2021 DC Leadership Conference Agendas This year’s DC Leadership Conference will be held virtually from February 21st-23rd, bringing together affiliate leaders and advocates from across the country. Programming for the conference is split into two main events, a day-long presidents meeting, open to all, which provides best practices to strengthen affiliates, and a two day legislative seminar, which educates attendees on key issues facing our community and prepares attendees for meeting with Members of Congress and their staff for the remainder of the week. To access our Presidents' Meeting Agenda, visit: https://acb.org/2021-presidents-meeting-agenda. To access our Legislative Seminar Agenda, visit: https://acb.org/2021-legislative-seminar-agenda. Register for the DC Leadership Conference by visiting http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2021DCLeadershipmtgs. DC Leadership Conference Legislative Imperatives Our 2021 legislative imperatives represent several key issues in the 117th Congress that ACB believes will help us on our road to full independence and participation in our society. To learn more about this year’s legislative imperatives, visit: https://acb.org/2021-legislative-imperatives. Legislative Imperative Community Events ACB will be hosting three community calls next week to discuss our 2021 legislative imperatives: Legislative Imperative 1: Secure Independence for Seniors and Medicare Beneficiaries Monday, Feb. 8, 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT Since 2013, ACB has advocated for coverage of low vision devices. On average, it takes eight years for a bill to become a law, so this might be the year! Join Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs to learn about the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act.  Legislative Imperative 2: Disability Access to Transportation Act Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT Last year, ACB advocated for accessible transportation and environmental access provisions to be included in the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act. This advocacy lead to the introduction of the Disability Access to Transportation Act. Join Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, to learn more about this critical legislation and how it will improve transportation and environmental access for people who are blind and experiencing vision loss.  Legislative Imperative 3: Exercise and Fitness for All Act Thursday, February 11: 7:30 pm ET, 4:30 pm PT ACB has experienced recent success working directly with individual exercise and fitness manufacturers to enhance accessibility. These efforts have proved that there are not fundamental barriers to increasing accessibility for exercise and fitness equipment. The time is right for a uniform framework to provide equal access to exercise and fitness equipment. Join Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, to learn how the Exercise and Fitness for All Act will help ACB members Get Up and Get Moving!  Scholarship Application Deadline: February 15th ACB educational scholarships can be used to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as tuition, fees, room and board and other additional costs associated with adaptive technology. Scholarships range from $2,000 to $7500, and to be eligible, students must be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA, and be a full-time student or working 32 hours a week or more and taking substantial course work. The deadline for submitting applications for ACB's 2021-2022 scholarship program is quickly approaching! Qualified candidates must apply by Monday, February 15, 2021 at 11:59pm (CST). Learn more about the scholarships we offer & how to apply by visiting: https://acb.org/scholarships. 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.  Talking Glucose Meters for Blind Diabetics: Online Community Event Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind and Be My Eyes are hosting a free webinar about talking Glucose Meters for Blind and low vision Diabetics. We will be joined by Jeramie Rose from Prodigy Diabetes Care and he will be discussing their products and the role that Accessible Pharmacy and Be My Eyes can play to help support patients. All can get a free talking glucose meter to try! The Free webinar will be held on Friday February 12th at 12:00 EST / 9:00 PST. Please click the following link for more details and to register: https://www.bemyeyes.com/diabetes-care-webinar Murphy v. Charles Tyrwhitt Settlement A proposed settlement has been reached that would resolve the class action lawsuit Murphy v. Charles Tyrwhitt, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that Charles Tyrwhitt, Inc. Violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, et seq. (“ADA”), by failing to take the necessary steps to ensure its online store, located at www.ctshirts.com/us, does not discriminate against blind or visually disabled consumers who use screen reader auxiliary aids to access digital content. Under the settlement, Charles Tyrwhitt, Inc. agrees to take additional steps to make its website and any new website or mobile application it develops or acquires accessible to Screen Reader Users. To learn more, visit: https://www.murphytyrwhittsettlement.com.

A proposed settlement has been reached that would resolve the class action lawsuit Murphy v. Charles Tyrwhitt, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that Charles Tyrwhitt, Inc. Violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, et seq. (“ADA”), by failing to take the necessary steps to ensure its online store, located at www.ctshirts.com/us, does not discriminate against blind or visually disabled consumers who use screen reader auxiliary aids to access digital content. Under the settlement, Charles Tyrwhitt, Inc. agrees to take additional steps to make its website and any new website or mobile application it develops or acquires accessible to Screen Reader Users. To learn more, visit: https://www.murphytyrwhittsettlement.com.  

The American Council of the Blind is the nation’s leading member-driven organization for individuals who are blind and experiencing vision loss. With over 65 state and special-interest affiliates across the country, ACB is committed to increasing the security, independence, quality of life, and economic opportunity for Americans who are blind and visually impaired, and ACB stands committed to advocacy that lifts up our values. The following legislative imperatives represent several key issues in the 117th Congress that ACB believes will help us on our road to full independence and participation in our society. Secure Independence for Seniors and Medicare Beneficiaries For more than a decade now, Medicare has refused to cover the cost of low-vision aids, due to an eyeglasses exclusion that prohibits the purchase of any durable medical good with a lens. While the regulatory exclusion was seen as cost-saving by not covering eyeglasses, it has had a negative impact on those who, through the use of special low-vision aids, could significantly increase their independence in the home. ACB believes that adaptive low-vision aids can have a significant impact on an individual’s ability to remain independent in the home. Such personal independence can have long-lasting effects toward aging in place, rather than necessitating costlier institutional services. ACB calls on Congress to reintroduce the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act, which would measure the various costs and benefits of removing the Medicare eyeglass exclusion. This bipartisan legislation is a smart approach to finding workable solutions that help seniors age in place. Offices in the House of Representatives interested in supporting reintroduction of this legislation should contact Danielle Sumner in the office of Rep. Maloney (D-NY-12), or Shayne Woods in the office of Rep. Bilirakis (R-NY-12). To read the full legislative imperative, visit: https://acb.org/2021-seniors-medicare-legislative-imperative. The Disability Access to Transportation Act Congress must reauthorize the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act by September of 2021. The FAST Act fulfills the constitutional directive that dictates that investment in transportation and infrastructure is a core federal responsibility. It oversees the development and maintenance of roads, bridges, public transit, and rails. As the language of the new bill is developed, language that would positively impact the transportation options and safety for the blind community must be included. Specifically, ACB calls for the reintroduction and inclusion of the Disability Access to Transportation Act, or DATA Act. The DATA Act would provide greater flexibility in paratransit services to increase the independence and economic opportunity of disabled passengers; increase accessibility for pedestrian infrastructure; and modernize the U.S. Department of Transportation complaint process for consumers with disabilities. Offices interested in supporting the DATA Act, and including it in the FAST Act reauthorization, should contact Katherine Lee in the office of Rep. Langevin (D-RI-02). To read the full legislative imperative, visit: https://acb.org/2021-disability-access-transportation-legislative-imperative.  The Exercise and Fitness for All Act For the quarter of Americans with a disability, equal access to fitness or exercise equipment and instruction remains elusive. As a result, people with disabilities are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. ACB calls for the reintroduction of the Exercise and Fitness for All Act. This legislation would require exercise and fitness facilities to provide a base level of accessibility for disabled consumers, both in the equipment as well as the instruction they provide. Offices interested to support the Exercise and Fitness for All Act should contact Kalina Thompson in the office of Sen. Duckworth (D-IL) in the Senate, and Sarah Jackson in the office of Rep. DeSaulnier (D-CA-11), or Kevin Swanson in the office of Rep. Young (R-AK-At Large) in the House. For questions or further information on the 2021 ACB Legislative Imperatives, please contact Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, [email protected], or by calling (202) 467-5081. The American Council of the Blind greatly appreciates your support on these critical issues for 2021, and we look forward to working with you during the remainder of the 117th Congress. To read the full legislative imperative, visit: https://acb.org/2021-exercise-fitness-legislative-imperative. 

Background Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining health, well-being, and quality of life. According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, physical activity can help control weight, improve mental health, and lower the risk for early death, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Physical activity can also improve mental health by reducing depression and anxiety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four U.S. adults is living with a disability, including 93 million Americans who are at high risk for severe vision loss. Adults with disabilities are more likely to have obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities. Physical activity can reduce the risk and help manage these chronic conditions while improving daily living activities and independence. The CDC recommends engaging in physical activity outdoors, such as walking, to improve physical and mental health. However, adults with disabilities report fewer accessible environmental supports, such as sidewalks, accessible pedestrian signals, public/paratransit and walkable shops, and more barriers, such as traffic, crime and animals, for walking than those without disabilities. An alternative to outdoor physical activity is indoor exercise at a gym, fitness facility, or in a person’s home. However, the CDC also found that the inaccessibility of many fitness facilities creates barriers for those with a disability to exercise due to the lack of accessible space, instruction, and equipment. Call to Action ACB urges Congress to reintroduce the Exercise and Fitness for All Act on a bipartisan basis in both the House and Senate for the 117th Congress. The Exercise and Fitness for All Act would promote the provision of exercise or fitness equipment, and exercise or fitness classes and instruction, that are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored what ACB and our members already knew – that the lack of access to accessible exercise and fitness equipment and instruction are a persistent barrier to equal access and results in deteriorating physical and mental health. In the 116th Congress, Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Casey (D-PA), and Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Exercise and Fitness for All Act in the Senate (S. 1244), and Reps. DeSaulnier (D-CA-11) and Young (R-AK-At Large) introduced a companion bill in the House (H.R. 4561). The Exercise and Fitness for All Act would: Require the U.S. Access Board to develop and publish guidelines for implementation by the U.S. Department of Justice for exercise or fitness service providers regarding the provision of accessible exercise or fitness equipment as described by the American Society of Testing and Materials allowing for the independent use by a person with a disability, including audible output and an accessible user interface; Ensure that exercise or fitness classes and instruction offered by the service provider are accessible to individuals with disabilities; and Ensure that the service provider makes available at least one employee who is able to assist individuals with disabilities in their use of accessible exercise or fitness equipment. When meeting with your members of Congress, be sure to share your personal experiences when attempting use fitness or exercise equipment at public facilities. Share with them what it would mean to you to have equal and independent access to the tools and resources to take charge of your health. And encourage them to support reintroduction of the Exercise and Fitness for All Act. For more information on this issue, contact Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs: [email protected], (202) 467-5081.

Background The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was scheduled to be reauthorized by Congress by September of 2020. The bill was first enacted in September of 2015, and it was considered to be the first comprehensive, long-term piece of surface transportation legislation since 2005. The FAST Act fulfills the constitutional directive that dictates that investment in transportation and infrastructure is a core federal responsibility. It oversees the development and maintenance of roads, bridges, public transit, and rails. More specifically, the FAST Act strengthens transportation programs, refocuses on national priorities, provides long-term certainty and flexibility for states and local governments, streamlines project approval processes, and maintains a strong commitment to safety. In 2020, one of ACB’s legislative imperatives was advocating for measures to improve transportation and environmental access through inclusion of provisions in the FAST Act reauthorization. Through collaboration with the cross-disability community, the efforts of ACB and our members lead to the bipartisan introduction of the Disability Access to Transportation Act, or DATA Act, by Reps. Langevin (D-RI-02), Katko (R-NY-24), and Titus (D-NV-01). The bill number for the DATA Act was H.R. 6248, and the provisions of this bill were included in the House version of the FAST Act. Unfortunately, Congress did not reauthorize the FAST Act by the deadline, Sept. 30, 2020. Instead Congress passed a continuing resolution, which was signed by President Trump, that funded existing transportation programs for an additional year, until Sept. 30, 2021. Call to Action ACB urges Congress to re-introduce the bipartisan Disability Access to Transportation Act, the DATA Act, and to pass this legislation as part of the reauthorization of the FAST Act. The re-introduction of this bill enables the blind and visually impaired community to address transportation and infrastructure issues that allow for access and safety in their communities. The DATA Act would: Create and fund a five-year paratransit pilot program allowing passengers to make one stop during their trip for purposes including: child care, groceries, pharmacies, and financial institutions; Require the Department of Transportation and the U.S. Access Board to create guidelines setting forth minimum standards for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way; Provide greater access for individuals to file complaints regarding paratransit service with the Department of Transportation Civil Rights Office; Create an Accessibility Data Pilot Program to assist local communities in identifying gaps in transportation and methods to improve service to low-income, minority, older and disabled populations; and Increase funding levels for Section 5310 grants that fill gaps in services for older adults and people with disabilities. The blind and visually impaired community continues to face a lack of accessible transportation options and infrastructure-related safety risks. When meeting with your representatives, please share your personal experiences with paratransit and inaccessible transportation infrastructure. The passage of the DATA Act will improve transportation access and help alleviate environmental access barriers, which will allow people who are blind and experiencing vision loss to live more independently in their community with greater opportunities for economic growth, and by including the DATA Act in the reauthorization of the FAST act, the FAST Act would fulfill its responsibility to strengthen transportation programs for all Americans. For more information on this issue, contact Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs: [email protected], (202) 467-5081.  

Background In November of 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promulgated a regulation that has had a detrimental impact on the lives of countless individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Acquisition Rule contains a provision entitled “Low Vision Aid Exclusion” which states that all devices, “irrespective of their size, form, or technological features that use one or more lens to aid vision or provide magnification of images for impaired vision” are excluded from Medicare coverage based on the statutory eyeglass exclusion. ACB believes this extremely restrictive reading of the eyeglass exclusion has resulted in the denial of vital assistive devices for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries that offers solutions for sustaining independence in the home. This proposal has had a significant impact on beneficiaries with vision impairments who depend on assistive technology that incorporates one or more lenses to aid in their vision. The expansion of the eyeglass exclusion has prevented access to devices such as handheld magnifiers, video monitors, and a wide array of technologies that utilize lenses to assist individuals in overcoming the obstacles impeding their independence. These tools are often essential for individuals with low vision who, without the aid of assistive technology, cannot read prescriptions, medicine bottles, and other important materials containing content that is vital to their personal health and safety. In short, these devices allow individuals with low vision to live independently and safely. Such a poor regulatory policy serves as a pre-emptive and unwarranted coverage denial for any new technology designed to assist individuals with vision loss. Knowing its influence in the medical devices marketplace, innovation and competition will be curtailed if Medicare continues to maintain this coverage exclusion. The unwanted side effects include sacrificing personal independence for more costly residential assisted living, which in the long run ends up putting greater strain on our entitlement programs. Call to Action ACB urges all members of Congress to co-sponsor and support passage of the bipartisan Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act. In the 116th Congress, this bill was reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Maloney (D-NY-12) and Bilirakis (R-FL-12) as H.R. 4129. The House bill had additional bipartisan co-sponsors, including Reps. Cohen (D-TN-09), Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Schiff (D-CA-28), Wagner (R-MO-02), Wild (D-PA-07), Wilson (D-FL-24), DeFazio (D-OR-04), Axne (D-IA-03), Matsui (D-CA-06), Brownley (D-CA-26), and Himes (D-CT-06). In the U.S. Senate, we are seeking the bipartisan introduction of an identical companion bill for the first time. This legislation would evaluate, through a five-year national demonstration project administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, the fiscal impact of a permanent change to the Social Security Act. This legislation would allow reimbursement for certain low-vision devices that are the most function-rich that sustain daily independent living. The devices would be considered durable medical equipment. Individuals will be eligible to participate in the demonstration project only after completing a clinical evaluation performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who would then deem a low-vision device as medically necessary. The data from the demonstration would provide valuable insight into how the eyeglasses exclusion impacts independence for senior citizens and other Medicare beneficiaries. As Americans continue to live longer into their retirement, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) projects through their Vision Health Initiative (VHI) that severe vision loss will be a leading chronic health condition for the next 30 years, based on an increasingly aging population and demographic changes in our country. According to CDC’s VHI, blindness increases the incidence of other chronic health conditions, depression, and morbidity. Therefore, it is vital that Congress identify solutions that can sustain quality of life as Americans get older. For more information on this issue, contact Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs: [email protected], (202) 467-5081.

Sunday, February 21, 2021: 10:00AM to 5:30PM EST (Broadcast On ACB Radio Mainstream) Limited Q&A will take place as time permits. 10:00 AM: Opening Remarks Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL; and Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, Alexandria, VA 10:15 AM: Dedication of 2021 Leadership Conference to Charlie Crawford, Past ACB Executive Director Susan Crawford, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Supervisor and Charlie’s wife, Silver Spring, MD; and Patrick Sheehan, ACB Board Member, Silver Spring, MD  10:20 AM: Update on ACB 2021 Conference and Convention Janet Dickelman, ACB Convention Committee Chair, Saint Paul, MN  10:30 AM: Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Program How can ACB and our affiliates develop outreach to potential leaders and members from different ethnic backgrounds?: Peggy Garrett, Multicultural Affairs Committee Chair, Missouri City, TX; Michael Garrett, Multicultural Affairs Committee Member, Missouri City, TX; Sandra Sermons, Multicultural Affairs Committee Member, Rockville, MD; and Regina Marie Brink, Multicultural Affairs Committee Member, Sacramento, CA 11:15 AM: Connection Show 1 (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development, Baltimore, MD; and Debbie Hazelton, Program Director, ACB Radio, Dothan, AL 11:30 AM: Three Concurrent Breakout Sessions Room A: ACB Radio Transitions To ACB Media Network (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) Discussion of the evolution of internet radio to podcasts, live streaming on YouTube and beyond and the launch of the Community Channel: Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development, Baltimore, MD; Debbie Hazelton, Program Director, ACB Radio, Dothan, AL; Rick Morin, Technical Director, ACB Radio, Waltham, MA; and Jeff Bishop, ACB Board Member, Kirkland, WA Room B: Affiliate Communications and Marketing Tool Kit (Broadcast on ACB Radio Live Event) Are you struggling to reach new members, donors and community partners? Does your affiliate have a communications plan? What’s new with ACB email lists: Kate Vendemio, Mount Vernon Consulting, Rockville, MD; Lori Crowe, Communications Executive, Crowe Communications, Atlanta, GA; Kelly Gasque, Executive Assistant & Multimedia Design Specialist, Woodbridge, VA; and Katie Frederick, ACB Board Member, Columbus, OH Room C: ACB Membership Certification Process – Future Direction (Broadcast on ACB Radio Special Event) How do we improve the process?: Cindy Hollis, ACB Membership Services Coordinator, Flat Rock, MI; Nancy Marks Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer, Minneapolis, MN; AMMS User Panelists: Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY; and Jane Carona, Silver Spring, MD 12:30 PM: Connection Show 2 (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) Tony and Debbie interview guests and share highlights 12:45 PM: Sponsor Presentation 1:00 PM: Keynote Presentation: Getting Out Your Message In 2021 Will Butler shares his approach to communications in this new decade with humor, new social media platforms and personal stories: Will Butler, Vice President, Community, Be My Eyes, Los Angeles, CA 1:30 PM: ACB 2020 “A Year To Remember” Highlight Video 1:35 PM: DKM First-Timers Program and Leadership Fellows Awards for 2021 Kenneth Semien Sr., Durward K. McDaniel (DKM) Fund Committee Chair, Beaumont, TX; and Zelda Gebhard, DKM Fund Committee Member, Edgeley, ND 1:40 PM: Updates from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) Karen Keninger, Director, NLS, Washington, DC 1:50 PM: 2021 Resolution Process Report from the Resolutions Task Force Committee: Ray Campbell, ACB Second Vice President, Glen Ellyn, IL; and Gabe Griffith, Resolutions Committee Chair, Sacramento, CA 2:00 PM: What’s New With the ACB Community Cindy Hollis, ACB Membership Services Coordinator, Flat Rock, MI; Kaila Allen, Mesa, AZ; Leslie Spoone, Orlando, FL; Tyson Ernst, Springfield, IL; and Linda Yacks, Harrison, AR 2:45 PM: Connection Show 3 (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) Tony and Debbie interview guests and share highlights 3:00 PM: Three Concurrent Breakout Sessions Room A: Why Did You Get Involved In ACB: Let’s Learn From Six New Members Under The Age Of 45 (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) What was the initial attraction? What works? What are ACB’s opportunities for improvement? Michael Talley, ACB Board Member, Hueytown, AL; Matt Selm, Kentucky Council of the Blind President, Louisville, KY; Maria Kristic, GDUI and BPI Treasurer, Albany, NY; Desiree Christian, ACB of Oregon and Next Generation Member, Portland, OR; Kristin Kelling, Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Secretary, Grand Rapids, MI; and Gregg Wandsneider (Triple G), Community Event Facilitator and Zoom Host, Waukesha, WI Room B: Fundraising Conversation With An Expert (Broadcast on ACB Radio Live Event) Bill Reeder shares his 30 years of experience on relationships, planning and implementation for fundraising campaigns: Bill Reeder, ACB Advisory Board member and Professor George Mason University, Ellicott City, MD; Jo Lynn Bailey-Page, ACB Grant Writer, San Mateo, CA; and Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development, Baltimore, MD Room C: What’s New With Audio Description (Broadcast on ACB Radio Special Event) Learn about Spectrum Access, tips to advocate for AD with your local broadcast station, participate in virtual museum tours with AD and access AD with a smart TV and subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video: Carl Richardson, Audio Description Project (ADP) Co-Chair, Brighton, MA; Kim Charlson, Audio Description Project (ADP) Co-chair, Watertown, MA; Joel Snyder, ACB Audio Description Project (ADP) Director, Takoma Park, MD; and Johnathan Sweet, Spectrum Accessibility, Denver, CO 4:00 PM: Connection Show 4 (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) Tony and Debbie interview guests and share highlights 4:15 PM: Get Up And Get Moving: ACB 2021 Advocacy and Development Campaign Integrating advocacy with development and sharing ACB fundraising projects for 2021: Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development, Baltimore, MD; Dan Dillon, ACB Resource Development Committee Chair, Hermitage, TN; Donna Brown, ACB Walk Committee Chair, Romney, WV; Leslie Spoone, ACB Auction Chair, Orlando, FL; George Holliday, Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) Committee Co-chair, Philadelphia, PA; and David Trott, ACB Treasurer, Talladega, AL 5:15 PM: Wrap Up Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL 7:30 PM – 9 PM: Fireside Chat with Leaders Community (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) Craig Meador, President, American Printing House, Louisville, KY; Lee Nasehi, President & CEO, VisionServe Alliance, Winter Park FL; Don Overton, Executive Director, Blinded Veterans Association, Alexandria, VA; Kirk Adams, President & CEO, American Foundation for the Blind, Arlington, VA; Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, MD; Mark Richert, Interim Executive Director, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Falls Church, VA; and Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL

2021 Legislative Imperative Documents: Download the Legislative Imperatives One Pager Download the Secure Independence for Seniors and Medicare Beneficiaries Imperative Download the ­Disability Access to Transportation Act Legislative Imperative Download the Exercise and Fitness for All Imperative Download the Hill Visit Feedback Form Visit this link to fill out the Hill Visit Feeedback Form on SurveyMonkey   Day 1: Monday, February 22, 2021 12pm - 5:30pm ET 12:00 – 1:00 pm : General Session Welcome and Political Outlook for 117th Congress – Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA (Moderator); Charles Cooper, Managing Director, Chair of Advocacy at Signal Group, Washington, DC; & Jeff A. Lovitky, Attorney at Law, Washington, DC. 1:00 – 1:15 pm: Connection Show 1 1:15 – 3:45 pm: Breakout Session 1 Breakout A: Transportation (Broadcast on ACB Radio Mainstream) 1:15 – 2:00 pm: Safe Air Travel for Passengers and Service Animals - DOT/FAA Update: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA (Moderator); Livaughn Chapman, Jr., Deputy Assistant General Counsel, Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC; Alexander Taday, Director of Civil Rights Advocacy, Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC; & Maegan Johnson, Senior Attorney, Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 2:05 – 2:55 pm: Safe Air Travel for Passengers and Service Animals - Airline Industry Panel: Sheila Styron, Chair, ACB Transportation Committee (Moderator); Sarah Calhoun, President, Guide Dog Users, Inc. (co-Moderator); Ray Prentice, Consumer Advocate, Alaska Airlines, Seattle, WA; Todd Green, American Airlines, Dallas, TX; Dana Folsom, Manager, Disability Programs, Delta Airlines, Atlanta, GA; & John Kirn, Manager - International Planning, Regulatory Affairs & Accessibility Programs, United Airlines, Chicago, IL  2:55 – 3:00 pm: Break 3:00 – 3:45 pm: Autonomous Vehicles (AV) Industry Panel: Ron Brooks, ACB Member, Phoenix, AZ (Moderator); Eric Danko, Director of Federal Affairs, Cruise, Washington, DC;, George Ivanov, Head of International Policy & government Affairs, Waymo, San Carlos, CA; & Dave Furukawa, co-Founder, Foresight Augmented Reality, Atlanta, GA Breakout B: Live, Learn, & Earn with Vision Loss (Broadcast on ACB Radio Live Event) 1:15 – 2:00 pm: Education - Debbie Grubb, Chair, ACB Special Education Committee, Bradenton, FL; Lori Scharff, ACB Member, Waynesboro, VA; Mark Richert, ACB First Vice President, Falls Church, VA; Tara Armstrong, Parent Advocate, Louisville, KY 2:00 – 2:05 pm: Break 2:05 – 2:55 pm: Rehabilitation - Doug Powell, Chair, ACB Rehab Issues Task Force, Falls Church, VA (Moderator); Lee Nasehi, President & CEO, VisionServe Alliance, Winter Park, FL; Kelly Buckland, Executive Director, National Council on Independent Living, Washington, DC; & Bill Robinson, President, National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, Lansing MI 2:55 – 3:00 pm: Break  3:00 – 3:45 pm: Services for Older Americans with Vision Loss - Jeff Thom, President, Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, Sacramento, CA (Moderator); Mark Richert, ACB First Vice President, Falls Church, VA; Pris Rogers, co-Chair, Funding & Policy Goal Committee, National Coalition on Aging and Vision Loss, Rogersville, TN 3:45 – 4:00 pm: Connection Show 2 4:00 – 5:30 pm: General Session 2 Voting & Day 1 Wrap Up 4:00 – 4:45 pm: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA (Moderator); Donald Palmer, Vice Chairman, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Washington, DC; Lisa Schur, Professor, Co-director, Program for Disability Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; & Douglas Kruse, Distinguished Professor, Co-director, Program for Disability Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 4:45 – 5:30 pm: Panel of state and local election officials: Christine (Chris) D. Walker, Clerk, Elections Office, Jackson County, Medford, OR; Amelia Powers Gardner, Clerk, Utah County, UT; & Lisa Lewis, Election Director, Volusia County, FL   Day 2: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 12pm - 6:30pm ET 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Welcome & General Session 3 Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA (Moderator); & Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director, U.S. Access Board,  Providence, UT 1:00 – 1:15 pm: Connection Show 3 1:15 – 3:45 pm: Breakout Session 2 Breakout A: Digital Inclusion 1:15 – 2:00 pm: FCC Disability Rights Office: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA (Moderator); Diane Burstein, Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC; Will Schell, Attorney Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 2:00 – 2:05 pm: Break 2:05 – 2:50 pm: Broadband Access: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA (Moderator); Cindy Hollis, ACB Membership Services Coordinator, Flat Rock, MI; Zachary Bastian, Manager, Strategic Alliances, Verizon Communications, Washington DC; Jacquelyn “Jackie” Puente, Executive Director, External Affairs, Comcast NBCUniversal, Washington, DC; & Troy Otillio, CEO, Aira, San Diego, CA 2:50 – 2:55 pm: Break 2:55 – 3:45 pm CVAA 2.0: Kim Charlson, Immediate Past President, ACB, Watertown, MA (Moderator); Blake Reid, Director of the Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law & Policy Clinic, Boulder, CO; Carl Richardson, co-Chair, Audio Description Project, Brighton, MA; & Karen Peltz Strauss, National Disability Advocate, Washington, DC Breakout B: Health & Wellness 1:15 – 2:00 pm – Pat Sheehan, ACB Board Member, Silver Spring, MD (Moderator); & Badar Tareen, Civil rights Analyst, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC 2:05 – 2:50 pm: Low Vision Devices – Jeff Thom, ACB Advocacy Steering Committee Chair (Moderator); & Joseph Nahra, Director of Government Relations, Powers Law Firm and Coordinator, Independence Through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid (ITEM) Coalition, Washington, DC 2:55 – 3:45 pm: Diabetics’ Bill of Rights: Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development, Baltimore, MD (Moderator); Jeff Bishop, ACB Board Member, Kirkland, WA; Brian Charlson, President, Baystate Council of the Blind, Watertown, MA 3:45 – 4:00 pm: Connection Show 4  4:00 – 5:30 pm: General Session 4 Blindness Partners & Conclusion – Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA (Moderator); Stephanie Enyart, Chief Policy & Research Officer, American Foundation for the Blind, Arlington, VA; Paul W. Schroeder, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, American Printing House for the Blind, Silver Spring, MD; Rick Webster, Vice President, Public Policy, National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, VA; John G. Paré Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, MD; Barbara Raimondo, Executive Director, Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, Washington Grove, MD; Sara D. Brown, MPA, Director of Government Affairs, Prevent Blindness, Washington, DC; & Eve Hill, Attorney, Brown Goldstein Levy, Baltimore, MD 5:30 – 6:30 pm: Legislative Imperatives Open Discussion: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA    Wednesday, February 24 — Friday, February 26: Affiliate Virtual Capitol Hill Visits  

Last Chance to Take the ACB Consumer Survey ACB has put together a brief survey to gain a better understanding of those throughout our network. Help us out by taking time to complete the survey. Your responses will help guide our advocacy and program services. You can also enter a drawing at the end to win an Amazon gift card. Take the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ACBConsumerSurvey2020.   ACB Leadership Conference This week, we highlighted the exciting programming in store for this year’s ACB Leadership Conference during a live stream presentation. Access the video recording of the live stream by visiting: https://youtu.be/Ih6QnONApY8. To listen to the podcast recording, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y2gpvs9l. The conference will be held virtually from Sunday, February 21st to Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021. Registration is open for the conference, which will include our annual President’s Meeting and Legislative Seminar. Register for the DC Leadership Conference by visiting http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2021DCLeadershipmtgs.   ADP Coordinator & Grant Writer Job Announcement The American Council of the Blind has a position opening for an Audio Description Project (ADP) Coordinator & Grant Writer in Alexandria, VA. To access this job announcement on our website, visit: https://tinyurl.com/y5e2bzf3.   ACB Members at Large Connect If you are not currently a member of one of ACB’s state or special interest affiliates and are currently, have been previously, or are considering becoming a member at large of the American Council of the Blind, please connect with us on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific times for an hour of sharing. This event will be facilitated by ACB’s Membership Services Coordinator, Cindy Hollis who is anxious to share with each of you all ACB has to offer and to learn from you how we can make your membership in ACB even more meaningful to you. Join our community email list to receive our daily list of community call information by sending an email to [email protected].   Apply to Become a 2021 DKM First-Timer Come along with us on a new leadership journey as we take things higher in 2021! We’re making exciting plans to join in solidarity to celebrate together throughout the 60th annual ACB conference and convention in a virtual setting. If you are an ACB member who has never attended an in-person ACB convention and you meet the criteria, we invite you to elevate your commitment and participate in ACB’s primary leadership development program. You have the opportunity to attend virtually in 2021 and meet us in person at the ACB conference and convention in Omaha in 2022. For more information on how to apply, visit: https://acb.org/2021-DKM-first-timers.   Amtrak Settlement Agreement Amtrak is accepting claims for monetary compensation for people with mobility disabilities who traveled or wanted to travel from or to one of 78 stations and encountered accessibility issues. Claims must be submitted by May 29, 2021. On December 2, 2020, the Department of Justice and Amtrak entered into an agreement that Amtrak will fix its inaccessible stations and pay $2.25 million to victims hurt by inaccessibility at 78 stations. To read the full press release about the Fund, please click here. For more information on the ADA or this settlement, please visit ADA.gov or call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 800-514-0383).   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.    White House Accessibility Statement & Request for Feedback Among the many changes the new administration made in its first week was to make a commitment to ensure its site is accessible to all Americans. A White House Accessibility Statement released this past week says its Whitehouse.gov site will conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria — guidelines that not only help make web content accessible to users with sensory, cognitive and mobility disabilities, but ultimately to all users, regardless of ability. One big website design change implemented by the new administration that many will appreciate is the inclusion of a dark mode, or high contrast mode, and a large type toggle. Users with disabilities are encouraged to send comments on how to improve the site’s accessibility, and here’s how you can: Switchboard: 202-456-1414 TTY/TDD Phone Numbers (for the Hearing Impaired Only): 202-456-6213 Visitors Office: 202-456-2121   iOS 14.4 Mantis and Chameleon Issues  The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) recently announced that there are connection issues for Mantis and Chameleon braille displays after upgrading to iOS 14.4. They recommend that you turn off automatic updates and do not upgrade to 14.4 until a resolution has been found. This is a regression introduced by Apple in this release. APH alerted them to this issue during 14.4 beta testing and hope they will correct it in a possible 14.4.1 release. Learn more by visiting: https://www.aph.org/ios-14-4-mantis-and-chameleon-issues.   RespectAbility Brings Accessibility and Inclusion Series To Sundance RespectAbility, a disability advocacy non-profit that works to combat stigmas and promote opportunities for people with disabilities, is making a strong virtual presence at Sundance this year. Through its Accessibility and Inclusion Lab, the organization is holding a virtual conversation series from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 focusing on the intersection of filmmaking and disability-related topics. To learn more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/yyyghga7.  

January 29, 2021                                                     Contact: Erika Hudson [email protected] WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the undersigned disability organizations issued the following joint statement expressing concerns over a paper ballot mandate. How ballots are cast in the United States varies depending on what different jurisdictions offer to their voters. Today, most voters in the U.S. cast their ballot by marking a paper ballot by hand or by Ballot- Marking Device (BMD), with some use of Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines. Most American voters are familiar with the former, which requires voters to mark, verify and cast a paper-based ballot. BMDs use an electronic interface to aid voters in marking their ballot. Once the voter has made selections with the BMD, the device directly marks on or prints the ballot. The voter then typically verifies and casts the ballot into the same optical (or digital) voting scanner that hand marked paper ballots are cast. BMDs simply increase the accessibility of paper ballots by allowing voters with disabilities to use these accessible voting machines to magnify, ‘voice,’ and mark their ballots. For example, a blind voter cannot privately and independently mark a paper ballot with a pen, however, they can privately and independently mark their ballot using a BMD. DRE voting systems, on the other hand, allow voters to use an electronic interface to mark, verify and cast their votes electronically with or without a paper back up. Arguably, DREs provide the best option for voting privately and independently for all voters with all types of access needs based on age, disability, language fluency, literacy, and many other individual circumstances, as guaranteed to all voters by the Help America Vote Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. DREs eliminate the need to handle or directly verify a paper ballot, which prevents BMD voting systems from being fully accessible to all eligible voters. Despite overall reduced paper consumption in many areas of daily life, as a result of technological advancement, paper-based ballot voting options have become the preferred voting system to many who believe mandating the use of paper ballots is necessary to ensure the security of our elections. However, it must be made abundantly clear, that the ability to privately and independently hand mark, verify, and cast a paper ballot is simply not, and will never be, an option for all voters. Given that paper ballots are already the predominant method of casting a ballot in America today, mandating paper ballots is frankly unnecessary. Additionally, any mandate of a paper-based voting system will inevitably harm voters with disabilities. A paper ballot mandate would: End all voting system innovation and advancement to produce a fully accessible voting system that provides enhanced security without relying on inaccessible paper; Limit voters with disabilities’ federal right to privately and independently verify and cast their ballots and; Ultimately segregate voters with disabilities. Further, any paper ballot mandate that entitles voters to a hand marked ballot threatens the availability of BMDs for voters who rely on them to mark their ballots and drastically limits use of BMDs to voters with disabilities. This would result in segregating voters with disabilities away from the entire pool of voters by making them the only group of people that use a particular type of voting machine. Federally mandated segregation is problematic alone, but in practice, it also increases the likelihood that poll workers will not be properly trained on the machine, the machines will not be properly maintained or set up for use, and if the only available BMD is not functioning, there is no alternative option for voters who need it. Limits on BMD use will also saddle poll workers with determining who is “disabled enough” to use the BMD, a decision for which they have no qualifications or legal right. Finally, if the ballot produced by the BMD is not identical to the hand marked ballot or the BMD ballot cannot be scanned and stored with hand marked ballots, the voter’s right to cast a private ballot is violated. To be clear, no paper ballot voting system today, ready for widespread use, is fully accessible. Even BMDs require voters with disabilities to verify and a cast a paper-based ballot, which does not ensure a private and independent vote. A fully accessible voting system by Federal law must ensure the voter can receive, mark, verify, and cast the ballot without having to handle paper. Most, if not all, market- ready voting systems cannot do this. Before paper-based voting systems become the law of the land, the harm to voters with disabilities must be addressed. Signed, American Association of People with Disabilities American Council of the Blind American Network of Community Options & Resources Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living Association of University Centers on Disabilities Autistic Self Advocacy Network Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities National Council on Independent Living National Disability Rights Network National Federation of the Blind Paralyzed Veterans of America RespectAbility Self Advocates Becoming Empowered The Arc of the United States United Cerebral Palsy United Spinal Association This joint statement can also be found here: https://www.ndrn.org/resource/disability-community-fears-paper-ballot-mandate-will-hurt-voters-with-disabilities/.