ACB Advocacy Update

ACAA Advisory Committee

ACAA Advisory Committee

March 19, 2020

This week on the ACB Advocacy Update podcast, Claire Stanley speaks with Heather Ansley from Paralyzed Veterans of America. The two discuss the first in-person meeting of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) Advisory Committee. Learn about the committee members, the topics they will be advising on, and how you can help provide valuable input to the committee.

To learn more about Paralyzed Veterans of America, visit: https://pva.org/

Dogs on a Plane!

Dogs on a Plane!

March 12, 2020

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, join Claire Stanley as she speaks with two ACB members about recently proposed amendments to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) that will impact those who fly with their guide dogs. ACB encourages all guide dog users to submit comments regarding this proposed rulemaking.
For instructions on how to file comments, please visit: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/05/2020-01546/travelin...

DC Leadership Meetings

DC Leadership Meetings

March 6, 2020

This week on the ACB Advocacy Update, join us as we highlight some of the people and presenters who attended our DC Leadership Meetings. Listeners will hear ACB members reflect on their experiences during the meetings, as well as the legislative seminar lunchtime presentation from Managing Director of the Signal Group, Charles Cooper.

ACB's New Director of Development

ACB's New Director of Development

February 27, 2020

This week on the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark Rachfal, Claire Stanley, and Eric Bridges speak to a very exciting guest - the one and only Tony Stephens! Tony will be returning to ACB as our new Director of Development. Join them as they talk about his new position and what he will be bringing to ACB.

Link to transcript: https://acb.org/ACB-advocacy-update-2-27-20-transcript

Guide Dogs for the Blind and Pick of the Litter

Guide Dogs for the Blind and Pick of the Litter

February 20, 2020

On this episode of the Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark speak with Karen Woon, Vice President of Marketing, Guide Dogs for the Blind, about the new docuseries, Pick of the Litter, streaming now on Disney+. Karen shares the exciting work that went into filming and accurately representing the long journey for six puppies to become trained guide dogs. Included in this series is ACB’s own, Claire Stanley, and her new guide dog, Tulane!
To learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind, visit: www.guidedogs.com.
To learn more about Disney+, including how to watch Pick of the Litter with audio description, check out the Audio Description Project: https://acb.org/adp/disneyad.html.

Accessible Absentee Voting

Accessible Absentee Voting

February 13, 2020

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark speak with Margaret Hart, Counsel, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, about the passage of S.B. 94 in West Virginia. For far too long, voting with a paper ballot by mail has been the only way to vote absentee in most states, which disenfranchises many voters with disabilities from having equal access to absentee voting. In West Virginia, the passage of S.B. 94 allows voters with disabilities to mark, cast and verify their ballot electronically. On this podcast, we discuss this issue and the great work of ACB, the Washington Lawyer’s Committee, the state of West Virginia and others who made this policy change happen. To learn more about the Washington Lawyer’s Committee, please visit: www.washlaw.org. To read the ACB press release on this issue, please visit: https://www.acb.org/ACB-commends-WV-accessible-absentee-voting.

ACB Scholarships 2020

ACB Scholarships 2020

February 6, 2020

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss the looming application deadline for the 2020 ACB scholarships. First, they speak with ACB Scholarship Committee co-Chair, Denise Colley, about the important role these scholarships play in furthering the ACB mission, and the new scholarship partnership between ACB and the American Foundation for the Blind. Then, they speak with Sasha Somuah about how receiving an ACB scholarship has positively impacted her life and personal advocacy. To learn more about the ACB scholarships, including how to apply by the Friday, Feb. 14, deadline, visit: www.acb.org/scholarships.
To access a transcript of this podcast, please visit: https://acb.org/ACB-Advocacy-Update-2-6-20-transcript

Legislative Seminar Preparation

Legislative Seminar Preparation

January 27, 2020

This is preparation information for the Legislative Seminar recorded by The American Council of the Blind Membership Services Coordinator, Cindy Van Winkle.

Legislative Imperatives

Legislative Imperatives

January 23, 2020

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss the ACB Legislative Seminar and the three legislative imperatives for 2020. To learn more about the 2020 DC Leadership Meetings and Legislative seminar, including how to register, please visit: https://acb.org/2020-DC-leadership-meetings.

A transcript of this podcast is available at: https://acb.org/ACB-advocacy-update-1-23-20-transcript

Update: We fixed the low volume issues that existed in this edition of the podcast.

Surface Transportation Discussion with America Walks

Surface Transportation Discussion with America Walks

January 16, 2020

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-update-1-16-20-transcript.