Monday, March 14, 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Eastern time
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.: Opening Connect Show (30 minutes)
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Welcome and Opening General Session (60 minutes)
Session Leads:
Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
Swatha Nandhakumar, Advocacy & Outreach Specialist
Confirmed Presenters:
Dr. Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director, U.S. Access Board
Ann Sommers McIntosh, Executive Director, National Council on Disability
2:00 – 2:15 p.m.: Transition and Connect Show (15 minutes)
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.: Legislative Imperative Overview (60 minutes)
Session Leads:
Clark Rachfal and Swatha Nandhakumar
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.: Transition and Connect Show (15 minutes)
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: 3 Concurrent Breakouts (60 minutes)
Breakout #1: How May Affiliates Assist the ACB National Office and Staff with the Implementation of ACB Resolutions?
Panel Leads:
Chris Hunsinger, President, Pennsylvania Council of the Blind
Jeff Thom, Chair, ACB Advocacy Steering Committee & Board Member, American Council of the Blind
Gabe Griffith, Chair, ACB Resolutions Committee, and President, California Council of the Blind
Breakout #2: Different Levels of Advocacy for Transportation, Pedestrian, and Environmental Access: Federal, State and Local
Panel Leads:
Becky Davidson, Chair, ACB Pedestrian and Environmental Access Committee
Sheila Styron, Co-Chair, ACB Transportation Committee
Chris Bell, Member, Board of Directors, American Council of the Blind
Confirmed Presenter:
Beth Osborne, Director, Transportation for America
Breakout #3: Hill Etiquette and Role Playing
Panel Leads:
Swatha Nandhakumar, Advocacy & Outreach Specialist
Claire Stanley, Co-Chair, ACB Transportation Committee
Confirmed Presenters:
Katie Frederick, member, American Council of the Blind
Michael Garrett, member, American Council of the Blind
Mark Richert, President, eXcelsis LLC
4:30 – 4:45 p.m.: Transition and Connect Show (15 minutes)
4:45 – 6:00 p.m.: Federal Communications Commission: Broadband Adoption and Disability Rights (75 minutes)
Session Leads:
Clark Rachfal and Swatha Nandhakumar
Confirmed Presenters:
Lyle Ishida, Chief, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division, Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau
Michael Scurato, Assistant Chief, Policy Division, Media Bureau
Darryl Cooper, Attorney, Disability Rights Office, Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau
6:00 – 6:30 p.m.: End of Day Connect Show (30 minutes)
Spanish Language Wrap Up Show
Tuesday, March 15
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.: Opening Connect Show (30 minutes)
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Welcome and Opening General Session (60 minutes)
Session Leads:
Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind
Swatha Nandhakumar, Advocacy & Outreach Specialist, American Council of the Blind
Alison Barkoff, Principal Deputy Administrator, Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Advocacy Related to COVID-19 Accessibility
Confirmed Presenters: Kim Charlson (Moderator); and Dan Spoone, President, American Council of the Blind
Meet Matt Handley: ACB Advisory Board Member and Partner, Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC (5 minutes)
2:00 – 2:15 p.m.: Transition and Connect Show (15 minutes)
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.: Legal Advocacy Landscape (60 minutes)
Panel Leads:
Clark Rachfal and Swatha Nandhakumar
Confirmed Presenters:
Matt Handley, Partner, Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC
Margaret Hart, Counsel, Washington Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
Christina Brandt-Young, Supervising Attorney, Disability Rights Advocates
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.: Transition and Connect Show (15 minutes)
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.: 3 Concurrent Breakouts (60 minutes)
Breakout #1: The Intersection of Accessibility, Privacy, Security, & Safety
Panel Lead:
Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
Confirmed Presenters:
Troy Otillio, CEO, AIRA
Bryan Finney, CEO, Democracy Live
Monica Desai, Vice President, Connectivity and Access Policy, Meta
Breakout #2: Get Up and Get Moving: Why We Matter: The Importance of Patient Relations and Advocating for Our Health
Panel Leads:
Koni Sims, Board Member, American Council of the Blind
Terry Suarez, Member, ACB’s Get Up & Get Moving Campaign
Amanda Selm, Member, ACB’s Get Up and Get Moving Campaign
Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development and Communications, American Council of the Blind
Breakout #3: Teddie-Joy’s Law/Older Individuals with Blindness
Panel Leads:
Jeff Thom, Chair, ACB Advocacy Steering Committee & Board Member, American Council of the Blind
Mark Richert, President, eXcelsis LLC
4:30 – 4:45 p.m.: Transition and Connect Show (15 minutes)
4:45 – 6:00 p.m.: Closing General Session (75 minutes)
Session Leads:
Clark Rachfal and Swatha Nandhakumar
Meet Charles Cooper: ACB Advisory Board Member and Managing Director, Signal Group
Political Landscape:
Confirmed Presenters:
Charles Cooper, Managing Director, Signal Group
6:00 – 6:30 p.m.: End of Day Connect Show
Spanish Language Connect Show
