ACB Advocacy Update

Episode Notes On this week's episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Grace talk with ACB of Texas member Bryan "Anthony" Chase Jr. regarding the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit. The group also discusses the importance of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the impact that advocacy can have at the state and local level. Link to Transcript https://acbmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026...

Education, Transportation, and Benefits, Oh My! June 18, 2026 On this week's episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire, Grace, and ACB Advocacy Intern Amanda Wickstrom discuss four recently introduced (or reintroduced) bills that ACB is tracking. They discuss the Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act, the Cogswell-Macy Act, the We Can't Wait Act, and the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act.

On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Grace Hart chats with Stephanie Flynt McEben of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and Cameron Lynch of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network about voting rights and the National Coalition on Accessible Voting. For those who may need a transcript of the podcast, please click on the link below. https://acbmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/0...

On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Grace talk with Eric Buehlmann from the National Disability Rights Network about the numerous challenges to the ADA and website accessibility. They discuss challenges coming from both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.

On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire speaks with Jason Eckert from VisionServe Alliance about a meeting they both attended with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The meeting brought together numerous blindness advocates to call for the rescission of a long lasting agency policy that prevents Medicare recipients from receiving coverage to purchase assistive...

On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Grace speak with a member of our California affiliate about her experiences on  Hill Day. ACB members count many steps as they walk from office to office as they visit their congressional representatives and senators each year on Hill Day. Regina Brink offers a first-hand experience as she recalls the experience she had this year.

This week, Claire speaks with two of our leaders from our low vision affiliate to discuss a letter sent to the State Department surrounding a new font policy. It is easy to forget that font selections can easily impact persons with low vision.

This week, Claire speaks with someone from AFB about potential changes in the Title II website regulations due to come out in April. The two talk about a very likely step taken by the government to amend and/or delay the long fight  for website regulations.

This week, Clare and Kolby speak with ACB’s new operations administrator, Grace Hart. The three have a fun conversation to learn more about Grace and the

This week, Claire and our advocacy fellow, Nadia, talk about the 2026 legislative imperatives. More specifically, they talk about the committees each bill has been assigned to and why it's important to reach out to those committees to see the bill progress.

               This week, Claire talks with Kolby to learn about her experience at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is exciting to see all the new products out there.

Making Transportation More Accessible for All This week, Claire speaks with two colleagues who attended the NCUTCD and Transportation Research Board conferences. They talk all things transportation and pedestrian safety after two weeks of interesting sessions on the latest and greatest in this field.

On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill speaks about the Randolph-Sheppard Act, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. Scott speaks with members of ACB’s affiliate, Randolph-Sheppard Act Vendors of America (RSVA), and board member Jeff Thom about the history of this important legislation in creating entrepreneurial opportunities for peopl...

This week, Claire speaks with Lea Rowe from BVA about their experience at a Meta Wearables Summit in Northern California.

This week, Claire, Kolby, and Scott look back over all of the advocacy work that was done in 2025.

This week, Claire speaks with our intern about two more bills ACB is following closely. Congress has been busy introducing new bills. We will explore new bills that impact the lives of people who are blind and low vision.

This week Claire speaks with another member of the Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee (CPAAC) with the Federal Communications Commission. The two talk about the newly formed group and its responsibilities over the next year.

This week, Claire speaks with 3 individuals from other advocacy organizations we work closely with to learn about where the 2025 legislative imperatives currently stand.

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.