Contact:
Cindy Van Winkle
(612) 345-9036
[email protected]
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (August 27, 2020) – The American Council of the Blind is expanding its partnership hours with Be My Eyes, an innovative app that provides real-time video assistance for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Now, ACB’s support staff and volunteers will be able to field calls from the Specialized Help Providers section of the app from noon to 5 p.m. Eastern on weekdays.
“We appreciate the partnership ACB has with Be My Eyes and believe through this opportunity, we are able to leverage more resources to assist those who are blind or who have low vision,” said ACB executive director Eric Bridges. “This is an amazing extension of the work we are doing for ACB members and the greater blind community.”
At a time of such uncertainty and isolation, ACB has been expanding its reach not only to its membership but to others outside of the ACB community by providing a host of calls via Zoom as part of our community events, utilizing ACB Radio and podcasts, an active and engaging Facebook group, and now 25 hours per week on the Be My Eyes platform.
While many Americans struggle with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, ACB is now able to provide remote guidance and consultation on key areas impacting the rights of Americans who are blind, and offer critical information on resources and supports available. Under the Specialized Help offerings with Be My Eyes, ACB is alongside companies such as Google, Microsoft, and P&G providing support and resources to the blindness community. ACB is proud to be maximizing the use of technology coupled with the personal touch to connect with their members and deliver services in a whole new way.
Now with almost 4 million users and a growing family of company partners, Be My Eyes is one of the largest “micro-volunteering” platforms in the world, with more than 3.5 million volunteers on call at all times to assist those who need an extra pair of eyes at short notice.
The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With 70 affiliates, ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. Learn more by visiting www.acb.org.
To inquire about Be My Eyes, contact [email protected].