The ACB Braille Forum Volume LXIII September 2024 No. 2 Published by the American Council of the Blind ***** * Be A Part of ACB The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, contact the national office at 1-800-424-8666. * Contribute to Our Work Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Attn: Treasurer, ACB, 6200 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Suite 155, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office has printed cards available for this purpose. Consider including a gift to ACB in your Last Will and Testament. If your wishes are complex, call the national office. To make a contribution to ACB by the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. * Check in with ACB For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" 24/7 at 1-800-424-8666, or read it online. Listen to ACB Reports by downloading the MP3 file from www.acb.org, or call (518) 906-1820 and choose option 8. Tune in to ACB Media at www.acbmedia.org or by calling (518) 906-1820. Learn more about us at www.acb.org. Follow us on Twitter at @acbnational, or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/acbnational. © 2024 American Council of the Blind Scott Thornhill, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor 225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 660, Alexandria, VA 22314 ***** ** Table of Contents President's Message: Services for Seniors with Vision Loss: Now Is the Time, by Deb Cook Lewis Older Americans Act Update and a Request, by Doug Powell A Message from the Executive Director, by Scott Thornhill Advocacy in Action, by Claire Stanley 2024 Conference and Convention Wrap-Up, by Janet Dickelman Introducing the Scholarship Recipients for 2024-25!, by Denise Colley Jamaica's Convention Adventure, by Jamaica Miller Thank You from the ACB Auction Committee 2024 ACB Membership Committee Convention Seminar, compiled by Ardis Bazyn Turning the Page!, by Cachet Wells ACBDA Launches Patricia LaFrance-Wolf Memorial Fund BEP Hosts American Council of the Blind for Special Tactile Production Tour, by Tracy Garrett Speak-Up Skills: Have Yours Got Rusty?, by Hannah Fairbairn Responding to the Letter to the Membership in the June 'Forum,' by Michael Byington Leadership: Some Personal Reflections, by Mitch Pomerantz Affiliate News Here and There, edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins ACB Officers ACB Board of Directors ACB Board of Publications Accessing Your ACB Braille Forums ** Upcoming Forum Themes and Deadlines November-December 2024: all things gifts; deadline: September 23, 2024 * How to Submit Articles to the Forum If you wish to submit an article to "The ACB Braille Forum," please send it via email to slovering@acb.org as part of the message, or attached as a Word or ASCII text file. Articles should be between 500 and 800 words. Language should be family friendly. Longer articles may be divided into two or more parts. * Are You Moving? Do You Want to Change Your Subscription? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll update the database. ***** ** President's Message: Services for Seniors with Vision Loss: Now Is the Time by Deb Cook Lewis In 2023, the American Council of the Blind passed Resolution 2023-07, Amendment of Older Americans Act (OAA). Funds under the OAA are distributed to each state for allocation to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA's) to fund local programs for purposes specified in the Act. Very little funding is ultimately obtained through the OAA for services specifically targeted to older Americans who are blind or have low vision, because the OAA does not explicitly designate vision loss as a purpose for which funds are allowed to be specifically expended. In order to enable funds to be targeted for programs and services for people with vision loss, the OAA must be amended to recognize "aging with vision loss" as a distinct and sizable population of older Americans with unique and specialized needs. There has been a significant effort made by ACB's advocacy team and by our special-interest affiliate, the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL), to promote the intent of this resolution. But more is needed, and you can make a difference at the state or local level. Local Area Agencies on Aging are often unaware of the many eligible individuals with vision loss residing within their catchment area, and many ACB members may not even be aware of the services provided by their local AAA. In view of all of this, I'm taking this opportunity to strongly urge ACB members and local chapters to identify and reach out to their Area Agency on Aging and invite them to a regular chapter meeting to disseminate information about their services for the elderly population, while simultaneously educating the agency about the existence of and needs of their many constituents experiencing vision loss. State affiliates are encouraged to reach out to the agency that manages senior services at the state level. Request that they communicate with their various Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state and encourage them to make an effort to identify and reach out to their many constituents experiencing vision loss. Finally, encourage and support your members who may wish to seek to fully participate as members of local AAA's Advisory Council or similar body. We can move the needle on this crucial issue, but only by increasing our visibility with decision-makers and service providers. ***** ** Older Americans Act Update and a Request by Doug Powell, President, Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss As I write this in late July, the eight-member bipartisan subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee of the Senate has completed its draft of sections of the Older Americans Act (OAA) that they are willing to amend during this reauthorization. So far, it includes none of the language that the Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC), VisionServe Alliance (VSA), the American Council of the Blind (ACB), or the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL) have submitted and advocated for. But Pris Rogers and Mark Richert from the AVLNC continue to communicate with the legislative staff working on the draft to see if there is any way they would include any or all of the proposed most important language to heighten awareness of and elevate the need for improved outreach and services to the blind and low vision community of older citizens. In our previous advocacy efforts, I think we have, through our use of VSA's Big Data Project information, done a great job of demonstrating how underserved our community is. We have also demonstrated that lack of services leads to much higher incidence of health crises such as falls, strokes, depression, and other issues that the OAA is supposed to address and reduce. So no one argues that we shouldn't be covered by OAA. What we have not yet demonstrated, and what we need from ACB members, are anecdotes when we have gone to our local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), senior centers, and independent living centers (ILCs) and have been turned away or given inadequate services. So, I am asking you to write up (or have someone write up for you) those incidents for us to present to lawmakers showing them that current generic disability language has been, and still is, insufficient. If you have had an incident, especially in the last five years, where inaccessible materials have been presented to you for your participation in programs and activities, or you have been excluded from activities at a senior center because activities had no accessible materials such as braille playing cards or Bingo cards, and similar issues, we need to hear from you with: * Your name (and the name of the person you interacted with, if known); * Date of interaction; * Location of interaction (including the name of the agency, city, and state); * The request you made; * Their response; * Any follow-up by you or them; and * The current status of your request. Please submit your anecdote by September 10th to advocacy@acb.org. Even if we cannot resolve your specific issue, we appreciate your contribution to our advocacy efforts. And, if you'd like to be involved with our ongoing communications with federal, state and local officials at AAAs, senior centers, and independent living centers, please include your contact information with your submission above. We'd love to have you on your local AAA Advisory Council, or other advisory body having long-term input into programs and services so you can help inclusion of people who are blind or have low vision. ***** ** A Message from the Executive Director by Scott Thornhill Greetings, ACB family! As I approach my six-month mark as executive director of the American Council of the Blind, it is important for me to reach out and share about various events and initiatives. It was such an honor to meet and spend time with many of you during our Jacksonville convention, and there have been many positive comments about this year's gathering. Simply from a numbers standpoint, we had 200 more in-person attendees compared to last year, and our exhibit hall was filled to capacity. In addition to the convention success, our overall membership number is up, and we are right at 20,000 Community platform presentations since it began in 2020. Entering the fall season, our focus turns to the Audio Description Gala, which will be broadcast on November 14th. We also look forward as a staff to working with our affiliates and the committees so diligently carrying out the programs of ACB. Noting the committees, it was especially rewarding for me to spend some time in Jacksonville with our scholarship recipients and other awardees; what an amazing group of individuals who we are looking to for great leadership over the coming years and a tremendous effort by multiple responsible committees to bring us such deserving winners. After listening to many of you, the three primary areas I keep hearing about are: accessibility, employment, and healthcare. My focus is to keep these areas in mind as we adhere to the ACB mission and core values. My hope is that we can all work together to make a positive impact on these crucial components of life, which affect blind and visually impaired individuals disproportionately. All three of these pieces -- accessibility, employment and healthcare -- intersect and ultimately touch every element of who we are in one way or another. I look forward to continuing to meet many more of you as I attend state affiliate conventions over the coming months. The American Council of the Blind is a strong organization, and we will grow even stronger as we all seek to find the good in each other. ***** ** Advocacy in Action by Claire Stanley In mid-July, ACB's executive director, Scott Thornhill, and I traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., to participate in the annual Disability:In conference. Disability:In is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. It is composed of many major corporations ACB regularly collaborates with, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and CVS. Scott and Claire used the opportunity to meet up with several of the companies to build and solidify relationships. Many of these companies are long-time financial supporters of ACB. For instance, several of the participating corporations were sponsors for the 2024 annual convention in Jacksonville, Fla. We hoped to interact with the companies as an advocacy tool for the blind and low-vision community. Many of the companies put out products or services that are directly used by our community. As a result, ACB continuously advocates for such businesses to make their products and services accessible for our members. We had a wonderful conversation with a representative from Google who has discussed putting on regular community events to educate our members on new accessibility changes to Google products. Similarly, several other companies have begun discussions to allow our members to test their products for accessibility challenges. Disability:In works to encourage companies to employ more people with disabilities. We know that a large number of people with disabilities do not have jobs. We discussed the possibility of connecting ACB Students to find opportunities for mentorship and similar opportunities to help push back on these statistics. Overall, we left Las Vegas excited about the opportunities to work with many leading organizations. The ACB national office is located right outside of our nation's capital, Washington, D.C. This enables ACB to advocate for federal policies with Congress or other federal agencies that will enhance the rights of people with disabilities. However, advocacy can be carried out in a myriad of ways. ACB's attendance at the Disability:In conference illustrated how advocacy can also be carried out by working directly with corporate partners. ***** ** 2024 Conference and Convention Wrap-Up by Janet Dickelman I hope you all had a wonderful convention experience, whether you joined us virtually or were in person in Jacksonville. As always, it gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of so many who made the convention a success! To the convention committee: Each of you handle your duties independently and efficiently; you make my life so much easier! As I was whisked from arrivals to my gate by Margarine and her wonderful airport volunteers, I was reminded of how much our volunteers do to ensure that our conference and convention runs smoothly. Margarine Beaman, who so ably handles our accessibility at the hotel as well as meeting everyone as they arrive and depart from the airport, you are amazing! When we arrive at the hotel, everything is labeled and contrast tape is up, and all this is done by our own Energizer bunny! Speaking of volunteers, Sally Benjamin spends hours recruiting volunteers prior to the convention and then is always on call to greet our volunteers, provide them with orientation and make sure they have the information they need to assist everyone at the hotel! Sally always worries that we don't have enough volunteers, but the ones we had were amazing. What a great exhibit hall we had with Michael Smitherman at the helm! Did you enjoy the recorded exhibitor loop and the exhibitor open house on June 26th? Once again Rhonda Trott outdid herself in arranging our excellent lineup of tours, from the Kennedy Space Center to air boats, museums, and an evening at the beach and IFly. We had something for everyone! Cecily Nipper handled the information desk with grace and efficiency. Cecily also prepared and sent out all presenter Zoom links, determining which sessions would be eligible for continuing education credits and making certain CEU codes were given out. Our countless Zoom hosts and streamers kept things going remotely. Rick Morin and his cadre handled our A/V needs, and everyone raved about how good the sound was this year. The host committee, chaired by Sheila Young, outdid themselves with not one but two parties and so many items for our registration bags. Sheila, Mikey, Cassandra, Kati, Cachet, Barbara, Gloria and Leslie, thank you so much for all your help and dedication as the FCB host committee. Our wonderful ACB staff does so much to make the convention a success, everyone had a role! A special thank-you to Kaitlyn Herrera for sending out convention-related emails during the conference, and the Minneapolis staff comprised of Nancy Becker, Nancy Christine Feela, Chris Sawyer and Sayuree Naik, who have been doing all things convention for months! There are too many others to mention by name who played a part in the convention. Please know although you aren't acknowledged in this article, you were a huge help! The Hyatt staff was outstanding, so helpful, kind and always willing to go that extra mile! Dianne Liberty, our convention services person, went above and beyond the parameters of her job! To all of you reading this article, thanks for your convention feedback and suggestions. They will definitely be considered. * Convention Attendance For those of you who are curious, we had 1,180 people register for the convention; 660 of those joined us in Jacksonville. This year we shared convention space with Blinded Veterans Association, with around 160 attendees. Thanks to BVA, it was wonderful having some new exhibitors, the Bow Wow Lounge, and what an opening general session with the color guard and trumpet. BVA brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the convention! Now our thoughts turn to Dallas, Texas and the Hyatt Regency Hotel, located at 300 Reunion Boulevard. Convention dates are July 4 -11, 2025. Travel to Dallas and hotel details will be provided in the October Forum. * Staying in Touch The convention announce list will be filled with information. To subscribe to the list, send a blank e-mail to Acbconvention+subscribe@acblists.org. If you received updates for the 2024 convention, you do not need to re-subscribe to the list. For any convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, (651) 428-5059 or via e-mail, janet.dickelman@gmail.com. ***** ** Introducing the Scholarship Recipients for 2024-25! By Denise Colley This year's scholarship recipients are quite a varied group of students. There is a foreign newspaper correspondent, a former gymnast, a blind ice hockey player, a ballet dancer, a marching band member, and many others. Raveena Alli is from Atlanta, Ga. She is an entering freshman at the University of Georgia, and is interested in majoring in public policy/pre-law, with a minor in social change/peace and justice studies and/or global impacts. She works part-time at the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), a nonprofit committed to advancing policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for the growth of all in metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. Matthew Ard is from San Jose, Calif. He is a graduate student, pursuing a Ph.D. in energy science and engineering at Stanford University. Brandon Butzberger is from Greenacres, Fla. He is a graduate student at Palm Beach Atlantic University, pursuing a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. Last fall, he began working full-time at the Florida Division of Blind Services as the Independent Living/Children's Program Counselor. Matthew Cho is from New York, N.Y. He is an undergraduate student at Marymount Manhattan College, pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in social work. During the past two years, he volunteered at a community center and taught music to kids ages 3 to 4. He showed them different instruments and the basic concepts in music, like rhythm, pitch, and volume. Arie Farnam is from La Grande, Ore. She is a graduate student at Eastern Oregon University, pursuing a master's degree in creative writing with a minor specialization in community and landscape. From 1998-2008, she worked as a newspaper correspondent in Central Europe, the Balkans, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Ecuador, primarily for "The Prague Post," "The Christian Science Monitor," and "Business Week." Carmen (Izzi) Guzman is from Celebration, Fla. She is a graduate student at the University of Miami, pursuing a master's degree in jazz pedagogy. This past summer, she returned to a program near and dear to her heart: Lighthouse Central Florida. She applied to be a youth services instructor, where she would assist with the children's and teens' programs. Tyler Hoppe is from Mount Savage, Md. He is an undergraduate student at Penn State University Park, pursuing a degree in political science, with a minor in psychology. Rasheedah Kenner is from Clearwater, Fla. She is a pursuing a master's degree in social work at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis. Rasheedah lost her eyesight right before the pandemic started. But she refused to sit home idle. She enrolled through Apple Services and taught herself how to use Apple screen readers and other devices. She also took braille correspondence courses through Hadley, and purchased JAWS software and began acclimating herself on her laptop. Brock Kitterman is from Jackson, Tenn. He is an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, pursuing a degree in computer science with a minor in business administration. Brock is a member of the university's Astrobotics Team - Software Division, which has taught him about programming and general software principles in a team-oriented environment. Suzette May is from Waco, Tex. She is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, pursuing a degree in disability studies with a minor in nonprofit leadership and management. She is the owner of a business called My Write Hand VA, where she helps authors and digital content creators with websites, social, media, WordPress, Shopify, LeadPages, email list management, affiliate program management, sales funnels, and sales campaigns. She is also an Administrative Assistant/Independent Contractor with Thriving Blind Academy. Emily Nelson is from Fishers, Ind. She is an undergraduate student at Indiana University in Bloomington, pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity and Global Policy, with a minor in Germanic Studies; Homeland Security; Intelligence Studies. In her freshman year of college, she participated in her living learning center, ballet, rock climbing, and in ACB Students activities. Ronak Patel is from Baltimore, Md. He is a graduate student at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a master's degree in business administration. He currently serves as the Senior Manager of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Frank Ritter is from Houston, Tex. He is a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in education leadership with principal specialization at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. He has been working as a professional CTE business education teacher at The Summit, DAEP, for the Pasadena, Texas Independent School District. He is also a department chair, where he is responsible for budgets, facilitating team meetings, and instructing professional staff around the school district. Avery Sallean is from Cary, N.C. She is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, pursuing a degree in neuroscience, with a minor in chemistry. For the past two years, she has been a member of Carolina for the Kids. Their mission is to help patients and families at UNC Children's Hospital by providing financial and emotional support during their hospital stay. Michael Saravia is from Athens, Ga. He is a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in public administration at the University of Georgia. During this past school year, he has been serving as a research assistant, providing support with information management and sources for cutting-edge research. Emily Schlenker is from Wichita, Kan. She is a graduate student pursuing a Doctorate of Pharmacy at the University of Kansas in Wichita, Kan. She worked part-time from the summer of 2018 through December of 2022 as part of a newly created department at Wichita State University. She worked closely with her colleagues to create braille and tactile materials for students who are blind or visually impaired. She also assisted in making the COVID-19 testing portal used by her university and many other facilities accessible. Bhavya Shah is from Stanford, Calif. He is a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in computer science (artificial intelligence or human-computer interaction track) at Stanford University. He is currently working part-time as an oral communication tutor at the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking. Muhammad Sohaib is from Eugene, Ore. He is a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in special education, with a minor in language literacy, at the University of North Texas. From September 2023 to the present, he has worked as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at the University of Oregon. DaMyri Stepter is from Thibodaux, La. He is an entering freshman at Nicholls State University, and is interested in pursuing a degree in finance. He mentors younger students affected by retinal diseases. He and his mother co-created the DaMyri Stepter Foundation, a charitable foundation dedicated to increasing knowledge about and finding a cure for retinitis pigmentosa. Charli Strawn is from Glencoe, Ala. She is an entering freshman at Auburn University, and is interested in pursuing a degree in Business Information Systems Management, with a minor in psychology. Her greatest extracurricular and leadership experiences have been as part of the Glencoe High School marching band, where she served as drum major her senior year. Devon Woodfine is from Los Angeles, Calif. He is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at California State University, Pomona. After graduating with his bachelor's degree, he will work on designing new assistive devices and software applications that allow people with physical and mental disabilities to integrate into society fully, as a Ph.D. student at the California Institute of Technology. ***** ** Jamaica's Convention Adventure by Jamaica Miller Friday, July 5th was a very special day for me. I attended the board meeting, which I enjoyed. I finally met Cindy, Deb, David, Bel and Kolby in person. That night, I went to the welcome party; it was so much fun! I met Zelda for the first time that night. On Saturday, I attended the leadership meeting, as well as the city bus tour. The tour was nice, especially since I got to spend time with Zelda. I finished off the night at the Community Meet and Greet, where I met lots of people in the community, such as Jeff and Brad. All the fun continued on Sunday, where I started off the day at the ACB Families breakfast. I ate some yummy hash browns, and met Adam and Carla. Afterwards, I went to yet another leadership meeting, then the AAVL luncheon, where I enjoyed a great turkey wrap. I finished off my evening with the general session. Monday, July 8th was when I officially met Liz and Katie at the exhibit hall, and then had lunch with Anthony and Gabriel at the hotel restaurant. I followed lunch with a community meeting, where I met Kathy, Nancy and Travis. I then spent my evening at the beach, where I unfortunately fell and hurt my ankle. Tuesday I was up bright and early for the general session, but sadly had to miss the LUA meeting for an urgent care appointment. I ended up having to buy a wheelchair to get me through the week. Fortunately, I was able to make it to Bingo night. I didn't win, but I had a great time playing alongside my helper, Jennifer. I started my Wednesday off with the AFB breakfast and then a general session. Then I attended the BITS get-together, where I gave out the drink tickets, one of my favorite moments of the week! That evening I watched, but didn't play, Family Feud. The general session and ACB banquet on Thursday was a great way to finish off convention week. At the banquet, I had a table that was labeled "Friends of Jamaica!" I enjoyed sitting with Marsha, Debbie, Ron, Jennifer, Cecily Laney Nipper, Cecily Sr., and Zack! Friday, I was on my way back to Athens. I want to thank my helpers, Jennifer and Jason, for a fun and safe week. I enjoyed my first ever in-person convention and getting to meet you all! Until next time (whenever I can make it)! ***** ** Thank You from the ACB Auction Committee Hello ACB Family! The auction committee would like to thank everyone for participating in the ACB Summer Auction and making it such a big success. This year's summer auction showcased over 200 items donated by ACB affiliates, ACB staff, members and friends. A special thanks to the auction committee members who produced vivid descriptions, item pictures, audio descriptions on ACB Media 2, and formatted electronic documents for easy access for everyone's viewing. It's fantastic to hear all the excitement on Saturday night as members are bidding against each other. Looking ahead, the holiday auction will feature Sneak a Peek Appetizer auctions on Nov. 29th and 30th, and the holiday auction on December 1st. The deadline for items for the ACB Media Holiday Auction is October 7. For more information, contact Leslie Spoone by email, lesliespoone@cfl.rr.com, or by phone, (407) 929-9837. ***** ** 2024 ACB Membership Committee Convention Seminar compiled by Ardis Bazyn, ACB Membership Chair The annual ACB Membership Committee Seminar was held July 10. Ardis Bazyn, ACB Membership Committee Chair, facilitated the seminar. This year's theme was "Positive Strategies for Membership." The first panel focused on "What Techniques Affiliates Have Used to Improve and Grow Affiliate Membership." Speakers were Carla Ruschival, president, ACB Families and Library Users of America; Doug Powell, president, Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss and ACB of Virginia; and Jeff Bishop, president of Blind Information Technology Specialists. Some of the actions they took to get new members are below: - Affiliates provided programs to keep members and other participants interested and involved. Families and Library Users have monthly programs of interest to families. Library Users also has monthly calls titled "Library Without Walls." AAVL has monthly programs and has led an advocacy effort to get seniors with vision loss more services. BITS has joined with companies and members to provide monthly trainings for members and some for anyone interested. They have found ways to get professional training for those wishing to enhance their career goals. - These affiliates also provided some additional benefits for membership. Both Library Users and AAVL have raffles for those joining the affiliate early each year. BITS offered free memberships to those interested during the last year. This rejuvenated the affiliate, and generates more trainings and email discussion lists to assist members with technology issues. The second panel discussed "How to Have Successful Meetings Which Make Everyone Feel Valued." Speakers were Julie Brannon, immediate past president, Washington Council of the Blind; Doug Powell; and Jeff Bishop. Speakers shared the following techniques they've used to make everyone feel comfortable being involved. - Following a prepared agenda keeps the meetings running smoothly. Involving all participants by asking for suggestions and comments make all feel welcome. - Having open board meetings allows all members to understand what is going on in the affiliate. - Being open to diverse committee members allows a wide variety of thoughts on programming and events. - A good meeting should include a friendly greeting, welcome to newcomers, and a pleasant tenor during the meeting. - The leader must handle difficult people with "thank you, but we must move on." - Most meetings should incorporate some networking and getting acquainted time. Lunch, dinner, or snack time either before the meeting starts or afterward; chat time on calls or webinars; and additional topic calls for various groups. Each year ACB presents growth awards. One is for the largest number of new members and one for the largest percentage of growth. The winner in both categories was Blind Information Technology Specialists. They grew by over 500 members. Congratulations to BITS. The ACB Membership Committee has focus calls on membership-related topics each month, generally the fourth Sunday. In September, we'll be having several calls for committee chairs to share their recent activities so those listening might join ACB or get more involved. In October, some focus calls will highlight special-interest affiliates and their missions, activities, and how to become a member of those affiliates. Stay tuned to the community events schedule for details. ***** ** Turning the Page! by Cachet Wells I am enthusiastically pondering what can be said of a journey well taken, one in which every step serves a purpose and creates a path to something so much greater. Offering, in every direction, great opportunities to seize the day like the sun rising to take its rightful place. We each have a specific resonance that is ours and ours alone. The growth that is gained along the way that yields itself to new experiences that unfold into yet another great story. The countless knowledgeable nuances that are steadily unfolding unmeasured wisdom and wealth. Challenging oneself to go beyond what the eyes could see, to view life anew with greater responsibility and accountability to serve others in a whole way, expanding our minds and borders to gain new perspectives as we travel this written road never traveled before. Reaching beyond the thoughts of our own to hear the voices of those who live far and near. What an adventurous expedition this has been learning, celebrating and evolving with every interaction, conversation, crafted article, transparent interview, open community call, and in-person meet-ups. As a creative and a branch of friendship and connection, these memories are the highlights that will last over time. As a new chapter begins, it is the directing within this bopping place that will hold a special bookmark as the pages flip over and the story continues to evolve and take shape to what the future holds. Creatively creating experiences and some fantastic story lines to share throughout the community is the breaking news over that morning coffee we long to read. Let us each take inventory of ourselves as we set the stage and stay the course on our own untold story. May relevance and impact be the very things that guide our steps along the way to advocating for more initiatives, creating an environment for growth to thrive as a blind and low-vision person in our communities, cities and around the world in the most diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible way. Know that our stories are always expanding into our greater purpose. As I have connected with so many throughout this chapter, I am elated to have shared space, time and conversation with each of you. Thank you for welcoming me into your journey as you have etched a spot in my story. As we race toward the fork in the road to embark on a new path, let us relish the progression of steps that has yielded positive impact, celebrate the collective values that keeps us seeking to achieve greatness together and regenerate our minds to see ourselves standing strong together on the other side of any challenge that presents itself as we turn yet another page. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step that tells of a great story that has begun because of love of service, leadership and community. Thank you all for allowing me to serve you. ***** ** ACBDA Launches Patricia LaFrance-Wolf Memorial Fund ACB Diabetics In Action announces the launch of the Patricia LaFrance-Wolf Memorial Fund! On March 1, 2024, ACB Diabetics In Action launched the Patricia LaFrance-Wolf Memorial Fund -- a fund to provide members in good standing with emergency assistance with the purchase of diabetes-related supplies or services. Patricia (Pat) LaFrance-Wolf was remarkable in many ways, but in the context of this award program, she was a model for anyone who has diabetes. She became a type 1 diabetic at the age of 8. She handled her diabetes and stayed active for more than 65 years. It wasn't easy to be a person with diabetes for many of those years, and while Pat suffered setbacks along the way, including blindness in mid-adulthood, she prevailed and stayed active as an inspiration to those who knew her and those who read her many posts on many diabetes-related bulletin boards and listservs. She was actively engaged in providing diabetes education at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles, Calif. Her last health crisis came in the midst of a telephone conference call, doing the work she loved, helping others every chance she had. Pat was indeed a truly selfless leader! In honor of Pat and her tremendous work, ACB Diabetics in Action's (ACBDA) Board of Directors created the Patricia LaFrance-Wolf Memorial Fund to assist people living with diabetes and vision loss. The purpose of this fund is to provide assistance to members in good standing who are in severe need of emergency assistance in managing their diabetes. The committee is now accepting applications for assistance at https://www.acb.org/memorial/. * Who Is Eligible? Individual members of ACB Diabetics In Action who have been members in good standing for at least six (6) months are eligible to apply for assistance from this fund. Each applicant may receive one (1) award of up to $200 during a three-year period. * What Will Be Supplied? ACBDA will use as much flexibility as possible in determining what is supplied. It must be diabetes-related, and the applicant's need for a grant must be established. Examples of what might be included can be found on the online application form. * How to Apply Applications can be submitted via completion of the online application form, located at https://www.acbda.org/memorial/. (If completing the online application form presents barriers to an applicant, assistance will be provided by members of the committee.) * How are grant funds distributed? Grant funds are distributed from ACBDA directly to the equipment/service provider. Funds are not distributed to the grant recipient. In some cases, ACBDA may elect to provide requested equipment directly when such equipment has been donated to ACBDA by the equipment manufacturer, distributor, or other designated representative. * How will applications be judged? Committee members will determine whether the applicant has met the fund's criteria, including ACBDA membership. The committee will evaluate the applicant's circumstances and need for the funds, as well as the amount awarded, based on the total cost of the requested item(s) and available funds. The committee's decision is final. The committee members will keep each applicant’s sensitive financial and medical information confidential, only sharing the applicant’s contact information and other pertinent details with the provider of the needed items. * How long does it take to receive a grant? ACBDA makes every effort to process completed applications within seven days after a fully completed application is received by the grants committee. If additional information is required, this process may take longer. For more information, contact the committee at: patwolffund@acbda.org. Not yet a member? Please consider joining ACBDA, enjoying many benefits which could improve your life with diabetes. ***** ** BEP Hosts American Council of the Blind for Special Tactile Production Tour By Tracy Garrett The Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) Washington, D.C. Facility (DCF) hosted an experiential visit for 29 members of the American Council of the Blind on March 1, 2024, including members of the board of directors and ACB staff and volunteers. The special tactile currency production floor tour took place in the Large Examining and Printing Equipment (LEPE) section, where 50-subject sheets are processed. LEPE Supervisor John Bernhard and Public Affairs Specialist Kevin Nance explained each step of the currency production process to the guests -- some sighted and some with vision impairments or blindness -- including jogging, full sheet examination, letterpress printing functions, product verification and the cutting and packaging of currency. Various items representing every facet of prepress and currency production were on display for the guests. Guests with vision impairments were able to feel prints and plates of engraved portraits and specialty products like the Declaration of Independence to experience the tactility of intaglio engraving. Picture Engraver Joseph Wright explained the process of engraving portraits and vignettes, and Miscellaneous Plate Printer Peter David and Plate Printer Anthony Scicchitano II explained the die stamping process of progressive printing used to create specialty security products such as military medal certificates. BEP's mission is to develop and produce United States currency notes, trusted worldwide, and the meaningful access initiative remains a priority. A Raised Tactile Feature (RTF) to assist the blind and visually impaired community denominate Federal Reserve notes is planned to appear on the first redesigned denomination, the Catalyst $10. Offset/Letterpress Assistant Supervisor Mark Agambar explained how the alto plate making process played a part in the printing of the RTF acuity coupons used during RTF development and similar to the focus group testing related to the upcoming currency redesign. The guests were fascinated with the process that went into developing the RTF coupons. "Countless ACB members who were able to touch the model accessible paper currency were almost speechless; the ability to touch paper currency and identify its denomination was unbelievably exciting," said ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Claire Stanley. "The blind and low-vision community is anxiously waiting for the day when we can identify paper currency independently and is thankful for the work the Bureau is doing to make that a reality." Visitors were particularly excited about being able to handle individual currency sheets and hold cash-packs with a face value of about $12.8 million. According to former ACB Executive Director Dan Spoone, the visit exceeded all expectations and was very meaningful. Administrative Assistant Kaitlyn Herrera confirmed Spoone's assessment of the visit. "I wanted to reiterate how much our attendees enjoyed the tour," she said. "It was all they could talk about!" The BEP thanks all the stakeholders involved for making this educational and enlightening visit a success. For more information about BEP's Meaningful Access Initiative or to learn about obtaining a currency reader for qualified U.S. citizens, go to www.bep.gov/services/currency-accessibility. Caption: Miscellaneous Plate Printer Pete David, left, shows military certificates printed by the BEP to ACB members, from left, Dan Spoone, Rachel Schroeder, Leslie Spoone and Brad Snyder. Nancy Marks Becker, in brown sweater, and Cecily Laney Nipper are behind the group at the table. ***** ** Speak-Up Skills: Have Yours Got Rusty? by Hannah Fairbairn During the pandemic everything went online, and a lot of it stayed there! Many committee meetings, support groups, courses, and doctor’s visits are still virtual. This has obvious benefits, but we have lost practice asserting ourselves in the world of sight. How to speak up effectively when sighted people are using visual cues is a skill that takes learning and practice. Non-verbal communication among people who see conveys more than words; they express intention, feelings, exchange invitations to connect, and of course can see who is there. How to respond to invisible incoming cues has been left out of skills training. This is a serious omission! Acquaintances, receptionists, and cashiers invite us without speech, and expect us to know where they are standing. Because speak-up skills are rarely part of training programs, we learned to manage these almost daily interactions -- often awkward, sometimes distressing -- by ourselves. And the result can be coping mechanisms that aren't productive. In a couple of introductory discussions, an instructor can explain the concept of speaking up and offer basic tools including what rights we have under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). After this, role-playing is an excellent method of putting the ideas into practice. A small group of people who all live with blindness or low vision can work on solutions to common situations by role-playing them. It's dynamic and often hilarious as participants start acting the parts, trading roles as the blind person, obtuse cashier, and the irate customer at the front of the line. It relieves the interaction stress and, most importantly, the group comes up with great ways to tackle the issue fast. After a few sessions, some participants will be ready to continue independently. Assertiveness is defined in "Your Perfect Right" (check end of article) as "expressing our needs and feelings honestly and comfortably." We have to speak up with a tone and demeanor that is assertive: "direct, positive, and firm," and with blindness we have to be specific, too. This is quite a skill and takes practice and preparation, coaching the sighted person we are talking to how to communicate with us while keeping things relaxed. Practicing assertive speech when you are the customer or patient is a good place to start, because you are paying the bill! Family, especially extended family, can need a more strategic and long-term approach, and employees whose blindness is not a feature of their employment have to have extra assertive and strategic skills. Social events are important for everyone. We humans need the company of others. We absolutely need our blind friends, but we also need to have skills to engage in the sighted social world. As you know, social events for 6 to 10 people often work well for blind and sighted people alike, especially if guests are mostly sitting down. Large events where people are standing and moving around are far more sight-dependent. If your hearing is good, you can pick up on breath, fabric movement and other subtle indicators and distinguish the tone, distance and direction of a voice, but still cannot perceive the non-verbal cues that start interactions or know who is standing where. After staying home so long during the pandemic, it's no surprise if some of us have forgotten what assertiveness in social settings feels like. It's uncomfortable to express our needs out loud. But people who cover up and cope can end up depressed or angry. Of course if it's a birthday bash for you, or you are the speaker at an event, asserting yourself is easier. But if the event is for someone you don't know, or you haven't arranged assistance in advance, it takes confidence and clear thinking to have a satisfactory time. We do practice whenever we open the front door or walk into a store, but it’s more effective and much more fun to practice with a few other people who share the problem. Here are situations that come up pretty often: - Getting to the back of the line - Finding out who you are talking to and where they are standing - Mentioning your vision loss in a few words - Deflecting intrusive questions about your vision - Joining a group already talking - Asking for accommodation before or during an event This fall I will be working with groups and workshops to find out what people want to practice in speaking up, and what has changed post-pandemic. I am beginning to work on a short practice book of speak-up skills and role-plays, a companion to "When You Can't Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery," 2019. (NLS 11619, and Bookshare) Cited in this article: "Your Perfect Right: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life and Relationships, 10th Edition." Alberti & Emmons. NLS 90308 ***** ** Responding to the Letter to the Membership in the June "Forum" by Michael Byington This article responds to the letter in the June “Forum” from the ACB Board to the membership. I am writing as an individual member of ACB, one who has been around since the very early days of the organization. I am an affiliate president, but this letter does not necessarily reflect the views of that affiliate or of any other affiliate or committee, for which I do some type of work. The views are exclusively my own. I commend and support the board for efforts to continue to move the important work of ACB forward. I agree that the work of ACB is too important to let a hurtful disagreement scuttle its good efforts. At the same time, I do not feel that sweeping issues of concern under the rug are in the best interests of ACB's future. I am sure that doing so is not the board's intent, but it seems important for those of us who disagreed with the board's decision to take no position concerning the civil rights rally to be able to voice the reasoning behind our disagreement. I listened carefully to the board meeting of January 30. I believe that the board made the wrong decision. I did not arrive at this conclusion at the time of the board meeting, however. I was unsure about what to think. I came to this conclusion a few days after the meeting, when I learned of relevant information which was not presented. The letter states that the decision was made after ACB's democratic processes, which we all value and cherish. As someone who indeed values and cherishes those processes, and who is a former board member, I must observe that those processes usually have involved a well-balanced presentation of all sides of issues on which votes are to be taken. In this instance, we were given information from one attorney engaged by the president and acting executive director, and not given information from other equally respected attorneys who had been consulted. We will never know whether this information would have changed enough votes to have changed the outcome. So what do we do now? Yes, we must move forward in a spirit of healing and coming together. This includes showing respect for staff, realizing the essential need for ACB's work to continue, and taking care of our democratic principles in the future. I am certainly attempting to present these views in a respectful manner, and I apologize if any staff or member of ACB has found me to be disrespectful in the past. That has never been my intent. Part of the responsibility of being an ACB Board member, however, is understanding that there are consequences for actions taken. The Board's decisions do matter. I am thus one of a number of members who will not attend the convention in person this year. I will be involved virtually, and I have continued to support ACB through MMS and the auctions, but I will not spend significant monies with ACB for events taking place in the state of Florida. I have similar concerns about Texas next year as well. Had ACB fully supported a civil rights rally, I would have certainly been there in person. I thus want to close by thanking the ACB Board for its diligence and concern. I do not think anything done has been mean-spirited or intentionally harmful. In equal measure, however, I want to commend those individual members and affiliates who are joining me in sitting this convention out in terms of attendance in person. ***** ** Leadership: Some Personal Reflections by Mitch Pomerantz In February, ACB Next Generation organized a Zoom event at which aspiring leaders were given the opportunity to meet with a number of veteran leaders of the American Council of the Blind. I was honored to have been asked by Amanda Selm to be one of those leaders. Approximately 15 of us interacted with several individuals for three minutes each before being connected with another would-be leader. Longtime RSVA board member Ardis Bazyn and I were paired as leaders and shared our thoughts with five Next Gen participants. Prior to this event I decided to make some notes on my own experience over nearly a quarter century as a leader in ACB; lessons learned, practical approaches to leading, things to do and not do. Although our approach in beginning each interaction was to ask if the participant had a specific leadership question, I thought it would be useful to have a few ideas to pass along just in case. It proved to be a good call in a couple of instances. The "leadership tips" I wrote down are both personal -- based on my experience in various leadership capacities within ACB and elsewhere -- and professional, based on several years conducting leadership development training for my former employer, the City of Los Angeles. I offer them here for whatever they may be worth to those of you considering future leadership within our organization. * Leadership should be about serving the organization, not boosting one's ego or enhancing one's resume. Make certain you want to move into leadership for the right reason: because you believe you have something positive to contribute to ACB. * There will be times when you will have to make decisions which will be unpopular. A good leader needs to be OK with that because, as the saying goes: "You can't please all the people all the time." If this makes you uncomfortable, you probably shouldn't aspire to leadership right now. * While a leader (e.g.), a board or committee chairperson, should always strive for consensus, achieving it won't always be possible. There will be times when someone, or several someones, will disagree with a decision you have made. There may come a time when you will have to make a unilateral decision; hopefully not too often. * Surround yourself with persons who are at least as smart and as knowledgeable about a given issue as you think you are. Good leaders need those who are not afraid to ask you hard questions or offer a different perspective. Avoid "yes men and women." * Don't BS people; folks may not always like what you tell them, but they'll respect you for your honesty. Never tell one person or group one thing and another person or group something that contradicts what you told the first person or group. Members do talk to one another! * Learn as much as possible about all aspects of the organization, not just those areas which particularly interest you. This is especially important to keep in mind if you have any interest in someday running for a board position in your ACB leadership career. Consider serving on different committees to increase your knowledge about the organization. * While ACB is membership-driven, it is -- as are all not-for-profit organizations -- also a business. As such, there are certain legal and fiscal responsibilities to which we are obligated to adhere. Become familiar with the business side of ACB. * And finally, for your own sanity and for the good of the organization, sometimes you will need to say "no!" It really will be OK. Too many leaders don't learn this lesson until they experience burnout, or get a reputation for not completing a task, causing others to pick up the slack. Know when you may be putting too much on your plate before you make a commitment to do something. I would be less than forthright if I said that I was always able to follow my own advice while serving on various committees, sitting on the ACB board, or during my six years as ACB president, but I tried extremely hard to do so. None of the foregoing is especially new or unique. For me, what I have offered are practical "rules of thumb" which served me well through my leadership journey in ACB. And yes, I understand that times and approaches evolve over the years; nonetheless, I think that, by and large, if you follow most of them, you will be a successful ACB leader. I sincerely wish all up-and-coming leaders well as we veterans step off the leadership stage and you assume your roles as tomorrow's ACB leaders. ***** ** Affiliate News * Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs Online Business Expo IVIE is offering a great opportunity to blind or visually impaired business owners/entrepreneurs. When you join in our Online Business Expo shopping experience, you can describe your products and services, pass on contact information, and allow participants to ask questions. For IVIE members, the fee for presenting for 15 minutes is $10; a half-hour, $20; or an hour, $30. If you're not an IVIE member, the fee is $25 for 15 minutes, $35 for a half-hour, or $45 for an hour. Non-members have the option of having $15 of the payment used to pay IVIE dues for 2025. All those participating in the call will use the same Zoom information to connect. The online expo will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern. At 11:45 a.m., we will introduce all the participating vendors and their specific time slots, along with instructions for those attending. We'll do a wrap-up after all the presentations, and give time for anyone to ask questions of the exhibitors. The deadline for purchasing a time slot to give a presentation is October 31, 2024. To purchase a time slot or ask questions, send an email to info@ivie-acb.org with your request to present/exhibit. Please send your business name, product line, your telephone number, and your email address. You will be sent a link for payment and additional information. If you wish to attend the IVIE Online Business Expo and listen to this unique shopping experience, there is no cost. However, please send an email to register so we can send you the Zoom call details. Send the email request to info@ivie-acb.org, or contact Ardis Bazyn, phone (818) 209-8684. ***** ** Here and There edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The ACB Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering's mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date. * SFL Celebrates Golden Anniversary Ski for Light, Inc. (SFL) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Soldier Hollow, January 26 through February 2, 2025. Ski for Light, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, hosts an annual, week-long event where adults with visual or mobility impairments learn the basics of cross-country skiing. Participants will stay at the Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, and ski on expertly groomed trails at Soldier Hollow, near Midway, Utah. Each visually or mobility impaired participant is paired with an instructor guide for a week of skiing, sharing and learning. Join the celebration by participating as a skier, a guide or a volunteer. Applications and additional information are available at www.sfl.org; meanwhile, join our community on Facebook (Ski for Light, Inc.), and check out our YouTube channel (Ski for Light International). * Sad News from AFB Gil Johnson, who served as the American Foundation for the Blind's Senior Advisor on Critical Issues and was Director of AFB's National Employment Center, passed away March 25, 2024. He joined the AFB staff in 1992, and for over 12 years, he was known as an innovator and leader in the employment and rehabilitation of people who are blind. He retired in 2008. Johnson was a past recipient of the John H. McAulay Award from the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and had been recognized as one of California's top 50 notable people. To read the full article, visit https://tinyurl.com/mrxb4pvn. * NRTC Recruiting Participants for Career Mentoring Survey Mississippi State University's National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) is seeking participants for a study on career mentorship experiences and employment. The survey is open to U.S. residents with blindness or low vision who have had a career mentor or received career mentorship, are between ages 30 and 70, and have at least three years of paid work experience. The survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. If you have questions, send email to jboydstun@colled.msstate.edu or call (662) 325-2001. * Two ACB Members Receive Migel Medals AFB is proud to announce that Kim Charlson and Susan Mazrui are the 2024 recipients of the Migel Medal, the highest honor in the field of blindness. The AFB Migel Medal was established in 1937 by the late M.C. Migel, AFB's first chairman, to honor professionals and volunteers whose dedication and achievements improve the lives of people who are blind or have low vision. Kim Charlson, Executive Director of the Perkins Library in Watertown, Mass., has been a pioneering force for accessible reading material and communication technology for people with disabilities. With a career spanning over three decades, Kim's leadership and advocacy have set new standards in the field. Susan Mazrui, Director of Public Policy for AT&T Services Inc., has been a trailblazer in communications accessibility. Her initiatives at AT&T have revolutionized technology access for customers with disabilities, leading to innovations such as the first mobile phone with built-in text-to-speech. * Bricks for the Blind Bricks for the Blind (BFTB) is a non-profit organization that brings the joy of building LEGO (R) sets to blind people. By following BFTB's free Text-based Building Instructions, people with visual impairments can enjoy the excitement and thrill of building amazing things that they couldn't have built before. BFTB provides instructions for LEGO sets ranging from 100 to 4,000 pieces so visually impaired people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy hours of relaxation, independence, and empowerment. As miniature 3D replicas of real-life and imaginary things, LEGO sets help visually impaired people "see" wonders that are impossible to explore by touch, such as the towers of the London Tower Bridge or Hogwarts Castle. When a blind person builds these marvels with their own hands, they understand them in a new and enlightening way; there is an "aha" moment that they can't get from just reading about them. Building LEGO sets helps blind people learn about the world while also having fun. At the time of this publication, we have instructions for over 100 sets available, with more being released nearly every day! For more information, and to browse our collection of text-based instructions, check out our website at www.bricksfortheblind.org. ***** ** ACB Officers * President Deb Cook Lewis (1st term, 2025) 1131 Liberty Dr. Clarkston, WA 99403 * First Vice President David Trott (1st term, 2025) 1018 East St. S. Talladega, AL 35160 * Second Vice President Ray Campbell (1st term, 2025) 216 Prestwick Rd. Springfield, IL 62702-3330 * Secretary Denise Colley (final term, 2025) 26131 Travis Brook Dr. Richmond, TX 77406-3990 * Treasurer Michael Garrett (1st term, 2025) 7806 Chaseway Dr. Missouri City, TX 77489-2333 * Immediate Past President Kim Charlson 57 Grandview Ave. Watertown, MA 02472 ** ACB Board of Directors Christopher Bell, Pittsboro, NC (2nd term, 2028) Donna Brown, Romney, WV (2nd term, 2028) Peter Heide, Baraboo, WI (1st term, 2028) Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Miami Lakes, FL (1st term, 2026) Cecily Laney Nipper, Covington, GA (1st term, 2028) Terry Pacheco, Silver Spring, MD (1st term, 2026) Rachel Schroeder, Springfield, IL (1st term, 2026) Kenneth Semien Sr., Beaumont, TX (2nd term, 2028) Koni Sims, Sioux Falls, SD (1st term, 2026) Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA (2nd term, 2026) ** ACB Board of Publications Katie Frederick, Chair, Worthington, OH (1st term, 2026) Jeff Bishop, Tucson, AZ (1st term, 2026) Belinda Collins, Saint Pauls, NC (1st term, 2026) Cheryl Cumings, Seattle, WA (2nd term, 2025) Zelda Gebhard, Edgeley, ND (3rd term, 2026) ***** ** Accessing Your ACB Braille Forums The ACB Braille Forum is available by mail in braille, large print, NLS-style digital cartridge, and via email. To subscribe to the email version, contact Sharon Lovering, slovering@acb.org. It is also available on ACB’s web page, and by phone, (518) 906-1820. Subscribe to the podcast versions from your 2nd generation Victor Reader Stream or from https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-braille-forum-and-e-forum. ###