ACB – A Path to the Future 59th Annual National Conference & Convention American Council of the Blind and Special-Interest Affiliates July 3 – July 10, 2020 Dan Spoone, President Large Print Program Table of Contents Conference and Convention Calendar 18 Conference Gems 28 President’s Message 30 Abbreviations in this Program 32 Registration Information 34 Communication Center Services 35 Digital Information & Internet 37 Photography 39 Religious Activities 40 ACB Fundraisers 41 Convention Standing Rules 42 General Session Agenda 46 ACB Boards & Governing Committees 61 Special Interest Affiliate Meetings 61 ACB Committee Meetings 98 Other Meetings and Programs 118 Recreation Zone 123 More Convention Entertainment 125 2020 Exhibitors 127 ACB Officers 128 ACB Board of Directors 129 ACB Board Of Publications 129 ACB Enterprises and Services Directors 130 ACB Office Staff and Consultants 130 2020 Convention 131 Coordinating Committee 131 2020 Convention Program Committee 132 Conference and Convention Calendars Friday, July 3 10:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.: ACB Board Meeting 1:30p.m.: - 2:45p.m.: Vispero Interactive Discussion-Software, Hardware, and Training 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: En-Vision America: Improve Your Health with Assistive Technology 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: ACBF Historic Hawaii 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: GDB Virtual Yappy Hour 6:00p.m. – 8:30p.m.: ACB film night, Parasite with Audio Description 7:00p.m. - 8:30p.m.: ACBS Scholarship Winners meet and greet (by invitation only) 8:30p.m. - 10:30p.m.: FIA: Showcase of the Performing Arts 9:00p.m. – 11:00p.m.: ACBS and Next Gen Bash Saturday, July 4 10:00a.m. – 11:15a.m.: AABT Chicago History Presentation 10:00a.m. – 11:15a.m.: BITS Program: Autonomous Cars 11:30a.m. – 12:45p.m.: BOP Getting Access to ACB 11:30a.m. – 12:45p.m.: Accessible Exercise Equipment 12:00p.m. - 1:30p.m.: ACBS Scholarship Celebration 1:00p.m. – 6:45p.m.: RSVA Program: Building Business and Personal Relationships in a Changing World 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: BITS Program: Accessible Amazon Devices 2:30p.m. – 3:45 p.m.: “A Legal Update on RS Vendor Cases” 3:00p.m. – 5:30p.m.: 411 From the IAC 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Leadership Training 5:30p.m. - 7:15p.m.: ACBF The Civil War - The Sultana Disaster 7:30p.m. – 9:00p.m.: ADP Pick of the Litter with Claire Stanley 9:00p.m. – 9:30p.m.: ADP Fireworks with Joel Snyder Sunday, July 5 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m.: Non-denominational Service Words of Encouragement 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m.: LDS Testimony Service 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m.: Roman Catholic Mass 12:00p.m. - 1:15p.m.: ACBF The Helen Keller Collection 1:30p.m. - 4:15p.m.: AAVIA Program 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: ACBS Videogame Seminar 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: BITS Program: Virtual Showcase 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: MCAC Program 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: ACB Transportation Forum: To Mobility and Beyond 2:30p.m. – 3:45p.m.: ACB Next Gen Instagram and YouTube 2:30p.m. – 4:00p.m.: CCLVI Low Vision Showcase 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: High Tea with Harps in the Art Parlor 5:30p.m. – 6:00p.m.: Giving Society Reception (by invitation only) 6:00p.m. – 6:45p.m.: Virtual Walk: Walking Up a Storm with ACB! 7:00p.m. – 10:00p.m. Opening General Session Monday, July 6 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.: Morning General Session 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: AABT “Getting in Line with What’s Online: An Open Discussion” 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: AAVL and Rehab Issues Task Force; Filling the Service Gaps for Seniors with Vision Loss 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: IRC and BPI Voices from Around the World with a Twist 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: CCLVI My Retina Tracker 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: GDUI the 20/20 Visions from the Guide Dogs Schools 1:30p.m. - 4:15p.m.: LUA Program 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Next Gen/ACBS/BPI What Can Google do for Your Affiliate 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: FIA and AABT Writers’ Workshop 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: GDUI Sit, Stay, Listen... 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Transportation Workshop: Reading the Signals 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: ADP Session 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: ACB Women present Yoga with Leslie Spoone 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: Transportation Workshop Part II: Paratransit and the New Mobility Paradigm 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: ACBDA Social Happy Hour 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: ACB Community Check In 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: HumanWare: A Braille Product for Everyone – New Features, New Faces 7:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.: An Evening with ACB: ADP Industry Update 7:30p.m. – 9:30p.m.: FIA: Prose and Poetry 7:30p.m. – 8:45p.m.: BPI and ACBS Guided Meditation 7:30p.m. – 10:30p.m.: CCLVI Game Night Tuesday, July 7 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.: Morning General Session 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: ACBDA Program Food for Thought 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: ACBS and GDUI Technology Hidden Treasures 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: CCLVI Business Meeting 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: FIA Author Presentation 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: IVIE Strategies for Keeping Your Business Open When You Are Told to Keep it Closed 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: ACBDA Living the Good Life with Diabetes! 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: BPI Dating in the Virtual Realm: How Accessible are Dating Apps 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: GDUI The Right Spot Pet Massage 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: IVIE and ACBS: Entrepreneurship: Questions and Answers 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: ADP Session Legislative Update 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Transportation Workshop: They Roll Up the Sidewalks at Night 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: Transportation Workshop Part II: What Should Paratransit Look Like 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: ACB Women and Health Care 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: ACB Next Generation Meet and Greet 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: A Visit with AFB 6:00p.m. - 11:00p.m.: ACB Easy Chair Auction Wednesday, July 8 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.: Morning General Session 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: CCLVI Hadley 2.0 1:30p.m. - 4:15p.m.: LUA/BRL/FIA Program 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: ACB Women: Sister Power Presentation 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: BPI Securing Your Financial Goals 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: 2020 ACB Membership Seminar 3:00p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Transportation Summary Workshop 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: ACBL Lessons in Leadership and the Work of LCI 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: ADP Session National Parks 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: ACBL Milly's Place - How Lions Serve the Community 6:00p.m. - 7:15p.m.: BPI: Get Wine Wise 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: DKM Reception 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: HumanWare: Victor Reader Stream, Explore from Anywhere – Map Browsing is here! 7:30p.m. – 9:30p.m.: An Evening with ACB: Smart Access in the Home 7:30p.m. – 9:15p.m.: ACBS Business Meeting Thursday, July 9 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.: Morning General Session 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: ACBRA Program: Presenter, Lucinda Moody, (AB8WF), Handiham Coordinator 1:30p.m. - 4:15p.m.: BRL Program: The Future of Braille 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: ADP: Strategies for Cord-Cutting or Do You Stream? 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: RDC Workshop: Fundraising Made Easy 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: SASI Program: Haptics Communication 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: ACBF and FIA Legos with Braille and Audio 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: 1Touch Self Defense 6:00p.m. - 7:15p.m.: ACBF Summer Camp Stories 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: Bookshare Office Hours 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: BPI 20th Anniversary Virtual Happy Hour 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: SASI Social Happy Hour 7:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.: An Evening with ACB: Advocacy Bootcamp Friday, July 10 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.: Morning General Session 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Microsoft Soundscape: Enhancing Mobility and Independence in the Real World 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: BPI: Easy Yoga for Relaxation 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Audio Description and Quality Control 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: What’s New with Seeing AI 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Angel Eyes Fitness and Nutrition, Inc. 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Windows Narrator – Our Journey and Live Q&A 7:00p.m. – 9:00p.m.: Banquet Conference Gems Many, many thanks to our 2020 corporate sponsors. Their continued generous support of the American Council of the Blind and our conference and convention is sincerely appreciated. Look for the 2020 corporate sponsors on www.acb.org, in the conference and convention program and newspaper, on ACB Radio, on the convention T-shirt, and throughout the week. Be sure to thank them personally for their generous support. Diamond • Google – ACB Conference Banquet • JPMorgan Chase & Co. - Conference Communication Center and Newspaper • Microsoft - Virtual ACB Educational and Recreational Tours • Vanda Pharmaceuticals – Convention Announcements and ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk Emerald Sponsors: • Charter Communications - ACB Radio Afternoon Broadcasts • Comcast - Virtual Information Desk • Vispero Ruby Sponsors: • Adobe – Continuing Education Credits • Amazon – Audio Description Project • AT&T – ACB Auction • Facebook – ACB Scholarship Mentoring Program • OrCam – Conference Registration • Regal Foundation – ACB Link & Health and Wellness and ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk • Sprint Vision/Sprint Accessibility – Podcasts • Verizon/Verizon Media – Performing Arts Showcase, Membership Monday & Transportation Onyx Sponsors: • Aira - Video Presentation Consulting • Democracy Live, Inc. – ACB Governance Policy & Constitutions and Information Access • HumanWare - Convention Connect Sponsor  • Macular Degeneration - ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk • National Industries for the Blind – Advocacy, Employment, & Young Professionals' Virtual Reception Topaz Sponsors: • TracFone - Official Sponsor of ALL General Sessions • Buell Fund – Recreation Zone & ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk Pearl Sponsors: • American Logistics – Affiliate Presidents’ Seminar • Library Users of America – NLS Talking Book Narrator President’s Message I want to welcome everyone to the 59th annual conference and convention of the American Council of the Blind, for our first virtual gathering broadcast across ACB Radio and the Zoom platform. We are in unique times and the efforts of our members to pull together to present an outstanding event is a testimony to the passion and tenacity of our ACB Family. The theme of the 2020 convention is “A Path To The Future!“ This is a great theme for this year's convention since today’s obstacles represent tomorrow’s opportunities. Making opportunities turn into successes for people who are blind or visually impaired is what our work at ACB is all about! You will hear much more about ACB's successes during what should be our busiest and most information-packed convention ever. Every ACB convention relies on scores of volunteers who work to make this event possible. I want to personally thank the members of the Convention Committee, ably chaired by Janet Dickelman; the Convention Program Committee, and the ACB Radio team for their efforts. Likewise, let me acknowledge the work of our Alexandria and Minneapolis staff. You are all fabulous! Finally, a very warm welcome to those of you attending the ACB convention for the first time. This virtual event will offer our members and friends a wonderful chance to experience a truly exceptional program in the comfort of your own home.  There will be 16 hours of Audio Described Tours, a robust vendor exhibit hall and eight days of outstanding workshops with prime time shows each evening and daily general sessions with knowledgeable presenters across the full range of issues that impact our community. This unique experience will shape our organization for years to come and we can’t wait to get together in person next year. Plan on joining us in 2021 and come to Phoenix, Arizona. Enjoy a great convention! Dan Spoone, ACB President Abbreviations in this Program ACB - American Council of the Blind AABT - American Association of Blind Teachers AAVL - Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss AAVIA - American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys ACBDA - ACB Diabetics in Action ACBF - ACB Families ACBGE - ACB Government Employees ACBNG – ACB Next Generation ACBL - ACB Lions ACBRA - ACB Radio Amateurs ACBS - ACB Students ADP - Audio Description Project AFB - American Foundation for the Blind APH - American Printing House for the Blind BITS - Blind Information Technology Specialists BOP - Board of Publications BPI - Blind LGBT Pride International BRL - Braille Revival League CCLVI - Council of Citizens with Low Vision International DKM - Durward K. McDaniel First Timer FIA - Friends-in-Art of ACB GDB – Guide Dogs for the Blind GDUI - Guide Dog Users, Inc. IRC - International Relations Committee IVIE - Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs LUA - Library Users of America MCAC - Multicultural Affairs Committee NIB - National Industries for the Blind NLS - National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled RSVA - Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America SASI - Sight and Sound Impaired Committee VIVA - Visually Impaired Veterans of America Registration Information Sponsored by OrCam While most of the conference and convention will be live streamed on ACB Radio, registering will allow you to be eligible for the daily door prize drawings and to actively participate in each zoom meeting session you select. To register once the convention has started, you can call 612-332-3242. Convention registration hours are: Friday, July 3rd through Thursday, July 9th 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT. Refunds: ACB will make no refunds for convention administrative fees, sponsorship donations or Continuing Education Flex packages purchased. Refunds will be issued only for merchandise that has been purchased but not yet shipped. A refund request can be made by emailing nbecker@acb.org or calling (612) 332-3242 on or before June 21, 2020. Communication Center Services Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Convention Newspaper This year's newspaper is "The Digital Daily.” It will be published daily, Friday, July 3 through Friday, July 10. If you signed up for the ACB Students fundraiser, the newspaper will be sent using the email address you provided when you registered. The newspaper will also be read daily on ACB Radio and posted to the ACB convention announce list. Ads and Announcements Ads, announcements, and other items for newspaper publication must be emailed to Sharon Lovering at slovering@acb.org by 2 p.m. Eastern each day and included as an email message, or as a Word, text, or PDF attachment. The BOP allows ads to run for up to three days to give important convention announcements more space. Ads must be no longer than 75 words. The newspaper advertisement/announcement needs to be paid before it is sent to production and the prices are: Individuals, ACB affiliates and blind representatives of MLM companies - $0 Exhibitors - $40/day or $100 for 3 days All others - $50/day or $125 for 3 days Digital Information & Internet ACB Radio The 2020 ACB Virtual Conference and Convention will be streamed on ACB radio using multiple streams. All general sessions, and much of our afternoon and evening programming will be live streamed on ACB Radio. Other sessions will be recorded and replayed on ACB Radio. Sessions will be available as podcasts after the convention and archived for later listening on ACB Radio. There are several options to listen to ACB Radio: • Listen from your computer by going to acbradio.org and selecting the stream you want to hear. • Follow the convention via ACB Link on your smart phone - Download ACB Link from the Apple app store for your iPhone or from the Google Play Store for your Android phone. Follow the convention using Alexa. Seven Alexa skills exist for your use. The following phrases should be used to launch the streams: • To play the ACB Radio Mainstream channel, say “Open ACB Radio Mainstream.” • To play the ACB Radio Mainstream West channel, say “Open ACB Mainstream West.” • To play the ACB Radio Cafe channel, say “Open ACB Radio Café.” • To play the ACB Radio Community channel, say “Open ACB Radio Community.” • To play the ACB Radio Live Event channel, say “Open ACB Radio Live.” • To play the ACB Radio Special Event channel, say “Open ACB Radio Special.” • To play the ACB Radio Treasure Trove channel, say “Open ACB Radio Treasures.” • Listen on the telephone by calling (518) 906-1820 Additional listening options will be posted to the acbconvention website and to the convention email list. If you need technology assistance during the convention, contact our technology help desk acb.tech.help@gmail.com or call us at (612) 470-1959. For general convention questions, call our convention information desk at (612) 470-1947 or email them at Acb.info.helpdesk@gmail.com You can reach a help desk representative between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. Email list The ACB Convention email list keeps you up to date on all the news. Even if you aren't at the convention, you can receive "The Digital Daily” and all the other information. To subscribe, go to the ACB website at www.acb.org, or send a blank message to acbconvention-subscribe@acblists.org. Social Media To follow the latest goings-on at the convention you can find ACB on: * Facebook at www.facebook.com/americancounciloftheblindofficial * Twitter at www.twitter.com/acbnational or * On ACB’s YouTube Channel at http://tinyurl.com/gloz7bq ACB Photography ACB may be using recorded video from general sessions and at many social events. It is understood that all recorded video at the 2020 conference and convention are the property of ACB and are for ACB's use. Religious Activities Sunday, July 5 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m.: Non-denominational Service words of encouragement. We are truly living in times of uncertainty. Many of us are gripped with fear and fright, anxiety and angst, along with terror and trepidation that threaten to keep us from having peace in our lives. So, can we offer a few words of encouragement designed to revitalize our hope so that we can live lives filled with boldness and confidence even in these days? Rev. Michael Garrett, Missouri City, TX 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m.: LDS Testimony Service 10:00a.m. – 11:00a.m.: Roman Catholic Mass, Father Jamie Dennis, Blessed Mother Catholic Church, Owensboro, KY. Fr. Dennis has said the St. Lucy's Mass at Christmastime with the Xavier Society for the Blind in New York City for the past four years. He is a braille reader and a member of the Owensboro chapter of the Kentucky Council of the Blind. ACB Fundraisers You can show your support for ACB in several ways: Convention Sponsorships: Become an individual ACB Conference and Convention Sponsor. Individual sponsorships are Bronze ($25), Silver ($50), Gold ($100), Platinum ($250), and Titanium ($500); sponsors are recognized both in general session and in the newspaper. For information on becoming an individual sponsor, contact our Minneapolis office at (612) 332-3242. Sunday, July 5 - 6:00PM Walking Up a Storm With ACB! Help kick off the ACB general sessions by joining ACB members and friends during the live virtual Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk. Lace up your shoes, grab your water bottle, and listen to ACB Radio while we strut our stuff for ACB. Tuesday, July 7 - 6:00PM ACB Easy Chair Auction! Come bid and win from your easy chair. Over 60 items with exciting vacations, scrumptious treats, latest technology and unique crafts. ACB Raffle Win $5,000 in cold hard cash! Limited tickets are available; $50 each. Buy one for yourself, your affiliate, or find up to four friends and split the cost five ways. To purchase tickets, call (612) 332-3242. MMS Program Help support ACB all year ‘round through ACB’s Monthly Monetary Support program (MMS); it's easy and quick. Find out more about our MMS Program by emailing askacbmms@gmail.com or calling 202-743-0755. Convention Standing Rules Adopted by the ACB Board of Directors, May 2009 1. Each debatable issue before the convention shall be limited to approximately twenty (20) minutes with a three-minute time limit per speaker, alternating between affirmative and opposing speakers, unless a majority of the members agree to extend debate for an additional period of time. A. Motions to close debate will not be recognized by the chair during the first debate period. After the first debate period, properly moved motions such as "I call for the question" or "I move the previous question" will be handled by the chair and voted on by the assembly. B. The chair may close debate when no one seeks the floor. C. Each member is respectfully urged to speak directly to the issue before the assembly and avoid unnecessary and time-consuming dialogue. D. No member will be recognized a second time to debate until all who wish to debate have been recognized. E. The parliamentarian will act as timekeeper. 2. Recognition to speak will be given to those members who properly address the chair using the microphones and giving their names and affiliation. Motions that may interrupt a speaker may be called from your seat, responded to by the chair, and explained by the mover at a microphone if requested by the chair. Examples: Point of Order, Point of Information, Parliamentary Inquiry, Question of Privilege, Call for Orders of the Day, etc. 3. Registration badges are required to be worn at all convention meetings and only those members with the appropriate colored dot may vote during business meetings. 4. Changes to the published convention program may be proposed to the membership as deemed necessary by the presiding officer or his/her appointee. The presiding officer will explain the reason for such change and inform the assembly of their right to question the recommended modification. After this explanation, if twenty-five (25) or more members object to the proposed change by coming to the microphone and stating their name as placed in objection, the change requires debate and a majority vote to modify the convention program. 5. Nominating and seconding speeches shall be limited to five minutes per candidate with the speaking time allocated according to the candidate's wishes. A person nominated for an office more than once shall be limited to one minute. 6. When no candidate for office receives a majority vote, the election shall be among the top two candidates. Affiliate votes will be reported in whole or half numbers. A. Anyone meeting the requirements for voting membership in ACB in accordance with Constitution Article III-A-1 and bylaw 1 is entitled to vote on any matter coming before the convention, provided that: The person's name appears on an affiliate's certified membership list as submitted on March 15th or has been added to that list prior to the established record date for the convention, which date is thirty (30) days prior to the date of the opening session; B. No challenges to or questions about, a person's membership status will be considered after the close of registration on the day immediately preceding the final day on which convention business is to be conducted; C. No challenges to or questions about, a person's membership status will be considered during the time a record vote is being conducted. General Session Agenda Sunday, July 5 6:45p.m.: ACB Welcome Show 7:00p.m.: Call to Order: Dan Spoone, President, American Council of the Blind, Orlando, FL Invocation: Rev. Michael Garrett, Missouri City, TX Presentation of Colors: Buffalo Soldiers, (initially featured at the 2019 ACB Conference and Convention, Rochester, NY) "The Star Spangled-Banner": Sung by Jason Castonguay, Manchester, CT Welcome: Janet Dickelman, Convention Coordinator, Saint Paul, MN 7:20p.m.: President's Report: Dan Spoone, Orlando, FL; Executive Director's Report: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, Alexandria, VA 7:50p.m.: Diamond Sponsor Presentation: Microsoft: Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Seattle, WA 8:10p.m.: Life Member Presentations: Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL; and Nancy Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer, Brooklyn Center, MN 8:25p.m.: ACB Angels Presentations: Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development, Alexandria, VA; and Dan Dillon, ACB Board Member, Hermitage, TN ACB Angel Presentations: Durward K. McDaniel (1915 – 1994), Oklahoma Cathie Skivers (1925 – 2019), California 8:40p.m.: ACB First Timers: Kenneth Semien Sr., Chair, Durward K. McDaniel First Timers Committee, Beaumont, TX 8:55p.m.: ACB JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, Alexandria, VA 9:15p.m.: Roll Call of Affiliates: Denise Colley, ACB Secretary, Lacey, WA Monday, July 6 9:30a.m.: ACB Welcome Show 10:00a.m.: Invocation: Rev. Peter Heide, Baraboo, WI Pledge of Allegiance: JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows: Regina M. Brink, Sacramento, CA; Sajja Koirala, Honolulu, HI; and Meryl Ann Shecter, Windsor Mill, MD 10:10a.m.: ACB Business: ACB Sponsor Recognitions: Margarine Beaman, Advertising and Sponsorship Coordinator, Austin, TX Diamond Sponsor Presentation: Google; Eve Andersson, Director of Accessibility at Google, Mountain View, CA Constitution and Bylaws: John Huffman, Indianapolis, IN ACB Angel Presentation: John Granger (1945 – 2019), Alabama Presiding Officer: Mark Richert, First Vice President, Arlington, VA 10:45a.m.: Member and Affiliate Relationships: Cindy Hollis, Membership Services Coordinator, Brooklyn Center, MN 11:10a.m.: Scholarship Presentations: Opening Remarks by Denise Colley, ACB Scholarship Co-Chair, Lacey, WA Introduction of Scholarship Winners: Maureen Hayden, College Station, TX, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship) Katrina Santorelli, Bethlehem, PA, Salus University, Elkins Park, PA (William Corey Scholarship) Kevin Cohen, Hewlett, NY, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY (James R. Olsen Memorial Scholarship) Steven Gnyp, Portland, OR, Portland State University, Portland, OR (ACB of Oregon Scholarship) 11:30a.m.: Break 11:45a.m.: Presentation of Vernon Henley Media Award: Penny Reeder, Board of Publications, Montgomery Village, MD; Comments from Don Hardy and Dana Nachman, Mary Celenza; Executive Producers, Pick of the Litter, Oakland, CA 12:00p.m.: News and Ongoing Progress at NLS: Karen Keninger, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Washington, DC Presentation of the Robert S. Bray Award: Debbie Trevino, ACB Awards committee co-chair, Newark, DE 12:25p.m.: International Guest: Martine Abel Williamson, Treasurer, World Blind Union, Auckland, New Zealand 12:50p.m.: Door Prizes and Announcements Tuesday, July 7 9:30a.m.: ACB Welcome Show 10:00a.m.: Invocation: Deb Trevino, Newark, DE Pledge of Allegiance: JPMorgan Chase Fellows: Koni Sims, Sioux Falls, SD; and Wanda Denise Williford, Trenton, NJ 10:10a.m.: ACB Business: ACB Sponsor Recognitions: Margarine Beaman, Advertising and Sponsorship Coordinator, Austin, TX Diamond Sponsor Presentation: JPMorgan Chase Emerald Sponsor Presentation: Charter Communications, Petr Kucheryavyy, Sr. Manager Accessibility Center of Excellence, Denver, CO ACB Angel Presentations: Joel Bauer (1943 – 2018), Missouri Dee Wilmot Youngblut Clayton (1937 – 2020), North Carolina Presiding Officer: Ray Campbell, Second Vice President, Glen Ellyn, IL 10:45a.m.: Information, Referral and Peer Support Program: Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Alexandria, VA 11:10a.m.: Scholarship Presentations: Carmen Guzman, Celebration, FL, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (R. I. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson and Karen D. Carsel Scholarship) Nicolas Spohn, Manheim, PA, Penn State, Harrisburg, Middletown, PA (Kelly Cannon and Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship) Traci Jones, Longmont CO, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington, DC (Norma Schecter and Doctor Duane Buckley Scholarship) Thandra Ritchie, Muskatine, IA, Saint Ambrose University, Davenport, IA (John Hebner Scholarship) 11:30a.m.: Break 11:45a.m.: American Foundation for the Blind: Kirk Adams, President and CEO, Arlington, VA 12:05p.m.: Audio/Video Presentation: Ten Years of the CVAA, What’s Next for People Who are Blind, Deaf, and Deafblind for Accessing Telecommunications and Audio Description: U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Audio Description Project Achievement Awards and Update: Kim Charlson, ADP Co-Chair, Watertown, MA; Carl Richardson, ADP Co-Chair, Boston, MA; Jeff Thom, ADP Awards Committee Chair, Sacramento, CA; and Joel Snyder, Director, Audio Description Project, Takoma Park, MD 12:35p.m.: Foundation Fighting Blindness: Benjamin Shaberman, Senior Director of Scientific Outreach, Columbia, MD 12:50p.m.: Door Prizes and Announcements Wednesday, July 8 9:30a.m.: ACB Welcome Show 10:00a.m.: Invocation: Mary Haupt, Baton Rouge, LA Pledge of Allegiance: DKM First Timers', Merisa Musemic, Sterling Heights, MI; and Sara Freeman Smith, Houston, TX 10:10a.m.: ACB Business: ACB Sponsor Recognitions: Margarine Beaman, Advertising and Sponsorship Coordinator, Austin, TX Diamond Sponsor Presentation: Vanda Pharmaceuticals: Leslie McNeil, Nurse Educator, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Scottsdale AZ ACB Angel Presentations: Dick Seifert (1948 – 2020) Arkansas Presiding Officer: Denise Colley, Secretary, Lacey, WA 10:45a.m.: Convention Report: Janet Dickelman, Convention Coordinator, St. Paul, MN 11:00a.m.: CCLVI Scholarship Presentations: David Trott, Chair, Talladega, AL 11:15a.m.: ACB Scholarship Presentations: Meghan Downing, Santa Barbara, CA, Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA (Floyd Qualls Scholarship) Veronica Hyatt, Fruitland Park, FL, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Floyd Qualls Scholarship) Amanda Lannan, Maitland, FL, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL (Floyd Qualls Scholarship) Maria Sanders, Bartonville, IL, Bradley University, Peoria, IL (Floyd Qualls Scholarship) Edward Shaham, Hartford, CT, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (Floyd Qualls Scholarship) 11:30a.m.: Break 11:45a.m.: "You Say Puh-Tay-Toe…I Say Whatever NLS Tells Me to Say." Erin Jones, Talking Book Narrator, American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY 12:15p.m.: Julie Tye, President, Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Winnetka, IL 12:30p.m.: 30th Anniversary of the ADA: Paul Edwards, Miami, FL; and Christopher Bell, Pittsboro, NC 12:45p.m.: 20th Anniversary Presentation: Gabriel Lopez Kafati, President, Blind Pride International, Miami, FL 12:50p.m.: Door Prizes and Announcements Thursday, July 9 9:30a.m.: ACB Welcome Show 10:00 a.m.: Invocation: Eric Rippentrop, Sioux Falls, SD Pledge of Allegiance: David Dowland, Visually Impaired Veterans of America, Tulsa, OK 10:10a.m.: ACB Business: ACB Sponsor Recognitions: Margarine Beaman, Advertising and Sponsorship Coordinator, Austin, TX Diamond Sponsor Presentation: Vanda Pharmaceutical, Leslie McNeil, Nurse Educator, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Scottsdale AZ Emerald Sponsor Presentation: Vispero, Tom Tiernan, President & CEO, Clearwater, FL ACB Angel Presentations: Marilyn Lutter (1938 – 2018) District of Columbia James W. Peaco, Jr. (1943 – 2016) District of Columbia Presiding Officer: David Trott, Treasurer, Talladega, AL 10:45a.m.: ACB Development Program: Tony Stephens, Director of Development, Alexandria, VA 11:10a.m.: ACB Scholarship Presentations: Dewayne Martin, Miami, FL, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY (Arnold Sadler and Rudolph Dillman Scholarship) Isaac Heiman, Mukilteo, WA, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA (Rudolph and Charles Dillman Scholarship) Victor Marques, Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI (Rudolph and Charles Dillman Scholarship) Robert Parsons, Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI (Rudolph and Charles Dillman Scholarship) 11:30a.m.: Break 11:45a.m.: CVS Accessible Prescription Labels: SpokenRX In-Store Solution, Elizabeth (Liz) Leifel Ash, Senior Legal Counsel, Northbrook, IL (invited) 12:00p.m.: ACB Treasurer's Report: David Trott, Talladega, AL 12:20p.m.: ACBES Report: Rev. Michael Garrett, Chair, ACB Enterprises and Services, Missouri City, TX 12:30p.m.: Report on the ACB Walk and Auction: Donna Brown, Walk Chair, Romney, WV; Leslie Spoone, Chair, ACB Auction Committee, Orlando FL; Dan Dillon, Chair, ACB Resource Development Committee, Hermitage, TN 12:50p.m.: Door Prizes and Announcements Friday, July 10 9:30a.m.: ACB Welcome Show 10:00a.m.: Invocation: Joseph Bundy, Noble, OK Pledge of Allegiance: Ross Pangere Scholarship Winners: Brielle Cayer, Middletown, CT; Anna Ohrt, Issaquah, WA; Matthew Turner, Eagle, ID Organizational Management System (Traction): Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL; and Eric Bridges, Executive Director, Alexandria, VA ACB Angel Presentations: Carol McCarl (1938 – 2019) Oregon Patricia LaFrance Wolf (1942 – 2013) California Presiding officer: Kim Charlson, Immediate Past President, Watertown, MA 10:45a.m.: ACB Public Awareness Program: Kelly Gasque, Alexandria VA; Katie Fredrick, Columbus, OH; and Deb Cook Lewis, Clarkston, WA 11:05a.m.: Lee Nasehi, President & CEO, VisionServe Alliance, St. Louis, MO 11:15a.m.: ACB Scholarship Presentations: Reem Hamodi, Aurora, CO, CUNY School of Professional Studies, Manhattan, NY (Eunice Fiorito and Charles Dillman Scholarship) Brielle Cayer, Middletown, CT, Fordham University, New York, NY (Ross N. Pangere Scholarship) Anna Ohrt, Issaquah, WA, Brown University, Providence, RI (Ross N. Pangere Scholarship) Matthew Turner, Eagle, ID, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (Ross N. Pangere Scholarship) 11:30a.m.: Break 11:45a.m.: Introduction of the ACB Advisory Board: Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL; and Eric Bridges, Executive Director, Alexandria, VA 12:05p.m.: American Printing House for the Blind, Craig Mador, CEO, Louisville, KY Presentation of the George Card Award: Deb Trevino, ACB Awards Committee co-chair, Newark, DE 12:30p.m.: Theresia Hout, Caldwell, ID. Theresa is the owner operator of TL vending since 1989, a deaf blind entrepreneur with a master’s degree in Business Administration. 12:50p.m.: Door Prizes and Announcements 7:00p.m.: ACB Banquet Invocation: Anthony Akamine, Honolulu, HI Banquet Emcee: Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL Keynote Speaker: Roy Samuelson, Audio Description Narrator, Los Angeles, CA. With audio description narration credits from over 600 network, streaming, and big budget films, and hundreds of additional voiceover projects, including national commercials, video games, and promos, billions of ears have heard Roy’s voice. He is a leading and well-respected Hollywood Voiceover artist and advocate for audio description. He’ll be sharing how his firm informs, inspires, and recruits relevant organizations into a new initiative in blind audience empowerment. Presentation of the Ned E. Freeman Board of Publication Awards, Zelda Gebhard, Edgeley, ND Presentation of the Margarine G. Beaman Volunteer Recognition Award and the Affiliate Growth Awards: Debbie Rozear, ACB Awards Committee co-chair, Allentown, PA ACB Braille Forum Raffle Drawing: David Trott, ACB Treasurer, Talladega AL and Nancy Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer, Brooklyn Center, MN ACB Boards & Governing Committees ACB Board of Directors Friday, July 3 10:00a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Pre-convention Board Meeting Board of Publications Chair: Deb Cook Lewis Saturday, July 4 11:30a.m. – 12:45p.m.: Getting Access to ACB: This session will explore how to get ACB publications by email, from NFB Newsline, through podcasts, and by telephone. Demonstrations will be included. Moderator: Paul Edwards, Miami, FL. Special-Interest Affiliate Meetings American Association of Blind Teachers President: Tabitha Brecke Program Chair: Carla Hayes Registration: $10 Saturday, July 4 10:00a.m. - 11:15a.m.: A Chicago History Presentation: Chicago historian and author will tell stories about Chicago history in a funny and entertaining way. Presenter: Richie Zie, Historian and Storyteller, Chicago, IL. Monday, July 6 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: “Getting in Line with What’s Online: An Open Discussion.” Teachers and students will come together to discuss popular online learning platforms and options, resources and techniques for coping with teaching and learning online. Discussion Facilitator: Carla Hayes, Foreign Language Teacher and CEO, Lengua-Learn Communications, McMurray, PA. 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Writers’ Workshop: ”Creating Poetry.” This Workshop will focus on the acrostic poem. Participants will be given a practice session and read their poems following the instructions. Questions and creativity welcomed. Presenters: Annie Chiappetta, author and poet, New Rochelle, NY; Carla Hayes, author, teacher and entrepreneur, McMurray, PA. Co-sponsored by AABT and FIA Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss President: Jeff Thom Registration: $10 Monday, July 6 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: AAVL and Rehabilitation Issues Task Force Program: “Filling the Service Gaps for Seniors with Vision Loss.” 1:30p.m. -2:15p.m.: “Meeting the Unmet Need for Services to Seniors with Vision Loss”: Lee Nasehi, President & CEO VisionServe Alliance, St. Louis, MO. The CEO of the largest consortium of blindness agencies in the country will explore ways in which we can attempt to fill the ever-growing need for specialized services for seniors who are blind or low vision. 2:15p.m. - 2:45p.m.: “Clearing up the Mystery of Medicare Benefits”: Lori Scharff, Master’s in Social Work and Certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Waynesboro, VA. This is your opportunity to have all those Medicare questions answered. Find out about everything from eligibility to available benefits. 3:00p.m. - 3:30p.m.: Service Provider Panel: Jenine Stanley, Explorer Communications Manager Aira Tech Corp., Columbus, OH and Alexa Holland, GoGo Grandparent. Learn about how these companies can enhance your independence and quality of life. 3:30p.m. - 4:15p.m.: AAVL Open Discussion: Learn about the work that the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss is doing on behalf of seniors with vision impairments. Co-sponsored by AAVL and Rehabilitation Issues Task Force American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys President and Program chair: Steven Mendelsohn Registration: $10 Saturday July 4 2:30p.m. – 3:45p.m.: A Legal Update on RS Vendor Cases: Speakers Chris Prentice, ACB Visually Impaired Attorneys, Austin, TX; Jeff Thom, RSVA® Advocate/former attorney, Sacramento, CA. There will be time for comments and questions. Co-sponsored by AAVIA AND RSVA Sunday July 5, 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: AAVIA Program Bill Piatt, Professor of Law at St. Mary's University Law School, San Antonio, TX. Prof. Piatt will present, as he has informatively and engagingly done on at least two prior occasions, our annual Supreme Court review covering the key decisions of the Court during its 2019-20 term. 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Accessibility Issues in the Conduct of Administrative Law Proceedings: Speaker Chris Prentice, Attorney, Austin, TX ACB Diabetics in Action President: Chris Gray Program Chair: Becky Dunkerson Registration: $12 Monday, July 6 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: ACBDA Social Happy Hour: grab your favorite beverage, grab something delicious to munch on: Pretend you are physically at the national convention and join us for an hour of virtual mixing and mingling. Meet other Diabetics in Action members, hear more about ACBDA, what it has done for others, what it has to offer, ask questions and share information about diabetes, accessible equipment, legislative endeavors, resources, and just hang out. Tuesday, July 7 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: ACBDA Program 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: ACBDA Food for Thought: Whether you are a diabetic or know someone who is, or just want to improve your own health, come join us as we hear from Sue Heffron and Dr. Susan Debin, certified health coaches. They will share ways to enjoy a happier and healthier life by creating new, better habits. A set of healthy recipes will be made available. 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Living the Good Life with Diabetes!: Learn more about who we are, what we do and how you can be a part of it. This will be an interactive panel discussion. Join us and meet a diverse cross-section of ACBDA members who are living the good life while managing both diabetes and vision loss. American Council of Blind Families President: Carla Ruschival Registration: $20 Friday, July 3 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: ACBF Historic Hawaii: Travel back to a time before Hawaii was a state, before it was a U.S. territory, before the white man discovered the islands. A virtual journey you won't soon forget; led by the Bishop Museum, the official museum of the islands. Saturday, July 4 5:30p.m. - 7:15p.m.: ACBF The Civil War: The Sultana Disaster. The Civil War was ending; Lee's army had surrendered at the Appomattox Courthouse. 1,700 Union soldiers were returning home from Southern prison camps on the ill-fated Sultana steamboat on the Mississippi River. The corruption and intrigue leading up to the disaster bespeaks a tale of greed and arrogance unparalleled in maritime history. Amazingly, more Union soldiers died in the Sultana disaster than died outright in the Battle of Shiloh. Includes time for questions. Presented by J. Andrew White, a plaintiff's attorney from Louisville, KY who is also an author, lecturer and researcher on Civil War history and a descendant of soldiers from both sides of the conflict. Sunday, July 5 12:00p.m. - 1:15p.m.: ACB Families: Helen Keller was an internationally known example of courage and success throughout her life. She worked for decades with the American Foundation for the Blind, traveling the world and touching lives wherever she went. AFB's Helen Keller collection contained thousands upon thousands of documents and artifacts related to her life - everything from notes and letters to the desk at which she worked to gifts from around the world to Presidential awards. The American Printing House for the Blind has acquired that collection and it is now part of the APH Callahan Museum in Louisville, KY. Micheal Hudson, director of the Museum, shares insights into Helen's life and glimpses of this incredible collection. Thursday, July 9 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: Legos with Braille and Audio: The lessons that can be learned from creating with Legos is limitless. The fun of building trucks and spaceships and castles and forts and robots and so much more is an amazing world for sighted children and adults. Until now, this world has for the most part not been available to children and adults who are blind and visually impaired. At age 13, Matthew Shifrin began creating with Legos when a friend created braille instructions for a Lego set for him. Meet Matthew Shifrin and learn how he is opening the exciting world of Legos to people who are blind through braille and audio instructions and how you can get in on the fun. Co-sponsored by ACBF and FIA 6:00p.m. - 7:15p.m.: ACBF Summer Camp Stories: It's summertime! Time for sitting around the campfire, telling stories and eating hotdogs and s'mores! Enjoy stories at our virtual campfire and discover resources for obtaining accessible books and stories for kids and teens. ACB Next Generation President: Amanda Selm Program Chair: Onkar Nerurkar Registration: $10 Friday, July 3 9:00p.m. – 11:00p.m.: ACBS/ACBNG Friday Night Bash: Grab a drink and some snacks, then settle into a lively evening of ice breakers and group activities as we mingle with members, friends, & our supporters—all from the comfort of your own home! You might even win a door prize or two! Join in the fun as ACB Students and ACB Next Generation open the 2020 virtual Convention Week! Sunday, July 5 2:30p.m. – 3:45p.m.: YouTube and Instagram Workshop: Join ACB Next Generation for a beginner’s lesson and learn how the Instagram and YouTube platforms can help promote your affiliate and increase your social media presence. Our goal is to get you started and to learn what Instagram and YouTube have to offer for your affiliate. After the demonstrations and discussion, a question and answer session will follow. Monday, July 6 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Drive your Forms with Google: An Interactive demonstration of tech tools that can change the way you collect data. Learn how to reach your affiliate members with a few keystrokes. Co-sponsored by ACBS, ACB Next Gen and BPI Tuesday, July 7 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: ACB Next Generation: Meet and Greet. American Council of Blind Lions President: Carla Ruschival Registration: $10 Register for ACB Lions to be eligible to win our special door prizes. Winners will be drawn following the close of the ACB Conference and Convention. Wednesday, July 8 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: ACBL Lessons in Leadership and the Work of LCI Lion Christopher Shea Nickell, who was elected to serve as an International Director of Lions Clubs International in Milan, Italy in 2019, is a member of the Paducah (Kentucky) Lions Club, past president of the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, and a justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court. Follow Lion Shea as he travels the path from local club member to international director and learn about the initiatives of Lions Clubs International. 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: ACBL Milly's Place: How Lions Serve the Community. Your local Lions Club may buy glasses or collect used glasses to help those in need. But many local clubs also participate in a wide variety of other service projects. Lions from across the country will share their local club activities and how they, as members who are blind or visually impaired, participate in those activities. Learn how to get involved in a local club, ways to encourage local clubs to support your ACB affiliate or chapter activities, and how ACB Lions provides peer support to help you along the way. All Lions, friends of Lions, and anyone interested in becoming a Lion welcome. ACB Radio Amateurs President: Harvey Heagy Registration: $5 Thursday, July 9 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: ACBRA Program: Hear from Lucinda Moody, (AB8WF), Handiham coordinator. If you are interested in amateur radio, or are a licensed ham, you are cordially invited to attend our first ever virtual meeting. Our speaker will be Lucinda Moody, (AB8WF), Handiham coordinator who will speak about Handiham services to the blind and disabled and its importance to the amateur radio community. We would love to see everyone there who has an interest in amateur radio and especially those who have an interest in the hobby and how to get involved in it. American Council of Blind Students President: Minh Ha Program Chair: Antoinette Cervantes Friday, July 3 9:00p.m. – 11:00p.m.: ACBS/ACBNG Friday Night Bash: Grab a drink and some snacks, then settle into a lively evening of ice breakers and group activities as we mingle with members, friends, & our supporters—all from the comfort of your own home! You might even win a door prize or two! Join in the fun as ACB Students and ACB Next Generation open the 2020 virtual Convention Week! Saturday, July 4 12:00p.m. – 1:30p.m.: ACBS Scholarship Celebration: Meet the extraordinary 2020 Scholarship winners and celebrate their achievements, success, and future endeavors. Sunday, July 5 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Accessible Videogame Seminar: Join videogame experts and enthusiasts on a panel presentation about accessible audio games for the blind. Monday, July 6 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Drive your Forms with Google: An Interactive demonstration of tech tools that can change the way you collect data. Learn how to reach your affiliate members with a few keystrokes. Co-sponsored by ACBS, ACB Next Gen and BPI 7:30p.m. - 8:45p.m.: Guided Meditation: An Introduction in 3 Parts. A guide to restful sleep, centering the mind/body for romance and a guided meditation to prepare for the workday. Presenter: Anthony Corona, Miami, FL. Co-sponsored by ACBS and BPI Tuesday, July 7 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Technology Hidden Treasures: During this presentation from ACB Students and Guide Dog Users, Inc., participants will learn some tips and tricks to help them in using different pieces of software on various hardware platforms. We will demonstrate both the built-in screen reader and screen magnifier, found in Windows 10 and go over a few of the best features of these items. We will also highlight some of our favorite settings and items to customize to make using your device a better experience. We will be focusing on the following devices and software: Windows 10, Apple devices and Android devices. Some of the topics will include: • Customization of Voiceover on an iPhone or iPad • Changing visual settings on an iPhone. • Customizing Windows 10 for a better experience while using your screen reader. • Simple tricks to make reading items easier with the JAWS screen reader. • Tips and tricks for Android users. Co-sponsored by ACBS and GDUI 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Entrepreneurship - Questions and Answers: An open discussion in which business owners who are blind or visually impaired answer participants’ questions about business ownership and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Discussion Moderator, Ardis Bazyn, IVIE President and CEO of Bazyn Communications, Burbank, CA. Co-sponsored by ACBS and IVIE Wednesday, July 8 7:30p.m. – 9:15p.m.: ACBS Business Meeting: Curious what ACBS has been up to the past year, or want to learn more about the organization? Join us for the President’s and Treasurer’s reports and ask all your burning questions. Blind Information Technology Specialists President and Program Chair: Richard Villa Registration: $10 Saturday, July 4 10:00a.m. – 11:15a.m.: Autonomous Cars Presentation by a Tesla salesperson. 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Accessible Amazon Devices by an Amazon representative. Sunday, July 5 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: BITS Virtual Technology Showcase: The four major blindness companies in the field of technology will update attendees on their products. Blind LGBT Pride International President: Gabriel Lopez Kafati Program Chair: Leah Gardner Registration: $10 Monday, July 6 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Voices from Around the World with a Twist. Take a virtual magic carpet ride with us as we welcome our international guests. Back by popular demand, and in collaboration with Blind LGBT Pride International, the 2020 Voices from Around the World Virtual Luncheon will feature a panel discussion with blind members of the LGBT communities in different parts of the world. We will have panelists from Asia, Europe, & Latin America, each one of whom will be providing their perspectives on the intersection between culture, blindness, & LGBT. We hope this innovative discussion will provide a backdrop for understanding the unique challenges of the blind LGBT community around the world. Panelists: Hannah Mae Aldeza (she / her / hers) - Manila, Philippines. Hannah is a totally blind 33-year-old Filipino. She is currently taking up her master’s degree in Gender and Development studies and is an active member of the LGBTQ+ students’ organization at the University of the Philippines. She is a passionate advocate who actively lobbies for the passage of the anti-discrimination law for persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and the accessibility law for persons with disabilities in her country. José Miguel Derisan (he / him / his) - Maracai, Venezuela. Jose Miguel is a 36-year-old blind gay man from Venezuela. He grew up in the town of Maracai, and moved to Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela where he aspired to pursue a career in Foreign Languages. The Venezuelan government imposed a different career path, forcing him to study technology. He always lived a closeted life to avoid being bullied by classmates, family members, and even the authorities. He recently had to flee from his native country and is now happily married. (Due to his limited English, his participation will be simultaneously translated) Taylor Adams (she / her / hers) - Southampton, United Kingdom. Taylor is a male-to-female (MTF) trans 22-year-old girl living in the UK. She is a college student and she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. Music is her biggest passion. Berkay Bilsel (he / him / his) - Ankara, Turkey Berkay is a 23-year-old blind gay young man from Turkey. He studied a career in Translations in Hacettepe University in Ankara. Currently, he lives in Germany, and is pursuing further education at the University of Cologne. He is very fearful of telling his family about his sexual orientation. He doesn’t feel safe sharing with them until he becomes financially independent and is able to live on his own. Co-sponsored by IRC and BPI 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Drive your Forms with Google: An Interactive demonstration of tech tools that can change the way you collect data. Learn how to reach your affiliate members with a few keystrokes. Co-sponsored by ACBS, ACB Next Gen and BPI 7:30p.m. - 8:45p.m.: Guided Meditation: An Introduction in Three Parts. A guide to restful sleep, centering the mind/body for romance and a guided meditation to prepare for the workday. Presenter: Anthony Corona, Miami FL. Co-sponsored by BPI and ACBS Tuesday, July 7 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Dating in the Virtual Realm: How Accessible are Dating Apps Wednesday, July 8 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Securing Your Financial Goals: Join BPI for this informative workshop. Our discussion will be led by a financial coach with 30 years of experience in the investment arena. Receive tips and pointers on how to securely invest for retirement or to reach your financial goals. Presenter: Emilio Valdez, Chase Manhattan Investment Services, A.G. Edwards, Merrill Lynch, Miami, FL 6:00p.m. - 7:15p.m.: Get Wine Wise: We believe that an ACB Convention would not be the same without BPI’s wine presence. Join us in a fun conversation about wine. Our very own wine connoisseur Gabriel Lopez will lead this workshop where we will learn about wine history, different grapes, varietals, denominations and regions. Feel free to sip as we chat! Thursday, July 9 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: BPI 20th Anniversary: Virtual Happy Hour. Friday, July 10 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Easy Yoga for Relaxation: Join BPI as we learn how to relax through the ancient practice of yoga. This practice will be led by a fun and inspiring yogi. We will use a combination of easy poses and breathing techniques that will help us connect mind, body, and soul. We will learn valuable yoga tips that we can incorporate in our daily routines to take a relaxing break from our busy lives. Braille Revival League President: Paul Edwards Registration: $10 Wednesday, July 8 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: LUA/BRL/FIA Program 1:30p.m. – 2:30p.m.: Extended Time with Erin Jones, Talking Book Narrator from the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY. Erin will talk more about her life and narrating and will answer questions from those attending. 2:30p.m.: Break 2:45 – 4:15p.m.: BARD and BARD Express become better!: Representatives from NLS will tell us about changes that are being made in both the BARD and the Bard Express Programs which are used to access books from the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. This session will be hosted by Paul Edwards, Miami, FL and Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA. Thursday, July 9 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: BRL Program 1:30p.m. – 3:00p.m.: The Future of Braille: A panel will explore the future of paper braille, and paperless braille. What concerns must we combat? What specific steps can our organization take to assure the survival and growth of our primary medium of communication as people who are blind? Panelists: Kim Charlson, BRL past president, Watertown, MA; Judy Dixon, ACB's representative to Braille Authority of North America (BANA), Arlington, VA. 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: The National Braille Press: What is it doing and how can we help? Brian Mac Donald, Boston, MA, will tell us what NBP is doing and respond to questions from us. Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. CCLVI, a Vision for the Future President: Sara Conrad Program Chair: Jim Jirak Registration: $20 Sunday, July 5 2:30p.m. – 4:00p.m.: Low Vision Vendor Showcase: Come see what your favorite vendor has in the latest in technological low vision advances. And some new vendors not usually in convention attendance may also be featured. Monday, July 6: 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: My Retina Tracker: Ben Shaberman will provide an overview of the no-cost resources available from the Foundation Fighting Blindness for people with inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and Usher syndrome. The resources include: no-cost genetic testing, no-cost genetic counseling, and a patient registry. The resources help the patient get a clearer diagnosis for their condition and notification of clinical trials for emerging therapies. Ben Shaberman, Senior Director of Scientific Outreach, Columbia, MD, Foundation Fighting Blindness 7:30p.m. – 10:30p.m.: CCLVI Game Night: After a busy day of information and virtual networking, grab your favorite cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and play a virtual game of Outburst. Perhaps win a prize or two in the process. Tuesday, July 7 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: CCLVI Business Meeting: Members and those interested in becoming a member should be a part of this meeting. No business, no elections. Instead we will use our time together to evaluate where we are as an organization, where we want to be and how we can get there. You and your ideas are welcome at this planning session. Come and help us map out our future! Wednesday, July 8 1:30p.m. – 2:45 p.m.: Hadley 2.0: In 1920, William Hadley decided to teach braille by mail to reach adults wanting to learn a new way to continue reading. Nearly 100 years later, after an extensive process of research and rediscovery, we are on the cusp of launching a cutting-edge learning destination we’re calling Hadley rediscovered. Marc Arneson, Director of Brand Development, Winnetka, IL. Friends-in-Art of ACB President: Mike Mandel Program Chair: Peter Altschul Registration: $12 Friday, July 3 8:30p.m. – 10:30p.m.: 2020 Friends-in-Art Virtual Showcase: From the comfort of your living room, enjoy top quality entertainment from talented ACB members as they tell their stories, read their poetry or sing their songs. Hosts will be live, but content will be pre-submitted and edited to assure the best audio quality. Sunday, July 5 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: High Tea with Harps in the Art Parlor: Learn about the harp and the role it played in Lynn Hedl's life. We will share some of our favorite tunes and discuss the challenges and joys in playing these magical instruments. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy the music! Facilitator: Jason Castonguay, Manchester, CT; Nancy Pendegraph, Huntsville, AL. Monday, July 6 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Writers’ Workshop - Creating Poetry: This Workshop will focus on the acrostic poem. Participants will be given a practice session and read their poems following the instructions. Questions and creativity welcomed. Presenters Annie Chiappetta, author and poet, New Rochelle, NY; Carla Hayes, author, teacher and entrepreneur, McMurray, PA. Co-sponsored by FIA and AABT 7:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.: Prose and Poetry Reading: In this live Zoom presentation, writers are invited to read their original works to a receptive audience. Moderator: Carla Hayes, McMurray, PA Tuesday, July 7 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: Author Presentation: Spend an Afternoon with Author Deborah Kendrick. She will talk about the process involved for creating magazine features, newspaper columns, and her latest books related to the health care system. Wednesday, July 8 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: LUA/BRL/FIA Program 1:30p.m. – 2:30p.m.: Extended Time with Erin Jones, Talking Book Narrator from the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY. Erin will talk more about her life and narrating and will answer questions from those attending. 2:30p.m.: Break 2:45p.m. – 4:15p.m.: BARD and BARD Express become better!: Representatives from NLS will tell us about changes that are being made in both the BARD and the Bard Express programs which are used to access books from the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. This session will be hosted by Paul Edwards, Miami, FL and Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA. Thursday, July 9 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: ACBF/FIA Legos with Braille and Audio: The lessons that can be learned from creating with Legos is limitless. The fun of building trucks and spaceships and castles and forts and robots and so much more is an amazing world for sighted children and adults. Until now, this world has for the most part not been available to children and adults who are blind and visually impaired. At age 13, Matthew Shifrin began creating with Legos when a friend created braille instructions for a Lego set for him. Meet Matthew Shifrin and learn how he is opening the exciting world of Legos to people who are blind through braille and audio instructions and how you can get in on the fun. Co-sponsored by FIA and ACBF Guide Dog Users, Inc. President: Penny Reeder Program Chair: Andrea Giudice Raffle time is here again!!!! Introducing Zoom!! Her name pays homage to the virtual nature of the convention; She is ready to guide GDUI into this new decade and her way into your home and heart! She is a black and tan German shepherd beauty. About two feet tall, is in a sitting position with her ears up and mouth open in a big doggie smile. Zoom’s tag has been wood burnt with her name and she has her own leash. Of course, she proudly wears a magnificent, hand-crafted, Hava Original leather harness! Tickets are 3 for $5 or 7 for $10. Get them as a gift to yourself or use as gifts for others. Anyone can purchase a ticket, have your friends and family buy tickets too! Their ticket purchases increase your chances to win and support GDUI. You can purchase tickets online at https://guidedogusersinc.org/gdui-2020-convention-raffle-tickets/ or by calling Sara Calhoun at (866) 799-843. Thank you. Saturday, July 4 7:30p.m. - 9:00p.m.: Go Behind the Scenes with Disney’s Pick of the Litter: Join the Audio Description Project and Guide Dog Users, Inc. for this interesting program featuring ACB’s Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley, who was profiled in two episodes of “Pick of the Litter.” We will be listening to Episode 3: Training Begins and Episode 5: Meet Your Match. The dogs in advanced training take their final exams in the hopes of being matched with clients. Claire will answer questions and tell us some behind-the-scene stories of what it was like filming the episodes. Co-sponsored by GDUI and Audio Description Committee) Monday, July 6 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: The 20/20 Visions from the Guide Dogs Schools. 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Sit, Stay, Listen: Presenter Lukas Franck, The Seeing Eye, Morristown, NJ. Lukas will discuss clicker training, how he evolved into it, how well he responds to a clicker, and how he uses it in training! Tuesday, July 7 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: Hidden Treasures: Presenters Steve Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager, and Adam Kosakowski, Assistive Technology Specialist. NEAT Center at Oak Hill, Hartford, CT. During this presentation, participants will learn some tips and tricks to help them in using different pieces of software on various hardware platforms. For instance, we will demonstrate both the built-in screen reader and screen magnifier, found in Windows 10 and go over a few of the best features of these items. We will also highlight some of our favorite settings and items to customize to make using your device a better experience. We will be focusing on the following devices and software: Windows 10, Apple devices and Android devices. Some of the topics will include: • Customization of Voiceover on an iPhone or iPad • Changing visual settings on an iPhone. • Customizing Windows 10 for a better experience while using your screen reader • Simple tricks to make reading items easier with the JAWS screen reader. • Tips and tricks for Android users. Co-sponsored by GDUI and ACBS 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: “Harnessing Her Power at the Iditarod!”: Presenter Katie Mehrtens, The Right Spot Pet Massage. Katie Mehrtens, owner of The Right Spot Pet Massage, is a board-certified canine massage therapist who has been in practice for over 9 years. Prior to her canine massage career, Katie was an early childhood special education teacher. In 1997, Katie lost much of her vision due to diabetic retinopathy. To help her maintain her independence, Katie worked with Guide Dogs for the Blind to obtain a guide dog named Fairway. Fairway got sick with a grave blood disorder when she was just 5 years old. This prognosis would lead Katie on a remarkable journey into alternative therapies for pets, and ultimately to her healing career of canine massage. One of Katie’s favorite places to visit is Alaska. In June 2019 she went on a summer sled ride at the 17th Dog Kennel in Willow, AK. Katie was inspired by the dogs and the whole Iditarod experience. She wanted to be involved and massage these premier “athletes” before The Great Race. And so, she did! Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs President: Ardis Bazyn Program Chair: Carla Hayes Registration: $6 Tuesday, July 7 1:30p.m. - 2:45p.m.: The Coronavirus Conundrum: Strategies for Keeping Your Business Open When You Are Told to Keep it Closed. Entrepreneurs will conduct an open discussion about how they are dealing with the hardships brought about by the Coronavirus Pandemic. They will share strategies, resources and coping techniques that can help business owners to get through this and future national emergencies. Discussion Facilitator: Carla Hayes, IVIE Vice President and CEO of Lengua-Learn Communications, McMurray, PA. 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Entrepreneurship: Questions and Answers. An open discussion in which business owners who are blind or visually impaired answer participants’ questions about business ownership and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Discussion Moderator, Ardis Bazyn, IVIE President and CEO of Bazyn Communications, Burbank, CA. Co-sponsored by IVIE and ACBS Library Users of America President: Judy Wilkinson Registration: $10 Registrants will be eligible for door prize drawings Monday, July 6 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: LUA Program 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Updates from Karen Keninger, Director National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled: Karen will answer specific questions about how the NLS projects she described in her general session program are being implemented and will also take questions about other issues of concern to members. 2:45p.m.: Break 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: One Book, One ACB: In this session we will discuss Flying Blind: One Man’s Journey out of Darkness by Lou Briganti; DB97425 Wednesday, July 8 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: LUA/BRL/FIA Program 1:30p.m. – 2:30p.m.: Extended Time with Erin Jones, Talking Book Narrator from the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY. Erin will talk more about her life and narrating and will answer questions from those attending. 2:30p.m.: Break 2:45p.m. – 4:15p.m.: BARD and BARD Express become better!: Representatives from NLS will tell us about changes that are being made in both the BARD and the Bard Express programs which are used to access books from the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. This session will be hosted by Paul Edwards, Miami, FL and Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA. Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America RSVA® President: Dan Sippl Convention Chair: Scott Eggen ACB Program Liaison: Ardis Bazyn, Co-liaison Karen Blachowicz Registration: $40 (Registration includes a $20 donation entitling registrants a ticket into a drawing.) Saturday, July 4 1:00p.m. – 6:45p.m.: RSVA Program 1:00p.m. – 2:15p.m.: Building Business and Personal Relationships in a Changing World: Speaker: Mark Richert, ACB First Vice President, Arlington, VA; With his style of humor, Mark will share his experiences in several nonprofit organizations and some positive outcomes due to his ever expanding business and professional relationships. 2:30p.m. – 3:45p.m.: A Legal Update on RS vendor cases: Speakers Chris Prentice, ACB Visually Impaired Attorneys, Austin, TX; Jeff Thom, RSVA® Advocate/former attorney, Sacramento, CA; Comments and questions. Learn about the most recent happenings in the ever-changing legal landscape of cases involving Randolph-Sheppard vendors. Co-sponsored with American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys 4:00p.m. – 4:45p.m.: Panel discussion: The impact of Covid19 on Randolph-Sheppard vendors 4:45p.m. - 5:15p.m.: Another alternative - Three Square Market: Speaker Kurk Johnson, Vice President of Sales, River Falls, WI 5:30p.m. – 6:15p.m.: Tips and Tricks on Vending: Moderator: Scott Eggen, SVS Vending, Lino Lakes, MN. Vendors can send questions in advance and receive answers. 6:15p.m. – 6:45p.m.: Randolph-Sheppard Program- what is it? RSVA® board members will answer questions about how to become a vendor and what managing a facility requires. ACB Committee Meetings ACB Women Co-Chairs: Linda Porelle and Mary Ellen Frost Monday, July 6 4:30p.m. — 5:45p.m.: Women present Yoga with Leslie Spoone Tuesday, July 7 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Join ACB Women for an intimate conversation about women’s health with Deborah Kendrick of Cincinnati, OH. Deborah will offer insights from her latest book and invite us to share some of our own experiences in the health care arena. Check out Navigating Health Care: When all They Can See Is That You Can’t, available from National Braille Press. Wednesday, July 8 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Sister Power Presentation: Hear from two dynamic women, Rachel Schroeder, Springfield, IL and Carla Hayes, McMurray, PA. They are both active members of ACB and will tell us about their life as blind women. Audio Description Project Steering Committee Co-Chairs: Kim Charlson and Carl Richardson Friday, July 3 6:00p.m. - 8:30p.m.: Airing of the 2020 Academy Award winning Best Picture “Parasite” soundtrack with audio description. “Parasite” follows the members of a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family by infiltrating their household and posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. The film received unanimous critical acclaim and was considered by many critics as the best film of 2019 as well as one of the best films of the 2010’s. Saturday, July 4 7:30p.m. – 9:00p.m.: Go Behind the Scenes with Disney’s Pick of the Litter. Join the Audio Description Project and Guide Dog Users, Inc. for this interesting program featuring ACB’s Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley, who was profiled in two episodes of “Pick of the Litter.” We will be listening to Episode 3: Training Begins, and Episode 5: Meet Your Match. The dogs in advanced training take their final exams in the hopes of being matched with clients. Claire will answer questions and tell us some behind-the-scene stories of what it was like filming the episodes. 9:00p.m. – 9:30p.m.: FIREWORKS! Listen to this exciting display via an audio-described version of the 2019 Fireworks on the Mall in Washington, DC. Joel Snyder, PhD, ADP Director, Takoma Park, MD Monday, July 6 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Get Acquainted with the ADP Website: Learn about Described TV, Movies, DVDs, Streaming Videos, Performing Arts, Museums, and More! – Fred Brack, ADP Webmaster, Raleigh, NC. 7:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.: Entertainment and Media Industry Update – A review of the opportunities for Audio Description at the movies, on broadcast television, via streaming or by smart phone apps. Moderator: Carl Richardson, ADP Steering Committee co-chair, Boston, MA. Panelists: John Sweet, Charter Communications, Denver, CO; Tom Wlodkowski, Comcast, Philadelphia, PA; Susan Mazrui, AT&T, Seattle, WA; Josh Miele, Amazon, San Francisco, CA; Mitch Ginsburg, Disney+, San Francisco, CA; Sarah Herrlinger, Apple, Cupertino, CA; and Allison Smith, Netflix, Los Angeles, CA. Tuesday, July 7 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Legislative Update. What’s the Status of FCC Regulations for Audio Description on Broadcast Television? Is planning underway for a refresh of the 21st Century Video Accessibility and Communications Act? What about the ADA’s provisions regarding audio description? Moderator: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA. Panelists: Suzy Rosen Singleton, Chief, Disability Rights Office, and Will Schell, Attorney Advisor, Disability Rights Office, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC; Claire Stanley, ACB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Alexandria, VA; and Carl Richardson, ADP Steering Committee Co-Chair/ADA Coordinator, Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA. Wednesday, July 8 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: The National Park Service and Audio Description. An outline of the myriad access features incorporated with the National Park Service’s hundreds of locations. Moderator: Denise Decker, PhD, ADP Performing Arts/Museums/Parks subcommittee chair, Washington, DC - Panelists: Michele Hartley, National Park Service, Harpers Ferry, WV; Ray Bloomer, National Center on Accessibility, Bloomington, IN; Brett Oppegaard, The UniDescription Project, University of Hawaii, Manoa, HI. Thursday, July 9 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Strategies for Cord-Cutting or Do You Stream? A review of the current status of network description via broadcast and/or the multitude of streaming services or apps. Moderator: Kim Charlson, ADP Steering Committee Co-Chair, Watertown, MA. Panelists: Carl Richardson, ADP Steering Committee Co-Chair/ADA Coordinator, Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA; Judy Dixon, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Washington, DC; Timothy Wynn, ADP Media subcommittee, Miami, FL; Fred Brack, ADP webmaster, Raleigh, NC. Friday, July 10 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Audio Description and Quality Control. The hiring of description producers/describers and audio editors listen to the decision makers among content producers in charge of contracting audio description services. Moderator: Joel Snyder, PhD, Director, ACB Audio Description Project, Takoma Park, MD. Panelists: Evan Meeker, Amazon, Seattle, WA; Margo Tone, Deluxe Entertainment, Los Angeles, CA; Rick Boggs and Chris Snyder, Audio Eyes, Los Angeles, CA; Ian McDonald, WGBH Media Access Group, Boston, MA. DKM First-Timers Committee Chair: Kenneth Semien Sr. Wednesday, July 8 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: DKM Reception Best of Both worlds. Get in on the Durward K. McDaniel Wednesday Evening Blast! We’re rolling out the red carpet for 2020 DKM First-Timers during the annual DKM First-Timers Reception as they experience the “Best of Both Worlds.” Meet special guests, Friends of Durward K. McDaniel and win attendee super door prizes. Environmental Access Committee Chair: Becky Barnes Davidson Sunday, July 5 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: 2020 ACB Transportation Forum, To Mobility and Beyond. Co-sponsored by Environmental Access Committee and Transportation Task Force A mix of short presentations, Q&A and guided discussions to provide general information on the following: • How transportation and infrastructure projects are planned and funded. Presenter: Carol L. Ketcherside, AICP, Deputy Director - Planning and Development, Valley Metro, Phoenix, AZ • Impact of federal laws and regulations on the accessibility of transportation and infrastructure projects. Presenter: Christopher Bell, retired Disability Rights attorney, Pittsboro, NC • Updates on emerging technologies and services impacting transportation and environmental access. Presenter: Adam Cohen, Research Associate, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. Monday, July 6 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Transportation Workshop: Reading the Signals and Navigating the Chaos. Pedestrian access, Leading Pedestrian Intervals, roundabouts, curb management and street furniture, protected intersections and cycle tracks. Presenters: Becky Davidson, longtime guide dog advocate and Environmental Access Committee chair, Charlotte, NC; Karen Gourgey, Co-founder of NYC’s coalition, Pedestrians for Accessible Safe Streets, New York City, NY. 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: Transportation Workshop Part II: Paratransit and the New Mobility Paradigm – discussion topics include challenges facing paratransit customers, the use of taxicabs, rideshare services, micro transit and other emerging demand-response services. Tuesday, July 7 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Transportation workshop: They Roll Up the Sidewalks at Night – Intercity bus and rail services, transportation and pedestrian access within small towns and rural communities. Presenters: Koni Sims, President, South Dakota Association of the Blind (SDAB), Sioux Falls, SD; Lyle Sine, Philadelphia, PA; Pat Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD. 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: Transportation workshop: If People Could Design Paratransit from the Ground Up, What Would it Look Like? How would reservations work, what about shared rides, vehicles, technology, etc. Presenter: Ron Brooks, Vice President, Transit Market Development, American Logistics, Phoenix, AZ. Wednesday, July 8 3:00p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Transportation Summary Workshop - The goals of this workshop would be: • Summarize key findings from small-group discussions on Monday and Tuesday and seek additional feedback to inform ACB’s development of a more comprehensive transportation advocacy platform. • Provide training on how to build local coalitions that can support transportation advocacy efforts. Facilitator: Judy L. Shandley, PhD, Director National Center on Mobility Management, Chicago, IL. Co-sponsored by Environmental Access Committee and Transportation Task Force Information Access Committee Chair Jeff Bishop Saturday, July 4 3:00p.m. – 5:30p.m.: 411 from the IAC. Join the Information Access Committee and leading experts and developers to learn what’s new in the world of assistive technology. From the latest gadgets in the home from companies like Amazon and Microsoft, to portable devices like OrCam that you can take with you out on the town, this meeting keeps you informed on the latest tech for consumers who are blind and visually impaired. Wednesday, July 8 7:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.: Smart Access in the Home. Rapid developments in high-tech home appliances and accessible smart home interfaces have transformed the way many consumers who are blind and visually impaired navigate the world from the comfort of their own couch. Join us as we break down where these trends are headed and learn how you can make informed and affordable choices toward making your own home accessible. International Relations Committee Chair: Sandra Sermons Monday, July 6 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Voices from Around the World with a Twist. Take a virtual magic carpet ride with us as we welcome our international guests. Back by popular demand, and in collaboration with Blind LGBT Pride International, the 2020 Voices from Around the World Virtual Luncheon will feature a panel discussion with blind members of the LGBT communities in different parts of the world. We will have panelists from Asia, Europe, & Latin America, each one of whom will be providing their perspectives on the intersection between culture, blindness, & LGBT. We hope this innovative discussion will provide a backdrop for understanding the unique challenges of the blind LGBT community around the world. Panelists: Hannah Mae Aldeza (she / her / hers) - Manila, Philippines. Hannah is a totally blind 33-year-old Filipino. She is currently taking up her master’s degree in Gender and Development studies and is an active member of the LGBTQ+ students’ organization at the University of the Philippines. She is a passionate advocate who actively lobbies for the passage of the anti-discrimination law for persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and the accessibility law for persons with disabilities in her country. José Miguel Derisan (he / him / his) - Maracai, Venezuela. Jose Miguel is a 36-year-old blind gay man from Venezuela. He grew up in the town of Maracai, and moved to Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela where he aspired to pursue a career in Foreign Languages. The Venezuelan government imposed a different career path, forcing him to study Technology. He always lived a closeted life to avoid being bullied by classmates, family members, and even the authorities. He recently had to flee from his native country and is now happily married. (Due to his limited English, his participation will be simultaneously translated) Taylor Adams (she / her / hers) - Southampton, United Kingdom. Taylor is a male-to-female (MTF) trans 22-year-old girl living in the UK. She is a college student and she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. Music is her biggest passion. Berkay Bilsel (he / him / his) - Ankara, Turkey Berkay is a 23-year-old blind gay young man from Turkey. He studied a career in Translations in Hacettepe University in Ankara. Currently, he lives in Germany, and is pursuing further education at the University of Cologne. He is very fearful of telling his family about his sexual orientation. He doesn’t feel safe sharing with them until he becomes financially independent and is able to live on his own. Co-sponsored by IRC and BPI Leadership Training Committee Chair: Rebecca Bridges Saturday, July 4 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Leadership Training. Has your chapter or affiliate ever been faced with interpersonal conflict that seems unsolvable and perhaps even threatens the fabric of your organization? Have you struggled to find a way to approach the problem? If so, our conflict resolution overview session may be just what you need. Learn about ways to more easily identify the nature and roots of conflict and methods for attempting to resolve it! Membership Committee Chair: Ardis Bazyn Wednesday, July 8 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Membership Seminar. Special-Interest affiliate leaders will share their purpose and what they offer to members. By learning more about Special-Interest Affiliates, State and Special-Interest Affiliates can collaborate to grow membership. Hand-outs will be available to those registering. Multicultural Affairs Committee Chair: Peggy Garrett Sunday, July 5 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: MCAC Program: The MCAC theme for 2020 is "Bridging the Gap.” Our program will feature Dr. Gene Brooks Ph.D., Austin, TX who will facilitate a panel discussion which will focus on “The aftermath of the Coronavirus, will it bridge, or broaden the gap?” Join us for an insightful and probing conversation that will cover some important issues in our society including race, class and economics. Rehab Issues Task Force Chair: Doug Powell Monday, July 6 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: AAVL and Rehabilitation Issues Task Force Program. Filling the Service Gaps for Seniors with Vision Loss. 1:30p.m. - 2:15p.m.: Meeting the Unmet Need for Services to Seniors with Vision Loss; Lee Nasehi, President & CEO, VisionServe Alliance, St Louis, MO. The CEO of the largest consortium of blindness agencies in the country will explore ways in which we can attempt to fill the ever-growing need for specialized services for seniors who are blind or low vision. 2:15p.m. - 2:45p.m.: Clearing up the Mystery of Medicare Benefits. Lori Scharff, Master’s in social work and Certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Waynesboro, VA. This is your opportunity to have all those Medicare questions answered. Find out about everything from eligibility to available benefits. 3:00p.m. - 3:30p.m.: Service provider panel, Jenine Stanley, Explorer Communications Manager Aira Tech Corp. Columbus, OH and Alexa Holland, GoGo Grandparent. Learn about how these companies can enhance your independence and quality of life. 3:30p.m. - 4:15p.m.: AAVL Open Discussion. Learn about the work that the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss is doing on behalf of seniors with vision impairments. Co-sponsored by AAVL and Rehabilitation Issues Task Force Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs: Denise Colley, Rebecca Bridges Friday, July 3 7:00p.m. – 8:30p.m.: Scholarship Winners Meet and Greet (by invitation only) Sight and Sound Impaired Committee Co-Chairs: Karyn Campbell and Carl Richardson Thursday, July 9 3:00p.m. - 4:15p.m.: Haptic Communication. This session will explore the benefits and techniques of Haptics Communication, a tactile signaling system that provides blind and deafblind people with information about the physical environment, communication and social cues. The session will explore the benefits and basic techniques involved in Haptic Communication. Visual and environmental information helps us understand the location, people, movement, and the on-going communication around us. The importance of sensory information obtained from one’s environment is not always conveyed in speech, in writing, or via traditional signing. Haptic Communication comprises a system of touch cues that symbolizes body language, facial expressions, actions, and intonations. Enhanced information through touch empowers individuals with a heightened sense of surroundings, allowing them to make informed choices and engage now. Presenter: Ryan Odland, North Central Regional Representative, Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. 6:00p.m. - 7:15p.m.: SASI Social Happy Hour. Mix your favorite cocktail or mocktail, grab something delicious to munch on, imagine yourself seated on a white leather couch in a 50th floor hotel hospitality suite in your favorite city, and join us for an hour of virtual mingling. Meet other SASI folks, ask questions about resources, or just hang out. Transportation Committee Chair: Sheila Styron Sunday, July 5 1:30p.m. – 4:15p.m.: 2020 ACB Transportation Forum, To Mobility and Beyond. Cosponsored by EAC and transportation Committee: A mix of short presentations, Q&A and guided discussions to provide general information on the following: • How transportation and infrastructure projects are planned and funded. Presenter: Carol L. Ketcherside, AICP, Deputy Director - Planning and Development, Valley Metro, Phoenix, AZ • Impact of federal laws and regulations on the accessibility of transportation and infrastructure projects. Presenter: Christopher Bell, retired Disability Rights attorney, Pittsboro, NC • Updates on emerging technologies and services impacting transportation and environmental access. Presenter: Adam Cohen, Research Associate, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA Monday, July 6 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Transportation Workshop: Reading the Signals and Navigating the Chaos. Pedestrian access, Leading Pedestrian Intervals, roundabouts, curb management and street furniture, protected intersections and cycle tracks. Presenters: Becky Davidson, longtime guide dog advocate and Environmental Access Committee chair, Charlotte, NC; Karen Gourgey, Co-founder of NYC’s coalition, Pedestrians for Accessible Safe Streets, New York City, NY. 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: Transportation Workshop, Paratransit and the New Mobility Paradigm – Challenges facing paratransit customers, the use of taxicabs, rideshare services, micro transit and other emerging demand-response services. Presenter: Pat Sheehan, ACB board member and 508 Coordinator, Veterans Administration, Silver Spring, MD. Tuesday, July 7 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: Transportation workshop: They Roll Up the Sidewalks at Night – Intercity bus and rail services, transportation and pedestrian access within small towns and rural communities. Presenters: Koni Sims, President, South Dakota Association of the Blind (SDAB), Sioux Falls, SD; Lyle Sine, Philadelphia, PA; Pat Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD. 4:30p.m. - 5:45p.m.: Transportation workshop: If People Could Design Paratransit from the Ground Up, What Would it Look Like? How would reservations work, what about shared rides, vehicles, technology, etc. Presenter: Ron Brooks, Vice President, Transit market Development, American Logistics, Phoenix, AZ. Wednesday, July 8 3:00p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Transportation Summary Workshop - The goals of this workshop would be: • Summarize key findings from small-group discussions on Monday and Tuesday and seek additional feedback to inform ACB’s development of a more comprehensive transportation advocacy platform • Provide training on how to build local coalitions that can support transportation advocacy efforts Facilitator: Judy L. Shandley, PhD, Director National Center on Mobility Management, Chicago, IL. Co-sponsored by Environmental Access Committee and Transportation Task Force Other Meetings and Programs Advocacy Issues Friday, July 3 3:00p.m. – 4:15p.m.: En-Vison America: Join En-Vision America for a discussion on utilizing assistive technology to improve your health and well-being. We will touch on diabetes, healthy and fun no-cook recipes, and more.  We will also demo our new ScripTalk Mobile App for managing medications. Tuesday, July 7 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: AFB: Join the American Foundation for the Blind as its staff presents research findings, updates on its policy work, AccessWorld, JVIB, and its Blind Leaders program. Thursday, July 9 7:30p.m. - 9:30p.m.: An Evening with ACB: Advocacy Bootcamp. What is advocacy? What different channels can a person take when advocating for oneself or for others? Hear from a panel about how they advocated for themselves at work or for the entire blind community in court. Find out what worked and did not work in their experiences. Finally, there will be a series of hypothetical scenarios and participants will be asked to provide solutions. Presenters: Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, and Claire Stanley, ACB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Alexandria, VA Guide Dogs Friday, July 3 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: GDB Virtual Yappy Hour. Attention GDB Alumni and anyone interested in learning more about Guide Dogs for the Blind! Please join us for a virtual Yappy Hour at the 2020 ACB Conference and Convention. Pour yourself a refreshing libation, and a bowl of fresh cool water for your four-legged friends, sit back and relax while you get the scoop on what's new at GDB, connect with old friends and make some new ones! If you have issues or questions you would like specifically addressed during the event, please email them to Theresa at tstern@guidedogs.com by July 1st. Technology Friday, July 3 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Vispero: Interactive Discussion – Software, Hardware, and Training: In this interactive session, we’ll cover new products, advances in online training, and you’ll have the opportunity to have your questions answered by industry experts. Monday, July 6 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: HumanWare: A Braille Product for Everyone – New Features, New Faces. Join us in looking at what is new with the BrailleNote Touch Plus including a fully revamped calculator, the implementation of a wide variety of learning tables, and other features. We will also have an introduction to two very exciting new products, the Mantis Q40 and the Chameleon 20. Learn about how these new products may be just what you have been waiting for. Switch between your connected devices with the form-factor that works best for you! Presenter: Peter Tucic. Wednesday, July 8 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: HumanWare: Victor Reader Stream, Explore from Anywhere – Map Browsing is here! Join us in looking at some very exciting new features on the Victor Reader Trek. In addition to learning about brand new maps and a new way to manage them, learn about the ability to virtually explore your surroundings, or even the surroundings of somewhere a thousand miles away. We will also field questions and have tips and tricks for everyday use of your Trek/Stream. Presenter: Peter Tucic. Thursday, July 9 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: Bookshare Office Hours at ACB! The latest Bookshare updates; answers to your Bookshare questions. Friday, July 10 1:30p.m. – 2:45p.m.: Microsoft Soundscape: Enhancing Mobility and Independence in the Real World: Microsoft Soundscape is a research project that explores the use of innovative audio-based technology to enable people, particularly those with blindness or low vision, to build a richer awareness of their surroundings, thus becoming more confident and empowered to get around. Unlike step-by-step navigation apps, Soundscape uses 3D audio cues to enrich ambient awareness and provide a new way to relate to the environment. It allows you to build a mental map and make personal route choices while being more comfortable within unfamiliar spaces. This presentation will focus on a number of key and empowering experiences we are developing that show how people can leverage Soundscape and related tools and resources to help our users manage, enjoy new experiences, and develop new skills. Presenters: Amos Miller, Jarnail Chudge 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM What’s new with Seeing AI Presenters: Saqib Shaikh, Saqibs@microsoft.com, Seeing AI Lead, Jiaxin Zheng, jizhe@microsoft.com, Seeing AI Program Manager 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Windows Narrator – Our Journey and Live Q&A: Come learn about our journey to make Windows Narrator your preferred Screen Reader. You will also have an opportunity to chat with the team and ask any questions and provide feedback on the product. Presenters: Jeff Bishop, Carolina Hernandez Recreation Zone Sponsored by Buell Fund Chair: Oral Miller Saturday, July 4 11:30a.m. - 12:45p.m.: Accessible Exercise Equipment. During this session, panelists will discuss the latest market trends toward accessibility in exercise and fitness equipment, such as treadmills, rowing machines, exercise bikes and ellipticals. We will discuss whether smart exercise technology is making equipment more or less accessible. Finally, we will discuss what accessible fitness alternatives are coming up during the rest of the ACB Virtual Conference and Convention. Presenter: Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, ACB; Leslie Spoone, Certified Aerobics Instructor and Certified Personal Trainer, ACB, Orlando, FL; Satauna Howery, Member, Information Access Committee, ACB, Clifton Park, NY; Greg Lindberg, Member, Next Generation, ACB; Wesley Chapel, FL Monday, July 6 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Yoga with Leslie Spoone. Sponsored by ACB Women. Thursday, July 9 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: 1Touch Self Defense. CAN BLIND PEOPLE DEFEND OURSELVES? The answer is yes, and the 1 Touch project is here to teach us how. Studying the 1 Touch system, can teach us to recognize, avoid, and or defend ourselves against aggressive behavior or attacks. No one should expect to learn self-defense from a book, or video presentation. The 1 Touch Project workshop will introduce you to practical, effective, blind-friendly techniques, that really work. For more information contact us at info@1touchproject.com. Friday, July 10 4:30p.m. – 5:45p.m.: Angel Eyes Fitness and Nutrition is a 501(c)(3) established to empower and equip the blind and visually impaired with specially targeted and tailored fitness and nutrition counseling programs. Learn about Angel Eyes Dance Fitness, which offers clear, simplified movement to fun, upbeat rhythms that make for a winning, sweat-inducing cardio workout every time. Add in light weights to get those muscles poppin’ and your body movin'. We also have created several fitness programs and we specialize in customized blood type meal plans. www.angeleyesfitnessandnutrition.org. More Convention Entertainment You will be ready for a break and a little fun after all those workshops, seminars and business meetings. Below are some activities and events that take place during the convention. For more fun ideas, see the Recreation Zone and the agendas of the many affiliates and groups for more mixers, and parties. Friday, July 3 6:00p.m. – 8:30p.m.: Airing of the 2020 Academy Award Winning Best Picture “Parasite” soundtrack with audio description. “Parasite” follows the members of a poor family who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family by infiltrating their household and posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. The film received unanimous critical acclaim and was considered by many critics as the best film of 2019 as well as one of the best films of the 2010s. Saturday, July 4 7:30p.m. - 9:00p.m.: Go Behind the Scenes with Disney’s Pick of the Litter; Join the Audio Description Project and Guide Dog Users, Inc. for this interesting program featuring ACB’s Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley, who was profiled in two episodes of “Pick of the Litter.” We will be listening to Episode 3: Training Begins and Episode 5: Meet Your Match. The dogs in advanced training take their final exams in the hopes of being matched with clients. Claire will answer questions and tell us some behind-the-scene stories of what it was like filming the episodes. 9:00p.m. - 9:30p.m.: FIREWORKS! Listen to this exciting display via an audio-described version of the 2019 Fireworks on the Mall in Washington, DC. Joel Snyder, PhD, ADP Director, Takoma Park, MD. Monday, July 6 6:00p.m. – 7:15p.m.: Community Check In. Join your friends from the Coffee Social and other community events of the past few months for a time of convention sharing. Presenter: Cindy Hollis, ACB Membership Services Coordinator, Minneapolis, MN. 2020 ACB Exhibitors ACB Mini Mall ACB MMS American Printing House Be My Eyes Bureau of Engraving and Printing Charter Communications Christian Record Services for the Blind Computers for the Blind Dream Vision Group En-Vision of America Guide Dogs for the Blind GuideLight Dog Products Guide Dogs of America HIMS Horizons for The Blind HumanWare Infinity Vision Travel Islam By Touch JPMorgan Chase & Co. Kraftykerbear Leader Dogs for the Blind LoganTech Mary Kay Cosmetics Microsoft Mind’s Eye Travel National Braille Press OrCam Technologies Ruffwear Dog Gear San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired The Seeing Eye Vanda Pharmaceuticals ViewPlus Technologies Vispero Wright Turn Only ACB Officers President: Dan Spoone, Orlando, FL First Vice President: Mark Richert, Arlington, VA Second Vice President: Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Secretary: Denise Colley, Lacey, WA Treasurer: David Trott, Talladega, AL Immediate Past President: Kim Charlson, Watertown, MA ACB Board of Directors Jeff Bishop, Kirkland, WA Donna Brown, Romney, WV Sara Conrad, Madison, WI Dan Dillon, Hermitage, TN Katie Frederick, Worthington, OH James Kracht, Miami, FL Doug Powell, Falls Church, VA Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Michael Talley, Hueytown, AL Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA ACB Board of Publications Deb Cook Lewis, Chair, Clarkton, WA Paul Edwards, Miami, FL Zelda Gebhard, Edgeley, ND Susan Glass, Saratoga, CA Penny Reeder, Montgomery Village, MD ACB Enterprises and Services Directors Michael Garrett, Chair, Missouri City, TX Jeff Thom, Vice President, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Secretary-Treasurer, Talladega, AL Kim Charlson, Watertown, MA George Holliday, Philadelphia, PA Dan Spoone, Orlando, FL ACB Office Staff andd Consultants Alexandria, VA Office: Eric Bridges, Executive Director Anthony Stephens, Director of Development Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Claire Stanley, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Kelly Gasque, Executive Assistant and Multimedia Design Specialist Sharon Lovering, Editor, ACB Braille Forum Minneapolis, MN Office: Nancy Marks-Becker, Chief Financial Officer Alicia Knight, Human Resources and Administration Nancy Christine Feela, Reception and Administration Cindy Hollis, Membership Services Coordinator Consultants: Jo Lynn Bailey-Page, Grant Writer Jason Castonguay, ACB Radio Technical Managing Director Debbie Hazelton, ACB Radio Managing Director Lane Waters, Accounting Consultant 2020 Convention Coordinating Committee Janet Dickelman, Chair, St. Paul, MN Margarine Beaman, Austin, TX Nancy Becker, Staff Liaison, Minneapolis, MN Sally Benjamin, Tallahassee, FL Danielle (D.J.) McIntyre, Loganville, GA Rick Morin, Waltham, MA Vicky Prahin, Columbus, OH Michael Smitherman, Jackson, MS Dan Spoone, Officer Liaison, Orlando, FL Rhonda Trott, Talladega, AL 2020 Convention Program Committee Dan Spoone, Chair, Orlando, FL Jo Lynn Bailey-Page, San Mateo, CA Nancy Becker, Staff Liaison, Minneapolis, MN Eric Bridges, Arlington, VA Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Kim Charlson, Watertown, MA Janet Dickelman, Convention Coordinator, St. Paul, MN Judy Dixon, Arlington, VA Katie Frederick, Worthington, OH Rick Morin, Waltham, MA Mark Richert, Arlington, VA Rachel Schroeder, Springfield, IL