Hello All,
 
As the result of a generous grant from JP Morgan Chase, ACB is very pleased to announce that we have the opportunity to provide several individuals and/or affiliate representatives with stipends to assist them with the expenses of attending the 2015 Midyear meetings. These stipends will cover the cost of travel to and from the meetings, hotel room charges (based on double occupancy) and meeting registration fees. Per diem and ground transportation costs need to be the responsibility of the individual selected or the affiliate they are representing. Because there…

You can begin by reserving your room at the Holiday Inn National Airport and completing your registration form.  You may register online, by phone or e-mail.  This year’s schedule is a bit different than in past years, so please seehttps://register.acb.org/ for more information.
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American Council of the Blind
2014 Presidents' Meeting Agenda

Dates: Saturday and Sunday, February 22 and 23

Saturday

11:00 AM:

• Opening Remarks - Kim Charlson, President, Watertown, MA
• Meeting Logistics: Melanie Brunson, ACB Executive Director, Arlington, VA

11:10 AM:

• Self-Introduction of Attendees

11:20 AM:

• ACB Social Media Team – John McCann, Twitter Team Liaison, ACB Board…

• The midyear meetings are Friday, February 21 through Tuesday, February 25, 2014.
• Board meetings are held on Friday, February 21.
• Affiliate presidents meeting will begin on Saturday, February 22 and continue on Sunday, February 23
• Legislative seminar begins Sunday, February 23 and continues through Monday, February 24.
• Capitol Hill day is Tuesday, February 25

Hotel

Once again, we will be meeting at the Holiday Inn National Airport, 2650 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington., VA.  Room rates will be $125.00…

Hi all,

Starting Sunday February 24, 2013 at 2:00 P.M eastern the coverage will be carried on ACB Radio Live Event.

To tune in go to http://acbradio.org. Then click on the link that says "listen to ACB Radio". Then browse through the different streams on the page until you get to the live event stream. You can do this by using the heading command of your screen reader as each stream has its own heading.  Under the live event heading you will see two links. The first link is for those who listen to internet radio via…

2013 ACB Legislative Seminar
 
Instructions:  Please complete one packet per group (per visit).  It is best to complete this form as soon as possible after your appointments and return it to the ACB table in the muster room.   
 
Completion of this form offers us vital feedback and information to aid in accomplishing our legislative goals for 2013.  If you run out of space, please use the back. Pick up two business cards from the person you speak with, one for your records and one for the national office. Thank you…

American Council of the Blind
2013 Legislative Seminar
 
Low Vision Device Exclusion
Legislative Imperative

Background

In November of 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promulgated a regulation that has had a detrimental impact on the lives of countless individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
 
To the dismay of the blind community, the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Acquisition Rule contains a provision entitled "Low Vision Aid Exclusion…

A BILL

To promote and ensure delivery of high quality special education and related services to students with visual disabilities through instructional methodologies meeting their unique learning needs; to enhance accountability for the provision of such services; to establish a national collaborative resource on visual disabilities and educational excellence to supplement the current availability of such services; to support the ongoing professional development of instructors of students with visual disabilities; to foster the proliferation of research supporting the development…

A BILL

To evaluate, through a five-year national demonstration project administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the fiscal impact of a permanent change to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act allowing reimbursement for certain low vision devices as durable medical equipment.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Sec. 1. Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2012.

Sec. 2. Demonstration…

American Council of the Blind
2013 Legislative Seminar 

The Issue

Since 1975, Public Law 94-142, now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has revolutionized educational opportunity for all children and youth with disabilities. However, without key improvements, our national special education system cannot fully keep IDEA’s promise of a truly appropriate education for students who are blind or visually impaired. The Anne Sullivan Macy Act is intended to do just that, to improve the delivery of appropriate special education and related services…