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  • Home
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  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
      • 2001 ACB Board Minutes
        • July 7, 2001, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 20, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 22 & 23, 2001, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2002 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 30, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 17, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JUNE 30, JULY 5, 2002, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 41ST ANNUAL CONVENTION, HOUSTON, TEXAS
        • July 6, 2002, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 29, 2002, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 17, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 25, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 21 & 22, 2002, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2003 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 15, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 11, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 16, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 2, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 5, JULY 11, 2003, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 42nd ANNUAL CONVENTION, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
        • January 16, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 12, 2003, Post Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2003, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 4, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 25, 2003, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2004 ACB Board Minutes
        • April 1, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • April 22, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • August 11, September 1, October 6 & October 12, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 15 & 16, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 3, JULY 10, 2004, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 43rd ANNUAL CONVENTION, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
        • January 14, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 10, 2004, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 3, 2004, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 22, 2004, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2005 ACB Board Minutes
        • Convention Standing Rules, Adopted July 4, 2005
        • February 14, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 2 - JULY 9, 2005, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 44th ANNUAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
        • January 22, & 23, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 2, 2005, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 9, 2005, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 11, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 22, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 1 & 2, 2005, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2006 ACB Board Minutes
        • February 20 & 21, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JULY 8 - JULY 15, 2006, GENERAL SESSION RECORD, 45th ANNUAL CONVENTION, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA
        • July 15, 2006, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 8, 2006, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 30, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 6, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 23 & 24, 2006, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2007 ACB Board Minutes
        • August 2, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • JUNE 30 – JULY 7, 2007, CONVENTION RECORD, 46th ANNUAL CONVENTION, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
        • January 4, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 7, 2007, Post-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 30, 2007, Pre-Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • March 10 – 11, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 23, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 13, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 29, 2007, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2008 ACB Board Minutes
        • Convention Record of the 47th annual Convention of the American Council of the Blind
        • February 8 and 9, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • January 2, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 12, 2008, Post-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2008, Pre-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 4, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 15 - 16, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
        • October 1, 2008, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2009 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 15, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • February 20, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 11, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 4, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • May 21, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 12 - 13, 2009, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2010 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 13,2010 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • February 19, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 10, 2010, Pre-convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • July 17, 2010, Post Convention Board Meeting Minutes
        • June 9, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • November 6, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
        • September 22, 2010, Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2011 ACB Board Minutes
        • December 14, 2011 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • January 11, 2011 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • Mid Year Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • October 1, 2011 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • Post Convention Meeting of the American Council of the Blind Board of Directors
        • Pre convention Board of Directors Meeting, American Council of the Blind
        • Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors, May 5th 2011
      • 2012 Meeting Minutes
        • December 12, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • February 23-24, 2012 Mid Year Board Of Directors Meeting
        • July 14, 2012 Board of Directors Meeting of the American Council of the Blind
        • July 7, 2012 Pre-Convention Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • June 7, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • May 9, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind
        • September 15, 2012 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
      • 2013 Meeting Minutes
        • August 21, 2013 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • December 17, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • February 22, 2013 Mid Year ACB Board of Directors Meeting
        • January 3, 2013 Teleconference Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • July 5, 2013 Pre-Convention Board of Directors Meeting
        • Minutes of the American Council of the Blind 2013 Post Convention Board of Directors Meeting
        • October 30, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • September 28, 2013 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
      • 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • December 8th and 9th, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • February 21, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • January 30, 2014 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • July 12, 2014 Pre-Convention ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • July 19, 2014 Post-Convention ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • June 9, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • November 13, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • October 17 and 18, 2014 ACB Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
      • 2015 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • December 3 and 10, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • February 21, 2015, Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • July 4, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
        • October 30-31, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
      • 2016 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
        • AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
        • American Council of the Blind Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • February 27, 2016 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors
      • 2017 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes Aug 22, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Feb 25, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Jun 30, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Nov 27, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes Oct 27, 2017
      • 2018 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • American Council of the Blind Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 29, 2018
        • Board of Directors Minutes Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2018
        • Board of Directors Minutes Oct. 5-6, 2018
      • 2019 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes August 22, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes Feb. 23, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes July 5, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes Nov 11 and 18, 2019
        • Meeting Minutes: Oct. 18 and 19, 2019
      • 2020 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes Apr 23, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Feb 22, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Jan 23, 2020
        • Meeting Minutes Mar 30, 2020
      • 2021 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
      • 2022 ACB Board of Directors Minutes
      • John McCann for ACB Board of Directors
    • Board of Publications
      • 2009 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 6, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 20, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 5, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 5, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • March 2, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • November 2, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 14, 2009, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2010 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 5, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • August 2, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • December 6, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 19, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 4, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 11, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • June 7, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • March 1, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • May 3, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • November 1, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • October 4, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 6, 2010, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2011 Board of Publications Minutes
        • April 4, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • August 1, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • December 5, 2011, Board of Publications Meeting Minutes October 3, 2011
        • February 25, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • February 7, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • January 3, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • July 10, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • June 6, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • May 2, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • October 3, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
        • September 5, 2011, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 2, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • August 6, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 10, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 24, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • February 6, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • January 2, 2012 BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS MEETING MINUTES
        • July 8, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 7, 2012 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 1, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • August 13, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 2, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 22, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 4, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • January 7, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 6, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 4, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • October 7, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • September 9, 2013 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 7, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • August 4, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • December 1, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 21, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • January 6, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • July 13, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • June 2, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 3, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • October 6, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • September 8, 2014 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • April 6, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • February 2, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • July 5, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • June 1, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • March 2, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • May 4, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • November 9, 2015 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
      • 2016 BOP Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes-Apr. 4, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Aug. 2, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Dec. 6, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Feb. 8, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Jan. 4, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-July 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Jun. 6, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Mar. 7, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-May 2, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Nov. 1, 2016
        • BOP Minutes-Oct. 4, 2016
        • Board of Publications Meeting Minutes for September 6, 2016
      • 2017 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • Meeting Minutes for April 4, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for August 1, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for December 5, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for February 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for January 3, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for July 1, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for June 6, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for March 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for November 7, 2017
        • Meeting Minutes for September 5, 2017
      • 2018 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 30, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Apr. 3, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 7, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 9, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 5, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Mar. 7, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - May 1, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Nov. 13, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 9, 2018
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 4, 2018
      • 2019 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Apr. 2, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 13, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Dec. 3, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Feb. 5, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 8, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jul. 6, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 4, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Mar. 12, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - May 7, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Nov. 5, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 1, 2019
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 3, 2019
      • 2020 Board of Publications Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Feb 4, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Apr 7, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Aug. 4, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Jan. 7, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Jun. 2, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Mar 3, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - May 5, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Nov 10, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Oct. 6, 2020
        • BOP Minutes - Sept. 1, 2020
      • 2021 BOP Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes - Apr 6, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Aug 3, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Feb 2, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Jan 5, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Jun 1, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Mar 2, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - May 4, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Nov. 2, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Oct 12, 2021
        • BOP Minutes - Sept 7, 2021
      • 2022 BOP Meeting Minutes
        • BOP Minutes Feb 1, 2022
        • BOP Minutes - Apr 5, 2022
        • BOP Minutes - Mar 1, 2022
        • Bop Minutes - Jan 4, 2022
      • April 14, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • August 4, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • BOP Editorial Policy Manual, 2015
      • Board of Publications Hosts Internet Candidates' Page
      • Board of Publications Minutes
      • Charles Hodge for ACB Board of Publications
      • December 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of December 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • January 30, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • July 6, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • June 2, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • March 3, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • Marcia Dresser for ACB Board of Publications
      • May 5, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • November 3, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • October 6, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • September 1, 2008, Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Publications
      • Thomas Mitchell for ACB Board of Publications
    • Committees & Task Forces
      • ACB Radio Management Committee
      • ACB Store-Mini Mall Committee
      • Advocacy Services Committee
      • Audio Description Project (ADP) Committee
      • Audio Description Project Task Force
      • Awards Committee
      • Braille Authority of North America
      • Constitution and Bylaws Committee
      • Convention Coordinating Committee
      • Convention Program Committee
      • Credentials Committee
      • Employment Issues Committee
      • Environmental Access Committee
      • Fitness Equipment Equity Task Force
      • Information Access Committee
      • International Relations Committee
      • Investment Committee
      • Leadership Institute Training Committee
      • McDaniel Fund Committee
        • Recipients of the Durward K. McDaniel First Timer and J.P. Morgan Chase Leadership Fellow Awards Speak Out
      • Membership Committee
      • Monthly Monetary Support Committee
      • Multicultural Affairs Committee
      • National Library Service
      • Next Generation Committee
      • Nominating Committee
      • Other Representatives
      • PR Committee downloads
      • Rehabilitation Issues Task Force
      • Resolutions Committee
      • Resource Development Committee
      • Scholarship Grant Committee
      • Sight and Sound Impaired Committee
      • Special Education/Schools for the Blind Task Force
      • Transportation Committee
      • Voting Task Force
      • Women's Concerns Committee
      • World Blind Union Delegates
    • History
    • ACB Resolutions
      • 2009 Resolutions
      • 2010 Resolutions
      • 2011 Resolutions
      • 2012 Resolutions
      • 2013 Resolutions
      • 2014 Resolutions
      • 2015 Resolutions
      • 2016 Resolutions
      • 2017 Resolutions
      • 2018 Resolutions
      • 2019 Resolutions
      • 2020 Resolutions
      • 2021 Resolutions
      • Resolution on Full Funding of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
    • Affiliates
      • Special Interest Affiliates
        • ACB Diabetics in Action
        • ACB Families
        • ACB Government Employees
        • ACB Human Service Professionals
        • ACB Next Generation
        • ACB Radio Amateurs
        • ACB Students
        • Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss
        • American Association of Blind Teachers
        • American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys
        • American Council of Blind Lions
        • Blind Information Technology Specialists
        • Blind LGBT Pride International
        • Braille Revival League
        • Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
        • Friends In Art of ACB, Inc.
        • Guide Dog Users, Inc.
        • Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers
        • Library Users of America
        • Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America
        • Visually Impaired Veterans of America
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Events
  • Programs & Services
    • ACB Community Events
      • Recurring Events
      • Weekly Events
    • Scholarships
    • Audio Description Project
    • Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
      • Advocacy
    • ACB Media
    • Convention
    • Membership
  • Resources
    • Jobs
    • ACB Archives
    • Blind / Low Vision Resources
      • Scholarship Program
      • ACB Leadership List Guidelines
      • ACB-Chat List Rules
      • ADA Signage
      • AFB: Be a Better Champion for Specialized Services
      • Banks with Talking ATM Machines
      • Best Practices and Guidelines for Large Print Documents used by the Low Vision Community authored by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International An Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind Arlington, VA
      • Best Practices for Large Print Documents
      • Braille Resources
        • Braille Business Cards
        • Braille Instruction
        • Braille Paper
        • Braille Writer Repair Services
        • Description and History of Braille
        • Producers of Braille Documents
      • Diabetic Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired
      • Filing a Video Description Complaint with the FCC
      • General Resources
      • Guide Dog Resources
      • Homes for the Blind
      • Low Vision Resources
      • Medical Information Resources
      • Microsoft Office Accessibility Resources
      • Music Resources
      • Outreach RE Requesting Alternate Formats From SSA
      • Religious Resources
      • Resources for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
      • Resources for Parents and Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired Children
      • Resources for Persons with Low Vision
      • Section 904
      • Sports, Recreational and Leisure Resources
      • Where Taxpayers With Disabilities Can Find Online Help from the IRS
      • White Cane Laws for States
    • Affiliate Resources
      • Encouraging Affiliates with Techniques to Reach More Members
      • Exploring How Affiliates Can Reach New Members
      • Fundraising for ACB Activities Including the National Convention
      • Gaining and Maintaining Membership
      • Growing a Great Convention
      • How Can We Complete Our Business During Meetings More Efficiently?
      • How Can We Reactivate Past Members and “Wow” Our Current Members to Retain Them?
      • How to Find Blindness Related Resources and Sharing Them
      • Ideas for Affiliates and Chapters
      • Ideas to Interest Students
      • Involving Youth in ACB
      • Leadership Materials
        • Board Member's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
        • Creating a Media Kit for Your ACB Affiliate or Chapter
        • Simplified Parliamentary Procedure
        • The PSA Handbook for ACB Affiliates and Chapters
        • The Press Release Handbook for ACB Affiliates and Chapters
      • Membership Incentives
      • Networking, Communication and Contact
      • Officer’s and Board Member's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • President's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Reaching Blind and Visually Impaired Seniors
      • Reaching Out to Your Community to Educate and Inform People About Blindness
      • Secretary's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Strategies for Enhancing Membership
      • Strategies for Member Renewal and Reactivation
      • Tips for Successful Membership Recruitment and Retention
      • Tips to Retain Members
      • Treasurer's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
      • Vice President's Manual for State and Special Interest Affiliates
    • Peer Support
    • Handbooks / Manuals
      • Are You a Senior Citizen Struggling with Vision Loss?
      • Are You the Parents of A Blind Child?
      • Guide to Successful College Experience
      • Pedestrian Safety
      • Pedestrian Safety Handbook
        • "Modern" Signalized Intersections
        • APS
        • Acknowledgements
        • Advocacy
        • Afterword
        • Appendix A: Letter
        • Appendix B: Template
        • Appendix C: Case Studies
        • Appendix D: Glossary
        • Crossing Where No Traffic Control
        • Drivers’ Yielding Behavior
        • Finding the Crosswalk
        • Mitch's Message
        • Rights-of-Way Regulations
      • Rehabilitation Issues Task Force Revised Rehabilitation White Paper
      • Whitepaper On Rehabilitation and Training
    • Products & Services
      • Accessible Cards and Gifts
      • Computer Products, Publications, Training, and Information Sources
      • Funding Assistive Technology Resources
      • Magnifying Aids - Low Vision Center
      • Technology, Software, Related Resources
      • Travel Resources
      • Useful Products for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons
    • Professional Employment Associations
  • Publications & Media
    • Live Events
    • News
    • Braille Forum
      • 1997 Issues
        • BF Apr 1997
        • BF Aug 1997
        • BF Dec 1997
        • BF Feb 1997
        • BF Jan 1997
        • BF Jul 1997
        • BF Jun 1997
        • BF Mar 1997
        • BF May 1997
        • BF Nov 1997
        • BF Oct 1997
        • BF Sept 1997
      • 1998 Issues
        • BF Apr 1998
        • BF Aug 1998
        • BF Dec 1998
        • BF Feb 1998
        • BF Jan 1998
        • BF Jul 1998
        • BF Jun 1998
        • BF Mar 1998
        • BF May 1998
        • BF Nov 1998
        • BF Oct1998
        • BF Sept 1998
      • 1999 Issues
        • BF Apr 1999
        • BF Aug 1999
        • BF Dec 1999
        • BF Feb 1999
        • BF Jan 1999
        • BF Jul 1999
        • BF Jun 1999
        • BF Mar 1999
        • BF May 1999
        • BF Nov1999
        • BF Oct 1999
        • BF Sept 1999
      • 2000 Issues
        • BF Apr 2000
        • BF Aug 2000
        • BF Convention 2000
        • BF Dec 2000
        • BF Feb 2000
        • BF Jan 2000
        • BF Jul 2000
        • BF Jun 2000
        • BF Mar 2000
        • BF May 2000
        • BF Nov 2000
        • BF Oct 2000
        • BF Sept 2000
      • 2001 Issues
        • BF Apr 2001
        • BF Aug 2001
        • BF Dec 2001
        • BF Feb 2001
        • BF Jan 2001
        • BF Jul 2001
        • BF Jun 2001
        • BF Mar 2001
        • BF May 2001
        • BF Nov 2001
        • BF Oct 2001
        • BF Sept 2001
      • 2002 Issues
        • BF April 2002
        • BF Feb 2002
        • BF Jan 2002
        • BF Jul-Aug 2002
        • BF Jun 2002
        • BF Mar 2002
        • BF May 2002
        • BF Nov 2002
        • BF Oct 2002
        • BF Sept 2002
      • 2003 Issues
        • BF Apr 2003
        • BF Feb 2003
        • BF July-Aug 2003
        • BF Jun 2003
        • BF Mar 2003
        • BF May 2003
        • BF Nov 2003
        • BF Oct 2003
        • BF Sept 2003
        • BF Winter 2003
      • 2004 Issues
        • BF Apr-May 2004
        • BF Feb 2004
        • BF Jul-Aug 2004
        • BF Jun 2004
        • BF Mar 2004
        • BF Nov 2004
        • BF Sep-Oct 2004
        • BF Winter 2004
      • 2005 Issues
        • BF Apr 2005
        • BF Feb 2005
        • BF Jul-Aug 2005
        • BF Jun 2005
        • BF Mar 2005
        • BF May 2005
        • BF Oct 2005
        • BF Sept 2005
        • BF Winter 2005
        • BF Winter 2006
          • 2006 Convention Preview
          • ACB Scholarships Available to Blind Students
          • Affiliate News
          • Fall Board Meeting Summary
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Hurricane Katrina Check-In
          • IRIS Network
          • John Di Francesco
          • Legislative Seminar
          • Letters to the Editor
          • MMS "Two-for-One" Program
          • Membership Focus
          • Notes on a New Year
          • President's Message
          • Who Do You Admire?
          • Who Is Eligible for Drug Plan Costs?
      • 2006 Issues
        • BF April 2006
        • BF Feb 2006
        • BF Jul-Aug 2006
        • BF Jun 2006
        • BF Mar 2006
        • BF May 2006
        • BF Nov 2006
        • BF Oct 2006
        • BF Sept 2006
      • 2007 Issues
        • BF Apr 2007
        • BF Dec 2007
        • BF Feb 2007
        • BF Jul-Aug 2007
        • BF Jun 2007
        • BF Mar 2007
        • BF May 2007
        • BF Nov 2007
        • BF Oct 2007
        • BF Sept 2007
        • BF Winter 2007
      • 2008 Issues
        • BF Apr 2008
        • BF Aug 2008
        • BF Dec 2008
        • BF Feb 2008
        • BF Jan 2008
        • BF Jul 2008
        • BF Jun 2008
        • BF Mar 2008
        • BF May 2008
        • BF Nov 2008
        • BF Oct 2008
        • BF Sept 2008
      • 2009 Issues
        • BF Apr 2009
        • BF Aug 2009
        • BF Dec 2009
          • Class Action ACB v. SSA
          • President's Message
        • BF Feb 2009
        • BF Jan 2009
        • BF Jul 2009
        • BF Jun 2009
        • BF Mar 2009
        • BF May 2009
        • BF Nov 2009
        • BF Oct 2009
        • BF Sept 2009
      • 2010 Issues
        • BF Apr 2010
        • BF Aug 2010
        • BF Dec 2010
        • BF Feb 2010
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS AWARDS: THIS YEAR IT COULD BE YOU!
          • HERE AND THERE Edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • PASSINGS
          • SECOND ANNUAL ACB WALK by Dan Dillon
          • SPOTLIGHT YOUR AFFILIATE WITH A BOP AWARD!
          • THE MMS PROGRAM MAKES IT EASIER FOR YOU TO HELP ACB by Dena Wilson
          • THE SUNNY SOUTHWEST: ACB CONFERENCE AND CONVENTION 2010 by Carla Ruschival
        • BF Jan 2010
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
          • Here and There
        • BF Jul 2010
        • BF Jun 2010
        • BF Mar 2010
        • BF May 2010
        • BF Nov 2010
        • BF Oct 2010
        • BF Sept 2010
      • 2011 Issues
        • BF Dec 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • In Memoriam: Lola Siren
        • The Braille Forum, April 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, February 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
          • YOU CAN SHOP ANYTIME AT THE ACB STORE by Carla Ruschival
        • The Braille Forum, July-August 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, June 2011
          • Affiliate News: Convention Sneak Preview
        • The Braille Forum, March 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, May 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Library Users of America to Host Book Flea Market, by Peggy R. Garrett
        • The Braille Forum, October-November 2011
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, September 2011
          • Affiliate News
        • The Braille Forum, january 2011
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
      • 2012 Issues
        • Affiliate News
        • Here and There edited by Sue Lichtenfels
        • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, April 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, December 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, February 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, January 2012
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, July-August 2012
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, June 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • BOP with 2012 Candidate's Page
          • HERE AND THERE edited by Sue Lichtenfels
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, March 2012
          • Affiliate News
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, May 2012
        • The Braille Forum, October-November 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
        • The Braille Forum, September 2012
          • AFFILIATE NEWS
          • HERE AND THERE
          • HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP
      • 2013 Issues
        • ACB Braille Forum, February 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • An Update from GDUI
          • DKM First-Timer Program: A Tribute to an ACB Pioneer by Allen J. Casey
          • Here and There by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB Braille Forum, June 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB Braille Forum, March 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB Braille Forum, May 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB Braille Forum, September 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB E-Forum, April 2013
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Here and There by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB E-Forum, August 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB E-Forum, July 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum Nov 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • E-Forum Dec 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The ACB E-Forum, October 2013
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The Braille Forum, January 2013
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
      • 2014 Issues
        • ACB E-Forum, February 2014
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Affiliate News
        • BF January 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Shopping for Health Care: Comparing Hospitals Can Help Consumers Make Good Decisions by Ron Pollack
        • Braille Forum, July 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum, March 2014
          • ACB Braille Forum, March 2014 downloads
          • ACB Leadership Institute 2014
          • ACB's Legislative Priorities for 2014, by Melanie Brunson
          • Affiliate News
          • Board of Publications Awards Your Excellence in 2014
          • Come to Vegas and Hit the Jackpot!
          • Community Outreach Challenge, by Tristen Breitenfeldt
          • Conducting Business with Social Security: What You Should Know and How You Can Help, by Len Burns
          • DKM First-Timer Selection Nears
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • How to Get the Most Out of Rehab, Part III: Available Services, by Doug Powell
          • In Memoriam: Buddy Spivey, Dec. 31, 1941-Jan. 9, 2014
          • Las Vegas: Deal Us In!, by Janet Dickelman
          • Membership Focus: Creative Ways to Meet, Especially in Rural Areas, compiled by Ardis Bazyn
          • President's Message: Be Sure You Are Protected!, by Kim Charlson
          • Summary of the Fall 2013 ACB Board Meeting, by Denise Colley
        • Braille Forum, Sept 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
        • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
        • High Tech Swap Shop
        • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Snowflakes and Birthday Cake: It’s Holiday Auction Time, by Carla Ruschival
        • The ACB Braille Forum, May 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The ACB Braille Forum, November 2014
        • The ACB Braille Forum, November 2014 downloads
        • The ACB E-Forum, April 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The ACB E-Forum, August 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Your Options for Medicare Supplemental Coverage by Ron Pollack
        • The ACB E-Forum, December 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The ACB E-Forum, June 2014
        • The ACB E-Forum, October 2014
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
      • 2015 Issues
        • Braille Forum January 2015
          • Accessing the ACB Forum and E-Forum: Let Me Count the Ways, by Judy Wilkinson
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum July 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum March 2015
          • A Telecommuting Job Could Be Just What You Are Looking For, by Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
          • ACB’s Stars Will Shine Bright in Dallas, by Janet Dickelman
          • Acknowledgement
          • Affiliate News
          • Best Audio Holiday Season Ever, by Susan Glass
          • Board of Publications Again Awards Your Excellence in Media and Writing in 2015
          • Call for Nominees for 2015 ACB Awards!, by Chelle Hart & Chip Hailey
          • Come to the Lone Star Loot Auction!
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • Last Call: The DKM Train Is Leaving the Station, by Allen Casey
          • Let the Stars Shine Bright on the ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk, by Donna Brown
          • President’s Message: More on Accessible Prescription Labels, by Kim Charlson
          • Tax Tips from the IRS, by Melanie Brunson
          • The Importance of Grassroots, by Kathy Brockman
        • Braille Forum May 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Convention Week Sneak Preview, by Janet Dickelman
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum November 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum September 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • E-Forum April 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • E-Forum August 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • E-Forum December 2015
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • E-Forum June 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • E-Forum October 2015
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
        • E-Forum, February 2015
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
      • 2016 Issues
        • BF January 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • BF July 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • BF March 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • BF May 2016
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • BF November 2016
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • BF September 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • EF April 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • EF August 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • EF December 2016
          • ACB Fall Board Meeting Report, by Ron Brooks
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • EF February 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • EF June 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • EF October 2016
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There, edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
      • 2017 Issues
        • Affiliate News
        • Braille Forum January 2017
          • Affiliate News
            • Affiliate News
          • Here and There edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum March 2017
          • ACB Commends Access Board on 508 Refresh
          • Affiliate News
          • Awards Committee Seeks Nominees for 2017 ACB Awards
          • Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Durward K. McDaniel Support the DKM FirstTimer Program
          • Easy Fund Raiser for Your Affiliate
          • Helpful Hints for Attending the Convention
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Holiday Auction Thank Yous
          • Ida Schwerzel A Century of Memories Part 2
          • In Memoriam: Otis H. Stephens Jr. Sept. 20, 1936-Dec. 2, 2016
          • Presidents Message Planning for the Future
          • Readers Remembrances of Otis Stephens
          • Spotlight On ACB Students
        • Braille Forum September 2017
        • December 2017
          • Here and There
        • E-Forum June 2017
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Here and There
        • Here and There
        • High Tech Swap Shop
        • High Tech Swap Shop
        • November 2017
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • October 2017
        • The ACB Braille Forum July 2017
        • The ACB Braille Forum May 2017
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The ACB E-Forum April 2017
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The ACB E-Forum August 2017
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • The ACB E-Forum February 2017
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
      • 2018 Issues
        • ACB Braille Forum Feb 2018
          • ACB E-Forum February 2018 Downloads
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
        • ACB Braille Forum Jan 2018
          • Affiliate News
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB Braille Forum July 2018
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Passings
        • ACB Braille Forum March 2018
          • Affiliate News
        • ACB Braille Forum May 2018
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
        • ACB Braille Forum Nov 2018
        • ACB Braille Forum Sept 2018
        • ACB E-Forum April 2018
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB E-Forum Aug 2018
          • Here and There
        • ACB E-Forum Dec 2018
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Hot Toys for Holiday Gift-Giving
        • ACB E-Forum June 2018
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
        • ACB E-Forum Oct 2018
      • 2019 Issues
        • ACB E-Forum Aug 2019
        • ACB E-Forum Feb 2019
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • ACB E-Forum Jun 2019
        • Braille Forum Jan 2019
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum July 2019
        • Braille Forum Mar 2019
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • Braille Forum May 2019
          • President’s Message
        • Braille Forum Nov-2019
        • Braille Forum Sept 2019
        • E-Forum Apr 2019
          • High Tech Swap Shop
        • E-Forum Dec 2019
        • E-Forum Oct 2019
          • Rochester Convention Celebrated
      • 2020 Issues
        • BF Jan 2020
          • President’s Message
        • BF July 2020
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Belonging in ACB
          • Commentary
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • How to Access Virtual Convention
          • In Memoriam: Camille Caffarelli
          • Mouse Assisting Inclusive Technology
          • President’s Message: First Virtual Convention
          • Summary of Board of Dir. Meeting, April 23, 2020
          • The ADA at 30
          • The Only Moment
          • Tuesday Topics
        • BF Mar 2020
        • BF May 2020
          • President’s Message
        • BF Nov 2020
          • 2020 Resolutions Summary
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • Honesty
          • In Memoriam: Charlie Crawford
          • Include in Affiliate
          • Lies
          • MMS Future
          • Notice
          • Plans for 2021
          • President’s Message
          • Readers Remember
          • Revision to DKM
        • BF Sept 2020
          • 2020 Awards Winners
          • ACB 2020 Convention Thank-Yous
          • ACB 2020 Virtual Convention: That’s a Wrap!
          • ACB Membership Seminar
          • Here and There
          • Holiday Auction
          • In Memoriam: Berl Lynn Colley
          • Letter to the Editor
          • President’s Message: Finally Baseball!
          • Ski for Light 2021
          • Thank You
          • To Mobility and Beyond
          • Walked Virtual Path to Future
        • EF Apr 2020
        • EF Aug 2020
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Beginning Again
          • Book Review
          • COVID-19 Will Be Beat
          • COVID-19 and Blindness
          • Cavemen
          • Diaphragmatic Breathing
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Kindness of Neighbors
          • Pick a Peck
          • President’s Message
          • Virus or Victim
          • ‘End of Oct.’ Review
        • EF Dec 2020
          • Affiliate News
          • Apply to DKM First-Timers Award
          • BADIE
          • Board Meetings Summary
          • Celebrating CVAA
          • Chaplain’s Corner
          • Flexibility
          • Going Virtual Again
          • Here and There
          • Mini Mall Holiday
          • President’s Message
          • Qualifying for SSD
          • Retaining Members
          • Safe Cooking
          • Senator Markey Celebrates
        • EF Feb 2020
        • EF June 2020
          • ACB Easy Chair Auction
          • ACB –Path to Future
          • Affiliate and Committee News
          • Backyard Wedding
          • Book Review
          • Continuing Education
          • Conventions
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • MMS Going Virtual!
          • Memories of Lynn Hedl
          • Mini Mall Headlines
          • Passings
          • Performing Marriage Ceremonies
          • President’s Message
          • Walking up a Storm
          • Ways to Listen
          • Wine and Song
          • Wine and Song
        • EF Oct 2020
          • ADA Turns 30
          • ADA at Thirty
          • Affiliate News
          • DARE2TRI
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Involving Special-Interest Affiliates
          • Jeanne Sanders
          • Mini Mall Mega News
          • Passings
          • Perseverance in Martial Arts
          • Pre-Convention Board Meeting
          • President’s Message
          • Swimming Blind & Free
          • Triathlon Dare2tri
          • Vision Loss, Therapy, Weightlifting
      • 2021 Issues
        • Accessing the Virtual Convention
        • BF Jan 2021
          • Apply to 2021 ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellow
          • BOP to Award Excellence
          • Become a 2021 Recipient of DKM Award
          • Call for 2021 ACB Awards Nominees
          • Convention Dates
          • Help Revive Braille!
          • Here and There
          • In Memoriam: Larry Turnbull
          • Joys of Learning Braille
          • Mother Was a Braille Transcriber
          • Passings
          • President’s Message
          • That Stupid School!
        • BF Jul 2021
        • BF Mar 2021
          • Angels Memorial Program
          • Continuing Ed in 2021
          • Expanding Recruiting
          • Guide Dog If Low Vision?
          • Guide Dog Magnified
          • Here and There
          • Low Vision Story Bites
          • President’s Message
          • Summary - Nov 2020 Board Mtg.
          • Two Big Announcements!
          • Welcome to CCLVI
        • BF May 2021
          • Affiliate - Committee News
          • Book Review
          • Continuing Ed
          • Diamond Jubilee Auction
          • Get Moving Together
          • Here and There
          • In Memoriam
          • Mini Mall Headlines
          • President’s Message
          • Registration Q&A
          • Start a Chapter
          • Verizon Media Announces
          • Victor Reader Tip
          • Voting at Convention
          • Welcome New Employees
          • Your Vote Counts
        • BF Nov 2021
          • A Visit
          • Affiliate News
          • Brief Overview
          • Button Box?
          • Fun Facts about Nebraska
          • Greatest Fears
          • Here and There
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Holiday Shopping at Mini Mall
          • Karaoke Helps
          • Passings
          • President’s Message
          • Vision Loss Thoughts
        • BF Sept 2021
          • 2021 Convention
          • Affiliate News
          • Audio Description Achievement Awards
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Isolation to Inspiration
          • President’s Message
          • This Year’s Award Winners
          • Wrapping Up
        • Beyond
        • Continuing Ed
        • Don’t Forget MMS
        • EF Apr 2021
          • 13th Annual ADP Awards
          • 2021 Talking Book Narrator
          • 421 for ‘21
          • A Place at Table
          • Affiliate News
          • Connected in New Mexico
          • Heart of a Legacy
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • In Memoriam: Doc Bradley
          • Learning and Leading
          • Man Made Difference 
          • New Members Portal
          • People of Color
          • President’s Message
          • Smoke Signal
          • What Color Is the Dream?
          • What is IDC?
        • EF Aug 2021
          • Affiliate News
          • Blindness in United Arab Emirates
          • Bosnia and Herzegovina
          • Describing Diversity
          • Erasmus
          • Eye on USA
          • Furry Lifesaver
          • Get Moving Together
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • India
          • Passings
          • President’s Message
          • World Turned Inside Out
        • EF Dec 2021
          • 2021 Resolutions
          • Board Meeting Summaries
          • Christmas Wishes
          • Convention 2022 Preview
          • Here and There
          • Looking
          • Mother of Fundraisers
          • Notice of Proposed Settlement
          • Passings
          • President’s Message
          • Team Up
          • The New Year
        • EF Feb 2021
          • 2020 Convention Info
          • About ADP Website
          • Apply to 2021 Recipient of DKM Award
          • Audio Description Commercials
          • Audio Description Project
          • Audio Description Snobbery
          • Audio Description What it Means
          • Charlie Crawford on Wall of Angels
          • God’s Audio Description
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • In Memoriam: James Megivern
          • Paradigm Shift
          • President’s Message
        • EF Jun 2021
          • Affiliate News
          • Continuing Ed News
          • Convention Preview
          • Enjoy the Perks
          • Feb Board Meeting
          • Get Exercise
          • Get Up Get Moving
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Massage
          • Never Give Up
          • President’s Message
          • Review of Spark
          • The New $20
          • The Room
        • EF Oct 2021
          • Accessing Transit Services
          • Affiliate News
          • Here and There
          • Letter to Dept of Trans
          • Moving Forward
          • Nearly Roadkill
          • On to Omaha
          • President’s Message
          • Reach People
          • Summary July 2021 Board Meeting
          • What About Paratransit?
          • Why Restructure?
        • Here and There
        • It’s Not Too Late
        • Learning
        • Let’s Go Fishing!
        • Meeting Summary
        • Mini Mall Minute
        • President’s Message
      • 2022 Issues
        • BF Jan 2022
          • 10-9-21 Board Mtg Summary
          • ACB Diabetics in Action
          • Announcing 2022 Tours
          • BOP Awards Excellence
          • Blind LGBT Welcomes You
          • Braille Link to Literacy
          • Call for Nominees
          • Call for Nominees
          • Come One, Come All
          • Guide Dog Users
          • Happy New Year
          • IVIE
          • Not Your Father’s …
          • President’s Message
          • Reach Higher
          • Salutes Award Winners
          • Where Impaired Thrive
        • BF Jul 2022
          • Accessing ACB Info
          • Blind student
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Learning Better Leader
          • Passings
          • Pregnant Nun
          • President’s Message
          • Public Transportation
          • Recipes
          • Thank You
          • Tips for Convention
          • Wild Figs
          • Writers reimagine roles
        • BF Mar 2022
          • Affiliate News
          • Board Makes Virtual
          • Boxes
          • Dance with Cancer
          • Gifts of Mentorship
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • In Memoriam: Bill Spoone
          • Learn Hours
          • MMS March Madness
          • Motherhood
          • Passings
          • President’s Message
          • Removal
          • Time to Plan
          • Walk Here
        • BF May 2022
          • Accessibility for Some
          • Affiliate News
          • Convention Registration
          • Extra, Extra
          • Fix Computer Problems
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Initials Mean More
          • Kindness Taught Me
          • Notice of Proposed Settlement
          • President’s Message: Crisis
          • Volunteer at Omaha
          • Walking Everywhere
        • EF Apr 2022
          • Affiliate News
          • Armenian Connections
          • Blindness Culture
          • Calling Candidates
          • Convention Preview
          • Finding Our Way
          • Grandmother’s Culture
          • Growing Up
          • Hear from You
          • Here and There
          • Hispanic Culture
          • Italian-American
          • Love Letter
          • Media Music
          • Mother’s Story
          • No More Racism
          • Passings
          • President’s Message
          • Seeing Color
          • Six Weeks in Ghana
          • The Cabin
          • Where Voices Gone?
        • EF Feb 2022
          • Affiliate News
          • Aurora Borealis
          • Best Apps
          • Deadline Approaches 
          • Get on Fast Track
          • Giving Back in CA
          • Had It Wrong?
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
          • Importance of Touch
          • In Memoriam
          • In-Person Plus Virtual
          • New Dependence?
          • Passings
          • Perkins Brailler Turns 70
          • President’s Message
          • Readers’ Memories
          • What Color Is Air?
        • EF Jun 2022
          • 2022 Hybrid Convention
          • 60 ‘Choice’ Years
          • Affiliate News
          • Being Proactive
          • Blind People Won
          • Here and There
          • High Tech Swap Shop
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  1. Home
  2. ACB Advocacy Update Transcript: The Protection & Advocacy System

ACB Advocacy Update Transcript: The Protection & Advocacy System

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss an important resource that can be used by all ACB members and people with disabilities. With special guests from Cyrus Huncharek, National Disability Rights Network, and Thomas Crishon, Indiana Disability Rights, we learn about the federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) services available to people with disabilities. The P&A system offers free disability-related legal and advocacy services to residents of their region. To find out more about the P&A in your area, visit: www.ndrn.org.



Transcript:


Male Voice:


You're listening to the ACB Advocacy Update.


Claire Stanley:


Hey everybody, welcome back to another episode of ACB Advocacy Update. I almost said "Good morning," or "Good afternoon," but I realized that doesn't work on a podcast. So hello everybody, and welcome to ACB Advocacy Update. This is Claire Stanley, the advocacy and outreach specialist here at the American Council of the Blind. And my lovely co-host-


Clark Rachfal:


Claire, podcasts are all times and all locations.


Claire Stanley:


Ooh they're omniscient and all powerful?


Clark Rachfal:


All would've been correct. Maybe semi-phenomenal, merely cosmic, podcasts.


Claire Stanley:


Ooh. I like it.


Clark Rachfal:


This is Clark Rachfal, ACB's Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs. Thank you to everyone listening on ACB radio, as well as those downloading, subscribing, listening, reviewing and liking via your favorite podcast player. And for this podcast, and only one more for the rest of the year, thank you to Sprint T-Mobile for underwriting our podcast for 2020.


Claire Stanley:


That's right. So Clark, what are we going to talk about today?


Clark Rachfal:


Well today we decided to have a conversation about a partner of ACB and of our affiliates, and it really-


Claire Stanley:


I thought you were going to say a partner in crime, but I guess they're kind of a partner in crime.


Clark Rachfal:


Well, they're our partner when crimes against disability rights have been committed.


Claire Stanley:


Nice. Nice.


Clark Rachfal:


Yes. So we are getting to know the National Disability Rights Network, or NDRN, as well as the protection and advocacy organizations throughout the country.


Claire Stanley:


That's right. Yup. So just as a quick backstory to that, many of you who have called over the years and so on, who might be experiencing any type of legal issue pertaining to your disability, or access issues for services that you have a right to, we often will encourage you to contact your local P&A office. They have such great knowledge, wisdom, resources, experience, and so we often will give you their email address or phone number. And so we thought, "Why not go to the source directly and talk to NDRN, the national office, as well as the local based P&A offices?" So that's what spurred us on to do this episode.


Clark Rachfal:


And as folks remember, earlier this fall we had a great conversation on digital inclusion, and the legal framework that's currently in place throughout the United States when it comes to digital inclusion and online accessibility, and that conversation was with Rachel Weisberg, and Rachel works at Equipped for Equality, which is the protection and advocacy organization in the state of Illinois.


Claire Stanley:


That's right. Yup. I always thought Equipped for Equality had one of the coolest names for their P&A office.


Clark Rachfal:


Alliteration is always cool.


Claire Stanley:


Alliteration is a pretty cool thing. I agree. Cool. Well we have two guests today that we're going to talk to: Cyrus and Tom. I'm not going to attempt to say either of their last names, because I will get them wrong. But we'll have Cyrus and then we'll have Tom. So if you guys hold on for a second, we'll be right back with our two awesome guests.


Claire Stanley:


Great. So we are back everybody, and we have our first guest with us. And I'm really excited to invite Cyrus to come and talk with us. Cyrus, can you introduce us. I apologize, I'm going to say your name wrong so I'm not going to embarrass myself.


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yeah, no. No worries. You are not the first nor will you be the last person to butcher that. So yeah, happy to introduce myself. But before I do that, let me just first off say thanks for having me on today Claire. And I just want to mention that NDRN values the working relationship that we have with the American Council of the Blind. We look forward to our continued collaboration. My name is Cyrus Huncharek, my preferred pronouns are he/him, and I am a senior public policy analyst at the National Disability Rights Network, which we refer to as NDRN for short. And so what that means in practice is that I work on the public policy team where I cover several federal policy areas and work to advance our federal policy priorities with Congress and the administration.


Claire Stanley:


Great.


Clark Rachfal:


And Cyrus, what is NDRN?


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yeah, great question. Happy to explain our organization. So, at a base level, NDRN is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated protection and advocacy systems, which we refer to as the P&As, and the client assistance programs, which we refer to as the CAPs. And so both of those entities serve individuals with disabilities. And we're cross-disability so we serve anyone with a disability. So like I said, basically NDRN serves the membership association for those two entities, and we provide a variety of services that support the P&A agencies and the CAP agencies.


Claire Stanley:


So, Cyrus, to my understanding the P&As oversee... I don't know if the word grant is the right word, but over nine projects or grants. You obviously don't need to list all nine of them. This isn't a test. But can you tell us a couple of the different ones you guys work on?


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yeah, yeah. So we oversee, like you said Claire, nine congressionally mandated programs, all in statute. And a couple of the ones that folks might be most familiar with are: The protection and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities, or the PAD programs that serves folks with DD. We also oversee the protection and advocacy for individuals with mental illness, or the PAMI programs. Those serve people with mental illness. And we also have the protection and advocacy for individual rights, or the PAIR program. Which I like to think about as a catch-all. And this program lives at the Department of Education, so typically if you don't fit squarely into any of the other programs that we oversee, you could be served through PAIR.


Cyrus Huncharek:


And most of our programs are discretionary programs, so they're subject to annual appropriations, though we have a couple mandatory programs as well, and social security. So on that theme, we also oversee the Rep Payee Program. So Rep Payee is someone who manages social security benefits on behalf of a beneficiary. So we also oversee that program. So, I think in summary you can tell that we have a pretty broad range of services and have our hands in a bunch of different pots.


Clark Rachfal:


And Cyrus, what are the P&As or protection and advocacy organizations?


Cyrus Huncharek:


So, yeah. They are individual agencies that are primarily made up of attorneys and other advocates. We've got one in actually every state. We also have one in every US territory, so that covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, DC, though not a territory but not a state. And then we also have a P&A in the Four Corners region of the Southwest, which actually serves a couple of our native nations down there. So primarily the Hopi, Navajo and San Juan Southern Paiute nations. So in total, we have actually 57 P&As, so a unique number, I think. And I think what I alluded to earlier, I think what really distinguishes us is each individual P&A gets funding under one of our nine programs, or all of our nine programs, and again they're cross-disability.


Cyrus Huncharek:


So the beauty here is no matter where you live or work, or regardless of your disability, you could potentially be served by a P&A if you feel as though your rights under applicable federal civil rights law are violated. So you can just call up a P&A, there's an intake and they can start working on your case.


Claire Stanley:


The P&As are actually near and dear to my heart because my first internship in law school was at the California P&A in Sacramento, and then my first fellowship out of law school was at Disability Rights DC, the DC P&A. So yeah, some good memories there.


Cyrus Huncharek:


You were trained well.


Claire Stanley:


That's right.


Clark Rachfal:


And Cyrus, why are the P&As necessary? You said they were federally mandated.


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yeah, yeah. Exactly. I think I keep saying the word unique. I mean I think NDRN is unique, and I think the P&As are unique just by the nature of our work. And we also had a unique inception. So the catalyst for the P&A network was actually back in the 70s, Geraldo Rivera, who's a pretty famous journalist now, actually did an expose for the ABC News affiliate in New York City in 1972. And what he actually did was he exposed really horrific, which I think is an understatement, abuse and neglect and lack of services and supports at Willowbrook, which was a state institution for people with intellectual and other disabilities on Staten Island. And so this broadcast, when it came out, really prompted Congress to take action.


Cyrus Huncharek:


I think what they basically thought was like, "This is really unacceptable, folks are being institutionalized. And not only are they being institutionalized but when they're institutionalized they're subject to horrific abuse and neglect." And so this prompted Congress to create the first P&A program, which was PAD which I alluded to earlier. And the vehicle for that was the renewal of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance, and Bill of Rights Act of the DD Act. And so again, that program was meant to allow the P&As to provide oversight for folks with DD, particularly in institutions. But over the years, though, as we've moved towards a deinstitutionalization paradigm, and really mandate if you look at various laws and court cases that have taken place since then, the P&A statutes have been expanded with the addition of additional programs.


Cyrus Huncharek:


So now that P&As devote a considerable amount of time and resources to ensuring full access to inclusive educational programs, financial entitlements, healthcare, accessible housing, transportation, productive employment opportunities. But also, we continue to serve a core function, which is the prevention of abuse and neglect. But like I said, as deinstitutionalization has been the new paradigm through which we look at these issues, the function of the P&As has moved towards doing a lot of work to ensure inclusivity and community integration.


Claire Stanley:


So, you talked a little bit about your role as the senior public policy analyst. Can you tell us what a day in the life Cyrus looks like at NDRN? What are some of the projects you work on, the topics you work on? What's your portfolio, so to speak?


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yeah. Well what I'll say, a day in the life is busy.


Claire Stanley:


I'm sure.


Cyrus Huncharek:


Which is good. There is really no lack of work to do, and I think what I will say is that it is an honor, truly, I think is a good way to characterize it. It's an honor to do this work, and I wake up everyday really privileged to work on these issues, which are near and dear to my heart. So let me answer this at two levels. So I provide two functions to the P&As in my role at NDRN. So since we're a membership organization, I would think of us as offering services in two buckets. So most relevant to me is: I provide the public policy services to the P&As, which is a membership service. So that largely consists of me trying to get increased funding to the P&As through the annual appropriations process. Like I said, seven of our nine programs are subject to the annual appropriations process. So there's that.


Cyrus Huncharek:


And then the other bucket, which I'm less involved with, is the technical assistance bucket. So NDRN is actually the technical assistance provider for the P&As. So we are almost always doing some sort of training at any day for the P&As on a variety of topics, given how broad our work is. So that's where I fit in institutionally, in terms of services that we provide the P&As. More specifically, the policy areas that I personally work on, which again is more representing our policy proprieties to Congress and the administration while also trying to get increased funding for the P&As. But I work on education, particularly special education. I work on criminal and juvenile justice. I work on police reform, which has really ramped up after the tragic murders over the summer, and how those highlighted the epidemic of police violence against people of color in this country. So we're doing a lot of work on police reform and thinking about alternate responses to non-emergency situations that maybe don't involve the policy. So we're doing that.


Cyrus Huncharek:


I work on housing. I work on transportation. I work on social security. I do a lot of work on the supplemental nutrition assistance program, SNAP or formerly known as food stamps. And I always work on the child nutrition program, so school meals. I work on immigration. And then I'm also, and Claire I know you're familiar with this, I'm also a co-chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, financial security and poverty task force. We call that CCD, which is basically a coalition of disability organizations. And in that role, I work on ensuring that folks with disabilities have access to mainstream financial services, so I do some banking stuff. And then we also cover the poverty programs as well. And Claire, I know you co-chair the transportation task force, so we work collaboratively through that space as well.


Claire Stanley:


Yeah. ACB is a proud member of CCD, so if our listeners who are members ever want to know about CCD that's something we really enjoy participating in. Great. Well it sounds like you definitely have your hands in many, many pots Cyrus.


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yes. Yes.


Claire Stanley:


Just going back real quick to the nine different programs. I'm curious, you said seven are dependent on appropriations. What are the two that are constant?


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yeah, those would be the social security programs. So PAMs, which does a lot of work with Ticket to Work. That one's not subject to annual appropriations. It's mandatorily funded. And then the Rep Payee program, where again we oversee rep payees who... Or we monitor, provide oversight to that program. Again, Rep Payee program is folks who manage social security benefits for beneficiaries. So I would think of it as, any social security program that we're overseeing is not subject to the annual appropriations process.


Claire Stanley:


That makes sense, and I'm glad to hear that.


Clark Rachfal:


And Cyrus, because it is 2020 and we can't escape discussing the COVID-19 pandemic, how has the pandemic provided opportunities and challenges to the policy and advocacy work of NDRN?


Cyrus Huncharek:


Yeah, that is a great question. And before I even answer that, let me first say that this has been a very, very difficult time and I've been, again, honored to work to alleviate some of that pain, especially the disproportionate impact it's been having on a lot of the communities that we serve. But I would say it's prevented more challenges than opportunities. I think the one that comes to mind first, which I did not, to be candid, work on a ton since I don't cover health. But we worked on the medical rationing issue. So basically for folks that don't know, many states had these medical rationing plans, which essentially say that if hospitals get to capacity, they can start prioritizing care based on quality of life as opposed to individual medical assessments.


Cyrus Huncharek:


And so how that's relevant to people with disabilities is that quality of life assessments are subjective. So what might be a good quality of life for one person, may be perceived differently by another person. So many of the P&As, I think actually almost all of them, filed at a minimum a complaint trying to get these medical rationing plans basically tweaked or seriously amended. And we were largely successful in that. By successful I mean, to my knowledge there has not been a single case of medical rationing during the pandemic, which I would say that the P&As and NDRN played a huge role in that, including a complaint filed with HHS OCR. And so there's more information on our website about that if you're curious. So there's that.


Cyrus Huncharek:


I think, again I mean COVID-19 has just touched really every policy area, so maybe I'll just highlight a few of them. We had heard from the P&A network that folks who were on SNAP, again food stamps, were having some apprehension about going to the grocery store to purchase groceries for fear that they could be more susceptible to infection and potential death. And they noticed that they couldn't use their SNAP benefits to order groceries online, like many folks who are not on SNAP can do. Like I can order my groceries online so I don't have to go to the grocery store. So there's a little program at USDA called the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot Program. And basically this program allows you to use your SNAP benefits online to order groceries.


Cyrus Huncharek:


At the beginning of the pandemic there was only a handful of states that had this program, and we went to USDA and made a statutory argument saying, "Look the statute really says that this program should be expanded practically nationwide. We think this is a perfect time to really get going on this." I mean, USDA time and time again under this administration rejected that argument, and it was a real battle. And so I was not willing to accept that, and nor were other folks I was working with on this issue. And so what we did was we did a nationwide, almost letter-writing campaign where we really urged the individual P&As and other organizations and state affiliates to write to their state officials saying, "Please urge your state officials to apply for this program."


Cyrus Huncharek:


Basically what USDA had said was, "Oh well the states are the ones that need to initiate the process." Again, we had a very interpretation of the statute. We thought it could've been done practically, but that didn't resonate with them. And so I'm happy to say that now the program has been expanded almost nationwide. I think, don't quote me, but I think all but three states now have it. And I would really say that the P&As and many of our ally organizations played a huge role in getting that program expanded. So now people can order their groceries if they're on SNAP with peace of mind that they don't have to put their lives at risk by going to the grocery store. So I think that was a big victory.


Cyrus Huncharek:


I think some places where we're facing some difficulty, the transportation space, particularly with the airlines. So we have really been pushing for a federal mask mandate, which seems counterintuitive right? But the reason is that currently the federal government has issued guidance to the airlines, which has basically said that, "We recommend that you implement a mask mandate for your passengers and you should be making exemptions for people with disabilities or people with medical conditions who cannot wear a mask, and you should be doing that in accordance with the Air Carrier Access Act," which is basically the ADA for the airlines. Again, this is guidance so it's not binding.


Cyrus Huncharek:


So what have the airlines done? Well the airlines have not been following the guidance, and my evidence for that is the fact that many of them have instituted what are called "No mask no fly" policies, which means that if you are not wearing a mask, we will not provide you travel no matter what. There is no individualized assessment about your disability our your medical condition that may not permit you to wear a mask. And so we think this is a huge violation of the Air Carrier Access Act, and a big problem. And so we actually had a situation in Alaska brought to our attention by the Alaskan P&A where an individual with a complex medical condition needed to travel for a follow-up for an organ transplant, and could not wear a mask because of their disability, and the airline refused to provide them travel. Again, we think in violation of the Air Carrier Access Act.


Cyrus Huncharek:


So we're looking for a federal mask mandate that also says that there should be exemptions made for folks with disabilities and other medical conditions in accordance with applicable federal civil rights law, more specifically the Air Carrier Access Act. And if I could just say, I want to be really clear here. There have been these allegations that NDRN is pushing for a blanket exemption, or that we're supporting these DOJ ADA mask exemption mask cards, which is misinformation and totally bogus. I mean these cards are totally fraudulent. So I just want to be very clear that we are not pushing for a blanket exemption. What we're pushing for is individualized assessments in accordance of the Air Carrier Access Act. And so if an individualized assessment is made and their determination is that the individual should not be provided an exemption, then that's perfectly fine with us. But currently that's not really being done.


Claire Stanley:


Great. Well thank you Cyrus. I know I have learned a lot today about what NDRN is doing, and the different policies and what COVID has done. So thank you so much for all of the work that the public policy team at NDRN is doing, and just the greater team at NDRN is doing. And I think you really helped our listeners understand what you guys are all about. So thank you again.


Cyrus Huncharek:


Thank you.


Claire Stanley:


And for our listeners, just hold on for a second and we'll be back with our next guest who works at one of the state-specific P&A offices.


Speaker 6:


Introducing Sunday Edition with Anthony. A weekly magazine show featuring the movers and shakers of our beloved organization, topic and news that affect us all, some great roundtable discussions, and of course a lot of fun. So join me every Sunday at 1:00 PM on ACB Radio Mainstream for Sunday Edition.


Cindy van Winkle:


This is Cindy van Winkle, membership services coordinator. If you are not already a part of the ACB family, you could join us by going to acb.org, or call us at 612-332-3242, and we'll help you join our community.


Claire Stanley:


Great. Well we are back for the second guest we have on our show today. I'm really excited. We just spoke with Cyrus, who works at the NDRN, at the national level. But we're really fortunate to have someone who works in one of the state P&As to give us, well, the boots on the ground perspective of what it is like to work at one of the state P&A offices. So I'm going to let you introduce yourself because I always feel like people are better than that than I am. So Tom, do you want to introduce yourself and tell our listeners what state you're from?


Thomas Crishon:


Sure Claire. Thank you. My name is Tom Crishon, I'm the legal director for Indiana Disability Rights, which is the protection and advocacy system for the state of Indiana.


Claire Stanley:


Great. Perfect. So we learned a bit about what NDRN does, and then what the different programs are that trickle down. Can you tell us a little bit about what... You said already what your title was, but what work do you specifically do? What does day in the life of Tom look like at the P&A?


Thomas Crishon:


Sure. It's varied, I can tell you that.


Claire Stanley:


I'm sure.


Thomas Crishon:


So as legal director, I primarily direct and supervise all of our litigation and policy activities. So I oversee our investigations coordinator, our advocacy supervisor, our intake staff, and also our legal staff, which is broken up and oversees five particular practice groups or teams. So as an organization, we're split into these practice areas, and focus on those. Those being the first one is: The abuse, neglect and discharge team, which works to do investigations of allegations of abuse and neglect, advocacy and discharge planning and delay discharge. We have a civil rights team, which is a bit of a catch-all, but includes fair housing work, Americans with Disabilities Act Title II and Title III allegations, some constitutional work.


Thomas Crishon:


Our third team is education and employment. They work on special education matters, Title I ADA employment discrimination cases, vocational rehabilitation of advocacy and appeals. We have a healthcare team, which does healthcare-related discrimination and also Medicaid waiver denials and appeals. And then our final team is self-determination. So guardianship defense, guardianship termination, support of decision making agreements and advocacy. So as a whole, we work on all of those disability rights related matters. Personally, in my supervisory role, I'm involved in it all, though I do have a particular interest in ADA and fair housing. So I have the luxury of picking and choosing my level of involvement in any given case. So my day-to-day involves advising and helping with those individuals and my staff on those different matters, though I do have my own case load of particular cases that I'm currently working on.


Clark Rachfal:


And Tom, talk with us a little bit more about that day-to-day. So in Indiana, if a resident or a consumer organization was to contact IDR, the P&A, on an issue related to a perceived violation of their rights under the ADA, or the Fair Housing Act and housing discrimination, what would that process look like? And what would a resident or a consumer organization, what would their interactions be like with the P&A?


Thomas Crishon:


Yeah, so the nice thing about P&As is we have a spectrum of services that we can offer. That first contact, that individual having and experiencing an issue, would contact the agency and we have some dedicated intake and referral staff who would assist them, and if referrals are necessary, provide referrals. If it's something that we can handle, then they obtain the necessary information. We have a weekly case review committee meeting that reviews those intakes and determines if it's something that we can move forward and offer advocacy representation for. So we do that weekly. We open new cases, assign them to pertinent attorneys and advocates, and then we move forward. Our day-to-day involvement can be anywhere from fact finding a situation, determining if there are rights violations, informal advocacy with the individual involved.


Thomas Crishon:


It can lead all the way up to federal litigation and class action lawsuits if necessary. So day-to-day, it really depends on the situation. Disability rights is a very broad area of practice, so my day-to-day, and for instance the federal litigation that I'm currently involved with varies from I'm involved with monitoring a Department of Corrections lawsuit and settlement that involved offenders with seriously mental illness being housed in segregation, all the way to an accessible website and effective communication case against our family and social services administration, to voting cases, to an arrest and a jailing of an individual with a development disability, and mental health diagnosis where we don't think appropriate reasonable accommodations were provided. So it's very varied and there's not a typical day-to-day, but that's the process. If somebody were to contact us, we'd assess, see what services we can provide, and depending on how the situation has developed, where we go from there.


Claire Stanley:


So Tom, you talked about quite a few different topic areas that are really interesting. It must keep you very engaged going from one topic to the other. Do you guys tend to see any particular trends in 2020 or before that are going on in Indiana? I know in the greater disability rights community we see certain trends that bleed through. COVID has definitely impacted life. Are there any trends that are specific to Indiana that you guys have been dealing with?


Thomas Crishon:


Yeah, I think always, every year and especially 2020, I think there's the standard problems that we see and try to combat. That being accessible and reliable transportation, access to healthcare and education and employment, affordable and accessible housing. I mean those are always there, but always worsened with a pandemic obviously. Right now, a really big area in Indiana is a staffing shortage. and it's a shortage of staff that can work for and on behalf of people with disabilities. So direct care staff, nursing staff working in congregate settings. It was bad before the COVID-19 pandemic, and we think the pandemic's exacerbated it a little bit. But it's especially important situation because it can create a situation where an individual who does not have adequate staffing, say for community-based setting, that they risk being institutionalized.


Thomas Crishon:


And we've seen how COVID can impact congregate settings more than anywhere. So that staffing shortage can unfortunately result in more people being institutionalized, where they could absolutely live and thrive in the community-based setting. So that's a big issue that we're trying to combat now. Unfortunately in Indiana we had a service provider in northern Indiana say, "Hey we can no longer staff these 40 individuals anymore." And there was a rush to find appropriate settings for those 40 individuals. And we're concerned that may happen more, given the pandemic.


Clark Rachfal:


What relationship does IDR have with other P&As? So Cyrus was telling us that there are 57 P&As in total. Is there coordination and communication efforts that happen at the P&A level when working through these issue areas?


Thomas Crishon:


Oh absolutely. So NDRN, the National Disability Rights Network, I think does a great job of coordinating those efforts. Depending on the P&A, IDR has good relationships obviously with our neighboring P&As, but there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. We're all dealing with very similar situations. Obviously state law and state administrations may impact and change the situations slightly, but if another P&A has dealt with a specific situation, then it's good to get their take on what worked, what hasn't worked, how they're combating it. So from my standpoint, for instance, there's a regular legal directors call where we can hop on the phone with other legal directors in other P&As. I know there's a CEO call where the executive directors can do the same. There's a number of Listservs that individuals can bounce ideas of off each other.


Thomas Crishon:


And I think most P&As are pretty receptive to you just picking on the phone and calling them, or emailing them and just saying, "Hey. We see you're dealing with this or working in this area. We're seeing similar situations here. What have you done? And what's worked and what hasn't worked?" So I think there's a really good relationship amongst the P&As nationally, and that helps. I think that helps us provide the best service we can for our constituents.


Clark Rachfal:


That's great. That's similar to, Claire, the conversations that our affiliates and affiliates presidents have when they're trying to work through either advocacy issues or affiliate management issues. So it seems like you all have a pretty similar structure, and the same level of coordination and communication.


Thomas Crishon:


Yeah. I don't think it benefits anybody to just live in your own little island. We all work under similar funds and similar grants. We're all providing similar services. Obviously some of these state-by-state issues may vary, but it's always important to reach out and see what those other agencies and what other organizations are doing. And that really expands beyond the P&As though. There are such great national and state disability advocacy organizations, obviously like the ACB, and it's good to reach out to those organizations as well to see what they're working on and if we can help each other that way.


Claire Stanley:


So Tom, I always love to ask people in the disability rights community, the legal world or the advocacy world, how they got into this area, because it's kind of an interesting niche area. So do you mind if I ask what got you interested in this area?


Thomas Crishon:


Yeah absolutely. So it's been a little bit of a roundabout way, but I've long had an interest in employee rights and employment discrimination. So during law school I had the option of completing a specialized program for labor and employment law, and through that work, while in law school I worked for the civil rights section of the state's attorney general. I had an opportunity to work on some employment discrimination cases there, be exposed to some fair housing situations. So after graduating from law school, having that experience in that interest area, I think the P&A system was just a perfect fit. And they were hiring for a staff attorney. Fortunately, they gave it to me. So I had an opportunity to expand and work in those particular areas, expand my interest in working for and behalf of people with disabilities. And I think it was a great decision back then.


Claire Stanley:


That's great.


Clark Rachfal:


And Tom, you mentioned the coordination, not only within the P&A network, but also with the cross disability community. You all had a press release last week on the international day of people with disabilities, talking about work with the cross disability community. Can you tell us about that announcement?


Thomas Crishon:


Sure. So we filed a lawsuit. The Indiana Disability Rights is working with the Disability Rights Advocates Organization to represent three Hoosier voters with vision disabilities, and two disability advocacy groups, one being our group which is the Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services Commission, and then the American Council of the Blind of Indiana, which is obviously one of your local affiliates. We filed a federal lawsuit against the Indiana Election Commission, and the state's secretary of state, alleging they're maintaining a voting system that remains inaccessible to people with disabilities. Specifically, we're alleging that they are not providing necessary accommodations that would allow people with disabilities equal access to the voting process, and also not allowing individual voters independent and private voting access. So generally, when a state offers a program, here a voting program, they need to ensure that everyone has equal access, including people with disabilities. And we're alleging that they're not doing that here with regard to the absentee vote by mail program in Indiana.


Claire Stanley:


I think this particular case is really important and exciting because it's taking place after the 2020 general election. I think there was a lot of work done before the election, which was so important, don't get me wrong. But I think this is a great example of the fact that we're going to keep fighting. Just because the 2020 general election is over, that does not mean these issues are gone. So I think it's really impressive and exciting to see the work you guys are doing, that we're going to keep fighting, because there's another election next year and the year after, and on and on and on. So it's pretty exciting to see that the fighting is not stopping, that we're going to continue to push.


Thomas Crishon:


Absolutely. And while I would say that the COVID-19 pandemic certainly maybe exacerbated this issue, this is not a pandemic issue. This is a federal civil rights access to the voting process issue. We all know how important voting is. It's the bedrock of democracy, right? And if people don't have equal access to that process, that's an important right that's being infringed upon. So you're absolutely right. I think we saw a lot of pre-election voting lawsuits. In fact, locally we were involved with an amicus brief in a lawsuit that was trying to expand the vote by mail to everyone. Talking about some collaborations, we joined with a few other local disability rights organizations to represent the interests and the viewpoints of both voters with disabilities along with those individuals who live with and work with voters with disabilities, and the risk they were encountering by requiring in-person voting. So that was a pre-election matter.


Thomas Crishon:


But now we're focused on the post-election, having heard from experiences and the barriers that this system has placed on individual voters, we can really highlight those and advocate for change, as you mentioned Claire, to ensure that the next election is accessible to everybody, and everybody has that right.


Clark Rachfal:


And Tom, as Claire mentioned, there have been other cases filed this year, certainly ACB has been involved with cases in several other states along with Disability Rights Advocates, who's co-counsel in this case, and P&As from other states as well. Have those proceedings, do those make you optimistic for what you are hoping to accomplish on behalf of the Hoosiers and Voters with Disabilities in Indiana.


Thomas Crishon:


Very much so. Yeah so I think that the particularly the cases brought by Disability Rights Advocates and some of the other P&As and some other national organizations, specifically with regard to accessible absentee system. They've seen victories in other states. We have similarly inaccessible systems here, although I would venture to say that Indiana probably has one of the most restrictive systems in the country. But they've seen successes, and I think that we will see, hopefully, some success here as well. Stepping back from a lot of the voting litigation that was surrounded around COVID and the health risks about going in person and voting, this lawsuit, it happens every election. It's not pandemic-related. Certainly, yes, in Indiana we saw I think three times the amount of people vote absentee in this general election than in 2016. Yes. Absolutely. That puts a brighter light on the issue.


Thomas Crishon:


However, Indiana, just for a little background, Indiana has a vote by mail program, absentee program, but they only allow 13 specific categories to participate in that program. Voters with disabilities is one of those categories. So voters with disabilities already should be able to participate in the absentee ballot system, but when they offer a standard sized print based absentee voting system, they are having and maintaining a program that is simply inaccessible to many people. And to take a step further, the state law states that if you are unable to independent complete your own absentee ballot, you have to have a traveling board come to your board and complete the ballot for you. So it's forcing people, especially with vision disabilities, to forfeit their right to that private independent ballot. So I mentioned, this is one of the most restrictive absentee systems in the country. So seeing those successes in the other states by DRA and the other P&As, with their inaccessible systems, we think Indiana's maintaining an even more restrictive and more inaccessible system, and we're optimistic seeing those federal decision that hopefully be some good decisions in this lawsuit.


Claire Stanley:


So taking a step back to the very beginning, Tom, and it's been so helpful to talk to somebody from a state P&A because I must admit that when people call our office as the advocacy and outreach specialist, I am continuously referring people to their state P&As because you guys do phenomenal work and you're a great resource. So can you just briefly talk about what services or issues people can call you guys about, how you guys can help, how people can get ahold of you. Obviously you're for those who are in Indiana, but maybe some ideas for other states. If people call, what can you guys offer and how can they get ahold of you guys?


Thomas Crishon:


Yeah absolutely. So just a little background, overview. P&As are the only legally based advocacy organization that Congress established to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities. So if it's a disability rights related issue, then P&As will be able to provide some advocacy. There are a number of grants that we all work under. The particular programs may vary state to state, but generally speaking we all have most of the same grants. A lot of those grants are person-specific, and a lot of them are subject or issue specific. So for instance, we have a protection advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities program. So if an individual with development disability is encountering a disability rights issue, we have a particular fund that provides funding for us to provide advocacy in that situation.


Thomas Crishon:


We have on for individuals with mental illness. We have one with individuals with traumatic brain injury, beneficiaries of social security, individuals you utilize the representative payee program. We have a client assistance program that, if individuals receiving service under the Rehabilitation Act, so for instance the vocational rehabilitation program, we provide advocacy in those situations. And then some of the issue specifics, we have one for assistive technology only. So if an individual needs assistive technology devices or services, so say a motorized wheelchair or talking computer, or adaptive computer software, we can work through and provide advocacy through say case management, legal representation, advocating for, say, a waiver program to fund those. Then we also have one for voting access.


Thomas Crishon:


So we have program that cover, like I mentioned, almost every disability rights related issue. And if they encounter that issue, if they think they've been discriminated against, or they need help with a vocational rehabilitation denial, the contact the local P&A, usually the P&A will obtain that information, then make a determination if they can provide those services, and then they move from there. And I mentioned earlier, we have a wide spectrum. We try to work things out in the least intrusive manner. We try to contact the adversary and do some informal advocacy and see if we can come to an agreement for the individual we're working with and accomplish their goal. But if that fails, then we can move from there. If it does move to having to file, say, an administrative appeal, or state litigation, then we can.


Thomas Crishon:


As I mentioned with the voting lawsuit, if it takes filing federal litigation, we absolutely can do that as well. So the level of services certainly depends on the individual's situation. I will note, obviously, we're federally funded and we do have limited resources so we can't say yes to every single call we get unfortunately. But the first step is for the individual to contact their local P&A and say, "Hey this is my issue. Is this something you can help with?" And that's the first good step. If it's technical assistance they can provide it. If it's legal representation, then we have that option as well.


Claire Stanley:


And I... Oh.


Clark Rachfal:


What is the best way to contact or find contact information for a state P&A? Is it by contacting you all by phone? Where would they find that number? Is it googling their state and P&A? Or checking the NDRN website? What would you recommend for individuals to do?


Thomas Crishon:


Yeah so if they're looking for their specific state's P&A, and they don't know what that is, then I think the National Disability Rights Network's website is a good first start. They could also just google your state and protection and advocacy, and I think that would probably find the specific organization for your state. Here in Indiana, we can take it all. So for instance, we have two excellent dedicated intake and referral staff people. They take phone calls, they take mailing letters, they take electronic communication. We have an electronic intake form on our website. There's a varied way to contact us and let us know that you have an issue. And we're trying to be as accommodating as we can for those individuals who need to contact us. And I think that's probably true for most P&As as well. But if you're not sure what your protection and advocacy organization is in your state, I think NDRN's website's a good one. And like I said, if you just google your state's name and protection and advocacy, I'm pretty confident your state-specific one will come up.


Claire Stanley:


And to our listeners, if you guys ever have any issues finding that information, just put in a call to the national office at ACB. We'd be happy to help find that. And eventually, not now and now as of December 2020, but eventually ACB is going to put on their website contact information for the P&As for each state. So that should be easily obtainable eventually, not today. But we understand that's an important thing and we're going to promote that.


Claire Stanley:


Great. Well thank you so much Tom. I know I learned a lot and I really enjoyed hearing about the work you guys are doing in Indiana and across the country. So thank you so much for taking time out of a busy time, especially as the holiday season is coming up. And thanks for all your hard work, especially on the voting rights case.


Thomas Crishon:


Absolutely. Thanks for having me. And if I could maybe give a state-specific plug. If any listeners are in Indiana, you can reach us at our toll free number which is 800-622-4845, and our email address is [email protected]. So we'd be happy to provide any assistance we can on issues in Indiana, and if it's not an Indiana issue we'd be happy to refer to a neighboring P&A. But very much thanks for having me, and I'm happy to talk with you today.


Claire Stanley:


Great. Thank you so much.


Thomas Crishon:


Thanks.


Claire Stanley:


Hold on for a minute and Clark and I will be back to close out the show.


Claire Stanley:


Hey everybody, this is Claire again. I hope you guys enjoyed our two guests. I know I really enjoyed hearing about all the work that they two offices are doing, really getting deep in the weeds of issues impacting the disability community. So round of applause for all the work that the two entities are doing. And it was really great just to get to know Cyrus and Tom a little bit.


Clark Rachfal:


So Claire, what did you enjoy the most? Or what was your main takeaway from the conversation with Cyrus about the work of National Disability Rights Network?


Claire Stanley:


I really just enjoy hearing the getting into the weeds of the policy work that NDRN is doing, and Cyrus specifically, are doing right there in Washington DC. I say right there. We're right there. But you know what I mean.


Clark Rachfal:


In the heart of it all.


Claire Stanley:


In the heart of it all. Especially with the new administration starting up in, gosh, just over a month. So it's exciting to hear that they're working hard to promote and advocate for policies that we'll see, hopefully within Congress and the new administration.


Clark Rachfal:


And certainly we are fortunate to consider NDRN a collaborator, a partner for ACB the national organization. But it was also interesting hearing about their structure. NDRN as the umbrella trade association for the P&As, and the P&As pretty similar to the state- and local-level affiliates and chapters that we have within ACB.


Claire Stanley:


Very similar. Yeah exactly. So I hope that's encouraging for our state affiliates and special interest affiliates to hear that you can have some allies right there at your own local level to go to and seek out when you need assistance, because there's some great resources.


Clark Rachfal:


And again, a great conversation with Tom Crishon. Nailed it.


Claire Stanley:


Nailed it.


Clark Rachfal:


Indiana Disability Rights, or IDR, giving us that local or state-level perspective on the work that the P&As do, how they operate, what happens when individuals or organizations reach out to them with issues. Just like any other organization they are a little bit resource restrained on the caseload, not that we would know anything about that.


Claire Stanley:


Not at all.


Clark Rachfal:


But they really maximize their efforts, and we have seen that across the nation this year, whether it's in the healthcare space, education, probably more so than any other when it comes to voting rights and accessible voting.


Claire Stanley:


Yes. It was also really interesting to just hear a little bit about what state-specific or local geographic-specific issues each area, region, faces because I think it's easy for us to get stuck in our own little bubble, for us especially here in the DC area. But I'm sure everybody. You live in your community, but even though we have overall sweeping issues that all Americans face, we also have geographic-based issue. So it's really exciting to hear that each entity can really get down into the mud so to speak, and address the issues that each region is facing.


Clark Rachfal:


Well Claire, as we wrap up this podcast and our conversation getting to know the National Disability Rights Network and the network of protection and advocacy organizations around the country, is there anything that you would like to share with our listeners? Anything at all? This is airing on Thursday December 10.


Claire Stanley:


I think that was a little nudge there Clark.


Clark Rachfal:


Nudge off a cliff, yes. Just a little one.


Claire Stanley:


Yeah. So everybody, I'm sad to say that this is my last week as an ACB employee. And I say employee because I promise I'm not going anywhere. I'm still a proud ACB member. But I'm actually going to start next Monday, December 14, as a public policy analyst for the National Disability Rights Network, NDRN. So I'm putting on a different hat to go work at NDRN, but will still be working on so many of the same issues. So you know if you need anything from NDRN, you now know somebody inside.


Clark Rachfal:


And certainly, this is not good-bye, but this is see you later. This is hear you on our committee calls, and community events, and geez. I'll probably see you sooner than others, but certainly when we have in-person conventions again, we all know that you will be there as a proud ACB member. So Claire, I just want to say thank you. It's been a pleasure getting to know you and working with you over nearly the past two years, certainly appreciate your passion and dedication to ACB and our members, and I know that your passion for disability rights and access will serve you well at NDRN, and it will serve our members well to have such a great force for good branching out from ACB into the broader world.


Claire Stanley:


Well thank you Clark. I appreciate it and I'm excited to bring the voice of the blind and visually impaired community to yet another entity. So remember guys, I'm here to advocate for our community. And yeah, again, you're not getting rid of me. Who knows, maybe I'll even sneak back onto the podcast somehow. So thanks again to everybody for listening to our podcast today. Again, if you have any issues, you can always reach out to ACB at [email protected]. I'm not answering them anymore, so go ahead and flood Clark with all the messages you want.


Clark Rachfal:


And Claire, one more time for the road, what do we always say?


Claire Stanley:


Keep advocating.


Outro:


Thanks for listening to the ACB Advocacy Update. You can reach us by emailing [email protected]. The ACB Advocacy Update is a production of the American Council of the Blind in Alexandria, Virginia. To learn more about ACB, visit us online at www.acb.org.

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