ACB Advocacy Update
227 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsThis feed provides updates from the American Council of the Blind on its advocacy efforts.
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Episodes
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)
May 20, 2021 20:03 - 1 hour - 55 MBEpisode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha celebrate the 10th anniversary of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD began ten years ago to recognize, celebrate, and increase awareness of digital access and inclusion. We are joined by Audrey Bush from the Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs, who shares the technology and training available through the state assistive technology programs, and Larry Goldberg from Verizon Media and Tea...
Digital Accessibility and the ADA National Network
May 13, 2021 21:17 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBEpisode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha revisit our conversation from November 2020, with a returning guest, Rachel Weisberg from Equip for Equality. Rachel shares her impressions of the Winn-Dixie appeals court ruling and how it will impact digital accessibility. Then, we speak with Peter Berg from the Great Lakes ADA Center about the technical assistance and resources available to individuals and businesses regarding how the ADA and other disabilit...
First 100 Days
May 06, 2021 15:19 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBEpisode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha reconnect with Mark Richert, ACB First Vice President, and Paul Schroeder, Vice President of Government and Community Outreach at the American Printing House for the Blind. We spoke with Mark and Paul at the beginning of the 117th Congress, and now we are checking in at the 100 days mark to ascertain whether the Administration and Congress are on-track with their policy priorities. Tune in as Mark rubs his crys...
Autonomous Vehicle Industry Panel
April 29, 2021 18:46 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBEpisode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, we revisit a presentation from the ACB DC Leadership Conference. Ron Brooks, former Chair of the ACB Transportation and Advocacy Steering Committees, moderates a conversation with industry leaders incorporating accessibility in autonomous vehicle design, testing and development, including: Eric Danko, Director of Federal Affairs, Cruise; George Ivanov, Head of International Policy & government Affairs, Waymo; & Dave Furukawa, c...
Describing the World Around Us On Earth Day
April 22, 2021 13:30 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBEpisode Description Join us for this week’s ACB Advocacy Update with special guest host Tony Stephens, ACB’s Director of Development. Tony sits down with ACB’s Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, to talk with Audio Description Project (ADP) Committee Co-Chair Carl Richardson, and to introduce Jo Lynn Bailey-Page, who is now on staff with ACB coordinating the Audio Description Project. The episode kicks off Earth Day with a conversation on the UniDescription Project, ...
ACB Celebrates NATAD
April 15, 2021 19:07 - 39.4 MBEpisode Description On National Assistive Technology Awareness Day for 2021, Clark Rachfal and Swatha Nandhakumar were joined by Matt Ater, Vice President of Vispero, and Don Barrett, ACB Member, to discuss assistive technology: what it is; why it is so important; and what role assistive technology will play in our lives going forward.
Cogswell Macy Act
April 08, 2021 19:52 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBEpisode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark moderates a panel discussion to mobilize advocates in support of the reintroduced Cogswell Macy Act! ACB is joined by: Mark Richert, Interim Executive Director, AER; Linda Alsop, Director, National Intervener and Advocate Association; Howard Rosenblum, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of the Deaf; Barbara Raimondo, Executive Director, Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the De...
Voting For The People
April 01, 2021 20:20 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBEpisode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark is joined by fellow members of the National Coalition for Accessible Voting to discuss the gains in accessible voting over the past two years and concerning provisions of H.R. 1, and S. 1, the For The People Act. Guests on this podcast include: Maggie Hart from the Washington Lawyers’ Committee; Diane Golden from the EAC Technical Standards and Guidelines Committee; and Erika Hudson from the National Disability Rights Net...
Celebrating a Year of Community
March 25, 2021 18:44 - 57 minutes - 53 MBEpisode Description ACB is celebrating a year of community! When the pandemic hit and everyone was told to shelter in place, we turned isolation into connection. From education, training, and information sharing, to peer support, socialization, and fun, learn what this growing community has meant to so many people in and outside of ACB over the past year during this week's episode of the ACB Advocacy Update.
2021 Remote Voting
March 18, 2021 20:58 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBEpisode Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB's Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, speaks with ACB leaders about our internal voting process. Clark is joined by ACB President Dan Spoone, as well as Pat Sheehan and Koni Sims from the ACB ad hoc Voting Task Force. Voting is fundamental to our work as a membership organization, and during this conversation we learn how ACB is meeting the challenge of the current pandemic to ensure that the voice...
Diversity & Leadership
March 11, 2021 23:57 - 51.6 MBEpisode Description On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs Clark Rachfal speaks with a plethora of ACB leaders regarding our ongoing efforts to make ACB a more representative and inclusive community while providing greater opportunities for future leaders. First, Clark is joined by Multicultural Affairs Committee (MCAC) Chair Peggy Garrett and MCAC Committee member Michael Garrett to discuss the intersection of diversity and disabi...
ACB Next Gen Turns 1!
March 04, 2021 18:37 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBEpisode Description On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, celebrates the one year anniversary of our ACB Next Generation affiliate. Clark is joined by President Amanda Selm, Second Vice President Steven Salas, and Secretary Greg Lindberg for a conversation about the founding of ACB Next Generation, the work they are doing to engage new members, advocacy issues important to the affiliate, and where they go from ...
DC Leadership Meetings Recap
February 25, 2021 17:05 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBDescription On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark Rachfal is joined by Eric Bridges, ACB’s Executive Director, to discuss the DC Leadership meetings, and we replay the keynote remarks from Will Butler, Vice President of Community, Be My Eyes. To learn more about the DC Leadership Meetings, and the ACB Legislative Imperatives, please visit: https://acb.org/2021-leadership-conference. To watch the three days of presentations and guest speakers, visit the ACB YouTube page at: http...
ACB Scholarships 2021
February 11, 2021 19:16 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBDescription During this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, we discuss how ACB scholarships further our mission of increasing independence and economic opportunity for people who are blind and experiencing vision loss. ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, is joined by Rebecca Bridges, Chair of ACB’s Scholarship Committee, and two recent scholarship awardees - Amanda Lannan, and Mitchell Bridwell. The 2021 ACB Scholarships deadline is Monday, Feb. 15, and informa...
ACB Scholarships
February 11, 2021 19:16 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBDescription During this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, we discuss how ACB scholarships further our mission of increasing independence and economic opportunity for people who are blind and experiencing vision loss. ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, is joined by Rebecca Bridges, Chair of ACB’s Scholarship Committee, and two recent scholarship awardees - Amanda Lannan, and Mitchell Bridwell. The 2021 ACB Scholarships deadline is Monday, Feb. 15, and informa...
Advocacy During a Pandemic
February 04, 2021 21:05 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBDescription On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, we share a presentation from the ACB of Maryland State Convention on the focus and impact of advocacy by the disability community. Clark Rachfal provides an overview of the advocacy work being done by ACB on the national-level, while Cecilia Warren from the Maryland Department of Disability discusses the measures being implemented on the state-level. If you are experiencing accessibility barriers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, pleas...
ACB Leadership Conference
January 28, 2021 23:33 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBDescription Join ACB as we highlight the exciting programming in store for this year’s ACB Leadership Conference. The conference will be held virtually from Sunday, February 21st to Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021. Registration is open for the conference, which will include our annual President’s Meeting and Legislative Seminar. Register for the DC Leadership Conference by visiting http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2021DCLeadershipmtgs.
Outlook for the 117th Congress
January 21, 2021 20:55 - 59 minutes - 54 MBDescription On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark Rachfal is joined by a couple familiar voices in new places. We speak with ACB First Vice President Mark Richert, and friend of ACB, Paul Schroeder. Mark is the interim Executive Director for the Association of Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and is now the Director of Public Policy for the VisionServe Alliance. Paul is now the Vice President, Government and Community Affairs for the American Pri...
The ACB Community
January 14, 2021 21:26 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBDescription On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, and ACB’s Membership Services Coordinator, Cindy Hollis, speak about the ACB Community. They discuss the logistics of facilitating and growing the ACB community, and how the ACB community is meeting the social and mental health needs of our members and the broader community. Clark and Cindy are joined by Sheila Young, President, Florida Council of the Blind, and Matthew Vo...
DOT Final Rule: Air Travel with Service Animals
January 07, 2021 23:59 - 57 minutes - 53 MBDescription On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark speaks with ACB experts regarding the Final Rule on Air Travel with Service Animals from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT Final Rule goes into effect on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, and our panelists for this conversation included: Sarah Calhoun, Guide Dog Users Inc. (GDUI) President; Melanie Brunson, GDUI Advocacy Chair; Sheila Styron, ACB Transportation Committee Chair; and Becky Davidson, ACB Environmental Access Commi...
2020 Accomplishments
December 17, 2020 20:27 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBDescription: On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark speaks with ACB President, Dan Spoone, and Executive Director, Eric Bridges, about our organizational accomplishments throughout 2020. Despite the challenges thrust upon us by a global pandemic, ACB stayed true to our core values and created opportunities to embrace, engage, and empower our community. To help us build upon our 2020 accomplishments and carry this momentum into the New Year, please consider ACB in your end-of-year...
The Protection & Advocacy System
December 10, 2020 22:02 - 59 minutes - 54 MBDescription: On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss an important resource that can be used by all ACB members and people with disabilities. With special guests from Cyrus Huncharek, National Disability Rights Network, and Thomas Crishon, Indiana Disability Rights, we learn about the federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) services available to people with disabilities. The P&A system offers free disability-related legal and advocacy services to residen...
The Protection & Advocacy system
December 10, 2020 22:02 - 59 minutes - 54 MBDescription: On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss an important resource that can be used by all ACB members and people with disabilities. With special guests from Cyrus Huncharek, National Disability Rights Network, and Thomas Crishon, Indiana Disability Rights, we learn about the federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) services available to people with disabilities. The P&A system offers free disability-related legal and advocacy services to residen...
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 03, 2020 20:09 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBEpisode Notes In honor of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, ACB staff member Claire Stanley spoke with two ACB members, Kim Charlson and Mitch Pomerantz. Both Kim and Mitch have held, or currently hold, leadership positions in the World Blind Union (WBU). To celebrate the lives of disabled persons from around the globe, listeners of this episode will learn more about what WBU does.
Internet Accessibility and Digital Inclusion
November 19, 2020 20:40 - 59 minutes - 109 MBEpisode Notes On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark speak with Rachel Weisberg, Staff Attorney for Equip for Equality, the state protection and advocacy agency for Illinois. Rachel shares with us the legal landscape for Internet and website accessibility and walks us through several legal scenarios for digital workplace inclusion. To find the protection and advocacy agency in your state, please visit: https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/.
ACB Salutes Our Veterans
November 12, 2020 20:04 - 59 minutes - 110 MBEpisode Notes On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark get to know the organizations supporting our blind and visually impaired veterans. First, they speak with Don Overton, President, Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) about BVA’s peer support network and advocacy initiatives. Then, they speak with ACB’s own Tyson Ernst, acting President, Visually Impaired Veterans of America (VIVA) regarding the VIVA affiliate and the tools and resources available to visually impaired ...
Audio Description Update
November 05, 2020 20:03 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MBOn this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss the recent updates in the audio description marketplace. They speak with Sam Joehl, President, ACB of Virginia, about the work of the Federal Communications Commission and their Disability Advisory Committee, and they speak with Dr. Joel Snyder, Director, ACB’s Audio Description Project about ACB’s ongoing work to increase audio description availability. To learn more about audio description innovations and to know what con...
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 29, 2020 17:45 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBThis week on the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal have the great opportunity to speak with Chairman Neil Romano from the National Council on Disability (NCD). In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the three talk about the low rate of employed persons with disabilities, the AbilityOne program, the work of NCD, and other issues concerning employment. #NDEAM
Flattening the Inaccessibility Curve
October 22, 2020 20:27 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBThis week on the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal speak with Kirk Adams, the CEO and President of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), about the “Flattening the Inaccessibility Curve” research project. The study, which can be found at https://flatteninaccessibility.com, explores the experiences of adults who are blind or have low vision during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey covered areas of healthcare, transportation, employment, education, social ...
White Cane Day
October 15, 2020 17:14 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBThis week on the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal speak with three ACB members - Jeff Thom, Maria Kristic, and Lindsey Tilden, as they celebrate National White Cane Day. The guests talk about their own life experiences as white cane and/or guide dog users and the independence they afford. The holiday emphasizes the independence of blind and visually impaired persons, which often runs contrary to societal misconceptions.
10 Years of the CVAA
October 08, 2020 20:10 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBOn this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss 10 years of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA). ACB member Jesse Acosta shares his personal story and advocacy which helped lead to the passage of the CVAA, and Carl Richardson, co-Chair of the ACB Audio Description Project, shares where accessibility and digital inclusion needs to go in the future. In addition to this podcast, please enjoy this video message from Stevie Wonder on the ...
USABA & National Blind Sports Day
October 01, 2020 20:20 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBOn this episode of the Advocacy Update, Clark Rachfal is joined by representatives from the U.S. Association of Blind athletes (USABA) to discuss the third annual and first virtual National Blind Sports Day. Cat Bouwkamp, USABA’s Membership and SafeSport Coordinator shares the impact of USABA’s work on the health and wellness of people who are blind and low vision, and Paralympian Ben Goodrich shares his personal experience as a judo athlete as well as additional resources available to help ...
Celebrating 2 Years Strong!
September 24, 2020 18:27 - 59 minutes - 54 MBEpisode Notes This week on the podcast, Claire, the advocacy and out reach specialist, and Tony Stephens, the director of development, celebrate the two-year anniversary of the podcast. They reminisce about the first episode of the podcast, and then turn to the topic of the week: national guide dog month. They both talk about their experiences as guide dog handlers. Lots of laughs ensue.
Voter Engagement
September 17, 2020 15:00 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBEpisode Notes This week on the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss a newly formed coalition of organizations that is working toward equal access to voting for all people with disabilities. They speak with Jack Rosen from the National Disability Rights Network, Maria Town from the American Association of People with Disabilities, and Sarah Blahovec from the National Council on Independent Living to learn more about the coalition as well as several other exciting projects to promote...
Talking About My ReReReResolutions
September 10, 2020 18:56 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBOn this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark recap the 2020 ACB Resolutions as adopted by the Board of Directors. They are joined by ACB Resolutions Committee co-Chair, Gabe Griffith, to discuss the work of the 2020 virtual Resolutions Committee. The episode concludes with a conversation with ACB 2nd Vice President Ray Campbell about the ad hoc task force he is chairing to modernize the ACB resolution process.
ACB Voices
September 03, 2020 18:21 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBThis week on the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal discuss the launch of ACB Voices. They speak with two of the great minds behind the blog, ACB Director of Development Tony Stephens and ACB Communication Intern Anthony Corona, as well as ACB's new membership intern, Nat Ratcliffe, who has authored a post on the blog. Get ready to learn about ACB Voices and find out how you too can submit your story to the blog. Visit www.ACBVoices.org to learn more.
Department of Transportation Accessible Strategic Plan Framework
August 27, 2020 18:45 - 57 minutes - 53 MBClark Rachfal and Claire Stanley speak with Sarah Malaier, Public Policy and Research Advisor for the American Foundation for the Blind. They talk about their participation in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Accessible Strategic Plan Framework. The plan is exploring all angles of accessibility in the transportation arena.
COVID-19 Update
August 20, 2020 18:30 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBThis week on the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB staff members Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal discuss how the coronavirus has touched upon numerous areas of advocacy ACB routinely works on. They highlight issues surrounding transportation, education, and voting, as well as outline the advocacy work that has been taken up in light of the pandemic. Not surprisingly, COVID-19 has presented a myriad of new problems to tackle.
The State of Accessible Voting in the States
August 13, 2020 16:59 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBOn this episode of the Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark speak with multiple guests about the advocacy work and government initiatives to ensure in-person and remote absentee voting options are accessible. We are joined by Commissioner Donald Palmer, Vice Chair of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), as well as Carrie Chapman, President of the Iowa Council of the United Blind, and Barbara Salisbury, President of the ACB of Indiana. Commissioner Palmer shared the resources available for ...
Education During COVID-19
August 06, 2020 18:03 - 59 minutes - 54 MBThis week, Claire and Clark speak with ACB members about their experiences surrounding education, both K-12 and higher ed, during COVID-19. The three guests offer different perspectives from blind parents, blind students, and disability service offices on university campuses, demonstrating how accommodations look different during the pandemic.
Transportation Forum
July 30, 2020 19:09 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBThis week, ACB staff members Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal speak with three ACB leaders who helped develop and present the Transportation Forum at this year's convention. The podcast covers the content, speakers, and take-aways from the forum.
Audio Description Legislative Panel
July 23, 2020 18:50 - 1 hour - 71 MBOn this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, please enjoy this Audio Description Project (ADP) panel presentation from the 2020 ACB virtual conference and convention. Clark Rachfal and Claire Stanley were joined by Suzy Rosen Singleton and Will Schell from the Federal Communications Commission’s Disability Rights Office, and Carl Richardson, ADP Steering Committee co-Chair, to discuss the ten years of progress made by the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility (CVAA) Act, what th...
Advocacy Bootcamp!
July 16, 2020 18:02 - 1 hour - 89.4 MBThis week's episode features ACB's Advocacy Bootcamp hosted by staff members Claire Stanley and Clark Rachfal during the 2020 ACB virtual convention. During this bootcamp, Claire and Clark discuss how to effectively self-advocate and the panel of advocates share their own advocacy journeys.
2020 Virtual Convention Sneak Peak
July 02, 2020 20:15 - 30 minutes - 41.2 MBThis week on the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB staff members Eric Bridges, Claire Stanley, and Tony Stephens provide a sneak peak of the 59th ACB Conference and Convention. They discuss what the convention will look like, what has gone into planning for the event, and how members can participate.
Teaching Blind Students at Home - Part 2
June 25, 2020 15:04 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBThis week on the ACB Advocacy Update, we air the second part of an important webinar developed and produced by the ACB Special Education Committee. This podcast will teach parents and guardians about how to effectively work with their blind and visually impaired students, now that as a result of COVID, parents are playing a much larger part in their children’s educations.
A Conversation about Racism and Disability with ACB Members
June 19, 2020 16:42 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBOn June 19, 1865, the Union Army reached Galveston, Texas, and read a federal order proclaiming that all enslaved persons in the U.S. state of Texas were now free, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. On June 19, 2020, and subsequent to nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd, ACB members Verlencia Somuah and Kenneth Semien Sr. share their personal experiences and thoughts about racism and disability in America.
Teaching Blind Students at Home
June 18, 2020 16:34 - 29 minutes - 27 MBJoin some of our own ACB members and outside educators as they talk about best practices for parents to work with their blind and visually impaired students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents now play a bigger role in their children’s education, and this podcast will provide invaluable tools to equip such parents. This is Part 1 of a two-part episode.
ACB Welcomes Anthony Corona
June 11, 2020 15:43 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBOn this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark speaks with Anthony Corona, ACB’s new Marketing, Communications and Strategy Intern. During this conversation, we get to know Anthony personally and professionally, as well as hear his thoughts on advocacy and the ACB Virtual Conference and Convention. To learn more about Anthony’s communications and advocacy work with ACB affiliate Blind LGBTQ Pride International, please visit: www.blindlgbtpride.org. To become involved with the 2020 ACB V...
Accessible Voting and Filing an ADA Complaint
June 04, 2020 21:37 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBOn this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire speaks with Courtney Holthus, Advocacy Director for Disability Rights Idaho, about the importance of accessible voting and the process to file an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice Disability Rights Section. Both Disability Rights Idaho and ACB have filed ADA complaints requesting the DOJ to investigate the accessibility of Idaho’s voting process. Anyone may file an ADA complaint by phone, mai...
ACB Transportation Forum: To Mobility and Beyond
May 28, 2020 14:44 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBOn this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire Stanley speaks with Ron Brooks, Chair of ACB’s Advocacy Steering Committee, and Sheila Styron, Chair of ACB’s Transportation Committee, about the inaugural ACB Transportation Forum to be held during the 2020 ACB Virtual Conference and Convention. Claire, Ron and Sheila discuss the genesis of the transportation forum, what it will look like during the Virtual Conference and Convention, and what it is intended to accomplish. To register or le...