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Dots and Dashes: July 17, 2020

Convention Podcasts

Last week ACB completed our very first virtual convention! Many of the convention sessions are available as podcasts with much more to come. To download podcasts, visit http://www.acbradio.org/acb-convention. To subscribe to our convention podcasts, visit http://www.acbradio.org/acb-convention.xml.

Roy Samuelson Audio Description Presentation

Audio Description Narrarator, Roy Samuelson, presented during ACB’s 2020 virtual convention banquet. With audio description narration credits from over 600 network, streaming, and big budget films, and hundreds of additional voiceover projects, including national commercials, video games, and promos, billions of ears have heard Roy’s voice. He is a leading and well-respected Hollywood Voiceover artist and advocate for audio description. He shares how his firm informs, inspires, and recruits relevant organizations into a new initiative in blind audience empowerment. Access the presentation by visiting: https://youtu.be/sYv52O1I6Mo.  

SpokenRX

Last week, CVS Pharmacy announced that they have developed Spoken Rx, a new feature of the CVS Pharmacy app that can read a specific type of label for patients with visual impairments. This new feature is the result of a collaboration with the American Council of the Blind. Learn more by visiting: https://acb.org/cvs-spokenrx

Disney+ Audio Description Award

The American Council of the Blind awarded Disney Plus the 2020 Achievement Award in Audio Description for its commitment to adding audio description tracks to its entire slate of original programming, and to a significant portion of its extensive back catalog dating back to the late 1920s. Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/y43mfflx.

ACB Advocacy Bootcamp

This week's episode of the ACB Advocacy Update features ACB's Advocacy Bootcamp hosted by staff members Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal during our 2020 virtual convention. During this bootcamp, Claire and Clark discuss how to effectively self-advocate and the panel of advocates share their personal advocacy journeys. Listen online at: http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-7-16-20.

Nearing the Final Stretch for ACB’s Walk

We have six weeks left to raise $6K for the annual ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk. The generosity was fantastic going into our national convention, with over $84,000 raised. And we know that a little more momentum can get us over the finish line to reach our goal of $90K. Visit the ACB Walk page to learn more about how you can help make this year’s walk a huge success! Special thanks to all the teams and individuals who have already given. 

Public and Private Partnership Provides COVID-19 Relief for Americans Who Are Blind

Emergency relief care packages brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic will soon arrive to over 2,000 Americans who are blind and visually impaired, thanks to a public-private partnership between industry, advocates, and agencies providing support to people who are blind. The partnership will provide greatly needed home cleaning and personal care products to individuals who are blind and who are constrained by the impact of the pandemic. Learn more by visiting: https://acb.org/COVID-19-relief.