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Dots and Dashes: November 13, 2020

ACB Spotlight On Diabetes - Episode 1

The American Council of the blind, in partnership with ACB Diabetics in Action, presents the first episode in a ten part series: "Diabetes, Where We Are and Where We’re Going. In this episode, ACB’s Anthony Corona welcomes Tom Tobin and Randy Knapp, two diabetics who are blind, along with Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Government Affairs & Advocacy, and Chris Gray, President of ACB Diabetics in Action. The guests set the stage around the current challenges facing diabetics with vision loss and the struggle around equal access to quality care. Listen online by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/yxhrs2ht. To subscribe to this podcast series, visit: https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-spotlight. For info on this and other ACB podcasts, email [email protected].

ACB Salutes Our Veterans

On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark get to know the organizations supporting our blind and visually impaired veterans. First, they speak with Don Overton, President, Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) about BVA’s peer support network and advocacy initiatives. Then, they speak with ACB’s own Tyson Ernst, acting President, Visually Impaired Veterans of America (VIVA) regarding the VIVA affiliate and the tools and resources available to visually impaired veterans. Listen via your favorite podcast player or online at: https://tinyurl.com/y6e9dua6. To learn more about BVA, please visit: www.bva.org. To learn more and become involved with VIVA, please send an email to [email protected].

Giving Thanks to Our Supporters

Please join us for a special ACB Community event on November 19th when we will have the chance to share all the great work that has been undertaken this year, and be able to say “thank you” for your own support as we work to make our mission and vision a reality for every person who is blind and visually impaired. There will be two opportunities to join us on November 19th, when we will be joined by ACB leaders who will share our successes in 2020. Starting at 2pm Eastern (11am Pacific), ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges will be on hand to share in our thanks, and ACB President Dan Spoone will be on hand that evening for our second meeting at 8pm Eastern (5pm Pacific). 

Leadership Institute Training Committee

Does your board struggle with bringing on new members or successfully transitioning officers? Do your new members feel lost in their new positions? In this presentation by the Leadership Institute Training Committee, attendees will learn how to pre-plan for their transition, successfully on board and transition officers, and evaluate their transition  process on their board of directors. Join us on Thursday November 19th at 9:00 PM Eastern on ACB Radio Community or on Zoom. To receive our weekly schedule of community calls, join our Community listserv by sending an email to [email protected].

Accessible Pharmacy Joins Be My Eyes

Be My Eyes welcomes their first partner pharmacy onto the Be My Eyes app. Users in the United States will be able to ask their questions about medicine, drug interactions and starting in December, even order in-home COVID tests from trained professionals who know how to safely and effectively set up blind individuals for success. Learn more by visiting: https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/accessible-pharmacy-joins-be-my-eyes. ACB is also a specialized help provider on the Be My Eyes app. Download the app today and locate ACB in the Specialized Help menu under blindness organizations, and make the call – our ACB representatives are ready and waiting!

Audio Description Project Updates

This week's newly added audio-described content includes additions to Apple TV+Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and our lists of TV series and DVDs with audio description. To learn more about ACB's Audio Description Project, visit www.acb.org/adp.