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 Educator, during this presentation to discuss how their team have collaborated with one another to make the Webb images accessible to people who are blind and low vision. Learn more about the panelists for this event.

Experience the breathtaking images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope and share in the joy and enthusiasm of space during this engaging event!

Access the full image descriptions for the James Webb Space Telescope in the First Images Gallery under “Download Options” for each photo.

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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 Web Telescope Science Institute on the recent accessible images captured by NASA. We also provide a teaser for ACB’s 2nd annual Audio Description Awards Gala. For the Sarbanes letter - https://sarbanes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sarbanes-leads-colleagues-urging-department-justice-ensure-americans For the accessible test survey – https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bdqaz5GtByY4H1I FAA Request for Comments – Request for Comments in Minimum Seat Dimensions Necessary for Safety of Air Passengers (Emergency Evacuation) | Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov) Find out more about ACB’s Audio Description Gala at Save the Date: ACB’s 2022 Audio Description Awards Gala | American Council of the Blind

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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.

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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.gov

To order the more accessible Ellume COVID-19 tests, call 1-800-232-0233 or the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) at 888-677-1199.cTo read the supplemental instructions for using the tests, visit: Tips for blind and low vision users of the Ellume COVID-19 tests | ACL Administration for Community Living

To read the full guidance on telehealth from DOJ, visit: HHS and DOJ Issue Guidance on Nondiscrimination in Telehealth the week of the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) | HHS.gov

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Episode Description

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha speak with our three newly elected members of the ACB Board of Directors, Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Rachel Schroeder, and Terry Pacheco. They discuss their history with ACB, including why they became a member, their leadership experience, why they ran for a board position, their thoughts on our first ever hybrid convention, and advocacy issues they’re excited to work on. We also find a common theme within their shared experience of ACB as a wonderful and welcoming organization for everyone.

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On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha speak with Dr. Rebecca Sheffield (Education Programs Specialist at the US Department of Education) Dr. Frances Mary D’Andrea, (Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Pittsburgh) and Sarah Chatfield,(Doctoral Candidate at Texas Tech University) about their recently published journal article “How Many Braille Readers? Policy, Politics, and Perception” examining data surrounding braille literacy in the United States. We go into depth on the article’s contents, conclusions, and implications for braille instruction in the classroom and for braille relevancy in general. We also hear from Braille Revival League President Paul Edwards on his thoughts on the article.

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Episode Description

On this episode of the Advocacy Update, we discuss the ongoing advocacy efforts to make at-home COVID-19 tests more accessible for people who are blind and low vision. Clark is joined by ACB President Dan Spoone and Immediate Past President Kim Charlson, and Deputy Director Jill Heemsker, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To learn more and order your 12 free more accessible COVID-19 at home tests, please visit: https://acb.org/12-covid-test-2022.

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Episode Description

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha speak with Christine Kim (Trial Attorney at the US Department of Justice Disability Rights Section) and Aaron Konopasky (Senior Attorney Advisor at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) about the recent guidance on AI and algorithmic technology and disability-based discrimination in employment released by both agencies. They discuss what AI employment technology looks like, what disability-based discrimination looks like when these technologies are involved, and employers’ obligations, and job applicants’/employees’ rights relating to the ADA and these technologies. To read the DOJ guidance, visit https://beta.ada.gov/ai-guidance/. To read the EEOC guidance, visit https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/americans-disabilities-act-and-use-software-algorithms-and-artificial-intelligence

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On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day by speaking with Tom Pey (Founder and CEO of Waymap) and Russ Myer (Executive Director of the Capital Region Nordic Alliance) about increasing the accessibility of the indoor and outdoor built environment through way finding services like Microsoft Soundscape and Waymap. We discuss the work Waymap and CRNA, through partnership with Soundscape, are doing, recent developments, and the importance of accessibility awareness today and every day. To learn more about the Capital Region Nordic Alliance, visit https://www.capitalregionnordicalliance.org/. to learn more about Waymap, visit https://waymap.org/. To learn more about Microsoft Soundscape, visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/soundscape/.

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Modernizing the AbilityOne Program On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha, with special guest ACB President Dan Spoone, speak with Kimberly Zeich, Acting Executive Director of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, and two private citizen members of the Commission, Gabe Cazares and Bryan Bashin, about the AbilityOne program. We discuss ways to modernize the program, including the Commission’s Draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2022 to 2026, and ways to increase representation of people with disabilities, including blind and low vision people within all levels of the program and Commission. To learn more about the AbilityOne Program, please visit: www.abilityone.gov.

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