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 3rd annual Audio Description Awards Gala.

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 hopeful note and look forward to future progress in this effort.

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 history of accessible currency advocacy, including the member-passed resolutions, and the class action lawsuit against the US Department of the Treasury.

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 provisions, changes that have been made this time around from previous Congresses, and how members and friends can  get involved and get this bill passed. Learn more about the Cogswell Macy Act at www.cogswellmacyact.org

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 this month, we’ll be exploring what’s next with Chris Bell, ACB Board Member and Sarah Presley, who provides staff support to the U.S. Access Board. An understanding of what PROWAG is, what it offers, and what advocates will need to do to ensure that PROWAG helps transform the accessibility of pedestrian spaces across America, is critical, so this is a show you do not want to miss. Sponsored by

Accessible Avenue

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 search by state. You may also call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Find more information on the bill at www.cvtaaccess.org

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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 Blind Union, Auckland, New Zealand. Co-sponsored by IRC and MCAC.

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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.

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