Alexandria, VA, April 21, 2020 - The American Council of the Blind, along with its New York affiliate and other disability advocacy organizations, has brought a complaint before the U.S. Department of Justice, Disability Rights Section. The complaint highlights the discrimination brought about by absentee voting. The right to vote via absentee ballot has long been a goal of the blind community, but has been amplified in light of the coronavirus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (NY) has taken tremendous steps to fight the virus and provide for his state during the crisis. But among his numerous actions, he implemented Executive Order 202.15, which means that state residents must mark an absentee ballot on paper. This prevents New York residents who are blind from voting privately and independently. "An alternative to voting in person is necessary during this COVID-19 crisis; people who are blind should not have to be exposed to the virus unnecessarily by voting in person. Just as all other New York residents have the right to vote via absentee ballot, the state must provide an accessible voting method that blind residents can use remotely," states ACB president Dan Spoone. "Technology exists that will enable blind and visually impaired Americans to vote independently via online ballot-marking devices. With the advent of workable technology, states have no excuse when arguing the difficulty of providing accessible absentee voting systems," notes Karen Blachowicz, president of ACB of New York. "The Washington Lawyers' Committee is proud to represent ACB and the complainants in this matter. While we applaud Gov. Cuomo's decision to protect voters from COVID-19, he must do so in a way that provides equal access for voters with disabilities. There are safe, effective methods for voters with disabilities to cast a private, independent absentee ballot, and we urge the Department of Justice to instruct Gov. Cuomo and the New York Board of Elections that they must implement reasonable accommodations consistent with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for the primary election in June," stated Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With 70 affiliates, ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. Learn more by visiting www.acb.org.

We’re taking the country by storm this year as the ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk sets its course to a neighborhood near you. As the ACB National Convention & Conference goes virtual the evening of July 5th, walkers all over America will be leading the way to start our festivities. Our goal this year is $90K, and we’re excited to have this memorial walk help usher in a convention that will be within the reach of every American who is blind and visually impaired. The theme for this year’s virtual conference is ACB: Path to the Future, and we hope that path will be quite weathered as we gather from every corner of our country to raise money and awareness for Americans who are blind and visually impaired. Join or donate to the walk today and let our steps rain from sea to shining sea! Proceeds support ACB programs and our state and special interest affiliates.    Tag American Council of the Blind on Facebook and Twitter, and you may get a chance to join in on our live streaming broadcast of the walk.  Special thanks to our donors and sponsors from last year’s event. Together, we were able to raise over $81K for ACB and our affiliates. Register for the 2020 ACB Walking Up a Storm by visiting: https://acbwalk.securesweet.com

ACB has received many questions about the 2020 Recovery Rebate. Below you will find information about what the rebate is and other details about how you will receive your rebate. 2020 Recovery Rebate Details One element of the third stimulus bill passed by Congress about two weeks ago includes a monetary recovery rebate, also known as the 2020 recovery rebate. Through this rebate, Americans will receive a one-time monetary amount from the government. The purpose of the rebate is to revitalize the economy. Americans who receive the money can spend it in any way they choose; there are no limitations or strings attached to the money. The 2020 recovery rebate will begin at $1,200 for all people who have an income of $75,000 or less on a yearly basis. For a married couple who files jointly, the amount will start at $2,400. For anyone who has children under the age of 16, they will receive an additional $500 for each child. As a person’s income rises, the amount they receive will decrease gradually. In other words, the more money a person makes, the less money they will receive from the government. The most a person can make before they can no longer receive the recovery rebate is $99,000.  How you will receive your rebate: If you filed taxes in 2018 or 2019, you will automatically receive the rebate. If you received your income tax refund via direct deposit to your bank account, the money will be automatically deposited into that bank account. The money will be deposited starting today, on April 15, 2020. If you generally receive your income tax refunds via the mail, the check will be sent to the address on file. If the check is sent via mail, another letter will be sent out two weeks later confirming that the check was received. When waiting for the rebate to come by mail, know that it will take more time. Those who make less money will receive their checks sooner and progress from there. Refunds for SSI beneficiaries who have not filed taxes in 2018 or 2019: For individuals who receive Social Security benefits, filing taxes is not necessary. As a result, that person’s information is not in the system. To fix this problem, some people have asked if they need to file taxes. The answer is no. Again, you do not need to file taxes if you receive Social Security benefits in order to receive the 2020 recovery rebate. Initially, the IRS told SSI recipients to go to a Non-Filers portal, which is no longer required. SSI recipients will now automatically receive the rebates. This information is changing frequently, and we will continue to update you with any further changes that are made. Although SSI recipients generally do not need to file income taxes, persons with dependent children do need to file with the IRS. For those who are regular Social Security beneficiaries, not SSI recipients, the IRS will use the information on a person’s Form SSA-1099. How will this impact your monthly income: A common question we have received is whether the money will impact a person’s monthly income, which can in turn impact a person’s SSI eligibility. Under SSI, a person can only bring in so much money per month to remain eligible. The answer is no. The rebate is not considered income and thus will not impact your monthly income number. We urge all ACB members not to give out your information easily to people claiming to be the IRS or SSA in order to get the rebate. Unfortunately, there are many scams going on in order to obtain people’s information unlawfully. You can reach us via email, [email protected], or by phone, (202) 467-5081. This is the most up-to-date information as of 6pm April 15. 

ALEXANDRIA, VA, April 13, 2020 - On Friday, April 10, ACB and more than 75 national, state and local disability and civil rights organizations sent a letter urging Congress to protect the voting rights of people who are blind and disabled during the current pandemic. The letter, which is available here, urged Congress to mandate an accessible online absentee voting system to be used by any state adopting vote by mail as an alternative to in-person elections at polling locations. "Americans with disabilities have fought for decades to secure the same voting rights as all other Americans. Congress must make it clear to states that implementing vote by mail without offering an accessible absentee voting alternative for people with disabilities is not acceptable," said ACB president Dan Spoone. "The current national emergency must not be leveraged as an excuse to erode the voting rights of people with disabilities. As states take pragmatic measures to rethink how elections will be administered, the rights of voters with disabilities must be maintained. This includes equal access to all parts of the voting process, from absentee voting to securely and independently marking, casting and verifying our ballot." There is no nationwide approach to creating accessible absentee ballots and as such, many voters with disabilities are excluded from absentee ballots. Some states have implemented accessible solutions to this problem, such as remote voting through the use of online and remote ballot marking devices. Earlier this year and in collaboration with ACB, Gov. Justice in West Virginia signed into law S.B. 94, a bill to bring the absentee vote by mail system in West Virginia into compliance with Title II of the ADA by offering an accessible electronic absentee voting option for people with disabilities. "According to the CDC, 26% of Americans have a disability; ACB will continue to work tirelessly to ensure these Americans are able to fully participate in the most fundamental part of our democracy in the 2020 elections and beyond," said Eric Bridges, ACB's Executive Director. The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With 70 affiliates, ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. Learn more by visiting www.acb.org. Link to press release on PR Newswire: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/congress-must-protect-the-voting-rights-of-people-with-disabilities-301039474.html?tc=eml_cleartime

A recording of this webinar is available at: https://youtu.be/wKXp7XYD7N0 Please join the American Council of the Blind (ACB) for a collaborative webinar with OrCam on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 7:30pm ET. ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, joins panelists Dr. Bryan Wolynski, practicing low vision optometrist, and Fitzville Martin, ACB member, music producer, and OrCam MyEye user, for a conversation about assistive technology, the OrCam MyEye 2, and an introduction of OrCam's newest features. The OrCam MyEye 2, for people who are blind or visually impaired, is a wearable AI device with a smart camera that seamlessly reads text aloud from any printed surface or digital screen, recognizes people and identifies products.  In this webinar, we would like to discuss the benefits of assistive technology especially in these days of social distancing and to present OrCam's new product, the OrCam Read, and new features of the MyEye 2 - Interactive Reading, Orientation and Support for Starkey Livio Edge AI Hearing Aids. OrCam is proud to offer a limited-time promotion on these new devices for ACB members. You will also have a chance to ask questions to low vision optometrist, Dr. Bryan Wolynski and to hear first-hand impressions from OrCam user, Fitzville Martin.      Join the webinar in one of the following ways: Visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/95042169946 Dial (929) 205-6099 or (301) 715-8592 and enter the webinar ID: 950 4216 9946 iPhone one-tap: +19292056099,,95042169946# or +13017158592,,95042169946#   Q&A Instructions: There will be an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists during the Webinar. Please raise your hand when you’d like to ask your question. To raise your hand:  Via keyboard:  Alt Y Via Telephone keypad:  * 9 iPhone app: at the bottom middle on the Attendee screen there is a Raise Hand button When it is your time to ask your question, we will call out your name or phone number. To protect your privacy, Zoom requires that you unmute yourself. If you are connected to Zoom via your computer or Smartphone app, Zoom generates a message that the host wishes you to unmute yourself. Please do not mute speech output of your screen reader so that you receive the message from Zoom. If you dialed in, we will unmute you without you taking any action.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information about the 2020 convention going virtual, the extension of the awards deadline, community conference calls, Advocacy Updates, and a request to take a survey on how the coronavirus has affected you.   2020 Convention Goes Virtual  For more information, read the press release at https://acb.org/acb-board-vote-convention-2020.   The American Council of the Blind board of directors voted unanimously to forego its annual conference and convention in Schaumburg, Ill., amidst the growing concerns about the novel coronavirus crisis. During a special meeting convened by the board on March 30th, the elected leadership moved to explore ways in which members, partners, and stakeholders can continue to meet virtually through an engaging and enlightening experience.   Nonprofits around the country have faced similar challenges these recent weeks, and such difficult decisions have brought forward a wealth of resources and strategies about holding effective virtual conferences. ACB staff and volunteers are committed to assure the experience will pull from these best practices in a manner that is both innovative and accessible.   According to ACB’s constitution and bylaws, official business must be held in person. This means elections and other official matters will be put on hold until the 2021 convention in Phoenix. However, ACB’s convention planning committee is already exploring ways to hold virtual programming, exhibits, special-interest meetings and even door prizes through a variety of innovative formats.   Awards Deadline Extended Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the awards committee has extended the deadline to April 15th. So get that nomination letter written and email it to Debbie Rozear, [email protected], and Deb Trevino, [email protected].   For details about the various awards, visit https://acb.org/call-nominees-2020-acb-awards. One award was inadvertently left out of the article: the Margarine G. Beaman Volunteer Recognition Award honors individuals who have given tirelessly of their efforts, resources, expertise or time toward improving the quality of life in the blindness community.  The achievements, accomplishments or service, on which the nominations are based, must reflect ACB’s vision and mission. This award may be given to a deserving individual or organization.   If you have any questions, please call Deb Trevino at (302) 286-7276, or Debbie Rozear at (610) 295-7929.   Community Conference Calls At a time when our country is in a state of social distancing, your ACB family has opportunities for you to connect with others from the comfort of your home. ACB’s affiliates, committees and members are hosting a variety of community conference calls so you can stay in touch with your ACB community. To see the complete list, visit https://acb.org/ACB-community-conference-calls. The information is also recorded at extension 1017 in the ACB national office.   Advocacy Updates The April 9th edition of ACB’s Advocacy Update features the PBS Independent Lens series “Blind Love.” Clark and Claire discuss what is so attractive to producer Patty Zagarella about dating while blind, and we speak with Blind Lover Joni Martinez about her quest to find Mr. Right. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-4-9-20. Blind Love is available with audio description on YouTube at https://youtu.be/eC7ZLLMHVvY.   On the April 2nd edition of the Advocacy Update, we hear from Marcie Roth, president and CEO of the World Institute on Disability. Marcie talks with Clark and Claire about what needs to be done to provide emergency services to people with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis. Listen via your favorite podcast player or online at http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-4-2-20. To learn more about the World Institute on Disability, visit: https://wid.org/.   Take the Survey Make sure your voice is heard by participating in a study investigating experiences of adults who are blind or have low vision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Major community organizations and companies have joined forces to collect feedback on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the lives of adults with visual impairments and to identify solutions for these challenges. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences in the following areas: Healthcare Transportation Employment Education Social experiences Access to meals, food, and supplies Voting Take the survey at: https://flatteninaccessibility.com/. The survey closes on April 13 at 8 a.m. Eastern.

The ACB Angels Memorial Tribute is an opportunity for ACB members and friends to honor their loved ones and guide dogs who have passed on and who played an important role in the American Council of the Blind, its affiliates, and/or its members. If you would like to make an ACB Angel Memorial Tribute, follow the directions below and contact Tom Tobin by email at [email protected] or by phone at (847) 846-8375 with any questions. The deadline to submit materials is Thursday, April 30, 2020. Please email the testimonial, dates of birth and death, and any digital photos to Tom Tobin [email protected].  The minimum donation to establish an ACB Angel is $500. Please call the ACB Minneapolis Office at (612) 332-3242 to make a payment with a credit card, or mail the check to: American Council of the Blind C/o Nancy Becker, CFO 6300 Shingle Creek Parkway Suite 195 Brooklyn Center, MN 55430-2136 If sending a physical photo, please mail it to: American Council of the Blind C/o Kelly Gasque 1703 N Beauregard St, Suite 420 Alexandria, VA 22311 202-467-5081 / 800-424-8666 Finally, as you are all aware, plans are being put in-place to hold ACB’s National Convention on a virtual platform. This will include the virtual presentation of all 2020 ACB Angels. Stay tuned, as details are being worked-out.

The American Council of the Blind is closely monitoring information about the COVID-19 virus and its impact. Access this page to get updates about our response to COVID-19.  Your ACB family has opportunities for you to connect with others from the comfort of your home if you are socially distancing. Join one of our conference calls and stay in touch with your ACB community! To learn more, visit www.acb.org/acb-community-events.  We recommend that all affiliates follow CDC guidelines for any scheduled events. You can find the most up-to-date CDC guidelines here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html. ACB is aware that many of our members and affiliates have moved to a virtual environment for work, events, and other activities. To assist with this change, ACB is offering Zoom related resources to help those who are new to the platform or would like to learn more advanced skills. To learn basic tips for hosting and participating in a Zoom meeting, visit: https://tinyurl.com/wm348ts. For troubleshooting tips and discussion related to setting up Zoom to host a meeting, visit:  https://tinyurl.com/tkwcxt4.  Resources Accessible COVID-19 Tests ACB and the Department of Health and Human Services Announce That More Accessible COVID-19 At-Home Tests Are Now Available: On June 22, 2022, the federal government announced a new initiative to expand the availability of testing options that are more accessible for people who are blind or low vision and who use a smartphone. Now, people who are blind or low vision may order more accessible COVID-19 at-home tests. When connected to a smartphone application, these tests are capable of providing audible testing instructions and results to make the COVID-19 testing process more private and independent for people who are blind or low vision. People Who Are Blind Or Low Vision Can Now Receive 12 Accessible COVID-19 Tests: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the number of tests people will receive with each order of the more-accessible tests has been increased from two to 12. COVID-19 Tests for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision: Where to find accessible COVID-19 tests as well as resources about the accessible tests. General COVID-19 Resources: Easy to Read COVID-19 Safety Resources are Now Available on the CDC Website: These resources are available thanks to the COVID-19 Accessible Materials and Culturally Relevant Messages for Individuals with Disabilities Project, led by Georgia Tech’s Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI). This is a CDC Foundation-funded communications initiative to which CDC is an advisor. The project aims to deliver essential COVID-19 information in Braille, American Sign Language (ASL), simplified text, and other alternative formats to people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. ASL (American Sign Language) videos continue to be available on the CDC YouTube channel and more are being produced in the coming weeks, so check back periodically. COVID-19 and the Disability Vote Policy Report: This report from AAPD explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on voting accessibility and key policy recommendations to ensure that voters with disabilities have full access to our democracy in 2020 and beyond. Accessible COVID-19 Statistics Tracker: An accessible tracker that conveys stats in easy-to-read data tables. Google COVID-19 Information & Resources: Education, prevention, local and state-based resources, safety & prevention tips, and search trends related to COVID-19, as well as additional resources for individuals, educators and businesses. The microsite is also available in Spanish: https://www.google.com/intl/es_us/covid19/ Comcast Commitment to Help Keep Americans Connected: Comcast will continue to provide 60 days of free Internet service to new, eligible Internet Essentials customers through the end of this year, learn more here. Comcast is also extending free access to the 1.5 million public Xfinity WiFi hotspots to anyone who needs them, including non-customers, through the end of 2020, learn more here. Additionally Comcast is continuing to help college students stay connected to the Internet over the Summer and through the Fall back-to-school rush by extending an Xfinity Internet offering that provides $150 Visa prepaid card to students who sign up for service by September 30; more than enough to pay for two months of Internet service, learn more here. Visit this page for more Comcast resources. CCD COVID-19 Legislative Response Webinar Recording (with closed captioning):  A recording of the CCD webinar, “COVID-19 Legislative Response” held on 4/19 to educate the disability community about progress made in the initial congressional COVID-19 packages and CCD’s priorities for the fourth congressional COVID-19 package.  NFB-NEWSLINE: Access "Breaking News” for updates on COVID-19. Crisis Text Counselors: Anxious about coronavirus? Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor.  FDA Webpage for Patients and Caregivers with COVID-19: information to help address questions patients and caregivers may have about FDA-regulated medical products (drugs, biologics, and devices) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Coronavirus Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community  Dinner Delivered - Accessible and Easy Ways to Receive Meals Direct to Your Door: National Braille Press free digital book download. Getting Visual Assistance with an iPhone: National Braille Press free digital book download. Navigating Healthcare, When All They Can See Is that You Can't: National Braille Press free digital book download. Traveling During the COVID-19 Pandemic with Disabilities: This guide covers everything from your rights, questions to ask your doctor and ways to protect yourself from COVID-19 exposure. Zoom: Email List for Zoom Related Questions and Support: While Zoom is very accessible with screen readers there's still a lot to learn and many people have questions. To help, an email list has been created to provide support on how to use the Zoom program. To join the group, send an email to [email protected]. To send a message to the group, email [email protected]. Hotkeys and Keyboard Shortcuts for Zoom Meet Me Accessibly – A Guide to Zoom Cloud Meetings from a Blindness Perspective: If you're new user, this free audiobook can provide basic information to help you navigate Zoom with a screen reader. Education: Free Offer for College Students in Need of Aira: Many universities and colleges are rapidly shifting to distance learning and some materials and software being used are inaccessible. Aira is offering free access for any college student for the remainder of the spring semester ending in May 2020. Please email [email protected] for more information. Join Virtual Lessons for At-Home Education: The American Printing House for the Blind is offering free engaging lessons for students with a variety of abilities.  5 Accessibility Actions You Can Take When You’re Moving Your Conference or Classes Online: A resource compiled by the American Foundation for the Blind.  Coping with School Closures During COVID-19: Resources for teachers of blind and visually impaired students.  Free Audiobooks from Audible: Stream a collection of stories for kids of all ages, including titles across six different languages. Office of Civil Rights Webinar on Online Education and Website Accessibility: A short webinar from the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights on ensuring web accessibility for students with disabilities for schools using online learning during the coronavirus outbreak.  ACB and AFB's Joint Letter to Senate and House Representatives: Regarding legislation or regulations that would allow the Department of Education to waive the civil rights protections of students with disabilities.  ACB in the News Coronavirus Restrictions Put Extra Burden on the Blind Community: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, is quoted in this article.  

Alexandria, VA (March 31, 2020) — The American Council of the Blind (ACB) Board of Directors voted unanimously to forego its annual conference and convention in Schaumburg, Illinois, amidst the growing concerns about the novel coronavirus crisis. During a special meeting convened by the board on March 30th, the elected leadership moved to explore ways in which members, partners, and stakeholders can continue to meet virtually through an engaging and enlightening experience. “The health and safety of our members continue to be the leading voice that has guided us,” said ACB president Dan Spoone. “I’m proud of the thoughtful deliberation each board member gave to this difficult decision and the hard work our team in Alexandria and Minneapolis undertook to assure that the interests of those we serve remain paramount.” Nonprofits around the country have faced similar challenges these recent weeks, and such difficult decisions have brought forward a wealth of resources and strategies about holding effective virtual conferences. ACB staff and volunteers are committed to assure the experience will pull from these best practices in a manner that is both innovative and accessible. “While some official business will have to be put on hold, we’ll continue to virtually provide many of the valuable programs and break-out sessions that make the ACB conference and convention the greatest gathering in our country for Americans who are blind and visually impaired,” said ACB executive director Eric Bridges. “The support from our leaders and corporate stakeholders has been overwhelming, and we can’t wait to have them join us for what will be an event that will be forever etched into ACB’s history.” According to ACB’s constitution and bylaws, official business must be held in person. This means elections and other official matters will be put on hold until the 2021 convention in Phoenix. However, ACB’s convention planning committee is already exploring ways to hold virtual programming, exhibits, special-interest meetings and even door prizes through a variety of innovative formats. For more information on this year’s convention, visit www.acbconvention.org. The American Council of the Blind is a national grassroots consumer organization representing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. With 70 affiliates, ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and to improve quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. Together, we make a bright future. Learn more by visiting www.acb.org. To listen to a recording of the March 30th board meeting, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/tnugghr

ACB Link 2.0 is now available for iOS and supports iOS version 13. This release brings a number of major improvements: This version of ACB Link adds support for iOS 13, dark mode support and a new podcast player. We have made changes to how the app shows text, so your dynamic text settings will work even better in this version of the app. High Contrast will now be handled by iOS 13 if your device supports this version, but the standard high contrast mode will still be usable if running in iOS 12 or below. Push notifications are back in this release. Especially during this time you will be seeing more of them from us as we present a lot more online activities for your enjoyment. You can change the playback speed in the podcast player. You can make your listening experience faster or slower based on your preferences. Download ACB Link 2.0 from: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/acb-link/id1023962546 We hope you enjoy this version of the app!