ACB Advocacy Update

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark speak with Heidi Simon from America Walks. They discuss the overlapping missions of our two organizations, and the work that we are doing to make our neighborhoods and cities more pedestrian-friendly. To learn more about America Walks visit: www.americawalks.org . A transcript of this podcast is available at: www.acb.org/ACB-advocacy-upd...

This week on the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley speaks with Stacy Cervanka from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). ACB and AFB are working together to encourage Congress to include language in the 2020 Surface Transportation bill that would positively affect the transportation rights and access for blind and visually impaired Americans. A transcr...

On this, the final Advocacy Update podcast for 2019, Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, and Dan Spoone, ACB President, discuss the organizational progress and advocacy accomplishments of 2019 and tease what ACB has planned for 2020. This was a year of transformation and growth for ACB, made possible by our members, partners, and...

On Dec. 5, the ACB Information Access Committee (IAC) hosted an evening webinar on accessible shopping, technology, and home appliances with special guest J.J. Meddaugh, Author, Access World. ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, and IAC Chair, Tony Stephens, led this discussion on what is naughty and nice in terms of accessibility, highlighted tips and tricks to improv...

On this episode of the Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark spoke with Barbara Raimondo, Executive Director, Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, about reintroduction of the Cogswell Macy Act (H.R. 4822 & S. 2681). Named for the first deaf student to be formally educated in the U.S. and for Helen Keller’s beloved teacher, respectively, the Alice Cogswell...

Traveling for the holidays, or need some personal time away from the family? The ACB Advocacy Update has you covered! On this podcast, Claire and Clark discuss all things audio description with Dr. Joel Snyder and Carl Richardson. We highlight the great work of the Audio Description Project, including the Benefits of Audio Description in Education Contest, as well as the 16th Audio Description Ins...

Calling All Actors! On this episode of the Advocacy Update, Clark spoke with starlet of the stage and screen, Marilee Talkington. Through personal and professional advocacy, Marilee has developed and launched the Access Acting Academy and will host the first-of-it’s-kind Professional Actor Training Program specifically for blind and visually impaired artists. This free flagship program will take p...

For this episode of the Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark spoke with Kelly Gasque, Executive Assistant and Multimedia Design Specialist for ACB. This is the second podcast in our two part series on ACB’s online presence. Kelly shared with us the work that she does to coordinate and update the ACB website and social media platforms, and we discussed how this information is used to amplify the advoc...

Join Claire and Clark as they speak with Jeff Bishop, ACB Board Member, and part of the critical team that keeps ACB up and running on the Internet. During this conversation, they discuss the work being done to modernize the ACB and ACB Radio websites, and how these tools are used to enhance ACB’s advocacy efforts. To learn more, please visit www.acb.org and www.acbradio.org . Share your feedback...

Apple will launch their new streaming video service, Apple TV+, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. On this episode of the Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark spoke with Joe Strechay, Associate Producer, about his work as a blindness consultant on the new series, See, and the accessibility features of Apple TV+. Additional information about the Apple TV+ service is available from the Audio Description Project...

For National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Claire and Clark spoke with Dan Kelly from IFB Solutions. We discussed the employment opportunities available to people who are blind through the AbilityOne Program, and ACB‘s advocacy efforts to address the challenges posed by recent changes to procurement policies for the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more about this issue, pleas...

This week on the ACB Advocacy Update, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley speaks with two ACB members. Chris Bell postulates about necessary policies and state action to prevent safety hazards, and Joanne Stombaugh shares her personal experience with e-scooters and her involvement in related advocacy.

This Advocacy Update is the first part of a two part series on micro and shared mobility services. Claire and Clark spoke with the Acting Executive Director of the Micromobility Coalition, Ryan McConaghy, about the proliferation of e-bikes and -scooters around the country. We discussed the role for these new services in the transportation ecosystem, and the need for these services to integrate sea...

On this special edition of the Advocacy Update podcast, we wait with bated breath to learn if the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Domino’s v. Robles, and whether Title III of the ADA applies to websites. In the meantime, please enjoy the audio only of the National Press Club event on digital accessibility and work place inclusion, where ACB Immediate Past President, Kim Charlson, participated. To...

This week on the ACB Advocate Update, Claire and Clark speak with Pam McGonigle, Director of Development for the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), about the exciting world of accessible sports. As ACB works on promoting the Exercise and Fitness for All Bill (S.1244), let’s learn more about accessible sports and athletic programs.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update podcast, Clark and Claire are joined by Jenine Stanley, Explorer Community Manager for Aira. We discussed how Aira may be used as a tool to navigate inaccessible products and services, whether when dealing with household appliances and exercise equipment, or forms and websites online. Jenine shared with us how ACB members may utilize five free minutes of...

On this episode of the Advocacy Update podcast, Claire and Clark discuss digital accessibility. As more aspects of our everyday lives are interconnected with the Internet and technology, it is more important than ever to ensure access for people with disabilities. If you encounter inaccessible hardware, software, websites or mobile applications, let the ACB National Office know at advocacy@acb.org...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark are joined by Sara Conrad, President, Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI). Sara shared her journey as an ACB member and the work of CCLVI. To learn more about CCLVI, visit www.cclvi.org . Please share your podcast feedback with ACB at advocacy@acb.org .

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update podcast, Claire and Clark speak with Mark Richert about the ACB resolutions process. In addition to being the newly elected ACB First Vice President, Mark is the most recent past Chairman of the ACB Resolutions Committee and the voice of resolutions at the ACB annual convention. Mark shared insights regarding how resolutions are introduced, debated and pa...

It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…No, It’s a Flying Dog! On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update podcast, Claire and Clark discuss the new final enforcement statement regarding service animals by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. Listen and learn about what passengers with service animals should expect while flying, and what policies airlines may implement. I...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark speak with Chandrika (Shani) Jayant from Volkswagen. Shani is the Principle Universal Designer of Inclusive Mobility for the Volkswagen Group of America. Shani shared Volkswagen’s work on autonomous vehicles, silent cars and inclusive vehicle designs. If you have feedback on this podcast, or ideas for future podcasts, please send them to...

Call to Action!: The Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act, H.R. 4129, was introduced by Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis. Claire and Clark discuss the importance of this bipartisan bill and encourage all listeners to contact their elected members of Congress during the August Recess to support this legislation. Members of Congress may support this legislation by cospo...

Happy 29th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act! On this episode of the Advocacy Update Podcast, Clark Rachfal is joined by Amanda Tolson, En-Vision America, and JoAnn Stephens and Carrie Farber, Walmart, to discuss how Walmart is making the ScripTalk accessible prescription solution available at all Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs throughout the U.S. To get started with ScripTalk: call En-...

This week on the ACB Advocacy Update podcase, join Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal for a conversation with Minh Ha, President of ACB Students. During this podcast we learn a little about Minh, how she became involved with ACB, what’s new with ACB Students, and what Minh and ACB Students have in store for the ACB convention in Rochester this week! To learn more about ACB Students, visit: www.acb.o...

Join Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal this week as they meet with ACB’s new Membership Services Coordinator, Cindy Van Winkle. Claire and Clark get to know more about who she is, where she comes from, and what she hopes to bring to ACB.