Next Up With NextGen

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we meet Megan Meigs, second vice president of ACB Next Generation. Megan recently received the American Council of the Blind (ACB) DKM First-Timer Award as a member from the West and will be attending the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention in St. Louis, MO. We learn about her background, roles within ACB, what it means to her to receive this award, and what...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a recent NextGen program recapping the 2026 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference held in Anaheim, California back in March. Four panelists who attended the event talked about the sessions they attended, the exhibit hall, and the latest assistive technology devices and companies who design products and services for the blind and v...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we discuss the 2026 ACB DC Leadership Conference with two members of ACB Next Generation - Moe Carpenter and Raheel Ahmed. They talked about their biggest takeaways from attending the conference in person in Washington D.C. and what it was like advocating for laws that impact the blind community on Capitol Hill. Learn more about ACB Next Generation, a speci...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a previous Tuesday Night Huddle event. Members of the VIP Coaching in the Dark team join the conversation to talk about their backgrounds, why they started this unique company, what it offers for the blind and visually impaired, how services can be tailored to each client, as well as some insightful Q&A discussions with the a...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a previous Tuesday Night Huddle event. The topic is job interviews with a focus on tips and tricks for candidates who are blind or visually impaired. The presenter for this event is Moe Carpenter, ACB NextGen’s Treasurer. Learn more about ACB Next Generation, a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind geare...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a previous Tuesday Night Huddle event. The topic is spams and scams and how to avoid some of the most common scams out there, especially as someone who is blind or visually impaired. The presenters for this event are Moe Carpenter, ACB NextGen’s Treasurer, and Vika Trussell, Chair of ACB NextGen’s PR Committee. Learn more about A...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a previous Tuesday Night Huddle event. The topic is the Job Search for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Presenter Sara Freeman Smith, a longtime human resources professional and author who is blind, covered a wide range of practical topics related to searching for a job, creating resumes and cover letters, the job interview proce...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a previous Tuesday Night Huddle event. The topic is Notetaking for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The panelists covered how to effectively and easily create an agenda for a meeting. They provided several helpful tips and tricks on note taking on a computer using Microsoft Word or in the body of an email, using the Notes app on...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we look back on the 2025 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention held virtually in late June of 2025 and in a hybrid format in Dallas, TX and virtually from July 4-11, 2025. Several NextGen members join the conversation to speak about their convention experiences, what they learned from some of the sessions, and what they enjoyed most about...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a previous Tuesday Night Huddle event. The topic is Bridging the Language Gap as a blind and visually impaired individual when dealing with rideshare drivers or others who might be trying to help us out in the community. The panelists include members of the ACB Multicultural Affairs Committee. Learn more about ACB Next Generation...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we discuss the 2025 American Council of the Blind DC Leadership Conference. Two members who attended – Joey Couch (in person) and Danielle Stevens (virtually) – talked about their biggest takeaways from the event and why they would recommend others attend in the future. Learn more about ACB Next Generation, a special interest affiliate of the American Counc...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we celebrate ACB Next Generation's fifth birthday, which occurred in February of 2025. We feature a discussion with five leaders serving in various capacities of the affiliate. These include Kristen Kelling, Michael Babcock, Vika Trussell, Gregg "Triple G" Wandsneider, and Justin Graben. They reflect on the last few years of ACB NextGen, speak abo...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a recording from the NextGen education program on positive affirmations and gratitude held in January of 2025. Panelists Amanda Selm and Pam Shaw offered up some valuable tips, tricks, and strategies on staying positive and being grateful. Learn more about ACB Next Generation, a special interest affiliate of the American Council of th...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a recording from the NextGen education program on RaiseRight held in November of 2024. Several NextGen members from the Programs and Fundraising Committees discussed the website and app RaiseRight, how to register for an account and purchase gift cards, and some accessibility challenges and helpful hints on overcoming them to navigate...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a recording from the NextGen education program on Clubhouse held in August of 2024. Several NextGen members discussed how to create rooms both inside and outside of a house on Clubhouse, as well as using the Clubhouse app on an iPhone with VoiceOver and Clubdeck on the PC with JAWS. Learn more about ACB Next Generation, a special inte...

Summary: In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a discussion on sports and recreation activities for the blind and visually impaired. NextGen members Greg Lindberg, Liz Bottner, Lindsey LaVere, and Amber Grant join the conversation to talk about blind hockey, adaptive running, adaptive dance, blind bowling, beep baseball, adaptive rock climbing, and other activities. Check...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a discussion on the 2024 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention held virtually and in Jacksonville, FL during the summer of 2024. Five NextGen members spoke about their experience attending the hybrid convention, including Vika Trussell, Aaron Espinosa, Kristen Kelling, Moe Carpenter, and Hindley Williams. Learn more...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a recording from the May 2024 NextGen education event on debate, resolutions, and the concepts of point of order, point of information, and point of clarification in Robert’s Rules. The panelists for this event were Matt Selm, John McCann, and Pat Sheehan. The event was facilitated by Amanda Selm and presented by the NextGen Programs...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a discussion on the 2024 ACB DC Leadership Conference. Six NextGen members shared their experiences and biggest takeaways from attending this conference either virtually or in person. The members included Janeen Lea, Danielle Stevens, Niral Sheth, Michael Babcock, Greg Lindberg, and Aaron Espinosa. The facilitator of this episode was...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a recording from a recent NextGen education event put on by the Programs Committee. The facilitators of this event were Vika Trussell and Shane Aguilera. They discussed several AI tools and their accessibility for blind and low vision users. These include tools like Be My AI, Seeing AI, ChatGPT, and ElevenLabs. Learn more about ACB Ne...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a recording from the January 2024 ACB NextGen education event. This event was presented by the NextGen Advocacy Committee which is chaired by Aaron Espinosa. The topic of this event is “Navigating Paratransit with Rideshare Services” and features four panelists from the ACB community – Claire Stanley, Director of Advocacy and Governme...

In this episode of the Next Up with NextGen podcast, we feature a recording from a recent education event put on by the NextGen Programs Committee. The guest speaker for this event was Nick Silver of St. Louis, MO, a blind licensed massage therapist and reiki practitioner who has been practicing in the massage therapy field for 12 years. He runs the Human Repair Shop. Nick talked about the practic...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a recording from a recent NextGen education program put on by the Programs Committee. Two members of the ACB Mental Health and Wellness Committee, Pam Shaw and Lynn Schneider, serve as panelists for this informative event to discuss maintaining one’s mental health and wellness during the holidays. The co-facilitators of the event are Amanda Selm...

In this episode of Next Up with NextGen, we feature a roundtable discussion with four visually impaired parents on how they effectively balance parenthood with their involvement in volunteer-based organizations, such as the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and ACB Next Generation. Facilitated by NextGen president Amanda Selm, the panelists are Rebecca Bridges, Chris Peterson, Megan Meigs, and M...

Summary: In Episode 6 of the NextUp with NextGen podcast, we feature the third and final part of our Advocacy Series events. Held in July of 2023, this event focused on taking the next step in getting involved in advocacy. We were privileged to have Swatha Nandhakumar, the advocacy and governmental affairs specialist for the American Council of the Blind, and James Edwards, a longtime advocate who...