We are pleased to announce the hiring of Cindy Van Winkle to be ACB’s Membership Services Coordinator. Since 2016 Cindy has served as Development and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Lighthouse for the Blind in Seattle. In her role at the Lighthouse she has been responsible for:  Providing coordination and oversight of volunteer, school tour, and workplace giving programs; Producing and posting appropriate and mission-related content across social media platforms; Leading tours and making presentations sharing the Lighthouse mission and history; and Working closely with and supporting the Development team on annual fund initiatives and fundraising events. Professionalism, enthusiasm, and a sincere heart for the rights of the blind community are attributes Cindy wears daily. She has spent all of her adult life working in the blindness arena. Cindy is a motivator by nature and finds great fulfillment in encouraging others to do well, providing them the tools necessary to be successful. She has been an active member of the American Council of the Blind for over 30 years and is a passionate supporter of our mission.  Cindy’s first day at ACB will be June 10 and she will be working in the Minneapolis office. Her email address will be [email protected]. Please join us in welcoming her to the team!

The American Council of the Blind and the DKM First-Timers Committee is pleased to announce the 2019 DKM First-Timers. Each recipient met all of the requirements necessary for consideration of the honor of receiving this award. Make plans to attend the DKM First-Timers Reception on Wednesday July 10th in Rochester to witness the honorees being recognized and to participate in our Gift Card Fundraiser and Sports Fans activities. The DKM First-Timers Award is ACB's primary leadership development award and it is given in memory of Durward K. McDaniel, also known as the founding father of ACB.  The DKM First-Timers Program and ACB honors recipients by funding round-trip air travel and supporting transportation, hotel accommodations (double occupancy), per diem allowance for meals and incidentals and leadership activities, reception, banquet tickets, the general convention registration fee, and other activities determined by the committee and ACB Board of Directors. The responsibilities of each recipient include but are not limited to attending the full week of conference and convention activities from Friday July 5 – Friday July 12; participating in daily general sessions, Keys to the Convention Seminar along with special-interest and committee seminars. Read below the introductions to find out more about the DKM First-Timers Program. Introducing Ted Boardman of Bloomington, Indiana as the 2019 DKM First-Timer (East of the Mississippi River) Ted works full-time managing information technology for an academic department at Indiana University. He also does freelance app and web development. Ted has worked hard to strengthen his chapter, Heartland ACB by assisting with administrative tasks and broadening awareness of their efforts, while also serving as chapter representative to the ACB of Indiana board of directors. Other efforts include actively advocating to improve access to transportation and employment. Even while facing challenges with progressive vision loss, he exhibits positive energy and is determined to serve and assist others while advancing his career goals.   Introducing Steven Salas of Austin, Texas as the 2019 DKM First-Timer (West of the Mississippi River) Steven is in his final year at Austin Community College as he works to acquire his degree in Music Business, Performance and Technology. He eagerly plans to move forward with a career in Music Business with a goal to become a music teacher and performing artist. Since joining the Austin Council of the Blind, Steven has served on the nominating committee and the public relations committee while assisting his chapter by maintaining a presence on social media, the chapter website and community projects, including public speaking. Steven desires to share his abilities as he identifies areas that he can contribute to throughout the organization.  To be eligible for consideration, each applicant had to meet specific requirements, which includes being age 18 or older; blind or visually impaired; an ACB member in good standing, and never have attended a previous ACB national conference and convention. In addition, two letters were submitted for each applicant — a letter of application from the interested member and a letter of recommendation from a state or special interest affiliate president. The letter of application introduced the applicant to the committee and contained reasons for applying for the award, a brief summary of education and experience related to the applicants community service, contributions to the affiliate, and the significance of the First-Timers award to the applicant’s personal or career development. The letter of recommendation included the applicant’s leadership contributions and potential. Applicants also participated in a 30 minute interview.

As ACB approaches its 58th annual conference and convention, we continue to place more emphasis as an organization on investing in the development of new leadership talent for the future. Tremendous thanks to the DKM First-Timers Committee for all their hard work interviewing the numerous candidates and helping to select the recipients. A special grant from JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) permits ACB to continue to offer a program which will bring five ACB members with recognized leadership potential to this year’s convention in Rochester, NY. Donna K. Browning is from Alexandria, Virginia. She serves as the vice president of NOVA (Northern Virginia Council of the Blind), as second vice president of ACB of Virginia, and chairs the communications committee, which oversees development of the website and social media presence. Within her community, Donna has served on the Commission on Persons with Disabilities for the city of Alexandria, Virginia, assisted in setting up a Spanish library at one of the local children’s hospitals, as well as, serving in her religious community in various ways. Rosemarie Facilla is from Muskegon, Michigan. She has a master’s degree in social work and is now enjoying retirement. Having been a longtime ACB member, she has held nearly every position in her chapter, served as second vice president of Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and currently serves as president. Rosemarie was instrumental in starting a phone chapter to better connect at-large members to the organization. She believes that a leader utilizes skills of members in the organization to move the affiliate forward, as well as, prompting the sharing of innovative ideas to ensure the health and growth of the organization. Donald L. Kalman is from Medina, Ohio. He served his local community as a volunteer fireman for 18 years. He was instrumental in getting audible traffic signals installed at four intersections in his hometown. He made his mark when he initiated a used CCTV loaner program for visually impaired people in the community and throughout Ohio. He has held several positions on the local and state level and commits to offering to assist wherever needed. Rachel Schroeder is from Springfield, Illinois. She is employed as an Assistive Technology Specialist with the Illinois Assistive Technology Program and currently holds the office of president of the Illinois Council of the Blind. She has membership in several special interest affiliates and serves on the ACB’s Women’s Concerns Committee, along with service on a variety of committees on all levels of the organization. Amanda Selm is from Louisville, Kentucky. She is a proud mother and wife, and holds a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary early childhood education from the University of Kentucky, and currently works as an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Inc. She is a founding member of the Kentucky Council of the Blind Next Generation chapter and also serves as secretary and shares her talents by serving on the KCB board of directors. As chair of the ACB Next Generation Committee, Amanda plans to use this opportunity to expand her horizons within ACB and to assist other young members to do the same.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features LEGO’s new braille bricks, Raleigh and Smart Cities for All partnership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settling disability discrimination allegations relating to the CPA exam, and advocacy updates.   LEGO Releases Braille Bricks To read this article online, visit https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/health/lego-braille-bricks-scli-intl/index.html. LEGO has unveiled a new project aimed at helping blind and visually impaired children learn braille in a "playful and engaging way." LEGO Braille Bricks, a concept originally proposed to the toy company by two charities, will allow children to learn the touch writing system through play. The bricks, which will launch fully in 2020, feature the studs used for characters in the braille alphabet, as well as printed characters allowing sighted people to read the bricks. They will be "fully compatible" with existing LEGO bricks, the company said in a press release. The Danish Association of the Blind suggested the concept to the LEGO Foundation in 2011, while the Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind, based in Brazil, proposed the bricks in 2017. A spokesperson for LEGO told CNN that the company had gone on to develop prototypes with both organizations, as well as the British charities Leonard Cheshire and Royal National Institute of Blind People, and the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted. The final set will comprise approximately 250 bricks, covering the complete braille alphabet, numbers from zero to nine, math symbols, as well as "inspiration for teaching and interactive games." Braille Bricks are currently undergoing testing in schools in Portuguese, Danish, English and Norwegian. Spanish, French and German versions will be tested later this year. They will ultimately be distributed free of charge to institutions through the partner organizations.   Raleigh and Smart Cities for All Partner to Explore Power of Technology and Inclusion To read the full story online, visit https://g3ict.org/news-releases/raleigh-and-smart-cities-for-all-partner-to-explore-power-of-technology-and-inclusion Raleigh, a city committed to being both smarter and more inclusive is piloting Smart City Digital Inclusion assessment tool created by G3ict and World Enabled with Microsoft’s support. This week, the Smart Cities for All global initiative, a collaboration of G3ict and World Enabled, two nonprofits with a history of leadership in inclusive, accessible design, has convened in Raleigh a team of global smart technology and inclusion experts to track the city’s progress and measure commitment to digital inclusion. The Smart City Digital Inclusion Maturity Model tool helps cities evaluate the current state of ICT accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in city digital and smart services. Focused on a broad range of functions important to all cities, such as communications, procurement, training, and technology standards, it defines key performance indicators and metrics to support advancing accessibility and digital inclusion in a smart city context. James Thurston, G3ict Vice President and Smart Cities for All Managing Director praised Raleigh’s commitment to using technology to benefit all people in the city, including persons with disabilities. In October 2018, Raleigh released its first ever Smart City strategy. That strategy defined five strategic priorities and an organizational plan to pursue them. The city, led by Chief Information Officer (CIO) D. Darnell Smith, conducted a comprehensive assessment to develop the strategy, including a benchmark survey of more than 200 city employees and multiple community and partner meetings. This week’s pilot assessment with Smart Cities for All will lead to a roadmap to complement to Raleigh’s Smart City strategy. During this week’s pilot of the Smart Cities for All Digital Inclusion Maturity Model, the expert team convened by G3ict and its partners is meeting with 19 city departments to understand how effectively the city coordinates its digital inclusion and smart city efforts to create inclusive experiences for everyone. The result of the pilot will be an assessment of Raleigh’s progress on digital inclusion and a roadmap for making more progress.   U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Disability Discrimination Allegations Related to the CPA Exam BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached an agreement with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) related to testing accommodations for individuals who are blind or have low vision who take the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam (the CPA exam).  This agreement resolves allegations of discrimination on the basis of disability under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “People who have vision-related disabilities deserve equal opportunities to take the CPA exam and gain licensure to the profession,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “We are pleased that AICPA and NASBA worked cooperatively to adopt measures that will ensure these individuals receive appropriate auxiliary aids so that their CPA exam results accurately reflect their aptitude rather than reflecting their impaired visual skills.” In order to become a licensed CPA, one must pass the CPA exam, which consists of four separate sections, available only on a computer. When the United States began its investigation in August 2017, there was no auxiliary aid software available to exam-takers with low vision that would allow them to both magnify the computer screen and have the computer read aloud sections of the text. Instead, those exam-takers had to use alternative auxiliary aids, and sometimes a human reader, for some portions of the exam, rather than the screen reader/magnifier they requested that was recommended by their qualified professional health care provider as appropriate for their disability. AICPA now makes screen reader/magnifier software available to exam-takers with low vision for all four sections of the exam and has made the text of the Authoritative Literature (resource materials for use during the exam) accessible through a screen reader. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, AICPA is continuing to work with advocacy organizations and auxiliary aid software developers to ensure ongoing accessibility of the exam to individuals with vision-related disabilities.  Additionally, the AICPA will pay $15,000 to an individual who was a subject of the alleged discrimination. The United States will also identify other aggrieved persons who are blind or have low vision and recently took the CPA exam with an inappropriate auxiliary aid. Each additional aggrieved person shall receive up to $10,000 from AICPA, based on the details and extent of discrimination they suffered. Individuals who believe they are aggrieved persons under the terms of the agreement should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (617) 275-8756.   Advocacy Updates On the April 19th ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal interview Carol Tyson, an advocate from the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. The three discuss numerous advocacy issues surrounding transportation and the work many different advocacy organizations are doing to fight for greater access to transportation. Listen to this episode via your favorite podcast player or online at: http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-april-19-2019-0?fbclid=IwAR1fmipqQkO0FbJS7Ac7OJbNm9vwTcQLGLC_G050hctCfj_1Zt0-NqoGz98.

Aira Looks Forward to Welcoming You to the 2019 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention in Rochester! As you know, the 2019 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention will be held in Rochester, N.Y. from Friday, July 5th through Friday, July 12th. What you may not know is that this year’s reduced room rates come courtesy of Aira. ACB members attending Conference and Convention can enjoy a reduced hotel rate from $89 to $82 per night. This is applicable for ACB members only. If you have already made your hotel reservation, you will still get the reduced rate if you are an ACB member. ACB will be verifying our members internally with the hotel. Aira will also be providing free service during the event, meaning you can explore and experience everything the convention has to offer with Aira at no cost to you – from the moment you get to Rochester Airport, to entering your reduced rate hotel, to visiting exhibit booths and reading menus while at dinner with friends. Aira and ACB look forward to meeting you at this year’s ACB Conference and Convention. Come say “hi” to the Aira Team at their booth and attend their interactive talks. You can find all the details about Aira convention happenings at aira.io/acb. To become a member of the American Council of the Blind, visit: http://acb.org/user/register.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information on airlines and service animal policies, news about electric vehicles, signing up for paratransit in Rochester, how to order dog food for delivery at the convention, how to apply for the Friends-in-Art scholarship, a survey on who blind people trust to get assistance, a career exploration summit and global accessibility symposium, Lions World Song Festival, and advocacy updates.   Airlines and Service Animal Policies The ACB national office has received calls regarding concerns over some airlines’ new service animal policies. Such policies require travelers to perform certain tasks, such as providing a signed letter by a physician before they can board a plane. These requirements are inconsistent with the Air Carrier Access Act. In response to such policies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently drafting an interim policy statement that will come out this spring clarifying the department’s stance on these issues. This statement will help travelers better understand current policies and what is required of them. Then, this fall, the FAA will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) where all Americans can provide comments to the FAA. ACB will post the notice on its listservs, on the website, on social media, and on the Washington Connection. When the time comes, and the NPRM is made available, ACB encourages all members to submit comments to stress the concern of all guide dog users. ACB staff members will be available to assist members in submitting their comments. If you do experience a situation where you are denied access because of your dog, asked to provide paperwork, etc., the FAA asks that you file a complaint immediately. You have 60 days from the event to do so. To file the complaint online, go to https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/file-consumer-complaint. Or you may file a complaint by phone at (202) 366-2220. To file a complaint by mail, please send your correspondence to: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC  20590. In the meantime, ACB encourages all air travelers to be vigilant when flying, and to advocate for themselves in light of such policies.   EVs Will Soon Be Required to Make More Noise at Slow Speeds To read the full article online, go to https://mashable.com/article/electric-vehicles-noise-sound-requirements/#4ziEQrLYzZOO. The American rock band Linkin Park is helping Mercedes-AMG come up with just the right sound for its electric performance car. Yes, really. At the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, Mercedes executives said the music group would develop the sound the normally quiet battery-powered vehicles would make when driving to alert pedestrians. That's because electric vehicles are pretty much silent, and dangerously so, regulators say. As greater numbers of electric vehicles make it onto the road, worries about the potential danger of silent vehicles to pedestrians, cyclists, and blind people grow. The European Union has a new directive requiring all new electric and hybrid vehicles to give a sound warning to pedestrians by 2021. The U.S. set up a similar requirement for hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require all electric vehicles (and hybrids) to emit a sound while moving up to 18.6 mph by September 2020. The noise requirement will be phased in to give car makers time to modify the vehicles, with 50 percent of cars required to emit a sound by this September. Here in the U.S., more automakers are going electric. About 1 percent of car sales are EVs, which means more of these quieter cars are sneaking up on people in the crosswalk or while pulling out of a parking space. To comply with the upcoming requirements, every car maker must have a sound plan if it has or will have an electric vehicle in its lineup. To hear the Nissan LEAF’s sound, click on this link: 2018 Nissan LEAF approaching vehicle sound for pedestrians VSP system. Motorcycles are also part of this new regulation, so Harley-Davidson's new LiveWire electric motorcycle is revving up with an original sound emulating a "real" hog. Hear it here: Harley Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle sound.   Using Paratransit in Rochester To be certified for paratransit in Rochester, N.Y., your current paratransit provider needs to send verification of your eligibility. They will need to provide the following information: Applicant's full name Applicant's date of birth Applicant's full address, phone number and e-mail address Applicant's paratransit ID number and expiration date Type of mobility aid used, if applicable If applicant is authorized for a Personal Care Attendant If applicant uses a service animal Start and end date of visit Information should be faxed to (585) 654-0229 or emailed to [email protected] by June 14th. Once they receive the information, the applicant will be contacted and provided with their temporary access ID number and instructions for scheduling rides, fares and the cancellation policy.   Ordering Dog Food for Convention Scoop Masters will provide and maintain our dog relief areas. If you would like to pre-order dog food to be delivered to your hotel room, call Tim Stone at 1-800-787-7667, or order online at http://scoopmasters.com/acb. Fill out the form that asks for name, email address, phone number, brand and type of food. Tim will call to get the details within 24 hours, and will accept payments at the hotel. Food must be ordered by June 15th to ensure delivery.   FIA Scholarship Available You are invited to apply for the Friends-in-Art scholarship! Friends-in-Art (FIA), a nonprofit organization with the mission of advancing accessibility and opportunity for artists and audience members who are visually impaired, offers an annual $1,500 scholarship to college students who are legally blind and live in North America. If you are a high school senior or a college student who is planning to, or currently majoring in the field of music, art, drama, or creative writing, and are blind or visually impaired, we encourage you to apply! Note: Legal blindness is defined as an individual who has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the corrected eye and/or 20 degrees or less visual field in the corrected eye. Only individuals who are legally blind in BOTH eyes are eligible to receive this scholarship. To apply, please go to www.friendsinart.com and complete the application and upload/mail the required materials, including documentation of visual impairment from a medical professional, per the directions on the form by May 15, 2019. Please direct any questions to Peter Altschul, FIA's scholarship chair, via email at [email protected].   Who Do You Trust When You Need Assistance? Vinod Namboodiri is a member of the faculty at Wichita State University who works on designing assistive technologies for those who are blind or visually impaired. Along with researchers at the Envision Research institute he is running a study that collects anonymous responses to assess who BVI users trust in various situations to provide assistance when they need help. To take the survey, go to https://forms.gle/33NmDtFptnYTVyy26.   Lights! Camera! Access! If you or someone you know is an aspiring technology or media professional, storyteller, gamer, geek, coder, filmmaker, musician, actor, dreamer, writer, director, editor, transitioning youth, college student, recent grad, disabled veteran who is deaf or has a disability, check out Lights! Camera! Access! Silicon Valley Career Exploration Summit and the Global Accessibility Symposium on May 17th — Own the Deaf & Disability Narrative Imperative across delivery platforms (TV, movies, documentaries, news, theatre, interactive and video games) — and make a difference.  The application deadline for this summit is April 30, at 8 p.m. Pacific. To apply, visit https://goo.gl/forms/NLLKx1S7BCRPWNjO2.   Lions World Song Festival The 4th Lions World Song Festival for the Blind will be held November 14 to 16 in Krakow, Poland. The contest is intended for talented vocalists struggling with sight problems – blind or partially sighted, who are not professional musicians. We believe that the festival can help them to start their professional careers. This festival was created to promote blind and visually impaired talented vocalists. During the previous three events, 68 vocalists from 20 countries and 4 continents performed. The event is set up as a competition; only the best singers will perform in Krakow. All concerts are performed with the accompaniment of a professional orchestra. The registration deadline is May 31, 2019. For more information, visit http://lionsfestival.org/en/, or check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LionsWorldSongFestivalForTheBlind/.   Advocacy Updates On the April 8th ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal talk about audio description, along with Sheila Young, president of the Florida Council of the Blind, who discusses her experience submitting comments regarding audio description with the Federal Communications Commission. To listen to the podcast online, go to http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-april-8-2019.

Notice of Proposed Settlement of Class Action Lawsuits  Attention: all persons with a qualified disability: This is a court-authorized notice. If you have used any of the City of New York’s ramps, cuts, or slopes where a pedestrian walkway crosses a curb (“Pedestrian Ramps”) since January 26, 1994 or if you believe that you will seek to use the City’s Pedestrian Ramps in the future and you are a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), you may be a member of the Plaintiff Class affected by the settlement of these lawsuits. Qualified disabilities may include, but are not limited to, mobility disabilities and vision disabilities. Please read this notice carefully. Your rights may be affected by legal proceedings in these cases.   Notice of Class Action The purpose of this notice is to inform you of a proposed settlement in two lawsuits brought on behalf of persons with disabilities against the City of New York (“the City”). This class action settlement (“Settlement Agreement” or “Agreement”), which must be approved by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, was reached in: Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association v. City of New York, 94 CV 0435 (GBD) (KNF) (“the EPVA action”) and Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York et al. v. City of New York, et al., 14 CV 5884 (GBD) (KNF) (“the CIDNY action”).   Background Information The EPVA action was filed on January 26, 1994, alleging that the City had failed to install Pedestrian Ramps at all of its corners, as required by Title II of the ADA, thus making streets and sidewalks inaccessible to the disabled. On August 27, 2002, EPVA (now known as United Spinal Association) and the City entered into a Stipulation (“the 2002 Stipulation”), which was “so- ordered” by the Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Thomas P. Griesa on September 10, 2002. The 2002 Stipulation certified (a) the Plaintiff Class, consisting of “qualified individuals with a disability, as defined in [the ADA] “who use or seek to use pedestrian ramps in the City,” (b) EPVA as the Class Representative, and (c) Broach & Stulberg, LLP as Class Counsel. The 2002 Stipulation required the City to install Pedestrian Ramps at all corners lacking ramps, and to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to accomplish that goal. Pursuant to the 2002 Stipulation, the City: installed Pedestrian Ramps throughout the five boroughs; amended its Pedestrian Ramp Transition Plan to recite its financial and operational commitments to those installations; and established, with EPVA, a Working Group to share relevant data, and a dispute resolution process to address conflicts. The Court retained jurisdiction to decide disputes that the parties could not resolve. Subsequently, EPVA, through the Working Group, raised concerns about the need to: complete the installation of Pedestrian Ramps at the corners remaining to be ramped; upgrade Pedestrian Ramps that were not ADA-compliant; and improve the City’s system for responding to Pedestrian Ramp- related complaints. The CIDNY action was filed on August 1, 2014, alleging, among other things, that the City had violated Title II of the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, et seq., and the New York City Human Rights Law § 8-107 et seq., by failing to install and maintain Pedestrian Ramps in Community Boards 1, 2 and 3 in Manhattan. CIDNY brought the action on behalf of a putative class of “all persons with mobility and/or vision disabilities who use or will use New York City pedestrian rights-of-way in Lower Manhattan.” CIDNY sought to be appointed the Class Representative, and Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”) sought to be appointed Class Counsel in the CIDNY action. On January 28, 2016, EPVA and the City entered into a So Ordered Stipulation Resolving Disputes (“the 2016 Stipulation”), which was “so-ordered” by Judge Griesa on February 11, 2016. On May 31, 2016, the Honorable U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels held a Fairness Hearing concerning the 2016 Stipulation, at which counsel for the City, for EPVA, and for several disability rights organizations with objections to the 2016 Stipulation[1] were heard. Following the Fairness Hearing, the Court appointed a Special Master to evaluate the 2016 Stipulation. On August 1, 2017, the Special Master issued his report containing the evaluation. Thereafter, counsel for the City, counsel for EPVA and the Plaintiff Class, and counsel for CIDNY and the other Objectors engaged in extensive, arms-length, good faith discussions, which included dozens of in-person and telephonic negotiation sessions, and mediation sessions conducted by the Honorable U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin D. Fox. As a result of those discussions, the parties now wish to effect a complete resolution and settlement of the claims, disputes and controversies presented in the EPVA and CIDNY actions, and to resolve their differences on the terms set forth in the proposed Agreement Judge Daniels, presiding in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, is in charge of the EPVA and CIDNY suits. Judge Daniels did not decide in favor of the Plaintiffs or the City in these cases. Instead, all parties have agreed to the proposed settlement terms. That way, they avoid the cost, delay, and uncertainty of a trial, and the settlement benefits go to the Class Members. The Class Representatives and Class Counsel (the attorneys appointed by the Court to represent the Class) believe that the proposed Agreement is in the best interests of the Class Members, taking into account the benefits of the settlement, the risks of continued litigation, and the delay in obtaining relief for the Class if the litigation continues.   The Plaintiff Class, Class Representatives & Class Counsel In a class action, one or more people or organizations, called Class Representatives, sue on behalf of people who have similar legal claims. One court resolves the issues for all Class Members upon approval of the Agreement. For purposes of this settlement, the Plaintiff Class includes all persons with a qualified disability, including but not limited to Mobility and Vision Disabilities, who use or seek to use the City’s Pedestrian Ramps. The Agreement provides that EPVA n/k/a United Spinal Association and CIDNY will be the Class Representatives, subject to Court approval. The Agreement also provides for Broach & Stulberg, LLP (or a successor firm) and DRA to collectively serve as Class Counsel, subject to Court approval.   Summary of the Proposed Settlement Agreement The Agreement commits the City to ongoing, widespread accessibility improvements to its Pedestrian Ramps through City-wide surveys, scheduled installations and upgrades, complaint remediation, on-going maintenance, sharing of information, and third-party monitoring. The Agreement requires the City to survey all street corners across the five boroughs using laser technology to determine how many currently require Pedestrian Ramp installations and/or upgrades. The survey is to be completed no later than October 2019. The results of the survey will be used by the City to target future Pedestrian Ramp upgrades and installations, and its results will be incorporated into an Updated Transition Plan, which will be made publicly available and set forth the schedule for installation and upgrades consistent with the Agreement. The Agreement requires the City to conduct two additional City-wide surveys during the term of the Agreement in order to assess the status of Pedestrian Ramps in the City. The first of those surveys must be conducted by the close of Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2033, while the second must be conducted by the close of FY2046. The Agreement sets out long-term and short-term deadlines to be met for installation of all remaining missing Pedestrian Ramps and upgrading of all non-compliant Pedestrian Ramps. The City is committing to installing and upgrading Pedestrian Ramps at specified rates. Overall, installations of remaining standard Pedestrian Ramps (at approximately 424 corners) will be completed by FY2021, and installations of remaining complex Pedestrian Ramps (at approximately 2,736 corners) will be completed by FY2030. Upgrades of non-compliant standard Pedestrian Ramps (at approximately 108,590 corners) will be completed by FY2032. Upgrades of non-compliant complex Pedestrian Ramps (at approximately 5,500 corners) will be completed by FY2034, and upgrades of the remaining non-compliant complex ramps (at approximately 10,500 corners) will be completed at the rate of approximately 815 corners per Fiscal Year, starting in FY2035. These installations and upgrades will be accomplished through various means of construction, including but not limited to, in connection with the City’s resurfacing operations, in connection with complaints made by members of the public, and through a mutually agreed prioritization criteria. In addition to these installations and upgrades, the Agreement requires the City to maintain its Pedestrian Ramps as required by the federal accessibility laws, both during and after the term of the Agreement, so that members of the Plaintiff Class will be able to access those Pedestrian Ramps safely and independently. The maintenance will be performed on an ongoing, indefinite and regular basis, as required by the federal accessibility laws. The Agreement also requires the City to install or upgrade Pedestrian Ramps at both standard and complex corners in accordance with federal accessibility laws whenever it resurfaces an adjacent roadway. The Agreement commits the City to maintaining a Pedestrian Ramp complaint program in order to allow members of the general public to request installations and repairs as needed. The Complaint Program will require the City to permanently install or upgrade complained-of Pedestrian Ramps as soon as possible, and to dedicate a full-time in-house construction crew to respond to such complaints. The City also will provide temporary accessible solutions at complained-of corners, as appropriate and compliant with federal accessibility laws. For complaints currently pending, the City will provide temporary accessible solutions, as appropriate and compliant with federal accessibility laws, by March 15, 2019. For complaints received after March 15, 2019, the City will provide temporary accessible solutions, as appropriate and compliant with federal accessibility laws, within 45 days of receiving the complaint. The City also will employ an Associate Deputy Commissioner to head the Pedestrian Ramp Program Unit at the City’s Department of Transportation, to ensure that all implementation- related tasks are carried out. Finally, the Agreement requires additional oversight of the implementation by an independent Monitor for a period of up to 15 years. The Monitor’s duties will encompass assessing, among other things: the surveying process; the progress with installing and upgrading Pedestrian Ramps; the Pedestrian Ramp maintenance program; and the Pedestrian Ramp complaint program. The Monitor will conduct semi-annual reviews for the first five years, to be followed by annual reviews for the remainder of the monitoring period. Each compliance assessment by the Monitor will be reported to the Court, Class Counsel, and the City’s counsel within 30 days of the annual review.   Release of Claims The Agreement resolves and releases, up until the end of its term (i.e., the date on which all scheduled installations and upgrades are completed), all claims for injunctive, declaratory or other non-monetary relief that were brought, could have been brought, or could be brought in the future alleging that, during the period of January 26, 1994 through the term of the Agreement, persons with qualified disabilities were denied access to, excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of the City’s Pedestrian Ramps. The Agreement does not provide for any monetary relief to the Plaintiff Class, and does not release any damages for personal injury claims that Plaintiff Class members may have.   Reasonable Attorneys' Fees, Costs and Expenses Plaintiffs and the City have not yet reached an agreement with respect to the amount of reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses to be paid. Absent an agreement between the parties, Plaintiffs will seek an order from the Court requiring the City to pay Plaintiffs’ counsel and Objectors’ counsel for all reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred since work began on this case through final approval of the Agreement by the Court, in addition to a certain sum for litigation costs and expenses incurred. Class Counsel, as well as the Monitor discussed above, shall also be entitled to reasonable fees, costs and expenses for monitoring the City’s compliance with the Agreement. Any award of attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses must be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and consistent with prevailing marketplace standards. The Court-awarded amount will not be paid from the monies to be spent on disability access improvements pursuant to the Agreement.   Fairness of Settlement Agreement The Class Representatives and Class Counsel have concluded that the terms and conditions of the proposed Agreement are fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the Plaintiff Class. In reaching this conclusion, the Class Representatives and Class Counsel have considered the benefits of the settlement, the possible outcomes of continued litigation of these issues, the expense and length of continued litigation, and actual and possible appeals.   The Court's Final Approval/Fairness Hearing The Court has preliminarily approved the settlement, and has scheduled a hearing for July 23, 2019, at 10:30 a.m., in Courtroom 11A of the Honorable George B. Daniels, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY, 10007. The purpose of the hearing is to decide whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, and should be finally approved. Although Plaintiff Class Members are not required to attend the hearing, they have the right to attend and be heard there. In the course of the hearing, the Court will consider any objections to the settlement and listen to people who have asked to speak. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the settlement. The Court will also consider how much to award Class Counsel as reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and litigation expenses. It is unknown long this decision will take. The hearing date is subject to change without further notice. If you wish to be informed of any changes to the schedule, please notify Class Counsel at the addresses listed in the next section below. You may also check the Disability Rights Advocates’ website at https://dralegal.org/case/center-independence-disabled-new-york-cidny-et-al-v-city-new-york- et-al/, Broach & Stulberg’s website at http://www.brostul.com, the New York City Department of Transportation Pedestrian Ramp website at http://www.nycpedramps.info, or the public court records on file in this action at https://www.pacer.gov/ for any updates.   Objections to the Settlement Agreement Any Plaintiff Class member may object to the terms of the proposed settlement described above by submitting a written or oral objection to Class Counsel via regular or electronic mail, or by leaving a message with their objection via telephone or Video Relay Service. If you submit an objection, you may appear at the Final Approval Hearing to have your objection heard by the Court, however you do not have to come to the Final Approval Hearing to talk about it. If you plan on speaking at the Final Approval Hearing, please indicate that you plan to do so in your objection. If you do not submit an objection prior to the deadline, you may not be provided an opportunity to speak to the District Court about your objection at the Final Approval Hearing. If you submit an objection, it should include the following information: (a) your name, address, and, if available, your telephone number and e-mail address; (b) if you are being represented by counsel, the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of your attorney; (c) a statement of your objections; and (d) a statement of whether you are a member of the Plaintiff Class. Please note that the Court can only approve or deny the Settlement Agreement, not change the terms of the Settlement Agreement based on objections or comments received. All objections must be submitted or postmarked on or before June 3, 2019. All email objections must be sent to the following email address: [email protected] or [email protected]. All oral objections must be made by leaving a message at the following number: 212-644-8644 or 212-268-1000. All regular mail objections must be sent to one of the following addresses: Robert B. Stulberg, Esq. Broach & Stulberg, LLP One Penn Plaza, Suite 2601 New York, NY 10119 Michelle Caiola, Esq. Disability Rights Advocates 655 Third Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10017 Any Class Member who does not object at or before the Final Approval Hearing will be deemed to have approved the Settlement and to have waived such objections and shall not be able to make any objections (by appeal or otherwise) to the Settlement. If you do not oppose this settlement, you need not appear or file anything in writing.   Binding Effect The proposed Agreement, if given final approval by the Court, will bind all members of the Plaintiff Class. This will bar any person who is a member of the Plaintiff Class from prosecuting or maintaining any claim or action released under the terms of the Agreement.   Further Information The terms of the settlement are only summarized in this notice. For the precise and full terms and conditions of the settlement, please see the Settlement Agreement available at https://dralegal.org/case/center-independence-disabled-new-york-cidny-et-al-v-city-new-york- et-al/, or at http://www.brostul.com, or http://www.nycpedramps.info. You can additionally  view the settlement by accessing the Court docket on this case through the Court’s Public Access to Electronic Records (PACER) system at https://ecfcand.uscourts.gov, or by visiting the office of the Clerk of the Court for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays. You can also obtain more detailed information about the settlement or a copy of the Agreement, or obtain a copy of this Notice in an alternative accessible format from Class Counsel at either of the following addresses or telephone numbers: Robert B. Stulberg, Esq. Broach & Stulberg, LLP One Penn Plaza, Suite 2601 New York, NY 10119 212.268.1000 (Tel.) 212.947.6010 (Fax) Michelle Caiola, Esq. Disability Rights Advocates 655 Third Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10017 212 644 8644 (Tel.) 212 644 8636 (Fax) Please do not direct questions to the District Court.   [1] American Council of the Blind, Harlem Independent Living Center, Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, Bronx Independent Living Services, United for Equal Access, Inc., Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, American Council of the Blind of New York, Inc., and Disabled in Action of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (“Objectors”).  

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features the White House’s 2020 budget proposal and its potential impact on blind and visually impaired people, a study on connected autonomous vehicles and blind pedestrians, Hulu adding audio description, and advocacy updates.   White House Proposes Budget for 2020 The White House released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2020. Many in the disability community expressed concerns regarding program eliminations and spending cuts. It is important to keep in mind that our government is a system of checks and balances. One check that Congress has over the whims of the executive is the power of the purse, as laid down in the U.S. Constitution. A president’s budget proposal is as much a political messaging document as a policy document. We anticipate the newly elected Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, where all funding bills must originate, to view many of the executive’s policy recommendations with a healthy dose of skepticism. Along with our allies in the cross-disability community, the ACB national office is monitoring the actions of the administration and Congress very closely, and we will alert our membership of any significant developments. That said, below is a list of the budget proposals with the potential to directly impact ACB members. Medicare The White House budget proposal would reduce Medicare spending by $575 billion over the next 10 years by reducing wasteful spending, provider payments, and lowering prescription drug prices. Medicaid The White House budget proposal would reduce Medicaid spending by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years, would implement work requirements, and create $1.2 trillion block grants for the states. The net reduction in value for Medicaid is projected to be $777 billion. Social Security  The White House budget plans to reduce Social Security Disability Insurance spending by $10 billion over the next 10 years. Department of Education Programs authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are level funded. Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants would receive $3,610,000,000, a 2.5% increase ($88,010,000 increase) from FY 2019. Supported Employment State Grants is zeroed out, a $22,548,000 decrease. Services for Older Blind Individuals would receive $33,317,000, level funded. In addition, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults would receive $10,300,000, a 23.7% decrease ($3.2 million decrease) in funding from FY 2019. Under Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities: American Printing House for the Blind would receive $25,400,000, a 16.53% decrease ($5.03 million decrease) in funding from FY 2019. National Technical Institute for the Deaf would receive $70,000,000, a 9.68% decrease ($7.5 million decrease) from FY 2019. Gallaudet University would receive $121,300,000, a 9.72% decrease ($13.06 million decrease) from FY 2019. The budget proposal also proposes to eliminate 29 programs for an annual savings of $6.7 billion. Those programs include: Special Olympics Education Programs, which were funded at $17.6 million. 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which were funded at $1,221,700,000. Alaska Native Education, which was funded at $35 million    American History and Civics Education, which was funded at $4.8 million. Arts in Education, which was funded at $29 million. Comprehensive Centers, which were funded at $52 million. Comprehensive Literacy Development Grants, which were funded at $190 million. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, which were funded at $840 million. Full-Service Community Schools, which were funded at $17.5 million. Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, which was funded at $5 million. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, which were funded at $360 million. Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need, which was funded at $23 million. Impact Aid Payments for Federal Property, which were funded at $74.3 million. Innovative Approaches to Literacy, which were funded at $27 million. International Education and Foreign Language Studies Domestic Programs, which were funded at $65.1 million. International Education and Foreign Language Studies Overseas Programs, which were funded at $7.1 million. Javits Gifted and Talented Education, which was funded at $12 million. Native Hawaiian Education, which was funded at $36 million. Promise Neighborhoods, which were funded at $78.3 million. Ready to Learn Programming, which was funded at $27.7 million. Regional Educational Laboratories, which were funded at $55.4 million. Statewide Family Engagement Centers, which were funded at $10 million. Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems, which were funded at $32.3 million. Strengthening Institutions, which were funded at $99.9 million. Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, which were funded at $1.17 billion. Supported Employment State Grants, which were funded at $22.5 million. Supporting Effective Educator Development, which was funded at $75 million. Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants, which were funded at $2.055 billion. Teacher Quality Partnership, which was funded at $43.1 million.   Connected Autonomous Vehicle Study The research subject request below is being distributed for informational purposes only to individuals interested in completed the survey. ACB has no direct role in this project, but believes that it could contribute to our overall mission. Transportation is seeing all kinds of disruptive transformation. Ride sharing, electric cars and automated vehicles are only a few examples. While all these innovative technological advances will hopefully have a positive impact within our communities, the needs of pedestrians who are blind must not be left to chance. The CNIB Foundation in partnership with a leading Canadian university and a long serving researcher in the field of blindness, with partial funding from the Government of Canada - Transport Canada, is undertaking a study to identify possible mitigation strategies so that connected autonomous vehicles do not further marginalize pedestrians who are blind. We are inviting our colleagues throughout the world to share their views via an online survey. To access the survey, go to https://cnib.ca/en/support-usadvocate/transportation?region=ab. You’ll also find an overview of the project there. The survey will close at the end of April 2019. Please share widely and encourage anyone with sight loss or who is blind to take a few minutes to complete the survey. The final report which will consolidate our findings will be available mid to late July 2019. Thank you in advance for taking time to share your views via the survey. If you have any questions, please contact Lui Greco at [email protected].   Hulu Adds Descriptive Audio Tracks To read this article online, go to https://www.cordcuttersnews.com/hulu-adds-descriptive-audio-tracks-for-those-with-visual-impairments/ Back in October, we shared news about Hulu agreeing to provide an audio feed for people with visual disabilities to make the streaming service more accessible for viewers with disabilities. The agreement includes Hulu providing a separate audio track that describes the actions and the facial expressions of characters, allowing those with visual impairments to more fully experience what’s happening on the screen. The Audio Description Project, an initiative of the American Council of the Blind, has instructions available for accessing the audio descriptions. Just log in to your Hulu account from a web browser, click on the gear icon, and pull up the Subtitle and Audio menu where you’ll see an option for turning on Audio Description. On the Audio Description Project, you’ll also find a list of the programming that currently has audio descriptions available. As of now, there are four titles (all Hulu originals) available: Around the Way Fyre Fraud The Act The Handmaid’s Tale Check out the Audio Description Project’s Twitter account for updates as this service continues to grow and more titles add audio descriptions.   Advocacy Updates On the March 22nd ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal speak with Kelly Egan from Sprint about her experiences as a blind individual and also discuss the exciting accessibility endeavors that Sprint is currently working on. To listen to the podcast online, go to http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-march-22-2019.

“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features a job opening in ACB’s Minnesota office, awards deadlines, a convention tour preview, information about a Section 503 study, Advocacy Updates, and more.   ACB Seeks Membership Services Coordinator The American Council of the Blind has a position opening for a Membership Services Coordinator, located in ACB’s Brooklyn Center, Minnesota office. This individual will work forty hours per week and will report to the ACB Executive Director. For details about the position, visit http://acb.org/vacancy-membership-services-coordinator.   Awards Deadlines Loom The deadlines for awards to be presented at this year’s ACB convention are looming! The deadline for the Board of Publications awards – the Ned E. Freeman Excellence in Writing Award, Vernon Henley Media Award, and the Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Award – is April 1. The deadline for the Robert S. Bray, George Card, Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award, James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award, Affiliate Outreach and Affiliate Growth Awards is April 5. For further details about the awards, visit http://acb.org/call-nominees-2019-acb-awards and http://acb.org/bop-seeks-award-excellence. Please submit your nominations right away! Late submissions will not be considered. Nominations for the Freeman, Henley and Liggett Awards should be sent to Sharon Lovering, [email protected], by 11:59 p.m. Eastern April 1, 2019. Email nomination letters for the Bray, Card, DKM, Olsen, and Affiliate Outreach Awards to Debra Trevino, [email protected], and Debbie Rozear, [email protected], by 11:59 p.m. Eastern April 5, 2019.   Convention Tour Preview Below is a summary of the 2019 tours in Rochester, N.Y. during the Conference and Convention of the American Council of the Blind. For more complete tour information, including prices per person, visit http://acb.org/2019-convention-tour-preview. On Friday, July 5th, tours include a trip to the Genesee Country Village, a city bus tour, and a dinner cruise on the Colonial Belle. The Genesee Country Village is not wheelchair-accessible. Saturday’s tours include a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame (lots of walking in crowded conditions) and two city bus tours (no stops, no walking). Sunday’s tour is a trip to Leroy, N.Y. to visit the Jell-O Gallery, Leroy House and the Museum of Transportation. Portions of this tour are not wheelchair-accessible; it involves a considerable amount of walking. Monday’s tours include a trip to the Corning Museum of Glass and Cugini Café (lots of walking), one to the Strong Museum of Play (lots of walking), the sweet tooth tour to Laughing Gull Chocolates, and a trip to Batavia Downs Casino. Tuesday’s tours include an adult beverage tour (bring your ID), the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum (not wheelchair-accessible), and the Memorial Art Gallery. Wednesday’s tours include a trip to the New York School for the Blind, George Eastman House, and a repeat of the sweet tooth tour.  The post-convention tour on Friday, July 12th, is to Niagara Falls. It’s an all-day tour with a lot of walking (approximately 2 miles), steps, and slippery surfaces. There are no seats on the Maid of the Mist boat; you must have good balance for this tour.   Section 503 Study ACB received a request from Marco Tarantino, NIB’s Policy and Employment Fellow working out of the Envision Research Institute in Wichita, Kansas.  His fellowship project is focused on the Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 503) regulatory changes that took effect in 2014 and understanding how they have affected employment outcomes for blind and low vision individuals. He is recruiting blind or low-vision participants for unstructured interviews conducted through telephone, over video call, or in person, lasting approximately 45 minutes. Interview questions will pertain to the various situations that blind and low vision applicants/employees face in the employment cycle related to Section 503.  All information discussed regarding an individual will be deidentified and used solely for the purpose of research. To participate, contact him by phone at (316) 440-1524, or visit www.envisionus.com/research.   Advocacy Updates In the March 15th Advocacy Update, special guest Cory Kadlik joins Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal. Cory was a JPMorgan fellowship recipient for our 2019 Leadership Meetings and is a member of the Next Generation committee. The three discuss Cory’s experience attending the leadership meetings in February. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or hear it online at http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-march-15-2019. The March 6th Advocacy Update features Claire Stanley, Clark Rachfal, and guest board member Katie Frederick discussing the three imperatives ACB will focus on this year. The podcast also features Matt Handley’s phenomenal presentation from the Legislative Seminar. Tune in via your favorite podcast player, or listen online at http://acbradio.org/content/acb-advocacy-update-march-6-2019.   Have You Had Problems with U World? Are you familiar with, or have you used a test prep program call U World? It prepares users to take the SAT, ACT, MCAT, and so forth. If you have, or know someone who has had problems with U World or other test prep companies, contact Claire Stanley, (202) 467-5081 or [email protected].   Open Call with ACB’s Advocacy Committee In recent months, ACB staff has made available podcasts on a variety of issues to inform the membership on some of our activities. The Advocacy Committee, in a further effort to make you aware of the issues facing our community and to hear from you on your concerns, will be holding an open call on April 3, 2019, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern, or 5 to 6:30 p.m. Pacific. The call will be held using a Zoom platform; the information is contained below. For those unfamiliar with Zoom, you can use a landline, cell phone, or a computer. You will hear about some of the most important issues in which ACB is involved, and have the opportunity to ask about those issues as well as bring up other items that you feel require our involvement. ACB Advocacy Committee call (open to all) Date: Wednesday, April 3 Time: 8 p.m. Eastern Call-in number: (408) 638-0968 Meeting ID: 646576098 When prompted for a participant code, press the pound key. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android at https://zoom.us/j/646576098.

Below is a listing of our 2019 tours in Rochester, N.Y. during the Conference and Convention of the American Council of the Blind. Prices listed are per person for pre-registration. On-site pricing will be slightly higher.   Friday, July 5 Genesee Country Village, 8:00 AM - 4:45 PM, $100 Gift shops, lunch included. Tour is not wheelchair accessible; minimal walking.   City Bus Tour I, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM, $21 Enjoy a narrated tour of Rochester, no stops, no walking.   Colonial Belle, 5:15 PM -10:30 PM, $67 Includes plated dinner, cash bar available.   Saturday, July 6 Cooperstown, Baseball Hall of Fame, 5:15 AM - 6:30 PM, $100 This tour will involve a lot of walking in a very crowded museum. A boxed breakfast and late afternoon meal are included.   City Bus Tour II, 10:00 AM -12:30 PM, $21 Enjoy a narrated tour of Rochester, no stops, no walking.   City Bus Tour III, 1:15 PM -3:45 PM, $21 Enjoy a narrated tour of Rochester, no stops, no walking.   Sunday, July 7 Leroy, NY: Jell-O Gallery, Leroy House, Museum of Transportation, 12:15 PM - 8:15 PM, $60 Portions of this tour are not wheelchair accessible. There is walking from the museum to the Leroy House, plus throughout the venues. Gift shop at the Jell-O Museum. Dinner included. (Tour does not include lunch.)   Monday, July 8 Corning Museum of Glass and Cugini Café, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, $112 This tour will require a lot of walking. The gallery is quite large and open, with lots of echoing. You must be able to keep up with the group; there is no seating. Gift shops. Tour includes dinner, but not lunch.   Strong Museum of Play, 12:15 PM - 6:15 PM, $100 This tour involves a lot of walking with minimal places to sit. Lunch included. Gift shop.   Sweet Tooth Tour, Laughing Gull Chocolates, 1:15 PM -4:45 PM, $47 This is more than a candy tour. You’ll get to make your own truffles, enjoy a cheese and cracker plate, learn about chocolate making including samples. Gift shop.   Batavia Downs Casino, 6:45 PM -Midnight, price TBA Join RSVA for an evening of fun at the casino. All are welcome.   Tuesday, July 9 Adult Beverage Tour, 10:45 AM-6:00 PM, $135 Visit breweries, a winery and a distillery for tastings and information about the manufacturing processes. Must have your ID with you - you can’t get on the bus without it. Lunch included.   Susan B. Anthony, 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM, $33 This tour is not wheelchair accessible. Gift shop included. Lunch is not; eat at the ACB Café before boarding the bus.   Memorial Art Gallery, 1:30 PM - 5:15 PM, $22 Lots of exhibits we can touch, others with audio description. Short theater organ concert included. Tour does not include lunch; eat at the ACB Café.   Wednesday, July 10 New York School for the Blind, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, $44 Visit the building, meet staff and students and enjoy lunch.   George Eastman House, 12:30 PM - 5:15 PM , $35 Beautiful historic house with lots of lovely items. Concert on George's pipe organ included. Tour does not include lunch; eat at the ACB Café beforehand.   Sweet Tooth Tour, Laughing Gull Chocolates,1:15 PM - 4:45 PM, $47 This is more than a candy tour! You’ll make your own truffles, enjoy a cheese and cracker plate, learn about chocolate making including samples. Gift shop.   Friday, July 12 Niagara Falls, 6:00 AM- 9:30 PM, $215 This tour will involve a lot of walking, steps and slippery surfaces. It includes a boxed breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is no seating on the Maid of the Mist boat; you will need to stand with your feet apart, so you must have good balance. During this tour you will be walking approximately two miles. We will need to move quickly in order to remain on schedule. There is a lot to see and this is a busy time at the falls. Ponchos and rubber shoes will be provided.