Urge Congress to Cosponsor and Pass the DATA Act, HR 1697 This week, Representatives Jim Langevin and Dina Titus reintroduced the Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA) as H.R. 1697, which would expand and improve transportation, especially paratransit programs, for people with disabilities. ACB members advocated for reintroduction of the DATA Act as one of our legislative imperatives during the ACB Leadership Conference. ACB urges our members to follow up with your Representatives to ask them to cosponsor and pass H.R. 1697. Read the full press release by visiting: https://acb.org/press-release-applaud-reintroduction-DATA-act. ACB Advocacy & Outreach Specialist Interview On March 1st, Swatha Nandhakumar joined the ACB team as our Advocacy and Outreach Specialist. This week, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, interviewed Swatha. Access the interview and get to know our new Advocacy and Outreach Specialist by visiting: https://youtu.be/S964WpnaLhI.   ACB Advocacy Update: Diversity & Leadership On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs Clark Rachfal speaks with a plethora of ACB leaders regarding our ongoing efforts to make ACB a more representative and inclusive community while providing greater opportunities for future leaders. First, Clark is joined by Multicultural Affairs Committee (MCAC) Chair Peggy Garrett and MCAC Committee member Michael Garrett to discuss the intersection of diversity and disability. Then, as we discuss the organizational supports available to ACB members, Clark introduces Durward K. McDaniel Fund (DKM) Committee Chair Kenneth Semien and DKM Committee member Zelda Gebhard to share how the DKM Committee increases leadership opportunities, including the DKM First Timers’ Award and the JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows program. Applications for these two opportunities is April 5, 2021. To listen to this podcast online, visit: https://tinyurl.com/erx8prtt.  To learn more about the ACB Multicultural Affairs Committee, visit: https://acb.org/committee-mcac. To learn more about the Durward K. McDaniel Fund Committee, visit: www.acb.org/dkm. To learn how to apply for the DKM First Timer's award, visit: https://acb.org/2021-DKM-first-timers. To learn how to apply for the JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows program, visit: https://acb.org/2021-leadership-fellows. Air Carrier Access Amendments Act  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) reintroduced the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act on March 9, to protect the rights of airplane passengers with disabilities, improve air travel safety and close service gaps that passengers with disabilities frequently encounter in air travel. For 35 years, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) has prohibited discrimination based on disability in air travel. Despite this effort, too many travelers with disabilities encounter significant barriers—such as damaged assistive devices and wheelchairs, delayed assistance, ineffective communications, and lack of seating accommodations. Read the full press release by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/vnaprcff. Say My Meme Podcast Will Butler, VP of Community at Be My Eyes has created a new podcast called ‘Say My Meme' which describes some of the internet’s most famous memes. “I really, deeply believe that memes are important, and that blind people should be able to enjoy them and use them to enhance their social and cultural credibility,” says Will Butler. “This is how people communicate.” Learn more by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/4x6j6skf.   Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Accessibility Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced a resolution calling on the National Park Service to improve the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial’s accessibility to blind and low-vision visitors and to create accessible education materials about the site’s history. Read the article by visiting: https://time.com/5943397/duckworth-fdr-memorial-braille-accessibility.   Arizona Council of the Blind Convention The Arizona Council of The Blind (AzCB) is celebrating 50 years! Join them for this festive event via Zoom on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17. This virtual convention will feature keynote speaker Joel Snyder, Director of the Audio Description Project at the American Council of the Blind (ACB). Plus, there will be other presentations, entertainment, games, and drawings for gift cards. AzCB started in 1971, and are an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Register for their convention by visiting azcb.org/registration. Holman Prize Applications Close March 14 This Sunday March 14, at 11:59 pm Pacific, submissions close for the fifth annual Holman Prize for Blind Ambition. The Holman Prize awards up to $25,000 to blind people anywhere in the world who have an amazing idea that will challenge perceptions about blindness worldwide. You have a few days left to plan and upload your 90-Second YouTube pitch describing what you’ll do if you win the Holman Prize. Apply by visiting: https://holman.lighthouse-sf.org/apply. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions or the recording of live Holman Prize Q&A for more info. Send any additional questions to [email protected]. Aira Plans for ACB Members Aira is a service that connects blind and low vision people to highly trained, remotely-located agents. Through an app on your smartphone, Aira delivers instant access to visual information at the touch of a button – enhancing everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Aira offers two special pricing plans for ACB members. The Intro Power Plan includes 30 minutes per month for $20.00, and the Standard Power Plan includes 140 minutes per month for $99.00. These plans are available for ACB members in good standing who sign up through December 31, 2021. Please contact Customer Care at (800) 835-1934 for more information and to confirm your status to purchase a plan. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 10, 2021)—The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) applaud Representatives Jim Langevin and Dina Titus for reintroducing the Disability Access to Transportation Act (DATA) as H.R. 1697, which would expand and improve transportation, especially paratransit programs, for people with disabilities. The bill was originally introduced in the 116th Congress and included in the House surface transportation legislation in July 2020. AFB and ACB public policy staff advocated together for the DATA bill before, during, and after the bill’s original introduction in 2020. ACB and AFB together met with members of Congress, including Representative Langevin, to raise specific concerns about paratransit services. “Equal access to transportation persisted as a barrier to full inclusion for people with disabilities well before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges. “The American Council of the Blind and our nationwide membership applauds Rep. Langevin for his thoughtful approach to enable all Americans to get up and get moving toward greater independence, and we urge the swift passage of the DATA Act.” "Lack of access to convenient transportation remains one of the biggest barriers to employment, community integration, and healthcare for people who are blind or have low vision,” said Stephanie Enyart, Chief Public Policy and Research Officer at AFB. “The DATA bill takes several important steps to eliminate this barrier. For example, many paratransit agencies require riders to schedule separate rides for every stop and to wait a long time between each ride. The paratransit pilot should encourage transit agencies to find ways to make paratransit a more convenient and effective transportation option. AFB is appreciative of the tools this bill provides for improving our transportation systems for people with disabilities." Having few affordable, efficient transportation options inhibits the job opportunities available to people who are blind or have low vision. At present, over half of working-age blind and low vision adults are not in the labor market, compared to only a quarter of Americans without disabilities. These individuals consistently identify transportation as one of the biggest barriers to obtaining employment, accepting jobs that are offered to them, or remaining employed. In addition, the experiences of blind and low vision adults during the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of transportation access for food security, health, and education. Sixty-eight percent of respondents to the Flatten Inaccessibility study expressed concerns about access to transportation. The DATA bill looks to the future by expanding opportunities for equitable and convenient transportation recovery as the pandemic subsides. AFB staff worked closely with Congressman Langevin’s staff to provide information and feedback on the establishment of a one-stop paratransit pilot program, and ACB members lent their many voices of support during this year’s Legislative Seminar to ensure the bill would be reintroduced. Under the paratransit pilot program, a rider would be allowed one stop for such purposes as dropping off children at childcare, picking-up subscriptions, or using an ATM. Because paratransit agencies are not federally required to schedule rides less than 90 minutes apart, paratransit riders must spend inordinate amounts of time to accomplish simple but necessary errands. The time burden may prevent people with disabilities from getting to work on time or traveling frequently in their community, and alternatives to paratransit may be inaccessible or prohibitively expensive. In addition to the paratransit pilot, the bill also addresses other systemic transportation barriers affecting people with disabilities: • The requirement to implement minimum standards for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way, including shared use paths, would eliminate physical barriers in sidewalk and other pedestrian infrastructure design. • The increase in funding for the Section 5310 grants would expand opportunities to provide transportation services for people with disabilities and older adults. • Improving Americans with Disabilities Act complaint reporting would ensure people with disabilities can easily report discrimination and facilitate the Department of Transportation taking action to resolve outstanding issues. • The accessibility data pilot program would improve transportation planning by measuring existing transportation access for people with disabilities and evaluating the result of changes to the transportation system. AFB and ACB are strongly committed to improving transportation access for blind and low vision Americans. We thank Representatives Langevin and Titus for introducing this bill and urge swift passage. For further information: Langevin, Titus Seek to Expand Transportation Access for Individuals with Disabilities About the American Council of the Blind The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With more than 65 affiliates, ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. Together, we make a bright future. Learn more by visiting www.acb.org. About the American Foundation for the Blind Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that creates a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired. AFB mobilizes leaders, advances understanding, and champions impactful policies and practices using research and data. AFB is proud to steward the Helen Keller Archive, maintain and expand the digital collection, and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB. Visit: https://www.afb.org/

ACB Board of Directors Moves Forward with Remote Voting for 2021 Convention  The ACB board of Directors voted during its Feb. 20th meeting to move forward with an outside vendor who will provide remote voting for the 2021 National Conference and Convention. The decision comes after a Voting Taskforce provided recommendations on how to conduct voting during a virtual convention. The decision was necessary under ACB’s governing rules filed in the District of Columbia, which previously required in-person voting of officers, but has allowed for a waiver for remote voting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, ACB was unable to hold officer elections during an in-person convention this past year. Visit https://acb.org/voting-task-force-recommendations-2-20-21 to read the Taskforce’s recommendations. Further details on the virtual voting process will be forthcoming as they become available. ACB DC Leadership Conference Now Online Were you able to attend the 2021 virtual ACB Leadership Conference last week? Help us improve future conferences and events by taking time to complete the conference survey. We appreciate your feedback. You can access the survey here by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021-Leadership-Conference. And please let us know if you have any technical issues with the survey by emailing [email protected]. Get to Know Our Special Affiliates! At 9pm Eastern, Monday through Thursday, March 8-11, ACB’s Membership Committee invites you to take part in a series of community calls. Are you new to ACB? Have you been lurking, wanting to know more, wondering where you might fit in? Are you currently a member of a state affiliate or member at large of ACB and wish you knew more about our special interest affiliates? Well, here’s your chance to get up and personal with some of them. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and maybe find your next connection within ACB. To receive up-to-date info on how to join these calls, please subscribe to our ACB Community Events email list by filling out the subscription form at: https://acblists.org/g/ACB-Community-Events. Read below for the full schedule: Monday: Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, ACB Families, American Council of Blind Lions, Blind LGBT Pride International, and Visually Impaired Veterans of America Tuesday: ACB Government Employees, American Association of Blind Teachers, American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys, Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs, and Randolph Shepherd Vendors of America Wednesday: Blind Information Technology Specialists, Braille Revival League, Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, Guide Dog Users Inc., and Library Users of America Thursday: ACB Diabetics In Action, ACB Next Generation, ACB Students, ACB Radio Amateurs, and Friends In Art.  ACB Next Gen Turns 1! On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, celebrates the one year anniversary of our ACB Next Generation affiliate. Clark is joined by President Amanda Selm, Second Vice President Steven Salas, and Secretary Greg Lindberg for a conversation about the founding of ACB Next Generation, the work they are doing to engage new members, advocacy issues important to the affiliate, and where they go from here. Listen online by visiting: https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co/episode/78269530/acb-next-gen-turns-1-. To learn more about ACB Next Generation, visit: https://acb.org/acb-next-generation or connect with them on Facebook: http://facebook.com/acbnextgen or Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACBNextGen. JPMC Leadership Fellows Join us as we engage in rhythms of leadership! Apply to Become a member of the 2021 Class of ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows. For the sixth consecutive year, JPMorgan Chase will provide full access to the ACB conference and convention for 5 ACB members who have demonstrated leadership abilities. This year’s recipients will enjoy the ACB conference and convention in a virtual setting and will join us in person for 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska. Read more about criteria and how to apply by visiting: https://acb.org/2021-leadership-fellows. Aira Plans for ACB Members Aira is a service that connects blind and low vision people to highly trained, remotely-located agents. Through an app on your smartphone, Aira delivers instant access to visual information at the touch of a button – enhancing everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Aira offers two special pricing plans for ACB members. The Intro Power Plan includes 30 minutes per month for $20.00, and the Standard Power Plan includes 140 minutes per month for $99.00. These plans are available for ACB members in good standing who sign up through December 31, 2021. Please contact Customer Care at (800) 835-1934 for more information and to confirm your status to purchase a plan.  NRTC 5-Year Study The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University (NRTC) is recruiting people with blindness or low vision (age 21+) who are working or are interested in working to be part of a multi-year study about technology in the workplace. Participants will complete multiple surveys over time so they can learn about changes in access technology use. Participants will receive a small gift card after completing each survey. The NRTC will share our findings with you and their technology company partners. They’ll also make recommendations for access technology users, VR professionals, access technology specialists, and employers. Would you like to help with their 5-year study? Complete their pre-screening survey by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ju7utju6 or call 662-325-2001 to schedule an appointment for a telephone screening.

In 2020 and 2021 the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Board of Directors voted to hold our regular in-person conference and convention virtually because of the health risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. This move to a virtual conference and convention was made to ensure the health and wellness of our members during this national emergency. While the current conference configuration does provide greater opportunity for more members to participate in conference sessions our ability to conduct in-person elections was impacted in 2020. In 2020 the 5 members of the Board of Directors agreed to retain their office for one year while, ACB proposed a solution to provide a process to ensure remote voting. Following the boards direction to hold the 2021 conference virtually a process for remote voting was needed to provide elections for officers, board members and Board of Publications (BOP) directors. Under our current Constitution and By-Laws all elections need to be conducted in-person at our regular Conference and Convention. However, an exception has been made for those organizations incorporated in the District of Columbia, of which ACB is one, to allow for remote voting at conferences during a national emergency. The current D.C. emergency code provisions expire in May 2021, but we fully expect them to be extended.   The D.C. Code: 29-405.01 (a) Remote Member Meetings The D.C. Non-Profit Corporation Act requires membership corporations to hold annual meetings. “Section 29-405.01 (a)  A membership corporation shall hold a meeting of members annually at a time stated in or fixed in accordance with the articles of incorporation or bylaws. The D.C. Code views the terms “constitution” and “bylaws” as interchangeable.  Article III C. Voting: of the ACB Constitution reads “Each voting member attending an annual conference and convention shall be entitled to one (1) vote …”.  The D.C. nonprofit code, section 29–405.01, allows for regular and annual meetings to be conducted electronically, if allowed in the organization's articles and bylaws. The statute reads: (e) The articles of incorporation or bylaws may provide that an annual or regular meeting of members does not need to be held at a geographic location if the meeting is held by means of the Internet or other electronic communications technology in a fashion pursuant to which the members have the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, vote on matters submitted to the members, pose questions, and make comments. This language was modified in 2020 to allow for regular and annual meetings to occur electronically during the pendency of the COVID-19 pandemic even if they are not explicitly allowed in the articles/bylaws. The revised language now reads:  (e) Notwithstanding the articles of incorporation or bylaws, during a period for which a public health emergency has been declared pursuant to [§ 7-2304.01], an annual or regular meeting of members does not need to be held at a geographic location if the meeting is held by means of the Internet or other electronic communications technology in a fashion pursuant to which the members have the opportunity to read or hear the proceedings substantially concurrently with their occurrence, vote on matters submitted to the membership, pose questions, and make comments. This exception does provide ACB a challenge and an opportunity to hold elections for candidates who wish to run for any of the 5 officers, 5 board members and 3 BOP director positions. At a special board meeting held on October 13th following the Boards decision to hold a virtual convention in 2021,  the ACB president with board concurrence established the Voting Task Force charged with recommending a process to provide remote voting for the 2021 conference and convention. The members of this Task Force were approved by the board on November 13th at the fall board meeting. The current Task Force consists of 18 individuals, (5 ACB staff and 13 ACB members) who have expertise in areas that relate to our recommendations.  This Task Force has met 5 times to discuss related Constitution and By-Law issues, potential remote voting solutions and a communication plan for outreach purposes using our current communication channels.   Task Force Assumptions The proposed remote voting process applies only to the 2021 Conference and Convention This remote voting only applies to ACB elections (5 directors, 5 officers, and 3 BOP positions. Thus, we will not vote on any constitutional or by-law amendments at the 2021 convention. Resolutions will be handled in the similar manner as they were in 2020, with input from the membership followed by final action from the board of directors.) In implementing the 2021 proposed voting structure, we will comply  with the Constitution and By-Law provisions except where our articles of incorporation do not allow for remote voting. Remote Voting will apply only to the current standing vote, ACB will conduct the roll call vote as usual. The text that needs to be revised to the convention standing rules for 2021 is: “During the 2021 virtual conference and convention, we will insure all members eligible to have the ability to cast their individual votes via a secret ballot. However, as it is not feasible to do so using paper as prescribed in By-law 2, Section D of the ACB Constitution and By-laws, said By-law section is suspended only for the 2021 conference and convention per requirements of the District of Columbia Non-Profit code.” The Task Force also wants to include a question on the ballot as to whether the membership wants to have remote voting in the future. The Task Force Will Modify the standing rules to provide for remote voting. The Task Force agreed that any remote voting process must include to the greatest extent possible, security, ballot verification, and privacy. The recommended process must also provide electronic and phone access.   Task Force Recommendations The Task Force discussed several options to provide remote voting including a highly manual process staffed by ACB volunteers to assist in the voting. Although some affiliates have used processes like this in their state elections this was deemed cumbersome and unworkable for a national election. The electronic voting systems that were evaluated needed to have an accessible user interface, work on multiple platforms, provide phone access for those individuals who wish to vote by phone or need assistance and meet all other security and verification requirements. This Task Force looked at 3 systems, Election Runner, Election Buddy and Vote Now. Election Runner did not support phone access and Election Buddy was not keyboard accessible. At its February 9th meeting the Voting Task Force recommended the use of the Vote Now system to provide remote voting access for the 2021 conference. This system has the ability to produce the necessary ballots in 30 minutes, has an accessible interface which supports Mac and PC’s, supports telephone access and will supply phone assistance (live operators) when necessary.  It also is a secure system with the necessary verification processes in place and allows for independent voting. Everyone that is a member of ACB by the record date, June 16th, is eligible to vote. We will make sure a quorum of voters is in attendance. Individual codes will be given to each member who is eligible to vote. Elections will be held throughout the week. Elections will be held during the week of general session. Standing Rules will be followed and past practices will be adhered to as much as possible. 1. Voice vote to be used when candidate runs unopposed 2. Run offs will apply to the top 2 candidates 3. No write in candidates will be allowed. During general sessions we will continue to have roll call votes, nomination speeches, and candidate’s acceptance speeches. The approximate cost for this system will be between $15,000 and $20,000 and it will support all our elections for the week including any necessary run-off elections. Vote Now also has the advantage of having a track record within ACB, Guide Dog Users Incorporated (GDUI) has been using this system successfully for the last 5 years.

Alexandria, VA — On Friday, February 19, 2021, the American Council of the Blind sent the following letter to Secretary Yellen and the U.S. Treasury regarding the proposed Harriet Tubman redesign of the $20 bill. According to recent press reports, as well as statements from the White House Press Office, the Biden Administration is considering accelerating the redesign of the $20 bill to incorporate a picture of Harriet Tubman. The Council welcomes such a redesign, provided that the newly redesigned bill incorporates an accessibility feature for the blind and visually impaired. Inclusion of an accessibility feature is required by the federal district court’s injunctive order dated Oct. 3, 2008, which mandates that accessibility be provided in all future currency redesigns. See Am. Council of the Blind v. Paulson, 581 F. Supp. 2d 1 (D.D.C. 2008). The American Council of the Blind has been striving for accessible currency for the past 45 years. U.S. paper currency of all denominations is of the same size, shape, and texture. The currency of the United States is the only major currency in the world which does not incorporate an accessibility feature for the blind and visually impaired. The time to rectify this injustice has long since passed. Our currency stands as a symbol for who we are as a nation. As a nation, we must be committed to equality for all people, including those with visual disabilities. It is therefore imperative that the next redesign incorporate an accessibility feature. This action is not only required by the injunctive order issued by the court; it is also the right thing to do. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the U.S. to make a significant milestone in history in two ways. First, by implementing the court mandate of 2008 and making the bill accessible, the U.S. would join 81 other countries who already provide accessible currency for people who are blind and visually impaired. Secondly, placing Harriet Tubman’s picture on the $20 bill would be historic as she would be the first person of color to be pictured on U.S. currency. I encourage the Department of Printing & Engraving to implement both of these actions,” said Peggy R. Garrett, chair of ACB’s Multicultural Affairs Committee. The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With more than 65 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.

2021 ACB Leadership Conference Thanks to everyone who participated in this past week’s ACB 2021 Leadership Conference. For those able to lead delegations for virtual visits with your member of Congress, please be sure to complete the Capitol Hill feedback form on Survey Monkey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021HillFeedback, or download the form in Word format by clicking this link. While we miss having everyone together in DC this year, the virtual nature of the event allowed us to provide more content than ever before, and share it with participants across multiple platforms. Be sure to check out our YouTube Playlist for this year’s conference at https://tinyurl.com/2021-ACB-Leadership-Conference, which will host all the general and breakout sessions. We will also be posting the sessions in podcast form for download over the next couple of weeks. So, stay tuned and keep advocating! For links to all of our 2021 Leadership Conference materials, visit https://acb.org/2021-leadership-conference. Employee Announcement: Audio Description Project Coordinator & Grant Writer On March 1st, Jo Lynn Bailey-Page will join ACB as our Audio Description Project Coordinator & Grant Writer. To read the full position announcement visit: https://www.acb.org/adp-coordinator-2-25-21.   Employee Announcement: ACB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist On March 1st, Swatha Nandhakumar will join the ACB team as an Advocacy and Outreach Specialist. To read the full position announcement, visit: https://www.acb.org/advocacy-outreach-specialist-2-25-21.   Stop the Wait Stop The Wait is the movement of Americans fighting to end Social Security Disability Insurance exclusions. COVID-19 is forcing thousands out of work and on to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Many of us have disabilities that will prevent us from working again. SSDI is a lifeline that we depend   to pay rent and buy food. But the current system denies us SSDI for the first five months after we get sick, and makes us wait 24 months for insurance benefits we have earned. These exclusion periods are bankrupting and killing us. In the last 10 years, 110,000 people have died while waiting for disability insurance. ACB and the Stop the Wait Coalition are telling Congress: End the five-month SSDI exclusion AND the 24-month Medicare waiting period NOW. Read our open letter to Congress and take action to Stop The Wait by visiting: https://www.stopthewaitnow.org. Aira Plans for ACB Members Aira is a service that connects blind and low vision people to highly trained, remotely-located agents. Through an app on your smartphone, Aira delivers instant access to visual information at the touch of a button – enhancing everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Aira offers two special pricing plans for ACB members. The Intro Power Plan includes 30 minutes per month for $20.00, and the Standard Power Plan includes 140 minutes per month for $99.00. These plans are available for ACB members in good standing who sign up through December 31, 2021. Please contact Customer Care at (800) 835-1934 for more information and to confirm your status to purchase a plan.  Info Session and Recruitment for Intracortical Visual Prosthesis Project On Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 7pm CST, learn from the researchers about an experimental device intended to restore visual perception for individuals who are blind. Learn about the intracortical visual prosthesis device, the study, expectations, possible risks and benefits, and post implant requirements hosted by The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Interested individuals will receive contact information to speak with study personnel after the educational session is over. For more information and to reserve your spot please contact Kelsey Stipp at (312) 567–5304, or [email protected]. For more details about this research project, go to www.chicagolighthouse.org/icvp.

On March 1st, Jo Lynn Bailey-Page will join ACB as our Audio Description Project Coordinator & Grant Writer. She will be supporting Tony Stephens, Director of Development, with coordinating all aspects of the Audio Description Project as well as preparing and submitting grant proposals to potential funders. For the last five years, Jo Lynn served as a Grant Writer Contractor for ACB. Her accomplishments include securing funding opportunities for ACB’s Online Community Engagement and “Get Up and Get Moving” initiative, creating the Grants Power Grid to target major corporations, and expanding our grants pipeline to fifty-plus submissions. Jo Lynn also has 10 years’ experience working as an Independent Audio Describer, providing live audio description and developing scripts for performances and exhibits. She also is leading ACB’s active participation in the UniDescription Project with the University of Hawaii and the National Park Service. She has a Bachelor’s in Music, Vocal Performance from George Mason University and is a graduate of Joel Snyder’s Audio Description Associates Training Institute. While many of you have probably met her during our conventions and DC Leadership Conferences in the past, please join us in welcoming Jo Lynn by sending her an email at [email protected]!

On March 1st, Swatha Nandhakumar will join the ACB team as an Advocacy and Outreach Specialist. She will be supporting Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, with monitoring, responding to and researching government agendas, as well as providing information, referral and peer support to incoming callers. Swatha is a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude. Her background includes multiple legislative internships, including ones with the office of Senator Richard J. Durbin, Illinois state representative Janet Yang Rohr, and working with the Library of Congress. Swatha was also very involved in student leadership at Loyola, serving as the Vice President of Inside Government. We are very excited to have Swatha on the team and look forward to her positive contributions! Join us in welcoming Swatha by sending her an email at [email protected].

We’re all geared up this weekend for the 2021 Leadership Conference. Visit the conference website to access the agenda, and conference materials. There’s even still time to register. The following provides additional ways you can tune in to the conference. How to Access the Event Via Live Video Stream: A live video feed of the event will be carried over ACB’s YouTube channel, and via our Facebook page and Facebook Community Group. You can also access the YouTube feed on our website by visiting www.acb.org/live. How to Access the Leadership Conference Through ACB Radio:  Listen on ACB Radio Mainstream: Website: www.acbradio.org/mainstream Ask Alexa to, “Open ACB Radio Mainstream.” Dial: 518-906-1820 and press 1. Using the ACB Link app, select Mainstream within the ACB Radio tab. Listen on ACB Radio Live Event: Website: www.acbradio.org/live Ask Alexa to, “Open ACB Radio Live.” Dial: 518-906-1820 and press 6. Using the ACB Link app, select Live Event within the ACB Radio tab. Listen on ACB Radio Special Event: Website: www.acbradio.org/special Ask Alexa to, “Open ACB Radio Special.” Dial: 518-906-1820 and press 7. Using the ACB Link app, select Special Event within the ACB Radio tab.

DC Leadership Conference Materials This year’s DC Leadership Conference will be held virtually from February 21st-23rd, bringing together affiliate leaders and advocates from across the country. Visit https://acb.org/2021-leadership-conference to access the conference agendas, materials, legislative imperative documents, and legislative imperative community event podcasts. Register for the DC Leadership Conference by visiting http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2021DCLeadershipmtgs. Legislative Imperative Podcasts This week we held three community events to discuss our legislative imperatives. Use the links below to access the podcast recording for each legislative imperative: Legislative Imperative 1: Secure Independence for Seniors and Medicare Beneficiaries: https://tinyurl.com/2021-legislative-imperative-1 Legislative Imperative 2: Disability Access to Transportation Act: https://tinyurl.com/2021-legislative-imperative-2 Legislative Imperative 3: Exercise and Fitness for All Act: https://tinyurl.com/2021-legislative-imperative-3 ACB Scholarships During this ACB Advocacy Update presentation available at https://youtu.be/hl31t5qzxP8, we discuss how ACB scholarships further our mission of increasing independence and economic opportunity for people who are blind and experiencing vision loss. ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, is joined by Rebecca Bridges, Chair of ACB’s Scholarship Committee, and two recent scholarship awardees - Amanda Lannan, and Mitchell Bridwell. The 2021 ACB Scholarships deadline is Monday, Feb. 15, and information about ACB Scholarships may be found at: https://acb.org/scholarships. To listen to this presentation via podcast, visit: https://tinyurl.com/2akkx4hv. ACB’s New Membership Intern Belinda Collins is a native North Carolinian and our most recent addition to the ACB staff. She began as Community Intern on Monday, February 8, 2021 and will be with us for twelve weeks, thanks to the North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind. Belinda will report to Cindy Hollis, Membership Services Coordinator, providing support of our community events. Belinda’s first real connection with ACB was last summer at our 2020 virtual ACB Conference and convention. Soon after she became a regular attendee of community events and joined ACB through our special interest affiliate, BITS in August 2020. In her spare time, Belinda enjoys reading romance and mysteries, listening to 80’s and 90’s music, and cheering on her teams: North Carolina Tar Heels, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Braves.  She recently graduated as a Certified Assistive Technology Instructor from World Services for the Blind, Little Rock AR and is certified in NVDA, Jaws, ZoomText, and SuperNova. She is also one of our Community Zoom Hosts. So many of you may recognize her name and voice. You can welcome her to the team by sending an email to [email protected]. ACB Students Leadership Conference Stipends ACB Students is offering five stipends to any student enrolled in an educational program to attend the 2021 virtual ACB DC Leadership Conference. This event, taking place from Sunday 2/21- Tuesday 2/23, is a fantastic way for students to learn more about ACB while participating in advocacy efforts to better the lives of blind and visually impaired people. If you are selected to receive a stipend, ACB Students will cover registration and any associated costs. Students must attend the President's Meeting on Sunday, 2/21 in full, and as much as they can of the Legislative Seminar on Monday, 2/22 given their schooling schedules. In addition, ACB Students would love to hear about what you learned at the Leadership Conference afterwards through articles or blog posts. Please fill out the application at https://forms.gle/sKLcqdVjadwnA1op6, no later than 5:00 PM on Sunday, February 14th. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for any questions or concerns. The Berl Colley Leadership Institute Presents: Diving into Development 101 Is your affiliate struggling to keep its head above water, or are you floundering for fund-raising ideas? Are you swimming against the current when seeking convention sponsorships? Surf into the Berl Coley Leadership Training webinar taking place Thursday, February 18 at 9pm ET/6pm PT, and join Tony Stephens, ACB’s Director of Development as he shares strategies for fund-raising and legal advertising. To receive up-to-date info on how to join our events, please subscribe to our ACB Community Events email list by filling out the subscription form at: https://acblists.org/g/ACB-Community-Events.   Ready, Set, Advocate: Standing Together for Kids who are Deaf, Blind, or Deaf Blind On Tuesday evening, February 16, at 7:30pm Eastern, advocates in the deaf, blind, and deafblind education fields are hosting a community-wide virtual gathering to launch a comprehensive agenda for change with a new Congress and Administration. As the premier event of the Cogswell-Macy Action Network, this event will brief attendees on progress made to date to affect national legislative and regulatory improvements to America’s special education system. Attendees will learn about immediate next steps in Congress, including introduction of the Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act, the strategies and tactics to be deployed in 2021 to support the goals of the Act, and how everyone can play a part in these critical efforts as we make the most of new opportunities to achieve results. Register by visiting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdOGqrzwrH9EOc5zIOt0G6-IN2W7rJ1eG. Children's Books That Feature Characters With Disabilities It’s important for children to feel represented in the books they read. It’s also important for books to expose children to the beautiful diversity of our world. This includes the varying abilities and disabilities around the globe. To promote inclusivity and representation, HuffPost rounded up 53 books featuring characters with disabilities. Visit https://tinyurl.com/1vv8whgy to access the full list. NSITE Connect: Where Talent Meets Opportunity National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is excited to officially launch NSITE Connect, where blind and visually impaired job seekers, veterans and employers connect. If you are blind, visually impaired, or a veteran looking for employment, NSITE Connect is the place for you to start your job search. Create and complete your profile for free and you will be connected to companies looking to hire. Use NSITE Connect to tailor your job search with a partner that's equipped to understand your unique qualities and provide the best prospects for the right job fit. Create your profile today by visiting https://nsiteconnect.jobboard.io. The first 100 job seekers registered will be included on the preferred applicant listing and qualify to receive a free resume review by NIB employment experts. Future Financial Planning for People with Disabilities Study The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities is conducting a national survey focused on future financial planning for people with disabilities and their families and want to hear from you. This survey is for people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, professionals in the disabilities service sector, professionals in the financial planning field, and financial, legal, and disability experts in financial planning and saving for people with disabilities and their families. Please respond to the survey before February 29 by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ytlwjcj5. For more information about the study, or for help with the survey, please contact Cory Gilden, the Principle Investigator on this project at [email protected]. FCC Seeks Outreach Partners for Emergency Broadband Benefit On February 11, 2021, Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the FCC is seeking outreach partners to help share important consumer information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit – an FCC program being developed to provide relief to households that are struggling to pay for internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the effort to inform consumers about the upcoming Emergency Broadband Benefit, the FCC has established a new website where stakeholders can sign up to help promote this new program.  The website can be found at fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.  As the program is developed, the website will also be a resource for consumers and stakeholders to get the latest information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit. On February 12, at 10 a.m. ET, Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel will convene a virtual roundtable discussion to gather public input on how to structure the new Emergency Broadband Benefit program.  The roundtable will give interested parties an opportunity to share ideas on the important public policy and program administration decisions that will shape the Commission’s approach to implementing the program. Watch the webcast live at fcc.gov/live.