ACB Advocacy Update

This week, Claire and Kolby are joined by Em Whitworth and Dewey Bushaw from Speak4 to discuss how ACB partnered with Speak4 to make the platform more accessible. ACB uses Speak4 to support its national advocacy campaigns, making it easy for members to contact their representatives and advocate for key issues.

On the 15th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), Claire speaks with three experts, reminiscing on the journey to get the bill passed and talking about what it includes. We also look forward to what the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) will bring.

This week, Claire speaks with the chair of the resolutions committee about the process to complete the 2025, ACB resolutions. The process to complete another year’s of ACB resolutions takes a lot of hard work. Claire and Gabe Griffith talk through the process to get there, and they then review the six resolutions that were voted in at the 2025 annual convention.

This week, Claire speaks with two experts on library services and potential federal funding cuts to such services. The two experts outline how the programs are run and advise listeners on how they can help advocate for ongoing library services.

This week, Claire speaks with two ACB members about their positive experience using the Speak4 platform. They share their thoughts and experiences with the platform.

This week, Claire speaks with our Advocacy Fellow about several new bills Congress has introduced that will benefit the blind and disabled community.

This week Claire speaks with Doug Powell and Pris Rogers about the Older Americans Act and related legislation. These two experts in services for older Americans talk about the bill and needed services for people losing their vision as they age.

This week, Claire talks with Rob Buettner about their experiences at the 2025 VisionServe Alliance conference that was held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This week, Claire speaks with a colleague from the VisionServe alliance about a new platform. ACB members can use to reach out to Congress. This new resource, Speak4, Will make it easier than ever to advocate to Congress about important issues the blind community is involved with.

This week, Claire speaks with Cleo from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to learn more about their involvement in setting accessibility standards and how ACB members can get involved.

This week, Claire speaks with allies from three other disability advocacy groups to learn more about three bills ACB is supporting. The bills cover a spectrum of issues that impact the blind and low vision community and exemplify the advocacy work ACB does on Capitol Hill.

This week, Claire chats with ACB’s Advocacy Fellow Mia about her recent visits to House offices on Capitol Hill. From hallway meetings to surprise questions, they share what it’s really like to advocate to members of Congress and congressional staffers as ACB and its partners push to reintroduce the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act in the 119th Congress.

This week, Claire speaks with two attorneys from Disability Rights Advocates about current disability rights litigation to better understand caselaw that impacts the blind and disability community.

This week, Claire and Scott talk about a “grab bag” of advocacy issues. ACB is busy keeping up with a myriad of new bills that are soon to be introduced to Congress, and activity with the executive branch of the federal government. The two discuss the numerous hot topics and what ACB is doing to track their progress.

This week, Claire speaks with an attorney from the Disability Rights Education Fund (DREDF) to better understand the case of Texas v. Becerra. This case could have significant ramifications for Section 504 of the Rehab Act. The episode provides a few ways our members can help advocate to prevent this.

This week, Claire speaks with a previous chair of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) about what the organization is and how ACB is involved in the advocacy it does. CCD is made up of over 120 different disability advocacy groups; ACB has been an active member for many years, working with other organizations to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities across the boar...

This week, Claire And Kolby talk about their experience in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronic Show. The conference provided an opportunity to learn about the latest technology, advocate for full accessibility in all designs, and network with other advocates in the world of technology access.

This week, Claire and Cindy preview the DC Leadership Conference, which will take place March 14-18 at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Listen to find out more about the upcoming event and how you can participate.

This week, Claire had the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Flynt McEben from the National Disability Rights Network regarding the U.S. Census. In the last year, census officials took steps to change the way disability is defined, which would impact the number of people who identify as so. This would then impact government funding for the disability community. Stephanie explains the action of th...

This week, Claire speaks with ACB’s executive director, Scott Thornhill, to learn more about his visit to several state affiliate conventions in 2024. As the new executive director, he has already had the opportunity to attend state affiliate conventions and learn more about the phenomenal work going on at the state level.

This week, we get to know one of our newly elected Board members from the 2024 annual Convention. Claire and Swatha spoke with Peter Heide to learn more about who he is and his hopes as a member of the ACB Board.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha reflect on all that has happened in 2024 with special guests Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President, and Scott Thornhill, ACB Executive Director. From major staff changes to cross-country travel, come hear about it all!

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha speak with ACB’s Audio Description Project Coordinator, Tabitha Kenlon, in addition to Brett Oppegaard from the University of Hawaii about the Descritathon, a 3 day hackathon-like event to make National Park Service brochures and exhibits accessible for blind and low vision visitors. Recruitment for Descriptathon 11 is currently underwa...

This week, Claire speaks with Will Schell from the Disability Rights Office of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about a newly submitted report to the Disability Advisory Committee on the accessibility needs for people who are blind or have low vision as it pertains to communication functions of videogames. Will Schell oversaw the subcommittee as it explored future opportunities to make...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha provide a smattering of topics and advocacy issues that ACB has been working on over the last month. Topics discussed include video conferencing program accessibility, the Census, and a save-the-date for our 2025 DC Leadership Conference and Legislative Seminar.