by Kenneth Semien Sr. Have you noticed how ACB has been progressing? Have you considered contributing by sharing your skills and abilities to make ACB all that it can be? Are you interested in playing a role in creating positive change for Americans who are blind, visually impaired or low vision? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are encouraged to read below to confirm your eligibility and necessary commitment to become a member of the 2020 Class of ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows! For the fifth consecutive year, JPMorgan Chase will provide full access to the ACB conference and convention for five ACB members who have demonstrated leadership abilities. Now is the time to take advantage of the opportunity to join the leadership inner circle or renew your commitment to assist in the growth and continuance of ACB! Get connected with previous classes of Leadership Fellows who have involved themselves in this enlightening experience while meeting other members and active leaders from around the country. By attending the 59th annual ACB conference and convention in Schaumburg, Ill., as a Leadership Fellow, you will be introduced to tools for success through participation in informative workshops, seminars and leadership development sessions that are sure to prepare you to serve well in future leadership roles within ACB, your local chapter, and your state or special-interest affiliate. To be a qualified applicant, you are required to meet specific criteria, including but not limited to the following three elements: 18 years of age or older Blind or visually impaired An ACB member in good standing (current on membership dues)  Eligible applicants must be endorsed by the president of their state or special-interest affiliate. Applicants are encouraged to be sure that they meet the award criteria before requesting that their affiliate president write and submit a letter of recommendation on their behalf. The application process for this award also consists of the submission of two letters and participating in a telephone interview with a team of DKM committee members. The letter of application should begin with your complete name; physical address; email address containing the applicant’s name, along with a home and cell number, then introduce yourself to the committee by including objectives in applying for the leadership award; a brief summary of your education and relevant experience; number of years of membership in ACB, as well as previous conventions attended, if any; description of one’s role as a leader; and examples of what you bring to ACB. The affiliate president’s letter of recommendation should address the applicant’s contributions to the affiliate, ACB and community organizations; and describe the applicant’s demonstrated leadership skills and leadership potential. Telephone interviews will be scheduled for mid-April. All recipients receive round-trip transportation; hotel accommodation (double occupancy), per diem stipend for meals and incidentals, convention registration fee and reception and banquet tickets. Recipients are expected to attend the convention from the opening meeting, Saturday evening, July 4th, through the Thursday evening banquet, July 9th, and to participate actively in all designated convention activities, including the daily general sessions, special-interest presentations, seminars and workshops.  Send application documents to Kelly Gasque in the ACB national office, [email protected]. Deadline for receipt is April 3rd. Selected awardees will be notified during the latter part of April. Questions regarding the application process and required documentation should be directed to DKM chair Kenneth Semien Sr., [email protected]. Other beneficial information will be shared once your application has been received. Apply today, don’t be late!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. (February 4, 2020) - Voters with disabilities in West Virginia will now have an easier time voting absentee and exercising their fundamental right to vote.  Until the passage of SB 94, which allows voters with physical disabilities to vote by electronic absentee ballot, voters with disabilities faced multiple barriers to voting privately and independently, forcing them to reveal their ballot choices to a third party or being excluded from voting all together because of inaccessible polling places and ballots. Members of the American Council of the Blind, the Centers for Independent Living, and West Virginia voters with disabilities raised this critical civil rights issue to Secretary of State Warner’s office: that West Virginia’s absentee voting program violated the Americans with Disabilities Act because it excluded voters with disabilities from the absentee voting process. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, and Disability Rights of West Virginia, who represent these organizations, commend Governor Justice and the West Virginia legislature for prioritizing this important legislation and ensuring that voters with disabilities will have equal access to absentee ballots in time for the May 2020 primary election.   “A critical guarantee of our democracy is the right to privately and independently mark, cast, and verify an election ballot. This right is not always afforded to people with disabilities, at the poling location or when voting absentee. The American Council of the Blind commends Governor Justice and the West Virginia State Legislature for passing S.B. 94 to ensure all residents of the Mountain State may fully participate in the democratic process,” said Eric Bridges, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind. Prior to the passage SB 94, West Virginia’s absentee voting program required the voter to complete a paper ballot, which includes reading standard text, physically filling out the ballot, sealing and certifying the ballot via a signature on the envelope, and mailing the ballot back to the appropriate voting official. Each of these requirements erects a barrier to accessibility.  When these barriers exist, individuals are forced to seek help from other people in order to vote, depriving them of the right to cast his or her ballot privately and independently.  “Ensuring equal access to the ballot is fundamental to our democracy. Yet, voters with disabilities have been consistently disenfranchised in absentee voting by the requirement to vote by paper ballot. We applaud West Virginia for recognizing the importance of equitable access to the voting process for all voters and the right to cast a private, independent ballot. SB 94 will help to remedy the historic disenfranchisement of voters with disabilities by providing an accessible, secure online option by which they can mark their ballots,” said Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.  SB 94 has broad support because the ability to receive, complete, and return an absentee ballot electronically will provide equal access for voters with disabilities as their fellow West Virginians. As a voter, Keith Stewart, said, “To me, it's fantastic. It means that everybody has the same opportunity. We know that everybody who wants to will be able to. That makes me ridiculously happy knowing I will be able to make my voice count. I know of several people who have had the same issues, and this is just great. You don't know how good it makes me feel to know there are people fighting for people like me.” “We are gratified that the West Virginia Secretary of State and Legislature were eager to join with us in finding a path to make a reasonable accommodation to voters with disabilities so that they can participate in the voting process from home using proven, secure technology.  This is a real game-changer, particularly where voting places are not as accessible as they could be,” said Sheppard Mullin Partner Steve Hollman. Contact:  Gregg Kelley Washington Lawyers’ Committee [email protected] 202-319-1070 About Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs works to create legal, economic and social equity through litigation, client and public education and public policy advocacy. While we fight discrimination against all people, we recognize the central role that current and historic race discrimination plays in sustaining inequity and recognize the critical importance of identifying, exposing, combating and dismantling the systems that sustain racial oppression. We partner with individuals and communities facing discrimination and with the legal community to achieve justice. For more information, please visit www.washlaw.org. About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter, & Hampton LLP Sheppard Mullin is a full-service Global 100 firm with more than 900 attorneys in 15 offices located in the United States, Europe and Asia. Since 1927, industry-leading companies have turned to Sheppard Mullin to handle corporate and technology matters, high-stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm's clients include almost half of the Fortune 100.  For more information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com. About Disability Rights of West Virginia  Disability Rights of West Virginia (DRWV) is the federally mandated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in West Virginia. DRWV protects and advocates for the human and legal rights of persons with disabilities. To learn more, visit www.drofwv.org.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31, 2020)—The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and American Council of the Blind (ACB) today announced they are jointly offering scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for students who are blind or visually impaired attending a technical college or as an entering freshman, undergraduate or a graduate student. Students will be awarded scholarships to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as tuition, fees, room and board and other additional costs associated with using adaptive technology. "ACB and AFB have a long history of collaboration in the public policy arena, and we are excited to be able to work together in awarding scholarships to students who are blind," said Eric Bridges, Executive Director of ACB. “The value of a good college education for a blind or visually impaired individual seeking to enter the workforce or simply pursue scholarly pursuits cannot be overstated,” said Kirk Adams, president and CEO of AFB. “We are delighted to partner with our longtime allies at ACB to offer scholarships for those seeking to attend institutions of higher learning.” Eligibility requirements: Applicants need to be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA (for most scholarships), be a full-time student (as well as students who work 32 or more hours per week and attend college part time), and be involved in their school/local community. Applications for the 2020-2021 school year can be submitted online from Friday, November 1, 2019 to Friday, February 14, 2020 11:59pm (CST). All interested candidates must register for a new ACB account prior to submitting a scholarship application online at https://www.acb.org/scholarships. To maximize financial impact, scholarship awardees may receive a combined AFB and ACB award. Scholarship winners will also be invited to attend ACB’s National Conference and Convention in July, where they can meet other students who share similar life experiences, and network with like-minded individuals. The conference and convention also include numerous sessions where attendees can learn about new technology and the latest news and developments in the blindness community.   2020/21 Awards Doctor Duane Buckley (ACB) Undergraduate who has overcome major difficulties. Kellie Cannon (ACB) Studying in the field of computer science, data processing, programming, web development, etc. William H. Corey (ACB) Pennsylvania resident. Charles Dillman (AFB) (4 scholarships) Studying in the field of disability rehabilitation or teaching. Rudolph Dillman (AFB) (4 scholarships) Studying in the field of disability rehabilitation or teaching. Eunice Fiorito (ACB) Studying in advocacy or disability services. R.I. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson and Karen D. Carsel Memorial (AFB) For an undergraduate woman studying music. John Hebner (ACB) Must be working full time and enrolled in substantial courses. James R. Olsen Memorial (ACB) Undergraduate studying business, computer science, or information technology and involved in community service. ACB Oregon (ACB) Oregon resident. Ross N. Pangere Foundation (ACB) (3 scholarships) Studying in the field of business, computer science or information technology. Floyd Qualls Memorial (ACB) (5 Scholarships) General studies. Paul and Ellen Ruckes (AFB) Studying physical or computer sciences or engineering. Norma Schecter (ACB) General studies. Arnold Sadler (ACB) Studying in the field of disability rehabilitation, education, or law.   About the American Council of the Blind (ACB) ACB works to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all people who are blind or visually impaired. ACB advocates for policies that provide services, opportunities, infrastructure, and equipment that are necessary for an inclusive society, in federal, state, and local governments, and among service providers and industry. For more information, visit 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: www.afb.org.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information about ACB’s scholarship deadline, tips for scheduling your meetings on Capitol Hill during the 2020 Leadership Meetings, the newest Advocacy Updates, ACB Next Generation forming an affiliate, and RSVA’s Sagebrush Conference.   Scholarship Deadline Approaches To learn how to apply, visit www.acb.org/scholarships. It’s not too late to apply for a scholarship, but the deadline is coming up soon – February 14th. ACB has partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to offer educational scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for those attending a technical college or as an entering freshman, undergraduate or a graduate student. To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants need to be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for most scholarships, be a full-time student (as well as students who work 32 or more hours per week and attend college part-time), and be involved in their school/local community. Applications for the 2020-2021 school year can be submitted online now through Friday, February 14, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Central time. All interested candidates must register for a new ACB account prior to submitting a scholarship application online. Visit https://members.acb.org/ to register. Candidates should receive an email containing a link to complete the scholarship application after their account request has been approved. Please note that the approval process could take up to three business days. For more information, please contact Nancy Feela at (612) 332-3242 or (800) 866-3242.   Tips for Scheduling Hill Meetings To read this article in its entirety, visit https://acb.org/2020-leg-seminar-scheduling-hill-meetings.   As part of the 2020 D.C. Leadership Meetings, we will conduct a Legislative Seminar on Monday, Feb. 24, and meet with our elected officials on Tuesday, Feb. 25. We recommend that all attendees coordinate with their affiliate leadership to schedule meetings on Capitol Hill beginning in early February. To schedule meetings with your representatives and senators, we recommend calling your member’s Washington, D.C. office, or sending them an email. Some offices request constituents send meeting requests via a form on their website. Below are links to contact information for the U.S. House and Senate, as well as a call script and email form to get you started. Send your complete list of meetings to [email protected]. U.S. Capitol Switchboard – (202) 224-3121 Call this number and request to be connected with your representative’s or senator’s office. U.S. House of Representatives Contact Information – https://www.house.gov/representatives U.S. Senate Contact Information - https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm   Advocacy Updates In this week’s episode of the Advocacy Update, Cindy Van Winkle discusses how to prepare for the legislative seminar with Clark Rachfal. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/content/legislative-seminar-preparation. On the January 23rd episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss the ACB Legislative Seminar and the three legislative imperatives for 2020. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-1-23-20. To learn more about the 2020 D.C. Leadership Meetings and Legislative Seminar, including how to register, visit https://acb.org/2020-DC-leadership-meetings. The January 16th episode of ACB’s Advocacy Update features Heidi Simon from America Walks. She discusses with Clark and Claire the overlapping missions of our two organizations, and how we’re working together to make our neighborhoods and cities more pedestrian-friendly. Listen to this podcast via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-1-16-20. To learn more about America Walks, visit www.americawalks.org. A transcript of this podcast is available at www.acb.org/ACB-advocacy-update-1-16-20-transcript.   ACB Next Generation Forming an Affiliate ACB Next Generation’s membership application is now available! For many years, younger adults within the American Council of the Blind have been seeking an affiliate within the organization in which they can truly relate to and connect with fellow members of their age group. That time has finally arrived. ACB Next Generation has been a committee within ACB for nearly a year and a half. Now, we are looking forward to becoming an actual affiliate. To do this, we need your help. Please complete the membership application at https://forms.gle/Rc3qk6jadjfifWbP7. After completing the application, you will receive an invoice for $15 via email. You may pay via credit or debit card. This amount will cover your dues for the 2020 calendar year. We look forward to creating a formal organization for ACB members who are 40 years old and younger.   Sagebrush 2020 Conference It's not too late to register for the RSVA® Sagebrush 2020 National BEP Training Conference. This year, Robert Humphreys, Esq., RSVA® long-time attorney, will be attending. As a past RSA Commissioner and author of the 1974 amendments to the Rehab Act, he is the foremost expert on the Randolph-Sheppard Act. This year’s theme is “Randolph-Sheppard: Learning, Leading, and Living with a 2020 Perspective.” The conference begins on Monday, February 10th and ends on Friday, February 14th. It will be held at the Golden Nugget Hotel in downtown Las Vegas. To reserve a room, call 1-800-331-5731 or visit www.goldennugget.com. For more information on Sagebrush, visit https://www.randolph-sheppard.org, or send email to [email protected].

As part of the 2020 D.C. Leadership Meetings, we will conduct a Legislative Seminar on Monday, February 24, and meet with our elected officials on Tuesday, Feb. 25. We recommend all attendees to coordinate with their affiliate leadership to schedule meetings on Capitol Hill beginning in early February. To schedule meetings with your Representatives and Senators, we recommend calling your members Washington D.C. office, or sending them an email. Some offices request constituents send meeting requests via a form on their website. Below are links to contact information for the U.S. House and Senate, as well as a call script and email form to get you started. Please share a complete list of scheduled meetings with the ACB National Office, and let us know if you have any questions at: [email protected].   Contact Information for U.S. House & Senate U.S. Capitol Switch Board: 202-224-3121 Call this number and request to be connected with your Representatives’ or Senators’ Washington D.C. office. U.S. House of Representatives Contact Information: https://www.house.gov/representatives.  U.S. Senate Contact Information: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.    Call Script Hi my name is __________, and I am a resident of (City, State, ZIP Code). I am a member of the American Council of the Blind, and we will be in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, February 25. We would like to meet with Representative/Senator (Last Name) to discuss transportation and healthcare issues and their impact on people who are blind and visually impaired. Is the Representative/Senator or their staff available to meet with me and other members of the (insert affiliate name here) during the morning/afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 25?   Email Script The Honorable (Member’s Full Name): My name is ________, and I am a resident of (City, State, ZIP Code). My colleagues and I will be in Washington DC on February 24 for a Legislative Seminar sponsored by the American Council of the Blind and then on Capitol Hill on the 25th. Among other things, we would love to have the opportunity to speak with Representative/Senator (Last Name) about three key initiatives impacting our blind community. Two are related to transportation, Autonomous Vehicles and The Surface Transportation Bill. The other concerns the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Acquisition Rule, and more specifically, the Low Vision Aid Exclusion. Is the Representative/Senator or their staff available to meet with me and other members of the (insert affiliate name here) during the morning/afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 25? As active members of the (insert affiliate name here), we look forward to having an opportunity to discuss these concerns which impact the blind community. Respectfully, Name, Title within Affiliate Affiliate Name Email Address Phone Number  

Happy new year! “Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information about a job opening at the ACB national office, the Advocacy Update podcasts, a career fair for legally blind job seekers, and AAPD’s partnership with Coca-Cola to create summer internships for students and recent graduates with disabilities. ACB Seeks Development Director The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is seeking a full-time Director of Development to work in its national office in Alexandria, VA. The Director of Development will report to the Executive Director and work in conjunction with the ACB team in the areas of fundraising, resource development, and public relations. To learn more about this position and how to apply, please visit: https://acb.org/vacancy-announcement-director-development NIB Sponsors Career Fair National Industries for the Blind is sponsoring a virtual career fair for legally blind job seekers. It will be held on Thursday, January 16th, from noon - 2 p.m. Eastern. Register at CareerEco.com/Register/AFCS. To get registration instructions for screen reader users, visit: Registration Instructions for Screen Readers. For more information about the Air Force Civilian Service, visit CareerEco.com/Details/AFCS, phone (770) 980-0088, or email [email protected]. Have a Coke – and a Job AAPD is partnering with Coca-Cola to launch a Summer Internship Program for students and recent graduates with disabilities at Coca-Cola’s Atlanta, GA and Washington, D.C. offices. We are seeking college students and recent graduates with disabilities in those areas who are looking to gain hands-on professional experience at Coca-Cola to help advance their career goals and who are committed to increasing diversity, inclusion, and disability empowerment in the workplace. In addition to the internship placement, each participant will be provided with a living stipend, will travel to Washington, D.C. for orientation, and will be matched with a mentor who will assist them with their career goals. If you are a college student or recent graduate with a disability, you are strongly encouraged to apply. The application deadline is January 31, 2020. To apply, visit https://aapd1995.wufoo.com/forms/2020-cocacola-aapd-summer-internship-program/. Advocacy Updates This week on the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley speaks with Stacy Cervenka from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). ACB and AFB are working together to encourage Congress to include language in the 2020 surface transportation bill that would positively affect the transportation rights and access for blind and visually impaired Americans. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-1-9-20. To read the transcript of this podcast, visit https://acb.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-Transcript-1-9-20.

The Audio Description Project (ADP), an initiative of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), aims to bring more meaning and enjoyment to entertainment, cultural, and educational experiences for blind and visually impaired people. ADP maintains a list of described DVDs, broadcast television, movies, performing arts, museums, and national parks on the ADP website, www.acb.org/adp. As the only repository of all audio described titles on DVD and the three video streaming services (Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and Netflix), the ADP created an index of all the titles. Here are the described video statistics as of January 1, 2020, from the ADP Master AD List: Summary: 3640 unique described videos and TV Series. 1768 videos were duplicated in more than one service. 22 Current Movies; 1201 DVDs; 12 Apple TV+; 310 Disney+; 68 Hulu; 1193 iTunes; 1088 Netflix; 1652 Prime-Video; 7 Other; 206 TV Series: 31 ABC, 15 CBS, 2 CW, 23 FOX, 20 NBC, 25 DISCOVERY, 18 HGTV, 22 HISTORY, 18 TBS, 10 TNT, 22 USA. The following DVDs and Blu-ray discs were released with audio description tracks last month. The links will take you to the description on the ADP website. All but one are also available on iTunes and/or Prime Video. Abominable  Ad Astra  Downton Abbey  Overcomer  Rambo: Last Blood Where's My Roy Cohn? Hustlers  It Chapter Two  Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood  Ready or Not The Goldfinch  The total number of described DVDs available last year was 169, 3 more than the previous year, but the total number of DVDs being produced seems to be dropping year-to-year. The streaming services added the following net number of described videos this past month (net = adds minus deletes): Hulu = 4; iTunes = 23; Netflix = 30; Prime Video = 268. What? 268? YES, 268!  ADP is now listing which ones are “Included with Prime.” Of course Apple TV+ came onboard in November, but they only have a dozen described videos at this time, but with the promise to make every video described in nine languages in the future. And finally Disney+ also came onboard in November, blasting out the gate with around 300 described videos. The current count today is 310. Among the six streaming services, there are about 4300 choices (including those choices repeated on more than one service). Among all services (cinema, DVD, TV, and streaming), there are over 3600 unique choices. Other news from the ADP website this month: Got lots of friends on Facebook? Do a Birthday Fundraiser for the ADP like audio description narrator Roy Samuelson did. Read how successfully his was on the ADP website. You can also make a personal donation through the ADP website. Actiview, dormant for awhile, has been acquired by Charter Communications. We don’t know the future status of the App nor Charter’s plans yet. There are two opportunities coming up to be trained or refreshed as an audio describer: One January 16 in Raleigh, NC, and the ADP’s training on February 22 in Alexandria, VA. ADP’s year-end report on the movie studios gives the highest marks to Disney and Sony for offering description on 100% of their mainstream DVDs. Summit, a subsidiary of Lionsgate, also described all five of their DVDs, while Lionsgate itself only described 14% of theirs. You can read the year-end report on http://acb.org/adp. The number of visitors to the ADP website has increased 1000% in the last 10 years. The number of Twitter followers is approaching 1000, while Facebook followers approaches 2700. Fred Brack, ADP Webmaster and Social Media manager notifies users of new described videos on both of those social media outlets.  Follow the Audio Description Project on Facebook at facebook.com/acbadp, or on Twitter at twitter.com/ADPwebmaster.

by Eric Bridges Happy new year! I trust you all had a safe, happy and healthy holiday season. Let’s take a look back at all the amazing things that happened in 2019. At the start of 2019, ACB was looking to hire a new director of advocacy and governmental affairs. And we found one – Clark Rachfal. He was then serving as the Program Manager, Public Policy at National Industries for the Blind. In that role, he was responsible for researching and promoting legislative and regulatory policies that support NIB’s mission. He cultivated relationships and collaborated with policymakers, national blindness organizations, and the cross-disability community on public policy priorities. He managed the NIB Advocates for Leadership and Employment Program, directly mentoring and training more than 50 grassroots employee advocates. Clark jumped right in and helped Claire Stanley with the 2019 legislative seminar. Also in January, ACB’s Audio Description Project celebrated its 10th anniversary. To read a summary of the ADP’s work through 2018, visit http://acb.org/ADP-10th-anniversary. Toward the end of January, we received the news that the President had signed the Marrakesh treaty and would be sending it to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). On Feb. 8, we received notice from WIPO that the USA was the 50th member of the Marrakesh Treaty. In late February, it was time for the annual leadership meetings. (No, they aren’t called “midyear” anymore.) Legislative imperatives included autonomous vehicles, accessible durable medical equipment, and the low vision aid exclusion. Over a hundred members attended, and enjoyed a day on Capitol Hill, talking with members of Congress about the issues. Shortly afterward, ACB posted a job announcement for a membership services coordinator, a position that has been unfilled since August of 2006. After screening the applications, interviewing the candidates, and taking care of the paperwork, we hired Cindy Van Winkle, formerly of Seattle, Wash., in June. She is based in the Minneapolis office. To learn more about her, check out the following podcast: http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-july-2-2019-1. In July, ACB held its annual conference and convention in Rochester, N.Y. One item on the agenda was the election of new officers, board members, and members of the board of publications. They are: President: Dan Spoone, Orlando, Fla. First Vice President: Mark Richert, Arlington, Va. Second Vice President: Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Secretary: Denise Colley, Lacey, Wash. Treasurer: David Trott, Talladega, Ala. Newly elected board member: Donna Brown, Romney, W.Va. Newly appointed chair of the board of publications: Deb Lewis, Clarkston, Wash. Newly elected board of publications member: Zelda Gebhard, Edgeley, N.D. During convention, I met with newly elected ACB president Dan Spoone on Facebook Live! No stranger to the ACB membership, we are excited to introduce Dan and learn how he pictures the future of ACB. To view the video, go to https://youtu.be/kirpKuNm_HU.­­ At the convention, ACB’s board of directors met and adopted a vision statement and a set of core values. They are as follows: Vision Statement: To create a society without barriers for the blind and visually impaired community through advocacy, public awareness, collaboration and support. Core Values: Integrity and honesty - Our word is our bond serving as a foundational element demonstrating our strong democratic principles and values. Respect - We treat others as we expect to be treated. We welcome each individual’s unique talents and honor diverse work and lifestyles. Collaboration - We believe success comes from working together to create solutions that advance the organization's mission through partnerships and teamwork.  Flexibility - We adapt to ever-changing circumstances and situations. We are receptive to multiple points of view and ideas. Initiative - We can and do make a difference in all of our efforts. We embrace continuous learning, hard work, personal responsibility, accountability and motivation. Another highlight of the convention was that ACB signed a cooperative agreement with OrCam Technologies, the world’s most advanced wearable AI-driven artificial vision innovator for people who are blind or have low vision. This agreement will raise awareness of OrCam’s assistive technology among ACB members in the United States to support uses in education, employment and quality of life for blind and low-vision Americans. OrCam devices will be available for sale to ACB members with a special ACB discount. On Aug. 8, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Enforcement Office issued a final statement of enforcement priorities for service animals. In this statement, DOT provides greater clarity to air travel passengers with service animals, as well as airlines, about the DOT’s interpretation and enforcement of the existing service animal rules. ACB is pleased that DOT has constructed a final enforcement statement that will protect the rights of passengers with service animals for the entirety of their flying experience. The DOT’s final enforcement statement contains provisions that: Prohibit airlines from requiring advance notice that a passenger is traveling with a service animal for flights less than eight hours. This guarantees passengers with service animals greater flexibility in air travel. Consistent with the Air Carrier Access Act, credible verbal assurance is proof that a person with a disability is traveling with a service animal. Prohibit airline categorical restrictions on service animals based exclusively on breed and age. Limit airline requests for documentation regarding service animal vaccinations, training and behavior to reasonable requests to determine whether a specific animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others. ACB and its members nationwide will remain engaged on this important issue to ensure that all passengers traveling with service animals receive the full protections of the Air Carrier Access Act. ACB and Guide Dog Users, Inc. remain willing to assist all airlines to review and amend their current service animal policies. Early in the fall, blind Chicagoans filed suit against the city and its Department of Transportation in order to challenge the systemic lack of accessible pedestrian signals at intersections all over the city.  The lawsuit, which has been filed on behalf of the American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago (ACBMC) and three individual plaintiffs with vision-related disabilities, alleges that Chicago disregards blind pedestrians’ safety needs in its pedestrian planning, thereby violating federal and state civil rights laws. As of late September, Chicago had equipped only 11 intersections with pedestrian traffic signals that make street crossing information accessible to blind people, even though fully 2,672 of its intersections are signalized.  This number — less than half of one percent — may be the worst of any major metropolitan area in the United States. Shortly afterward, Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act, H.R. 4129. This bill was one of ACB’s legislative imperatives for 2019. Once it becomes law, H.R. 4129 would direct the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to construct a five-year pilot program for the coverage of low vision devices. On Oct. 7, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on Domino’s v. Robles. ACB and its members applaud this decision and commend the Supreme Court for their action. The unanimous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit made it resoundingly clear that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to websites, and by declining to hear Domino’s appeal, the Supreme Court upholds the civil rights of people who are blind and visually impaired in online commercial settings. A few weeks later, Reps. Matt Cartwright (Pa.) and David B. McKinley (W.Va.) re-introduced the Cogswell-Macy Act, which would improve educational services for students who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.) and Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. And now for something we’ve all been waiting for! On Nov. 1, Apple launched its streaming service, Apple TV+. Learn more about it at http://acbradio.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-10-31-19. Speaking of waiting, just before Christmas, in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle, my wife Rebecca gave birth to our second son, Noah Eric. On arrival, he weighed in at 8 pounds, was 20.5 inches long, and had a full head of blonde hair. Big brother Tyler was so excited to welcome Noah home! Thanks to your advocacy, we caught the attention of Congress, and got the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act re-introduced, as well as the Cogswell-Macy Act. We helped get clarity on the regulations for guide dogs on aircraft. We could not have done it without your assistance. As we head into 2020, please consider making a donation to ACB by visiting http://weblink.donorperfect.com/ACBFundraiser. With your support, ACB will continue to make important strides to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. ACB and you, together, for a bright future!

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information about ACB Radio’s new managing director and technical managing director, the latest Advocacy Update podcasts, the World Blind Union’s employment survey, a casting call for Apple TV+’s show “SEE,” Social Security scams and how to report them, and Getty Images and Verizon award $40,000 in prizes. This is the last issue of “Dots and Dashes” that you will receive until after the holidays. The ACB national office will be closed December 24th and will remain closed through January 1st. The Minnesota office will close at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Minnesota’s office will be open December 26-31, and close at 2 p.m. Dec. 31st. We wish you all a safe, happy and healthy holiday season.   ACB Radio News After months of running ACB Radio on an interim basis, we have now hired two people to fill the roles of managing director and technical managing director. Debbie Hazelton is now the ACB Radio Managing Director, handling the day-to-day operations of ACB Radio and its associated streams and broadcasters. Jason Castonguay is our new ACB Radio Technical Managing Director. He will manage the technical details and maintenance of ACB’s server infrastructure for both ACB and ACB Radio-related resources including web sites, file infrastructure and associated ACB Radio streams. Both Debbie and Jason have been involved with our organization for some time, and we are thrilled to formally welcome them to the ACB team.   Advocacy Updates On the December 5th episode of the Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark spoke with Barbara Raimondo, Executive Director, Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, about reintroduction of the Cogswell-Macy Act (H.R. 4822 & S. 2681). The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act will strengthen the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to improve results for deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind children, including those with additional disabilities. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-12-5-19. More information about the Cogswell-Macy Act is available at https://cogswellmacyact.org. A transcript of this podcast is available at https://acb.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-12-5-19-Transcript. The December 12th podcast features the ACB Information Access Committee’s webinar on accessible shopping, technology, and home appliances with special guest J.J. Meddaugh, author for AFB’s “AccessWorld.” Clark Rachfal and committee chair Tony Stephens led this discussion on what is naughty and nice in terms of accessibility, highlighted tips and tricks to improve the shopping experience, and shared ways that we can overcome the challenges when smart appliances fail the test on accessible interfaces for customers who are blind and visually impaired. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-12-12-19. To listen to the full webinar, including listener Q&A, visit the ACB Radio Special Events page at http://acbradio.org/special. To learn more about Access World and read the 2019 Holiday Gift Buying Guide, visit https://www.afb.org/aw. The transcript is available at https://acb.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-12-12-19-transcript. In the final Advocacy Update podcast for 2019, Clark Rachfal, Eric Bridges, and Dan Spoone discuss the organizational progress and advocacy accomplishments of 2019 and hinted at what ACB has planned for 2020. This was a year of transformation and growth for ACB, made possible by our members, partners, and individual supporters. Listen to this episode via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-12-19-19. If you have feedback on these podcasts, the written transcripts, or ideas for future podcasts, please share them with us at [email protected].   World Blind Union Employment Survey The World Blind Union (WBU) Employment Committee has developed a survey designed to identify employment patterns of people who are blind or partially sighted and of working age throughout the world. This survey can be completed in 20-25 minutes, and it is available in English, French, and Spanish. It is a four-part survey that uses skip logic to move respondents through the survey questions so that they only answer questions that pertain to them. Section One (demographics) is completed by all respondents. Section Two (current job) is completed by currently employed respondents only. Section Three (previously employed, but not working currently) is completed only by the respondents who have work experience but are not working presently. Section Four (never worked) is completed only by the respondents who have no work experience. To take the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/8ZP2KW3.   Casting Call: Apple TV+ Series “SEE” The Apple TV+ series “SEE” is seeking actors who are blind or visually impaired to play characters who are blind or visually impaired for Season 2 of the series. If you are interested, send them an email with your photo and contact information. Send all inquiries to [email protected].   Social Security Scams and How to Report Them In the last year, Social Security phone scams have skyrocketed, becoming the number-one type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and Social Security. To help reduce this kind of fraud, the Social Security Administration launched a new online form to report Social Security phone scams. If you believe you have been a victim of a Social Security Administration Impostor Scam, fill out the form online at https://secure.ssa.gov/ipff/home.   Getty Images and Verizon Media Award $40,000 in Prizes  To read this press release in its entirety, visit http://press.gettyimages.com/getty-images-and-verizon-media-award-40000-in-prizes-to-five-photographers-as-part-of-first-ever-disability-focused-creative-bursary/. Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, in collaboration with Verizon Media, has named five recipients to its latest Creative Bursary grant focusing on life with disabilities. Recipients of the Disability Stories Creative Bursary include: First Place ($15,000) — Nolan Ryan Trowe for “Adopted Family”: Nolan is a disabled documentary photographer and filmmaker who is inspired by the human condition. His project sheds light on a group of 10 people with disabilities who gather weekly in Harlem to discuss disability rights and representation. Second Place ($10,000) — Snezhana von Buedingen for “Sofie at Work”: Snezhana, from Cologne, Germany, documents the life of a young woman with Down syndrome for two years as she transitions into adulthood and faces the day-to-day challenges of her disability. Third Place ($5,000): Adetona Omokanye for “Beyond 4 Foot 10 Inches”: Adetona’s project aims to deconstruct the socio-cultural stereotypes of dwarfs in media and advertising. The subjects in this series are beautiful, compelling, bold and vivacious. Isabel Alexander for “Metronome”: Isabel captures her brother, who has autism, and the ways in which his disability impacts not only his life, but the lives of those who are closest to him. Jacqueline Foss for “Beneath the Skin”: Jacqueline, who lives in Baltimore, uses self-portrait therapy to express what it is like to live with chronic ailments.

Are you missing out on the action in movies? Do you wonder what’s so special about a famous painting or national monument? Are you frustrated when there’s no information about visual details during important live events? The American Council of the Blind (ACB) and its Audio Description Project (ADP) aim to bring more meaning and enjoyment to entertainment, cultural, and educational experiences for blind and visually impaired people. The key is Audio Description. Audio Description—live or as a voiceover narrative—makes visual imagery accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. The Audio Description Project works to promote and advocate for the use of high-quality audio description in television, movies, performing arts, museums, educational materials and other venues where visual media is critical to the understanding and appreciation of the content. These visual elements can include action, costumes, settings, facial gestures, facial expressions and other visually important images. The ADP sponsors a broad range of activities designed to build awareness of audio description among the general public as well as its principal users, people who are blind or have low vision. As part of its mission, the ADP: Maintains a list of described DVDs, broadcast television, movies, performing arts, museums, and national parks on the ADP website (www.acb.org/adp). As the only repository of all audio described titles on DVD and the video streaming services (Amazon, iTunes, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Netflix, etc.), the ADP decided to create a new index of ALL the titles. This new master index allows you to look up any movie or TV series to see if it is available anywhere for purchase or with a subscription. 3368 described videos are available; Offers a biennial ADP Conference and Mentoring Program (AD consumers working with describers and industry representatives); Sponsors and promotes the ADP Awards, including the BADIE contest (Benefits of Audio Description in Education), co-sponsored with the Described and Captioning Program,  which recognizes reviews of described material written by blind students; Maintains the Audio Description Discussion Group Listserv, an active Facebook page, and Twitter feed; Sponsors two Audio Description Institutes each year: three-day intensive training seminars on the development of high-quality audio description; Produces description for special initiatives, e.g., The White House AD tour, national broadcast of description for presidential inaugurations, the live description of the solar eclipse, and select description projects for museums, performing arts and film; Is working with other national service organizations and the ACVREP (Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals) on the development of a certification process for audio description writers and audio description consumer consultants; Offers national and international leadership on issues regarding audio description at the federal, state and local levels and in international forums. We hope you’ll consider making a contribution to our end of year fundraiser to help support the Audio Description Project and other programs and services like it. To donate, please visit http://weblink.donorperfect.com/ACBFundraiser. ACB and you, together, for a bright future.