2021 ACB Convention
The ACB Board of Directors met on Tuesday, October 13 to discuss several important items. One such agenda item concerned the 2021 conference and convention. Following discussion from all board members, a unanimous decision was made to hold the 2021 conference and convention as a virtual event. Holding an in-person gathering, given all the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, is not in the best interest of the members and friends of the American Council of the Blind. Stay tuned as the plans take shape for the 2021 virtual conference. We hope you can join us!
Procter & Gamble Care Packages
As the COVID-19 pandemic and sheltering in-place requirements spread across the United States, ACB heard from our members and the broader community about the hardships being created and endured by people who are blind and low vision. Many individuals found it more difficult to conduct everyday activities and chores, including shopping for essential household and personal care items to maintain cleanliness and protect themselves from the virus. ACB shared these experiences with Procter & Gamble, and together, we developed a distribution network to deliver 2,000 care packages of personal and household cleaning supplies to people who are blind in six geographic areas significantly impacted by the novel coronavirus: Cincinnati, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, and Seattle. To learn more about P&G’s passion and involvement with this project, please visit: https://us.pg.com/blogs/world-sight-day-2020.
White Cane Safety Day
On the 56th commemoration of White Cane Safety Day, ACB applauds all those who have advocated for independence through their work to promote the public visibility and equality of people who are blind and visually impaired by lifting up awareness to the meaning and purpose of the white cane. Read our press release by visiting: https://acb.org/white-cane-day-2020. On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, we celebrated White Cane Safety Day with three ACB members who discussed their life experiences as white cane and/or guide dog users and the independence they afford. To listen to the episode, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y6mv24fo.
New ACB Technology Infrastructure
ACB is driven to support and advocate for all people who are blind or visually impaired. Yet our past technology infrastructure held us back. As part of our strategic plan, we invested in Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Office 365. This more reliable and secure technology advances our mission and we are able to serve more people. Learn more by visiting: https://customers.microsoft.com/en-us/story/847847-american-council-of-the-blind-nonprofit-azure.
Audio Description Project Updates
This week's newly added audio-described content includes additions to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, iTunes, Hulu, and our lists of TV series and DVDs with audio description. New additions on Netflix include Deaf U, the Haunting of Bly Manor, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, Dream Home Makeover, and many more. To learn more about ACB's Audio Description Project, visit www.acb.org/adp.