by Scott Thornhill
Dear ACB Family,
A year ago this month I began as the Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind. I attended the D.C. Leadership Conference and met so many wonderful people as my start date approached. Since then I have met countless members, in person and virtually. Leading the staff of a membership organization is a challenging and rewarding pursuit. It has been my privilege to visit with members at conventions in over 10 states so far, with more to come.
We have started our Accessibility & Training Services program area this year, we are approaching 25,000 Community Events, serving over 8,000 members and growing our D.C. Leadership Conference, National Conference & Convention, and Audio Description Awards Gala. The number of corporate sponsors and individual donors is increasing, and our advocacy outreach on accessibility and policy is leading to tangible improvements for people who are blind or with low vision.
As I “spring” into my second year with ACB, there is much to be excited about for sure. We also face some difficulties as well. The dilemma of how we reach new members across the age spectrum, how we help some of our affiliates with long-term viability, how we increase revenue from new sources, and ultimately how we even more diligently meet our mission. I am committed to supporting our members as they live their journey of vision challenges, understanding there is no “right way” to be blind. I remain focused on ensuring companies and government institutions carry out their responsibilities in making digital as well as physical locations accessible.
The American Council of the Blind is a strong organization which has a very bright future with your support. Thank you for welcoming me and offering your encouragement, and the occasional critique, as our staff works to make the coming decades the best ACB has ever experienced.