices will be available for purchase.
 
9:00PM — 11:00PM: Prose and Poetry Reading $6, ($8), Hyatt Crista. Writers are invited to read their original works to a receptive audience. Moderator: Carla Hayes, McMurray, PA. 
 

Monday, July 08 

12:15 PM — 2:30 PM: FIA and VIVA Luncheon and Special Movie Presentation $32, ($32), Hyatt Crista. Speaker: Marty Klein, blinded veteran, author, and producer of the new documentary Why Can We Serve; Woodstock, NY. Join Friends in Art and VIVA for a delicious luncheon, an inspiring speaker, and a special movie matinee. Marty Klein, blind since 1974, will describe the creative process behind this documentary aimed at preventing suicide among veterans and promoting opportunities for people with disabilities. His audio described film will be shown following the luncheon and Marty will be available afterward for questions and discussion.
 
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM: FIA Writers Workshop $6, ($8), Hyatt Crista. Presenters: Annie Chiapeta, author and poet, New Rochelle, NY; Dr. Herbert Guggenheim, author and poet, Rockville, MD. This lively, interactive workshop will explore elements of creative writing. Learn basic exercises for creating action, building tension, and generating emotion in fiction, poetry and drama.
 
8:00PM – 10:30PM: Showcase for the Performing Arts, $12, ($15), Hyatt Grand Ballroom. Enjoy top quality entertainment from talented ACB members as they tell their stories or sing their songs. This year we will pay special tribute to the late John Dashney, lifetime ACB member and storyteller extraordinaire. Cash bar available. 
 

Tuesday, July 9, Convention Center Highland A

1:15PM – 4:00PM: LUA/BRL/AABT/FIA/IAC Joint Session.
 
1:15PM: Brian Charlson, President, Library Users of America, Watertown, MA; Paul Edwards, President, Braille Revival League, Miami, FL; and others will provide a welcome and give those present a chance to introduce themselves.
 
1:30PM: Up Close and Personal: Gary Telles, Potomac Talking Books, Bethesda, MD; will meet with us to talk in more detail about his experiences as a narrator and will answer all the questions you didn't get to ask during his morning session presentation.
 
2:30PM: Break
 
2:45PM: When You Can't Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery; by Hannah Fairbairn, retired instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, MA, has written a first-hand account of her experiences and accumulated wisdom into a book to help others make the transition to independence after vision loss.
 
3:00PM: Picture the Feeling - Tactile Graphics today and tomorrow. In this session we will hear about what NLS and National Braille Press are doing with tactile graphics and will explore other sources for maps and pictures that blind people can access and use including the new Graphiti tactile graphic display. 
 

Guide Dog Users Inc 
President: Penny Reeder Registration: $15 ($15)

2019 GDUI Convention Program Planning Team: Lynn Merrill, Sarah Calhoun, Nara Murphy, Maria Hansen, Penny Reeder, and Andrea Giudice, Convention Coordinator/Program Planning Team lead. 

Get tickets for the Three Dog Summer Raffle. This year we have not 1, not 2... but three plush dogs wearing beautiful, hand-crafted leather Hava Original harnesses! Call Sarah Calhoun, at the GDUI office, at 866-799-8436. During Convention tickets will be available in the BarkaLounge, Riverside Jordan.  

GDUI BarkaLounge hours: Sunday July 7, noon to 5:00 PM,  Monday-Tuesday, July 8 and July 9, 10:00AM to 5:00 PM,  Wednesday, July 10, 9:00 AM to noon. 

Kick back and enjoy; socialize, purchase cool products, get your guide a restorative canine massage, and, best of all, the lovely Louisville Ladies (Miss Jane and Miss Connie) the queens of the BarkaLounge will be there to help, even if we totally know they are there because of our dogs we are beyond grateful to have them! 

Carla, Canine massage therapist, will only be available during BarkaLounge hours this year so be certain to contact her to schedule time: 650-6780884. 

GDUI is partnering with Genesee Community College to provide nail trimming and ear cleaning. This complimentary service will be available during BarkaLounge hours. 
 

Sunday, July 7 

12:15PM - 1:15PM: Help Your Dog Adjust to Convention Life, Riverside Anthony. Presenter: Becky Barnes Davidson, Consumer Outreach, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Yorktown Heights NY. First convention? Back after a long time? This is for you. Get tips on dealing with the relief areas, other guide teams, canes, finding help, and conquering convention chaos!
 
1:30PM - 2:45PM: In front of Riverside Hotel, GDUI Hotel Orientation. Learning the hotel layout will reduce stress. Hotel orientation provided by guide dog school staff and trained volunteers. 
(Please note: For guide dog users only). 
 
3:00PM - 4:00PM: GDUI Board Meeting, Riverside Hauchstein. 

3:30PM - 6:00PM: Live Auction Preview, Riverside Anthony. Check out all the cool, interesting, yummy, fun, and unique items that will cross the auction block! Volunteers will be available to assist with describing items. (Note: GDUI is not responsible for shipping any auction items!)
 
4:00PM - 5:00PM: Riverside Hauchstein, Meet and Greet with the GDUI Board. Thank board members for their service to GDUI and share your ideas. 

7:00PM - 9:00PM: GDUI Live Auction!! Riverside Anthony. Where to be Sunday evening? The GDUI Live Auction, of course! It will have all the things you love about auctions - a vast array of items to encourage bidding battles, a cash bar, and … much laughter!!!!!! Don't miss the fun! (Stay tuned to the GDUI Announce list for "teasers" about items in this year's auction, however, the only way to know everything available is to attend the actual auction!) 
 

Monday, July 8 

6:45AM - 8:15AM: GDUI Morning Bark, meet in front of the Riverside Hotel 

7:30AM - 8:30AM: In front of Riverside Hotel, GDUI Hotel Orientation. Learning the hotel layout will reduce stress. Hotel orientation provided by guide dog school staff and trained volunteers.
(Please note: For guide dog users only) 

1:15PM — 7:00PM: GDUI program, Riverside Anthony. 

1:15PM: Welcome, Introductions, and Announcements.
 
2:45PM: Moans groans and grumbles: Presentation by University of North Georgia Presenter(s): To Be Announced

4:15PM The Forest and the Trees: Comparing Pet Foods. Presenter: Dr. Renee M. Streeter DVM, DACVN. Dr. Streeter is a Board-certified veterinary nutritionist specializing in companion animal and equine nutrition consultations and education. 

5:45PM: Accessing graphics a new way: exploring the world with Midlina! Presenter: Dr. Hari Prasath Palani, Unar Labs, LLC CEO, UNAR labs is an early-stage startup company developing products to provide blind and visually impaired people seamless access to digital media, from graphs to maps to text. An AI powered software platform, Midlina, instantly transforms digital media content on your smartphone into multi-sensory output perceivable through haptic (active touch), auditory, gestures, and enhanced visual feedback. With Midlina, blind people can focus on their goals and dreams by accessing digital information when they want, where they want, and how they want.
 

Tuesday, July 9 

6:45AM - 8:15AM: GDUI Morning Bark, meet in front of the Riverside Hotel 

1:15PM — 7:00PM: GDUI program, Riverside Anthony. 

1:15PM: Guide Dog School tails. Straight from the dog's mouth! Hear from guide dog school representatives about how they do what it is that we are so grateful they do! 

2:45PM: When Us and Them becomes We! Presenters: Veronica Morris, PhD and Bradley W. Morris, MA, Philosophy, Rock Hill, SC. Do your hackles go up when there's a news story about non-guide service dogs? At the Top Dog conference this past January, a revolutionary panel opened the door to conversations about how the guide dog using community relates to the broader service dog community. We have an opportunity to step through that door and broaden our horizons. Bring your questions and be prepared for unexpected answers in a conversation with a wheelchair user and a psychiatric service dog user from Psychiatric Service Dog Partners! Prepare to be surprised!
 
4:15PM: Stop! Look! Listen! Pedestrian Safety, a panel discussion. Cars are getting quieter, intersections are getting more complicated, and drivers are getting more distracted, and... it is getting harder and harder for us to be safe! Representatives from guide dog schools will share tips and provide reminders on how to navigate.
 
5:45PM: “Top Ten Technology Treasures” Presenter: Steve Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager, NEAT Center at Oak Hill, Hartford, CT. There are many pieces of technology available to help people with low vision or blindness as they go through different phases of their lives. Each day, we are presented with many challenges ranging from equal access during school to staying healthy and fit. Join me as we explore and discover exciting, new developments, apps, and tech supports addressing the needs of individuals with visual impairments in today's fast paced world. 
 

Wednesday July 10

6:45AM - 8:15AM: GDUI Morning Bark, meet in front of the Riverside Hotel 

12:15PM - 2:30PM: GDUI Luncheon- Keynote address and Awards Presentation $32 ($35), Riverside Anthony. Presenters: Lynn Merrill, GDUI Member, Augusta, ME; Chris Eastwood, Instructor, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Bloomfield, CT..You will be entranced as Lynn and Chris share “Quest to Conquer Katahdin, the Appalachian Trail's End!” In addition to their tail of adventure you will have the opportunity to send up a cheer for the 2019 award winners! 
 

Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE) 
President: Ardis Bazyn 
Program Chair: Carla Hayes 
Registration: $6 ($8) 

Saturday, July 6 

4:30PM - 7:00PM: "IVIE Day In ACB Marketplace," Convention Center Empire North. Blind and visually impaired business owners showcase their products and answer your questions. 

10:00PM – 12:00AM: RSVA/IVIE Mixer, $20 ($25), Hyatt RSVA Suite.
 

Sunday, July 7, Convention Center Lilac Ballroom South 

2:45PM – 4:00PM: VR, Self-employment and You $6 ($8). There are several ways of working with your Vocational Rehabilitation agency to start your business, whether it is running a food service facility or starting your own business from scratch. This panel will discuss multiple resources for pursuing your dream. Speakers: Dan Sippl, Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America, Eau Claire, WI; Ardis Bazyn, Independent Visually  Impaired Entrepreneurs, Burbank, CA; Darien Slayton Fleming, Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, Gresham, OR; and Will Burley, Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), Austin, TX. Co-sponsored by Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, BPI, IVIE, RSVA.
 

Tuesday, July 9

12:15PM - 2:30 PM: Luncheon, Program, Business Meeting, $27 ($29), Hyatt Crista.
 
12:55PM: Welcome and Introductions, Ardis Bazyn, IVIE President, Burbank, CA.
 
1:00PM: "Making Tax Information Less Taxing For Business Owners." A representative from H and R Block will speak to us about recent changes to the tax code which effect entrepreneurs and other important tax information that business owners need to know. 

1:40 PM: IVIE Business Meeting and Elections.
 
2:45PM - 5:30PM "IVIE Business Expo," Hyatt Morgan. Blind and visually impaired business owners showcase their products and answer your questions. 
 

Library Users of America 
President: Brian Charlson 
Registration: $10 ($12) 

Sunday, July 7, 2019

1:15PM — 4:00 PM: LUA Program, Convention Center Highland C.
 
1:15PM: Welcome and Introductions: Brian Charlson, President, Library Users of America, Watertown, MA. 

1:30PM: Initiatives and Issues at NLS, Karen Keninger, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Washington, DC.
 
2:30PM: Break
 
2:45PM: Beyond Marrakesh: Kim Charlson, President, American Council of the Blind and Director, Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, Watertown MA. The United States became the fiftieth country to adopt the Marrakesh treaty. What is it and what happens now?
 
3:05 PM: The State of Library Services in the Empire State. Representative of Talking Book Libraries from New York will tell us about the exciting programs they have implemented over the past few years.
 
3:30PM: Blindfold Games/Objective Ed. Marty Schultz, Founder, Miami Beach, FL. Learn how accessible games have provided many hours of fun for thousands of blind people, and now are helping students to learn important skills.
 
3:45PM: Business meeting and elections. 
 
5:45PM – 7:00PM: MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! $7 ($10), Convention Center Highland C. A panel moderated by Brian Charlson, LUA President, Watertown, MA and Paul Edwards, President, BRL, Miami, FL, will lead a discussion of what is available through the Music Section of NLS and others. We will also explore what recorded music offerings are available from the Library of Congress archives and how to access it; music software that is accessible; and learn about the current state of braille music notation. Joint session of BRL, FIA, LUA and IAC 
 

Tuesday, July 9, Convention Center Highland A  

1:15PM – 4:00PM: LUA/BRL/AABT/FIA/IAC Joint Session.
 
1:15PM: Brian Charlson, President, Library Users of America, Watertown, MA; Paul Edwards, President, Braille Revival League, Miami, FL; and others will provide a welcome and give those present a chance to introduce themselves.
 
1:30PM: Up Close and Personal: Gary Telles, Potomac Talking Books, Bethesda, MD; will meet with us to talk in more detail about his experiences as a narrator and will answer all the questions you didn't get to ask during his morning session presentation.
 
2:30PM: Break
 
2:45PM: When You Can't Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery; by Hannah Fairbairn, retired instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, MA, has written a first-hand account of her experiences and accumulated wisdom into a book to help others make the transition to independence after vision loss.
 
3:00PM: Picture the Feeling - Tactile Graphics today and tomorrow. In this session we will hear about what NLS and National Braille Press are doing with tactile graphics and will explore other sources for maps and pictures that blind people can access and use including the new Graphiti tactile graphic display.    
   

Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America (RSVA) 
President: Dan Sippl 
Convention Chair: Scott Eggen 
ACB Program Liaison: Ardis Bazyn 
Registration: $20 ($20) 
RSVA Package (all RSVA events $120 ($130) 

Friday, July 5, Hyatt RSVA Suite

9:00PM — 12:00AM: Members Only Mixer 
 

Saturday, July 6

10:00AM — 12:00PM: RSVA Board of Directors Meeting, Riverside Board Room.
 
1:30PM — 5:30PM: RSVA Programming: Celebrating Over Fifty Years of Achievement and Advocacy, Riverside Carlton.
 
1:30 PM: "Welcome," Dan Sippl, RSVA President, Eau Claire, WI
 
1:35PM: Roll call of affiliates: Donna Seliger, RSVA Secretary, West Des Moines, IA. 1:40PM: First reading of Constitutions and Bylaws and Resolutions, Ardis Bazyn, Constitution and Resolutions Chair, Burbank, CA.

1:55PM: "All about the New York Business Enterprise Program.” Karen Blachowicz, Karen’s Express Shop and Express Vending, Blind Vendors Committee of New York, Buffalo, NY, Rick Fitzpatrick, District Supervisor, Central Region New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) Business Enterprise Program (BEP), Buffalo, NY, Sean Corcoran, Food Service Specialist, Central Region NYSCB, BEP, 
Buffalo, NY. Speakers will outline how the Randolph-Sheppard Program works in New York. How applicants are recruited and trained to be successful. Statistics of the program - number of vendors, number of facilities and satellites, and number of current trainees. How current trends in healthy vending and micromarkets have impacted their program 

2:45PM: "The Advantage of NAYAX Card Readers"  Presenter: Harry Kozlovsky, NAYAX Executive Customer Success Manager, Hunt Valley, MD. Participants will learn advantages of the Nayax Card Readers.
 
3:30PM: “Top Ten Technology Treasures” Presenter: Steve Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager, NEAT Center at Oak Hill, Hartford, CT. There are many pieces of technology available to help people with low vision or blindness as they go through different phases of their lives. Each day, we are presented with many challenges ranging from equal access during school to staying healthy and fit. Join me as we explore and discover exciting, new developments, apps, and tech supports addressing the needs of individuals with visual impairments in today's fast paced world.
 
4:40PM: "Round Table Discussion of State and National Issues. Moderator: Scott Eggen, SVS Vending, Minneapolis, MN.
 
5:00PM: RSVA Nominating Committee 
 
10:00PM: RSVA /I VIE Mixer $20 ($25) (IN RSVA Pkg), Hyatt RSVA Suite. Join RSVA & IVIE for fun and refreshments. Everyone welcome!
 

Sunday, July 7

12:15PM - 2:30PM: RSVA Awards Luncheon, $35 ($40) (RSVA pkg), Riverside Carlton. Speakers: Bradford and Bryan Manning, Two Blind Brothers, New York, NY. Participants will learn how the Blind Brothers unique business was formed to make clothing more fun to touch. Some of the proceeds from this business fund resources for visually impaired persons.
 
2:45PM – 4:00PM: VR, Self-employment and You $6 ($8), Convention Center Lilac Ballroom South. There are several ways of working with your Vocational Rehabilitation agency to start your business, whether it is running a food service facility or starting your own business from scratch. This panel will discuss multiple resources for pursuing your dream. Speakers: Dan Sippl, Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America, Eau Claire, WI; Ardis Bazyn, Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs, Burbank, CA; Darien Slayton Fleming, Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, Gresham, OR; and Will Burley, Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), Austin, TX. Co-sponsored by Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, BPI, IVIE, RSVA. 7:30PM - 9:00PM: 1st Act: "Enjoy some laughs with RSVA!" $15 ($20), (in RSVA pkg), Riverside Carlton. Comedian Bill Boronkay, Cleveland, OH.

9:00PM-12AM: 2nd Act: Show Your Talent with RSVA Karaoke! $15 ($20), (in RSVA pkg), Riverside Carlton. 

Monday, July 8 

1:15PM – 4:45PM: RSVA Program and Business Meeting, Riverside Carlton. 

1:15PM Distance training offered by the Statler OCS for upward mobility. Speakers: Elhanna Porter, OCS Program Manager and Humberto Hernandez, OCS Employment and Training Specialist, Buffalo, NY. Olmsted Center for Sight is a not-for-profit agency whose mission is to help people who are blind, visually impaired or physically disabled achieve their highest level of personal and professional independence. Program categories include low vision clinical evaluations, community and school-based vision rehabilitation services, training in the use of computer and other assistive technology, career education center for employment training and job placement. You'll learn the type of vocational training offered by OCS in the fields of business math, customer service, hospitality and computer skills. OCS introduced a distance learning platform to further reach consumers who seek flexible training opportunities and continued training opportunities for upward mobility. We will examine how BEP participants may partake in training opportunities. 
2:45PM: RSVA business meeting. 
 
6:45PM -12:00AM: RSVA Casino Trip. Take a break and enjoy visiting Batavia Downs Casino. 

Visually Impaired Veterans of America  
President: David Dowling  
Registration: $10 ($10) 

Monday, July 8, Hyatt Crista  

12:15 PM — 2:30 PM: VIVA and FIA Luncheon and Special Movie Presentation $32, ($32). Speaker: Marty Klein, blinded veteran, author, and producer of the new documentary Why Can We Serve; Woodstock, NY. Join Friends in Art and VIVA for a delicious luncheon, an inspiring speaker, and a special movie matinee. Marty Klein, blind since 1974, will describe the creative process behind this documentary aimed at preventing suicide among veterans and promoting opportunities for people with disabilities. His audio described film will be shown following the luncheon and Marty will be available afterward for questions and discussion. 
 

Audio Description Project Steering Committee 
Chair: Dan Spoone 

Tuesday, July 9, Convention Center Lilac South 

2:45PM — 4:00PM: News from Those in the Know $6 ($8). Opening Remarks: Eric Bridges, Executive Director, ACB, Alexandria VA, Kim Charlson, President, ACB, Watertown MA. Audio Description Accessibility and Technology; Open Forum with Representatives from Major Providers and Streaming Services. Moderator: Joel Snyder, PhD, Director, ADP, Takoma Park, MD. Panelists: Gurpreet Kaur (Director, Accessibility, Spectrum), Denver CO, Tom Wlodkowski (Vice President, Accessibility, Comcast), Philadelphia PA, Zach Bastien (Manager, Public Policy and Strategic Alliances, Verizon), Washington DC, and John Herzog (AT&T), Los Angeles, CA. Accessible settop boxes—what's available, current issues and accomplishments (what's working and what needs improvement). Eric Bridges, ACB's Executive Director, Alexandria, VA will share updates from other major providers. Peter Korn (Accessibility Architect, Amazon), Seattle WA) will discuss developments at Amazon. Sarah Herlinger, (Director, Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, Apple), Cupertino CA) will discuss access features offered at Apple. Carl Richardson, Chair of ADP's media sub-committee, Boston, MA, will share news about other Internet streaming services including You Tube, Sling and Roku.  
 
4:15PM- 5:30PM: Audio Description AD-Making it Work for You $6 ($8) 

4:15PM — 5:00PM: Panel #1: Legislative Advocacy. Moderator: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Alexandria VA. Kim Charlson, President, ACB, Watertown, MA will focus her remarks on developments with Hulu and HBO; Tony Stephens, Executive Director, Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance (DBFA), Baltimore, MD will review various AD advocacy initiatives; Larry Walke, Associate General Counsel, National Association of Broadcasters, Washington, DC, will discuss NAB's involvement with making emergency information accessible; Will Schell, Designated Federal Officer, Disability Advisory Committee, FCC, Washington, DC will update information on FCC rules regarding video description; and Carl Richardson, Chair of ADP's media subcommittee, Boston, MA will provide information about the FCC's working group on AD information for broadcast television.
 
5:00PM — 5:45PM: Panel #2: Promoting AD in National Parks, Performing Arts Venues, Museums, and Educational Settings. Moderator: Denise Decker, Chair, ADP Performing Arts/Museums Subcommittee,  Washington, DC. Panelists: Thomas Conway, PhD, Media Coordinator, Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (speaking on the NPS UniDescription project— making National Park Service brochures accessible), Manoa, HI; Rick Morin, ACB Member, Boston, MA (speaking on the Gala Pro/Shubert Theaters project); Lisa Helen Hoffman, Audio-Description Consultant and Trainer, Geva Theater Center in Rochester, Rochester, NY, long-time AD consumer consultant; Susan Glass, Chair of ADP's BADIE sub-committee, Saratoga, CA, with an update on the Benefits of Audio Description in Education contest with a brief visit by Xander Holstein, 2019 Grand Prize Award winner); and Kim Charlson, ACB President and Director of Perkins Institute Library, Watertown, MA will offer an update on the ACVREP AD Certification. 
 

DKM First-Timers Committee  Chair: Kenneth Semien Sr. 

Wednesday, July 10, Riverside President's Suite 

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM DKM First-Timers Reception $15 ($18). Step into the "Field of Dreams" and get sporty with DKM First-Timers of 2019! Show up to the DKM First-Timers Reception while sporting attire that represents your favorite sports team and you could be one of the honorees of the evening. Meet the 2019 Class of DKM First-Timers and former awardees as you enjoy refreshments, prizes and fun. 
 

Employment Committee 
Chair: Brooke Jostad

Wednesday, July 10,, Riverside Riverview Ballroom. 

2:45PM – 4:00PM: Financial Freedom, Sailing Away from Social Security $6 ($8). It's easier said than done! It's not as simple as finding a job and getting it. We all know the system makes it easier to depend on it than to break free from it. A panel will help you answer important questions, such as: How do I go about saving money in a system that doesn't let me save and what are my rights as I navigate social security policies? Sponsored by the Employment Committee. 
 

Environmental Access Committee  
Chair: Becky Barnes Davidson 

Saturday, July 6, Convention Center Lilac South

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: Taming the Curb $7 ($10). Speakers will discuss the challenges pedestrians are facing when they approach the curbside. With the rapidly growing numbers of EBikes and EScooters crowding our sidewalks and the increasing numbers of Ubers and Lyfts picking up and dropping off passengers, space near the curb on most streets is becoming cluttered and difficult to navigate. Factor in silent cars, a growing number of autonomous vehicles, new intersection designs and increasingly complex traffic signalization, and the pedestrian environment is becoming downright dangerous. Man, it's a jungle out there! Panelists: Michael D'amico, Pedestrian Workgroup Chair, Reconnect Rochester, Charles Crawford, Transportation Committee member, Silver Spring, MD, and other panelists TBA. Co-sponsored by EAC and Transportation Committee. 
 

Information Access Committee  
Chair: Brian Charlson 

Saturday, July 6, Riverside Anthony 

1:15 PM – 4:00 PM: 411 from the IAC $5 ($7) Update from the Chair: Brian Charlson, Committee Chair, Watertown, MA, will give an update on the activities of the IAC over the past 12 months. Ray Campbell, ACB Secretary and web accessibility expert will discuss "What do I say" when I need help on a website. Peter Korn from Amazon will discuss devices and services from the company that brought us Fire TV, Alexa and much more. Blindfold Games/ObjectiveEd developer Marty Schultz will discuss the over 50 accessible iOS games from Blindfold Games. Dialogue with Marty about other useful apps that he could possibly create to help our community! 

Sunday, July 7, Convention Center Highland C 

4:15PM – 5:30PM: I Hate Typing on Slippery Glass $5 ($7). This session is intended to help Voiceover users take the frustration out of inputting text on their iPhones and iPads. Based on Judy Dixon's recent bestselling book, "Writing Your Way: Composing and Editing on an iPhone or iPad", Judy will discuss and demonstrate numerous ways of inputting text -- some using the iPhone itself and some using external hardware. Expect to add to the conversation. 
 
5:45PM – 7:00PM: MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC! $7 ($10). A panel moderated by Brian Charlson, LUA President, Watertown, MA and Paul Edwards, President BRL, Miami, FL, will lead a discussion of what is available through the Music Section of NLS and others. We will also explore what recorded music offerings are available from the Library of Congress archives, and how to access it; music software that is accessible; and learn about the current state of braille music notation. Cosponsored by BRL, FIA, LUA and IAC. 
 

International Relations Committee  
Chair: Sandra Sermons 
Theme: Passport to New Cultures 

Monday, July 8, Hyatt Regency A/B 

12:15PM –2:30PM: Voices from Around the World Luncheon $30 ($35). Join us as we welcome our international guests and discover the key to nonverbal cultural cues! Have you ever traveled abroad and wondered whether to hug or shake hands, kiss once or twice on the cheek. A panel will discuss cultural differences to help you in your travels. Panelists: Peter Brass, Vice President, European Blind Union; KerryAnn Iffill, President, Caribbean Council of the Blind; Amos Beer, CEO Israeli Braille & Talking Book Library; Sandra Sermons, International Relations Chair, and Moderator 
 

Leadership Institute Committee  
Chair: Cindy VanWinkle 

Sunday, July 7, Riverside Riverview Ballroom 

4:15PM - 5:30PM: Leadership Institute, Leading the way in a Success Filled Future $6 ($8). Is your affiliate shrinking? Are you tired of the same old conversations about increasing membership, raising more money, and advocating for more services? This session will focus on how to set and meet attainable goals. 
   

Membership Committee  
Chair: Ardis Bazyn 

Saturday, July 6, Convention Center Lilac Ballroom North  

6:00PM – 7:00PM: Keys to the Convention. ACB invites all first-time participants and those who have not attended a convention recently to this session that gives an overview of convention week. After the session join members of the membership committee and attend opening general session.

Wednesday, July 10, Hyatt Regency A/B

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM: 2019 Membership Seminar: "Building Membership through Outreach and Communication."
 
2:45PM: Welcome and Introductions 

2:55PM: Panel: "How does using member incentives increase your membership?" Speakers: Rebecca Bridges, Chair, ACB Affiliate and Membership Action Team, Arlington, VA; Zelda Gebhard, President, North Dakota Association of the Blind, Edgeley, ND; Leslie Spoone, Co-chair ACB Auction Committee, Orlando, FL. 

3:15PM: Questions and Answers. In this session, participants will learn how rewards and incentives might entice more involvement. Participants will learn how these affiliates have used particular incentives or offerings to invite newcomers. 

3:20PM: Panel: "How can you get your members actively involved in your activities?" Speakers: Min Ha, President, American Council of Blind Students, Boston, MA; Denise Colley, 
President, Washington Council of the Blind, Lacey, WA; Carla Ruschival, Treasurer, Kentucky Council of the Blind, Louisville, KY.
 
3:40PM: Questions and Answers. Participants will hear what types of activities get more people to attend. Participants will learn how events encourage the extra involvement. 

3:45PM: ACB Membership Growth Awards Announcement. Participants will learn how these affiliates were able to generate a boost in membership. 

3:55PM: Hand-outs and door prizes. 
  

Multicultural Affairs Committee  
Chair: Peggy Garrett 
 
Sunday, July 7, Riverside Gleason

12:15PM – 1:15PM: MCAC Luncheon, $30 ($32), A living history presentation by AKWAABA, Rochester residents who are accomplished educators, social workers, and healthcare professionals. Focus on Frederick Douglas and the Underground Railroad, including historical figures Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Harriett Tubman and a person heading to freedom on the Underground Railroad. 
 
1:15PM — 2:30PM: MCAC Candidates Forum. MCAC is extending invitations to all persons seeking election in 2019 to participate in a candidate's forum. As the leadership of ACB will change, this is an opportunity to hear firsthand their goals and plans for the future of the organization.

Tuesday, July 9, Riverside President's Suite

 5:00PM – 6:15PM, Mid-week Social $18.00 ($20). Relax with MCAC for fun, food, music, door prizes and take home a Memento from Rochester!  

Rehab Issues Task Force  
Chair: Doug Powell 

Sunday, July 7, Convention Center Lilac Ballroom South 

2:45PM – 4:00PM: VR, Self-employment and you $6 ($8). There are several ways of working with your Vocational Rehabilitation agency to start your business, whether it is running a food service facility or starting your own business from scratch. This panel will discuss multiple resources for pursuing your dream. Speakers: Dan Sippl, Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America, Eau Claire, WI; Ardis Bazyn, Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs, Burbank, CA; Darien Slayton Fleming, Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, Greshem, OR; and Will Burley, Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), Advocate, CA. Co-sponsored by Rehabilitation Issues Task Force, BPI, IVIE, RSVA. 

Monday July 8, Riverside Eastman 

2:45PM — 4:00PM: Helen Keller National Center for Deafblind Youth and Adults $6 ($8) Bryan Ward, Program Coordinator, New York Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, Rochester, NY, along with other staff of HKNC, will provide an overview of services available to people who are deafblind through HKNC; as well as to professionals working in the field of deafblindness. Co-sponsored by SASI and Rehab Issues Task Force.  
 

Resource Development Committee 
Co-chairs: Dan Dillon and Dan Spoone 
 
Wednesday, July 10, Riverside Douglas 

2:45PM — 4:00PM: RDC Workshop $6 ($8) Share successful fundraising ideas and learn about convention sponsorships, direct mail campaigns and event planning. Remember, events work well when there is fun in fundraising.  
 

Scholarship Committee 
Chair: Denise Colley 

Friday, July 5, Riverside Gleason 

6:00PM – 7:30PM: ACB Scholarship Dinner (by invitation only). Sponsored by RSVA. Saturday, July 6 Riverside Riverview Ballroom 
 
12:15PM – 1:45PM: ACBS Scholarship Luncheon, $32 ($35). Celebrate the achievements, success, and future endeavors of our stellar 2019 Scholarship Winners; co-sponsored by RSVA and ACBS. 

Monday, July 8

9:15AM: 2019 ACB Scholarship Presentations, Convention Center Empire North 

6:30PM – 7:30PM: ACB Scholarship Winners' Reception, Riverside President's Suite. Each affiliate is invited to send two representatives to meet the 2019 scholarship winners. 
   

Sight and Sound Impaired Committee  
Chair: Karyn Campbell 

Sunday July 7, Hyatt Executive Director's Suite 

8:00PM – 10:00PM: Get Social with SASI $13 ($15). Meet people who share your unique issues and learn about various ways to communicate in a relaxed atmosphere. 

Monday July 8,Riverside Eastman 

2:45PM — 4:00PM: Helen Keller National Center for Deafblind Youth and Adults $6 ($8). Bryan Ward, Program Coordinator, New York Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, Rochester, NY, along with other staff of HKNC, will provide an overview of services available to people who are deafblind through HKNC; as well as to professionals working in the field of deafblindness. Co-sponsored by SASI and Rehab Issues Task Force.  
 
4:15PM — 5:30PM: Cochlear Implants: One Person's Experience. Are you someone who has a combined vision and hearing loss and your hearing loss is at the point where you are thinking about a cochlear implant? If so, or if you know someone who is; come hear from Phil Jones, SASI member, Loganville, Georgia, about his experience with the process from evaluation to implant to activation and learning to hear with the processor. Also recommended for professionals who work with those who are DeafBlind. There will be time for questions and answers.  
 

Transportation Comittee  
Chair: Ron Brookes 

Saturday, July 6, Convention Center Lilac Ballroom South

2:45PM – 5:30PM: Taming the Curb $7 ($10). Speakers will discuss the challenges pedestrians are facing when the approach the curbside. With the rapidly growing numbers of EBikes and EScooters crowding our sidewalks and the increasing numbers of Ubers and Lyfts picking up and dropping off passengers, space near the curb on most streets is becoming cluttered and difficult to navigate. Factor in silent cars, a growing number of autonomous vehicles, new intersection designs and increasingly complex traffic signalization, and the pedestrian environment is becoming downright dangerous. Man, it's a jungle out there! Panelists: 
Michael D'amico, Pedestrian Workgroup Chair, Reconnect Rochester, Charles Crawford, Transportation Committee Member, Silver Spring, MD, and other panelists TBA. Co-sponsored by EAC and Transportation Committee. 
 

Women's Concerns Committee  
Cochair: Mary Ellen Frost and Linda Porelle 

Monday, July 8 

4:15PM — 5:30PM: Women and Horses: Confidence, Love and Power $6 ($8), Convention Center Highland A. Susan Glass, Saratoga, CA, and Suzanne Ament Christiansburg, VA, share stories about their riding experiences and the special relationships that can grow between horses and persons with disabilities.
 
5:45PM — 7:00PM: Yoga with Leslie Spoon, Hyatt Morgan. Relax and breathe. Join us for the calm and balance you'll need for a busy convention week. Co-sponsored by WCC and Recreation Zone. 

Wednesday, July 10 

7:00AM — 8:15AM Sister Power Breakfast $25 ($28), Hyatt Regency A. Our popular annual event will feature two dynamic and inspiring women of ACB: Cathy Schmidt Whitaker, Diamond Barr, CA, and Sara Conrad, Madison, WI.
 

Career Development 

Tuesday, July 9th, Hyatt Regency A/B

7:00AM – 8:30AM: NIB Breakfast $10 ($15). Join National Industries for the Blind for a discussion about employment and the AbilityOne program. 

Technology

Saturday, July 6

9:00AM – 11:00AM: How Aira is Used to Land Dream Jobs, Convention Center Lilac Ballroom North. Start your convention in high gear by learning how Aira has assisted individuals to master the job-seeking challenge. From formatting your resume, proofreading your cover letter and submitting your application, to matching your attire, and traveling to the interview, this session will present strategies for using Aira to find employment. Hear from Aira staff and Explorers about Aira's Employment Program, an Aira initiative to provide free service to Aira Explorers who are undertaking any task related to finding work. The session will also include a brief overview of Aira's program for students, as well as our support for small business owners. We are pleased to partner with the American Council of the Blind to lower the unacceptable unemployment rate among the blind from 70% to under 7%. Join us and find out how to make the dream real. 
 
9:00AM - 11:00AM: Vispero: What's New with JAWS, Fusion, and ZoomText in 2019. Discounted Home Annual Licenses for all attendees, Riverside McQuaid. Presenter: Douglas Gerry. Join Douglas Gerry for our 2nd ACB User Group meeting. Learn all the latest details on JAWS, Fusion, or ZoomText, with demonstrations and discussions of the 2019 releases. We will also look at how well JAWS is already working with the new Chromium Edge Browser from Microsoft, scheduled to release in the coming months. The first 50 attendees will be provided 50% discount code for the Home Annual License of their choice. 
 
10:00AM – 2:00PM: Spectrum Q/A Meet and Greet, Hyatt Morgan. Come join Spectrum for an open-house forum to connect with a representative from Spectrum’s Accessibility Center of Excellence, where you will have an opportunity to: 

• Find out what Spectrum’s current products and services are and what has been done to insure accessibility on existing offerings. 
• Learn and ask about what the Accessibility Center of Excellence is currently working on. 
• Share feedback on what is working well for you and what you would like to see moving forward. 

Spectrum is committed to accessibility and a great customer experience for all our customers and we hope to work closely with our ACB partners to meet this goal. Presenter: Petr Kucheryavyy, Sr. Manager, Accessibility Outreach. 
 
1:15PM – 2:30PM: Wow your Boss with Aira, Convention Center Lilac Ballroom North. Find inspiration on how people use Aira every day to accomplish tasks and do more at work, impressing their bosses along the way. Learn pro-tips for office efficiency, hear what others use Aira for in their day-to-day work life, and get a chance to speak with the Aira team about how to bring Aira into your workplace as a reasonable accommodation for you or for a group of blind employees through our Employer Access Program. 
Aira and employment – a dynamic duo. 
 
1:15PM - 2:30PM: HIMS: Excellent Choice, Riverside McQuaid. Whether you choose to streamline your Google experience with a Polaris, optimize your workflow with a QBraille XL, or enjoy the smoothest reading experience on an Actilino, the HIMS Team has your back. If you choose a bulky device with a built-in screen to accommodate the sight dependent people in your life, we celebrate that you can make that choice. Choice drives innovation, and HIMS has many innovations to choose from. Check out what we're about. 
Excellent choice! 
 
4:15PM – 5:30PM: Adventures with Microsoft Soundscape, Convention Center Highland A. Soundscape uses 3D spatial audio to promote a person’s mobility and independence by enhancing their awareness of their surroundings by calling out landmarks and points of interest from where they actually are. This provides a greater sense of empowerment and choice and allows each and every one of us to be able enjoy the outdoors with greater confidence and less stress. Come along to this session to learn more about what Soundscape is and how it works; we’ll be sharing what we’ve learnt from our first year since release and how people are using it every day in a variety of different ways. Presenter: Amos Miller, Product Strategist, Microsoft NExT Enable Team, Seattle WA.

Sunday, July 7

4:15PM – 6:15PM
7:15PM – 9:15PM 
Microsoft Soundscape Focus Group: come meet the product team and share your feedback, Convention Center Cascade B. Soundscape can be considered a map that is delivered in 3D sound, i.e. it uses 3D audio technology to enhance your awareness of what is around you, and thereby helps you get around and explore your surroundings. Most importantly, Soundscape allows you to do these activities on your own terms. This session is designed to allow us to hear from our users, discuss the feedback in detail, while sharing our own insights and learnings from the past year. In particular, we’d love to hear about your impressions of Soundscape, your motivations behind how and why you use it in the way you do; and at the same time, we’ll go over some of our key features such as wayfinding, running Soundscape in the background to enhance ambient awareness, placing markers that are personal to you, and having fun through developing the superpower to know where any place in the world is in relation to you. To register for the focus group, please email [email protected] with your name and preferred session time: 4:15PM or 7:15PM. 

4:15PM – 5:30PM: The Real Power Behind Free Aira Access Offers, Convention Center, Lilac Ballroom North. Join Aira Chief Experience Officer Amy Bernal and VP of Public Policy & Strategic Initiatives Paul Schroeder, in discussing the impact that Aira Access is making in daily lives. Learn how you can use Aira Access to do more every day and how you can help bring Aira Access to your community to level the playing field for all. You will also hear about Aira's upcoming promotions, along with the power behind the new free trial, open to anyone who uses Aira for free.
 
5:45PM - 7:00PM: "HumanWare: BrailleNote Touch/Brailliant BI14, Riverside McQuaid. The BrailleNote Touch is the first and only Google- certified Braille tablet which blends powerful and intuitive apps for managing, accessing and creating information from KeySoft with millions of apps that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Join us as we review new features such as full QWERTY support, the ability to directly emboss graphics, as well as the implementation of onehanded operation in addition to many new and exciting features. We will also have the opportunity to discuss the much anticipated Brailliant BI 14 which is now shipping. Time will also be set aside for your questions and feedback." 
 
7:15PM – 8:30PM: HumanWare: What is new with Victor? A Trek / Stream Discussion, Riverside McQuaid. Success of the Victor Reader Trek and Stream marches on into 2019! Join the HumanWare team at the annual Stream User Forum. Share stories and tips on downloading and playing back books and periodicals from favorite websites. Learn what is new with both the Stream and Trek. We will also set aside time for live demonstrations of features as well as time for your questions.  

Tuesday, July 9 

4:15PM – 5:30PM: Microsoft- What's New in Windows Narrator, Come hear about Narrator’s new home, quick start guide, improved reading, improved responsiveness, along with a sneak peek at what is coming for summer insiders, and more.  

Wednesday, July 10 

4:15PM – 5:30PM: Microsoft- Magnifier and Low Vision Improvements within Windows 10, Come see and hear about a new Magnifier mouse mode, text that is easier to see, a mouse pointer that is larger and more colorful, along with a sneak peek at what is coming for summer insiders, and more. 
 
5:45PM - 7:00PM: Bookshare Office Hours at ACB, Hyatt Crista. The latest Bookshare updates; answers to your Bookshare questions. 
 

Self-Improvement

1Touch Self Defense. $15 ($15). Designed specifically for the blind; real life situations with practical applications. Hands-on workshop; open to all. Learn basic releases from non-threatening situations to handling severe assaults. Basic education on personal safety.  

Sunday, July 7, Riverside Lilac 

5:45 PM – 7:15 PM: Introduction to 1Touch SelfDefense (beginner session) 
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM: Introduction to 1Touch SelfDefense (women only session)  

Monday, July 8, Riverside Lilac

5:45PM – 7:15PM: Introduction to 1Touch SelfDefense (session for college students) 
7:30PM – 9:00PM: Introduction to 1Touch SelfDefense  (beginner session) 

Tuesday, July 9, Riverside Lilac

5:45PM – 7:15PM: 1Touch Self-Defense (advanced session). Must have completed 1Touch beginner session. 
7:30PM – 9:00PM: Introduction to 1Touch Self-Defense (beginner session) 

Wednesday, July 10, Riverside Lilac

5:45PM – 7:15PM: Introduction to 1Touch Self-Defense (women only session) 
7:30PM – 9:00PM: 1Touch Self-Defense  (advanced session). Must have completed 1Touch beginner session)
 

Surveys and Studies

Saturday, July 6 through Wednesday, July 10th, Convention Center Cascade A 

Mirko Kunstek, a PhD student in the Social Welfare Program at Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University in New York City is undertaking a research study on factors predicting the life satisfaction of visually impaired adults, 18 years and older. Data will be collected via a researcher administered survey at Rochester, NY ACB National Convention from July 6, 2019 to July 11, 2019. For those not available to complete the survey at the ACB convention, access to the survey will be sent via ACB listserv with a link to the survey which you can complete and submit at your convenience. To participate in the study please send an email to [email protected].

Monday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 9, Convention Center Cascade B

9:00AM - 5:00PM JPMorgan Chase & Co sessions, (by appointment only). JPMorgan Chase & Co. is committed to meeting the banking and financial services needs of all our customers. Members of our Digital team will be on site to show you how we make digital products accessible and usable by all. We would like your input on our Chase mobile checkout app. For this study, we are seeking iPhone VoiceOver users who are also small business owners or have a side business where they accept card payments. In these sessions of 11 user testing, we will ask you to complete common tasks using a test device to get your feedback. The study will not require you to log into your personal phone. Your personal information will remain protected. Sessions are expected to last approximately one hour. To attend one of the sessions, please contact [email protected]. Session times are (two sessions available per timeslot): 
9:00AM — 10:00AM 
10:15AM — 11:15AM 
11:30AM — 12:30PM 
1:30PM — 2:30PM
2:45PM — 3:45PM
4:00PM — 5:00PM 

Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10th, Convention Center Cascade C

Express Scripts (a Cigna company) is conducting a usability study focused on improving the accessibility and inclusivity of their website and mobile app. Participants will complete a number of tasks and provide feedback regarding the experience. Individual sessions will last about an hour and are by appointment only. If you are interested and would like to be considered, please sign up by visiting https://www.research.net/r/ML22V2T 

Monday, July 8 through Wednesday, July 10, UNAR Labs, Convention Center Cascade D 

Seeking individuals for testing new digital information access products using multisensory feedback on smartphones and tablets. Our team at UNAR Labs is motivated by the mission of making all aspects of digital media accessible to everyone beyond their sensory limitations. We are building new technology to enable multisensory access to digital media information and to bridge the gap between disability and opportunity. Towards our mission, we would like to understand the current needs and problems of BVI users in supporting your educational, social, and vocational training as well as in everyday life activities. We would greatly appreciate for interested people to take a brief 2030 minutes of your time during the conference to talk with us about your experiences and perspective of accessibility problems related to information access. We also want to show you some of the exciting development of new access products to get your input on where we are going.  

All participants will be entered into a raffle and four lucky winners will be selected on July 10th. Each winner will receive a $50 Visa gift card. To get more details about the interview and to sign up, please send an email to [email protected]. 

Friday, July 5

8:00AM - 4:45PM: Genesee Country Village, $82 ($86). This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Travel back in time at the 3rd largest living history museum in the United States, the Genesee Country Village & Museum. You will be immersed into the 19th century as you explore this living, breathing historic village. Guests will spend the day interacting and learning through hands-on activities and experiences, tasting, touching, and smelling your way through history. Activities include: period dressed, knowledgeable interpreters escorting you through the entire village on a guided trolley tour. Visiting our stateof-the-art facility, the John. L. Wehle Gallery where you will be welcomed by our Lead Curator, Patricia Tice before experiencing our 'Working like a Dog' exhibit as well as our 'Victoria's Closet' exhibit to learn about the fashion and the origins of these extraordinary garments — maybe even trying them on. During luncheon you will also have the chance to taste 19th-century beer recipes, as well as Heritage Chocolate recipes! Don't miss out on this unique and engaging experience at Genesee Country Village & Museum! There will be time to visit the gift shop and bakery.
 
2:00PM -4:30PM: City Bus Tour I, $21 ($25). Climb on board and enjoy a narrated tour of the rich history of the "Flower City." Hear about Rochester's rich history and learn about its famous people and places. No stopping. 

5:15PM - 10:30PM: Colonial Belle, $60 ($64). Join your pals on a narrated three-hour Erie Canal boat cruise. Our group will take over the entire boat, the Colonial Belle. We will be served a plated dinner with a cash bar available. Explore the Erie canal including a trip through the famous locks. There will be times during the tour when everyone will be asked to sit down, as the song says "Low bridge, ev'rybody down". What a great start to convention week. 
 

Saturday July 6 

5:15AM - 6:30PM: Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, $73 ($77). Travel to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame. You will be able to touch the plaques of each player selected for the Hall of Fame. Enjoy a hands-on tour of uniforms, bats, gloves, balls and other gear used throughout the years. Listen to recordings of famous moments in baseball history including Hank Aaron's 755th home run, Jackie Robinson's appearance on first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Lou Gehrig's farewell speech. We'll sit-down to share a movie showing many of the baseball greats and their reactions to the game; this movie will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. The tour will include time for souvenir shopping. The bus ride will be long but we will keep you entertained with audio and video clips, games and snacks. This tour will involve a lot of walking in a very crowded museum. If you have difficulty keeping up with a large group in this type of environment, this tour isn't for you. Boxed breakfast and a late afternoon meal included.
 
10:00AM – 12:30PM: City Bus Tour II: $21 ($25). Climb on board and enjoy a narrated tour of the rich history of the "Flower City." You will hear about Rochester's rich history and learn about its famous people and places. No stopping. 

1:15 M - 3:45PM: City Bus Tour III : $21 ($25). Climb on board and enjoy a narrated tour of the rich history of the "Flower City." You will hear about Rochester's rich history and learn about its famous people and places. No stopping.

Monday July 8

11:00AM – 9:00PM: Corning Museum of Glass and Gugini Café $93 ($97). This tour will require a lot of walking, the gallery is quite large, very echoey and open, you must be able to keep up with the group, there is no seating. Gift shops. dinner and cheese making included, the tour does not include luncheon, grab a bite from the ACB Café before boarding the bus. 

12:15PM -6:15PM: Strong Museum of Play $90 ($94). (This tour involves a lot of walking with minimal places to sit.) Exclusive, hands-on tour of the only museum in the world dedicated to the study of play, and home to the world's largest collection of toys, dolls, games, and video games. Break off into guided groups to explore The Strong - from the world's largest pop-up story book, where you can try to pull King Arthur's sword from the stone or spin the wheel on a whaling boat, to a superhero exhibit where you can try on capes, play a memory game, and be zapped with super strength. Spend 30-minutes in the museum's indoor butterfly garden and get up close to the animals that call it home along with special, tactile encounters hosted by the museum's biologist. After, participate in a hands-on experience with toys from the museum's National Toy Hall of Fame that is led by Chief Curator Chris Bensch, a frequent guest on Travel Channel's Mysteries at the Museum series. The five-hour experience includes five game tokens to the museum's arcade and pinball exhibits, a ride on the museum's carousel, and a 20% discount in the museum's shop. (The shop will be open exclusively to members of the American Council of the Blind from 5 to 6 pm.). Luncheon will be included in this tour.

1:15PM -4:45PM: Sweet Tooth Tour, Laughing Gull Chocolates $40 ($44). This is more than a candy tour, make your own truffles, enjoy a cheese and cracker plate, learn about chocolate making including samples. Gift shop.
 
6:45 PM – 12:00AM: Batavia Downs Casino $30 ($34) (in RSVA pkg). Join RSVA for an evening of fun at the Casino. All are welcome. 

Tuesday July 9

10:45AM— 6:00PM: Adult Beverage Tour $135 ($139).  You must have your ID with you, you can’t board the bus without it. If you enjoy a glass of wine, a cold beer or a variety of spirits join ACB in this one of a kind tour, designed especially for ACB by Crush Beer & Wine Tours. you will visit 4 different venues: 

Genesee Brew House: Enjoy a delicious luncheon 'Brew House' style and a Genesee Favorite pint of beer while overlooking High Falls. The Genesee Brewery is one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in America. Once a centuryold packaging center, the Genesee Brew House has transformed the 9,200 square-foot space into a beer destination, featuring interactive exhibits, multi- media content, gift shop, pilot brewery and pub-style restaurant. A production tour will be included after luncheon. 

Casa Larga Winery: Welcome to Casa Larga Vineyards, located just outside of Rochester, NY in the Finger Lakes Wine Region. For 35 years the Colaruotolo family has been committed to producing superior, award winning wines, and creating a unique experience for all vineyard guests. You can't help notice Casa Larga's stunning vineyard as you taste their diverse portfolio of their award winning wines.
 
Black Button Distillery: the first and finest grainto-glass Craft Distillery in Rochester, NY since prohibition. Each week Black Button makes 900 bottles of world-class gin, vodka, moonshine, bourbon and more. Every batch is distilled, aged, bottled, labeled, and hand numbered. A production tour will be included with your tastings.
 
Rohrbach Brewing Company: Rohrbach began when beer lover John Urlaub, returned to Rochester after an assignment in the village of Rohrbach, Germany in 1992. Rohrbach's newest facility and tasting room recently opened in Rochester's historic public market district. Rohrbach's has become one of Rochester's signature brewers with many award-winning varieties to choose from year-round. You'll sample some of the most incredible flavored beers in Rochester. 

12:30PM - 4:30PM: Susan B Anthony $23 ($27). This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Susan B. Anthony was famous for saying "agitate, organize, educate." Come learn how she agitated those in power, organized those who wanted equality, and educated the masses about the importance of women's rights. Stand in the front parlor where Susan B. Anthony was arrested for the crime of "voting as a woman," and hear the stories of her partnerships with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass. Tour the bedrooms belonging to Susan, her sister Mary Stanford Anthony and their mother. There will be time for shopping in the gift shop. Feel the walls where history happened and leave inspired to keep working for equal rights for all. The tour does not include luncheon, have luncheon at the ACB Cafe prior to boarding the bus. There isn’t enough time to eat luncheon on the bus.) 

1:30PM - 5:15PM: Memorial Art Gallery $17 ($21). The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) is Rochester's art museum with a distinguished collection that spans 5,000 years of world art. Guided by individuals in our community who are blind, MAG has developed programs that welcome individuals to touch selected sculpture as well as listen to verbal descriptions of major works of art in the collection. A short concert on the museum's rare 18th century Baroque organ is included. The tour does not include luncheon, have luncheon at the ACB Café prior to boarding the bus. There isn’t enough time to eat luncheon on the bus. 
 

Wednesday July 10

11:00AM – 5:00PM: NY School for the Blind $39 ($43). Visit the building, meet staff and students and enjoy luncheon.
 
12:30PM - 5:15PM: George Eastman House $23 ($27). NO visit to Rochester is complete without a visit to the George Eastman Museum. ACB will be given a guided tour of the Kodak founder's 50-room Colonial Revival mansion on a 12.5-acre estate in the city, often described as an "American castle." The historic mansion and gardens at the George Eastman Museum provide a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest American innovators and entertainers in the first decades of the twentieth century. Original furnishings and artifacts, careful reproductions, and beautifully restored landscape transport visitors to the 1900's. You will learn about Eastman's entrepreneurial spirit and accomplishments as well as his personal interests and philanthropy. The George Eastman Museum is also a museum of photography and cinema. During our visit we'll have a guided tour of the special exhibit "The Art of Warner Brothers." Learn how your favorite Warner Brother cartoons were created: Bugs Bunny, Road Runner and Tweety Pie. As a part of this tour we will be treated to a concert performed on George Eastman's pipe organ. The tour does not include luncheon, have luncheon at the ACB Café before boarding the bus. There isn’t enough time to eat luncheon on the bus.
 
1:15PM - 4:45PM: Sweet Tooth Tour, Laughing Gull Chocolates $40 ($44). This is more than a candy tour, make your own truffles, enjoy a cheese and cracker plate, learn about chocolate making including samples. Gift shop. 
 

Friday July 12th

6:00AM — 9:30PM: Niagara Falls $185 ($189). Box breakfast, luncheon and dinner provided. This tour will involve a lot of walking, steps and slippery surfaces. There is no seating on the Maid of the Midst boat; you will need to stand so you must be able to balance on a very rocky vessel. You will be walking from area to area, there is no seating along the way. During this tour you will be walking approximately two miles, we will need to move quickly to get from area to area to remain on schedule. There is a lot to see and this is a busy time at the falls. Ponchos and rubber shoes will be provided. Experience the sensation of one of the wonders of the world on this tour of Niagara Falls. Begin your journey through the woodsy peace of Niagara Falls State Park as you head towards the famous Maid of the Mist Boat ride. Head down nearly 200 feet to the base of the Niagara Gorge, and board the classic boat. Hear the roar of over 600,000 gallons of water per second descend around you in the basin of Horseshoe Falls. Experience the power of water and wind that makes Niagara so famous. Return to the serene park and arrive at the Niagara Visitor Center to experience "Legends of Niagara." This immersive film experience allows you to take in accounts of the daredevils of Niagara and allows you to feel what it is like to brave mighty Niagara from the safety of your theater seat. During your tour, learn all about the history and scenic wonder of Niagara Falls as our local expert guides provide thorough commentary throughout your journey.  As you enjoy luncheon in the park, experience the truly international hub that is Niagara. You'll also hear the sounds of nature, especially nesting gulls in this Audubon designated important bird area. Finally, head over to the Cave of the Winds. Learn about the history of the Niagara Reservation at the newly-constructed "The World Changed Here" pavilion, before heading down to the classic wooden platforms at the base of the American and Bridal Veil Falls. Feel the power of water as you stand mere feet from the base of the Falls, and the appropriately named Hurricane Deck."