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ACB Advocacy Update

224 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratings

This feed provides updates from the American Council of the Blind on its advocacy efforts.

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Episodes

The Medical Devices Nonvisual Accessibility ACT.

March 14, 2024 21:25 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MB

The Medical Devices Nonvisual Accessibility ACT.

The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act.

March 07, 2024 15:17 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MB

ACB Advocacy Update

The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act.

February 29, 2024 14:11 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MB

ACB Advocacy for February 29, 2024.

2024 Imperative 1. The Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefits Act.

February 22, 2024 21:59 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MB

2024 Imperative #1.

Join ACB at the 2024 Leadership Conference and Legislative Seminar

February 08, 2024 18:19 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MB

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 conference, and ACB’s room block for the Sheraton closes on February 12th. To register, visit T...

Meet ACB’s New Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs.

February 01, 2024 16:56 - 8 minutes - 7.81 MB

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.

Looking Back at 2023

December 21, 2023 16:52 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MB

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 3rd annual Audio Description Awards Gala.

Advocating for Accessible Currency – Part 2

December 07, 2023 16:49 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MB

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 making paper currency fully accessible to individuals who are blind and low vision. We finish on a ...

Advocating for Accessible Currency – Part 1

November 30, 2023 16:46 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MB

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 Bottner, Moe Carpenter, and Chris Peterson, representatives from Penny Forward, on the 50-year histor...

The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act.

November 02, 2023 17:32 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MB

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 vision, deafblind, deaf, and hard of hearing K12 students. Swatha and Mark go over the bill’s p...

Fall Advocacy Grab Bag

October 19, 2023 18:53 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MB

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 administration celebrated 50 years of the Rehabilitation Act.

Untangling Transportation – How much farther? Getting from Prowag to What it Offers

September 28, 2023 15:30 - 1 hour - 114 MB

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 components of public rights-of-way. But with any long journey, there remain steps to be taken, and thi...

The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act

September 14, 2023 17:13 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MB

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 Member of Congress, visit house.gov and search using your zip code, or visit senate.gov and searc...

Conversation with World Blind Union President, Martine Abel-Williamson.

August 17, 2023 16:21 - 1 hour - 126 MB

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 directly in a smaller, more intimate setting. Presenter: Martine Abel-Williamson, President, World ...

Making the Case for a More Equitable Paratransit Future.

August 10, 2023 17:19 - 1 hour - 63.6 MB

# 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, Phoenix, AZ.

Celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

August 03, 2023 18:02 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MB

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 accessibility of new and emerging technology like autonomous vehicles. Find out more at https://...

A Conversation with Uber

July 20, 2023 20:32 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MB

# 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.

Structured Negotiations and Legal Settlements.

July 02, 2023 21:23 - 1 hour - 66.7 MB

# 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.

Accessible Air Travel and the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization

June 16, 2023 15:27 - 45 minutes - 82.5 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB's advocacy team speaks with Heather Ansley, Associate Executive Director for Government Relations at Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), about opportunities to improve the air travel experience for people with disabilities within the ongoing Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization process in Congress. They discuss key items of interest to the disability community, including how advocates can keep in touch with the ...

Catching Up with Eric Bridges, AFB President & CEO

June 08, 2023 19:03 - 29 minutes - 27 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB’s advocacy team catches up with an old friend, Eric Bridges, President and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Eric discusses his new role at AFB, including his experience at the AFB Leadership Conference and AFB’s continued partnership with ACB. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

Summer Grab Bag

June 01, 2023 20:02 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB's advocacy team celebrates the unofficial start to the summer season with a recap of recent news at ACB. They cover what took place on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, federal agency activity surrounding digital accessibility, and ACB's 2023 Conference and Convention. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

What’s New with the Audio Description Project

May 26, 2023 13:22 - 39 minutes - 71.7 MB

Episode Description On this week's episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha speak with Tabitha Kenlon, ACB’s Audio Description Project Coordinator, and Kim Charlson, Co-Chair of the Audio Description Project Steering Committee, about all that is new with the Audio Description Project (ADP). Join us as we discuss the upcoming ADP Conference, the annual ACB Conference and Convention, the Audio Description Awards Gala, and all the other projects and committee activities happening t...

Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2023

May 18, 2023 18:42 - 17 minutes - 33.3 MB

Episode Description Join us for the ACB Advocacy Update as we commemorate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) with a discussion about the importance of digital access with particular focus on the experiences of people who have multiple disabilities. Clark Rachfal, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Swatha Nandhakumar, ACB Advocacy & Outreach Specialist, Dan Spoone, ACB Interim Executive Director, and Carl Richardson, Co-Chair of ACB’s Sight and Sound Impaired Committee t...

Accessible Pedestrian Signals in the City of Chicago - Part 2

May 12, 2023 18:16 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MB

Episode Description In this follow-up episode, ACB's advocacy team speak with the advocates on the ground in Chicago during the lawsuit for accessible pedestrian signals (APS). Illinois Council of the Blind President, Ray Campbell; ACB of Metropolitan Chicago President, Debbie Watson; and two other named plaintiffs and ICB members, Ann Brash and Maureen Heneghan; discuss their experiences as advocates for increased APS installation in the city and their participation in the federal court la...

Catching Up With ACB's Interim President & Convention News

May 09, 2023 18:01 - 1 hour - 56.8 MB

Episode Description Join us for this week’s two-part episode of the ACB Advocacy Update! First, we meet with ACB’s Interim President, Deb Cook Lewis, to discuss her new role. Up next, ACB’s Convention Coordinator, Janet Dickelman, provides exciting updates about ACB's 2023 Conference and Convention in Schaumburg, IL. Learn more about this year’s convention at www.acbconvention.org. Convention registration for ACB members opens next week! If you need assistance in registering, you may contac...

Accessible Pedestrian Signals in the City of Chicago – Part 1

May 04, 2023 19:30 - 30 minutes - 56.3 MB

Episode Notes On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha speak with Madeleine Reichman, an attorney at Disability Rights Advocates, on a recent federal court case and ruling regarding Chicago’s failure to install accessible pedestrian signals (APSs) for its blind and low vision residents and visitors at its more than 2800 signalized intersections. The case involved both DRA and the American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago, a chapter of the Illinois Council of ...

From our DC Leadership Conference - Remote Accessible Voting. Part 2.

April 27, 2023 15:56 - 29 minutes - 53.1 MB

* Remote Accessible Voting Aaron Wilson, Enhanced Voting CEO, Jacksonville, FL Douglas George Town, Access Ready CEO, Pinellas Park FL Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

From our DC Leadership Conference - Remote Accessible Voting. Part 1.

April 20, 2023 22:15 - 34 minutes - 63.4 MB

* Remote Accessible Voting o Karyn Campbell, Illinois Council of the Blind Education and Welfare Committee Chair, Springfield, IL o Dee Ann Hart, ACB of Indiana Legislative and Advocacy Committee Chair, Muncie, IN o Martin Cahill, ACB of New York Legislative Chair, West Chester County, NY o Ian Foley, ACB of New York Immediate Past Legislative Chair, Buffalo, NY Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

From our DC Leadership Conference - housing advocacy.

April 13, 2023 14:32 - 45 minutes - 82.9 MB

Issues Related to Housing Advocacy o Claire Stanley, ACB Transportation Committee Chair, Rockville, MD o Sue Crawford, ACB Member, Silver Spring, MD o Swatha Nandhakumar, ACB Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Alexandria, VA o Jeanine Worden, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC o Billy Lynch, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

2023 DC Leadership Conference: An Update On Accessible At Home Testing

April 06, 2023 17:32 - 49 minutes - 91 MB

Accessible At-Home Testing Revisit this Legislative Seminar session with Clark, Swatha ACB Interim Executive Director Dan Spoone, and Dr. Jill Heemskerk from the National Institutes on Health as we get an update on NIH’s progress in making at-home diagnostic test kits fully accessible for individuals with disabilities. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

ACB Legislative Imperative: Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act

March 31, 2023 18:30 - 59 minutes - 109 MB

Episode Description It is time for Congress to update the accessible video and communications requirements of the CVAA. In the 117th Congress, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA-18) introduced the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act of 2022 (S. 5121 & H.R. 9333). The CVTA reaffirms our nation’s commitment to accessible communications and video technologies for people who are blind, low vision, and Deafblind. Once passed, this le...

ACB Legislative Imperative: The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act

March 31, 2023 18:28 - 57 minutes - 106 MB

Episode Description In the fall of 2022, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the Senate. Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD-03) introduced a version of the bill in the House of Representatives. This bill would establish clear and enforceable accessibility standards for websites and software applications. The bill uses a functional definition of accessibility, ensuring that any regulations created after this bill is passed and...

ACB Legislative Imperative: Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act

March 31, 2023 18:25 - 59 minutes - 54.2 MB

Episode Description On March 1, 2023, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act  in the House of Representatives. The goal of this act is to make home use medical equipment and devices accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals in the United States. If passed, this legislation would amend the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish non-visual accessibility standards for Class II and III devices with digital interfaces. Class II...

ACB Legislative Imperative: The Exercise and Fitness for All Act

March 31, 2023 18:22 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MB

Episode Description Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), introduced the Exercise and Fitness for All Act (S. 2504) in the 117th Congress in 2021. The goal of this bill was to make exercise equipment and fitness instruction fully accessible to people with disabilities. A version of the bill was introduced in the House as H.R. 4756 by Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Don Young (R-AK). Rep. Dina Tit...

2023 DC Leadership Conference: DeafBlind Advocacy

March 30, 2023 17:03 - 48 minutes - 89.3 MB

DeafBlind Advocacy Description Advocacy for the DeafBlind Community: What Should ACB Leaders Understand to Include the Needs of DeafBlind Individuals in Our Advocacy Efforts: Moderator: Kim Charlson, ACB Past President, Watertown, MA; Carl Richardson, ADA Coordinator, Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA; Koni Sims, ACB Board of Directors, Sioux Falls, SD; and Megan Conway, PH.D., Director, Information, Research and Professional Development, Helen Keller National Center, Healdsburg, CA Fi...

2023 DC Leadership Conference: Congressional Priorities with U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell

March 23, 2023 15:50 - 23 minutes - 43.1 MB

Episode Description During this session at the ACB Legislative Seminar, Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06( joins Clark and Swatha to share her priorities for the 118th Congress as the new Co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Disabilities Caucus. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

Disability Advocacy at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

February 23, 2023 22:53 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MB

Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at Transportation Research Board | National Academies On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha is joined by Sarah Malaier (Senior Advisor for Public Policy and Research at the American Foundation for the Blind) and Chris Bell (ACB Board Member) to recap their experiences at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, an annual policy and research conference focused on transportation and infrastructure. Swatha, Chris, and Sar...

2023 at ACB

February 21, 2023 14:50 - 51 minutes - 94.6 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha bring ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges and ACB President Dan Spoone back to map out the year ahead at the American Council of the Blind. Topics we cover include the Leadership Conference and Legislative Seminar in March, the Annual Conference and Convention in July, and the fall Audio Description Awards Gala. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

Recapping the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show, Part II

February 09, 2023 18:50 - 42 minutes - 39 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark is joined by Greg Stilson, Head of Global Technology Innovation, American Printing House for the Blind, regarding his and APH’s experience at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show. We discuss Greg’s impression of CES and experience as an exhibiter showcasing technology for APH. Also, they discuss the Accessibility Leaders Roundtable hosted by the Consumer Technology Association Foundation in which ACB and APH participated. T...

Recapping the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show, Part I

February 06, 2023 18:53 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark is joined by Kat Zigmont, Deputy Director, World Institute on Disability, regarding her and WID’s experience at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show. ACB and WID were invited to participate as part of the Consumer Technology Association Foundation’s Accessibility Leaders cohort. They discuss the evolution of accessible technology and why it is important to have disability inclusion at major industry conventions, like CES. T...

Meet ACB’s New Audio Description Project Coordinator

January 26, 2023 19:24 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MB

Episode Notes On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha get to know the newest member of the Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Team, Tabitha Kenlon. Tabitha will serve as ACB’s Audio Description Project Coordinator. Learn more about the Audio Description Project at adp.acb.org. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

Looking Back at 2022

January 20, 2023 13:49 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MB

Episode Description Join ACB advocacy team Clark and Swatha, ACB President Dan Spoone, and ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges as they recap 2022 at the American Council of the Blind. Topics include ACB’s 10K community events, the 2022 hybrid convention, key legislation introduced by ACB in the 117th Congress, and the second annual Audio Description Awards Gala. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co

ACB Media

December 08, 2022 21:42 - 47 minutes - 87.7 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha are joined by ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges, ACB Media & IT Manager Rick Morin, and ACB Media Coordinator Larry Gassman for a deep dive into a key program within the organization, the ACB Media Network. Learn about how Rick and Larry got their start in ACB, how it has evolved from simply being another method of consuming content to the key player and powerhouse it is today, and how you can access and cons...

Join the Sight Tech Global Virtual Conference

December 01, 2022 17:29 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark speaks with ACB member and Vista Center Board Chair, John Glass, and Sight Tech Global Executive Producer, Ned Desmond, regarding this year’s virtual event. A Vista Center production, Sight Tech Global is the first global, virtual conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will fundamentally alter the landscape of assistive technology and acc...

ACB’s 2nd Annual Audio Description Awards Gala

November 03, 2022 21:57 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MB

Get ready for the American Council of the Blind’s 2nd Annual Audio Description Awards Gala! Clark and Swatha speak with Kim Charlson (ACB’s Immediate Past President and Co-Chair of the Audio Description Project) and Matt Ater (ACB Advisory Board Member and Vice President at Vispero)  about this year’s gala. We cover how it got started, lessons learned from last year’s inaugural gala, and some of the awards being given out this year. The Audio Description Awards Gala will air on November 29,...

Accessible Voting and Voter Engagement

October 06, 2022 19:40 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MB

As we head into the Mid-term elections, Clark and Swatha speak with Rylin Rodgers (Disability Policy Advisor at Microsoft) and Whitney Quesenbery (Executive Director for the Center for Civic Design) about the work both organizations are doing to make voting accessible for individuals with disabilities. we discuss the work the Center for Civic Design is doing to make finding accessible voting information easier to access, the work Microsoft is doing in this space and why corporate engagement...

James Webb Space Telescope Accessibility with STScI

October 05, 2022 14:57 - 1 hour - 184 MB

Episode Notes The scientists, writers, and educators from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) want to make space accessible for everyone, and have created vividly detailed alt text for every photo that has been released from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. ACB’s advocacy team, Clark Rachfal and Swatha Nandhakumar, are joined by Dr. Kelly Lepo, STScI Education and Outreach Scientist, Claire Blome, STScI Principal Science Writer, and Timothy Rhue II, STScI Informal Science Educat...

Advocacy Grab Bag Back in Session.

September 15, 2022 17:55 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MB

Congress is back in session, and so is the ACB Advocacy team! On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha provide another round of updates for our listeners. Topics we cover include Rep. Sarbanes’ letter to the Department of Justice with over 30 supporting Congressional offices, ACB’s accessible at-home COVID test accessibility survey, the Federal Aviation Administration’s request for comments on airplane seat dimensions and safety, and an upcoming live event with the James...

A Chat with ACB’s Returning Board Members

August 19, 2022 20:22 - 58 minutes - 107 MB

Episode Description On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha meets with our two re-elected Board members from the 2022 National Convention, Jeff Thom and Koni Sims. She learns about their history with ACB, what they’re excited to work on in their new term as director, and advocacy issues important to them. Jeff and Koni also share advice for those interested in getting more involved in ACB leadership and in advocacy more broadly. Find out more at https://acb-advocacy-updat...

Post-Convention Advocacy Update Grab Bag

August 12, 2022 18:21 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MB

Episode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha head into the August Congressional Recess with another round of advocacy updates. They cover the DOJ Uber settlement, updated COVID testing guidance, ACB's website accessibility action alert, a new AbilityOne subminimum wage rule, updated HHS and DOJ guidance on telehealth, Concept2, and Peloton. To file a rideshare service dog denial complaint with DOJ, visit: The Americans with Disabilities Act | Beta.ADA.go...

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