ACB Advocacy Update

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha speaks with Dania Douglas, Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program, about the new rule from the US Department of Health and Human Services covering non-discrimination on the basis of disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. We discuss new prohibitions on disability discrimination in crisis standards of care, acces...

On this episode of ACB Advocacy Update, Claire speaks with Heather Ansley from Paralyzed Veterans of America about Congress’s long over due passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act. This bill includes numerous provisions that will improve the air travel experience for passengers with disabilities. Claire and Heather talk about key provisions of the new legislation including a pilot program to allevi...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha speak with ACB’s Convention Coordinator, Janet Dickelman, and two members of the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, Doug Powell, AAVL President, and Jeff Thom, Immediate Past President, on all the things happening at the 2024 annual Conference and Convention. Register for the Conference and Convention at acbconvention.org or by calling...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha go through the recently released rule from the Department of Justice on accessibility of websites and mobile apps under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act with guests from the American Foundation for the Blind Public Policy and Research Department, Stephanie Enyart and Sarah Malaier. We go over what is in the rule and who i...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha recaps the California State University Northridge (CSUN) Assistive Technology Conference with Claire and ACB Development Officer, Kolby Garrison. We go through their experiences at the conference venue, standout sessions, and all the cool new gadgets and gizmos on display at the Exhibit Hall.

Today we’re bringing you a special edition of the ACB Advocacy Update! Claire Stanley and Swatha Nandhakumar sit down with ACB’s new Executive Director, Scott Thornhill. You’ll learn about Scott’s background, his ideas for building new partnerships, and a few of his priorities and aspirations for ACB as he settles into his new role. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from Scott and get t...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha reflect on the Capitol Hill Day at the 2024 Leadership Conference and Legislative Seminar with some ACB members. We discuss particular issues that stood out to Congressional staff, the return to in-person office visits, and advice these three individuals have for anyone that wants to advocate with Congress with ACB in the future.

The Medical Devices Nonvisual Accessibility ACT.

ACB Advocacy Update

ACB Advocacy for February 29, 2024.

2024 Imperative #1.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha preview all that will be happening at the 2024 Leadership Conference and Legislative Seminar taking place from March 1st to 5th at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, VA. We go through the scheduled meetings, guest speakers, fun activities after hours, and our Capitol Hill advocacy day. Registration is now open to attend the...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha chats with an old friend and new Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs for the American Council of the Blind, Claire Stanley. Claire shares her background in disability rights, her previous work with ACB, and what she’s looking forward to in her new role here.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update podcast, Swatha reflects on all that happened in 2023 with guests Dan Spoone (ACB Interim Executive Director) and Deb Cook Lewis (ACB President). Listen as we walk through a year of transition and growth for the organization with staff departures and additions, ACB’s accessible currency rally in front of the White House and Treasury Department, and the 3r...

Continuing from where we left off in Part 1, Dan and Swatha speak with Penny Forward on current efforts in the push for fully accessible US paper currency. We highlight the 2023 Accessible Currency Rally held by ACB in front of the US Treasury Building and the White House, and the subsequent actions taken by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to demonstrate the administration’s commitment to mak...

In the first installment of this 2-part collaborative podcast with Penny Forward, we discuss the history behind ACB’s advocacy surrounding the push for the United States to create paper currency that is fully accessible to people who are blind and experiencing vision loss. Dan Spoone, ACB Interim Executive Director, and Swatha Nandhakumar, ACB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, speak with Liz Bottn...

The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha speaks with Mark Richert, International Program Coordinator at Overbrook School for the Blind, about the recently reintroduced Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act (H.R.5748 and S.2945). This bipartisan and bicameral piece of legislation would improve special education opportunities for blind, low...

Enjoy the season of sweater weather, pumpkin spice and apple cider with another round of updates from ACB’s Advocacy Team! On this episode, Clark and Swatha provide updates on legislation, including reintroduction of the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, significant agency rulemakings, like the Department of Health and Human Services update to Section 504, and how the administr...

People concerned about safety and accessibility for pedestrians have been discussing the “Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines” (mercifully shortened to PROWAG) for more than a decade. And on August 8, 2023, the U.S. Access Board issued this long-sought set of accessibility standards for sidewalks and streets, crosswalks, curb ramps, pedestrian signals, on-street parking, and other compone...

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha go over the CVTA, which was re-introduced on July 25th in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate by Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA-16) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) as H.R.4858 and S.2494. We encourage all our members and friends to contact their Representative and Senators to urge them to support the CVTA. To contact your M...

In addition to her role as World Blind Union President, Ms. Abel-Williamson is involved with several disability-related organizations in New Zealand and also serves on the board of the Accessible Books Consortium, an initiative led by the World Intellectual Property Organization. She will speak at Tuesday morning's general session, and here is a great opportunity to hear from and talk with her dir...

# Several ACB members will describe the policy and service changes that a number of transit agencies have made to improve the equity and service outcomes of their paratransit systems. Speakers will also make recommendations for how individuals and ACB chapters can advocate for similar paratransit improvements in their home communities. Moderator: Ron Brooks, Founder and CEO, Accessible Avenue, Pho...

Episode Description July is Disability Pride Month, and July 26th is the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Come listen to what the ACB Advocacy team has been up to as the administration and Congress celebrate the ADA anniversary. We go over new and proposed rule making by federal agencies, events held by the administration, and Congressional activity surrounding ac...

# Join representatives from Uber to learn how they are improving the rideshare experience for passengers with disabilities, including service dog handlers. Moderated by Clark Rachfal, ACBs, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs.

# A panel of legal experts discusses whether current legal settlements and decisions are providing people who are blind or low vision with appropriate legal redress and whether it is possible to seek changes in the way we approach our civil rights litigation.