The Gaay Gazette Volume 2, No. 1
Friday, July 24, 2026
Welcome to St. Louis! We’re glad you’re here. It will be a busy week of meetings, general sessions, breakouts, and more. Hopefully, your flight into St. Louis was uneventful.
The Marcia Nigro Dresser Communication Center is in Sterling 8 on the second floor of the hotel, next door to Registration. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, July 24 through Wednesday, July 29. This is where you can place ads in the paper, make braille or print copies, or volunteer to help produce the newspaper. If you can’t make it down to the Communication Center, you may email your ad or announcement to slovering@acb.org.
The cost of advertising in the newspaper is:
• Individuals, ACB affiliates and blind representatives of MLM companies – $25/day or $60 for 3 days
• Exhibitors – $40/day or $110 for 3 days
• All others – $50/day or $140 for 3 days.
You pay for advertising at Registration; show your receipt at the Communication Center when submitting your ad.
Ads and other items for publication must be in the Communication Center by 2 p.m. each day. The BOP allows ads to run for up to three days to give important convention announcements more space. Ads must be no longer than 75 words. BOP editorial policy prohibits the production or distribution of campaign materials by the Communication Center.
Photocopying is available at the Communication Center for 10 cents/page. Brailling services are available as follows:
• Individuals, ACB affiliates, and blind representatives of MLM companies: 10 cents/page
• Small businesses and small nonprofits: 20 cents/page
• All others: 35 cents/page
If your committee or affiliate needs something in braille or large print, bring files early in the day so we can fit your job between other tasks. A test copy will be printed to let you know the number of pages per copy. Be sure to tell us how many of each format you need and by what time. Please make payment at registration.
Announcements
Help Us Share the ACB 2026 Experience!
Attending the ACB Conference and Convention? We’d love your help capturing the excitement! Whether you’re participating in an ACB tour, attending a special event, or connecting with friends, snap a photo or record a short video.
When posting on social media, use #ACB2026 and #ACB65Years, and be sure to tag @ACBNational so we can follow and share your posts. If it’s easier to have us share them for you, send photos and video shorts to communications@acb.org for possible use in convention coverage, social media, and future ACB publications.
Help us celebrate 65 years of ACB by sharing the moments, memories, and connections that make our convention special!
Thank You from the Auction Committee
The Auction Committee would like to say, "Thank You!" We appreciate all of the wonderful donations from affiliates, vendors, members, and friends of ACB. There were 225 items, featuring homemade goodies, jewelry, technology, and crafts.
Every donation helps ACB continue its work of bringing people together, advocating, and creating opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision. Your support strengthens our community and helps make a lasting impact on our everyday lives.
Once again, thank you for supporting ACB’s 20th Anniversary Auction with your generous contributions.
Changes
Room Changes
Anything that was listed in the program as being in Sterling 3 has moved to Regency A.
Anything listed as being in Mills 3 has moved to Regency B.
Saturday, July 25
9:00 a.m.: Advocacy Bootcamp will be in Sterling 3.
Updates
Saturday, July 25
BRL and AABT Program:
On Saturday, July 25th, BRL and AABT are hosting their program and breakfast. Due to meeting room logistics, the program will begin at 7 a.m., with breakfast to follow.
7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.: Rejuvenate Your Knowledge of the History of Braille. Learn about the history of braille at the Missouri School for the Blind and discuss about the use of braille in today’s world including technology and a program for deafblind, Protactile. Hands-on items will be available.
Breakfast will follow the session at 8 a.m.
Catholic Mass:
For anyone attending the Catholic Mass at the at the Old Cathedral (King of France), Mass begins at 5:30 p.m. Please meet Joanne from the church in the lobby near the main entrance at 5:00 p.m. Mass begins at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 26
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Vispero Training
Additions
On Saturday, July 25, and Wednesday, July 29, Friends of Bill W will meet in Sterling 5.
Cancellations
Monday, July 27
3 p.m.: Audio Description and Gaming Accessibility featuring Microsoft and Xbox has been canceled.
6 p.m.: The BITS session has been canceled.
Tuesday, July 28
6 p.m.: Opening the Door to Accessible Appliances has been canceled. It will be held at a later date after the convention.
Sponsors
Diamond
Microsoft
Microsoft’s goal is to make accessibility easier for everyone by embedding it throughout our design process. We design with and for people with disabilities to drive responsible innovation, strengthen products, expand reach, and improve access for all. Accessibility is built into how we work, guided by accountability, transparency, and feedback. To create lasting impact at scale, we invest in adoption, training, and collaboration to build skills, influence policy, and ensure accessible, trusted AI benefits everyone.
Waymo
Waymo is a fully autonomous driving technology company with a mission to save lives, improve independence, and create new mobility options.
Accessibility has been fundamental to Waymo’s mission since day one, knowing current transportation options weren’t designed with everyone’s needs in mind. With input and guidance from the American Council of the Blind through the Waymo Accessibility Network, Waymo is dedicated to building a future of safer, more accessible transportation. Learn more at Waymo.com.
Why Am I Up?
WhyAmIUp.com is a patient education platform dedicated to raising awareness of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24), a serious circadian rhythm disorder that can affect people living with blindness or low vision. Through trusted educational resources, an online screening tool, and practical information, WhyAmIUp.com helps individuals recognize the signs and symptoms of Non-24, better understand their sleep challenges, and take the next step toward seeking appropriate evaluation and treatment.
Emerald
BITS
Blind Information Technology Solutions, BITS, empowers blind and low-vision individuals through accessible technology training, resources, and support. BITS offers practical instruction in screen readers, computers, mobile devices, workplace tools, and digital accessibility, helping participants build confidence, independence, and employment-ready skills. Visit BITS at bits-acb.org to learn about upcoming classes, technology services, and opportunities to connect with a supportive community dedicated to access, inclusion, and success for all.
Meta
Join Meta at the 2026 ACB Convention! Stop by our exhibit booth for hands-on demos and attend our seminar, "Ray-Ban Meta: Going Further for Blind and Low Vision People," on Tuesday, July 28 at 5 p.m. Discover how AI glasses are built for everyone, creating new ways to help navigate, connect, and explore more independently.
The Seeing Eye
Is a guide dog right for you? Join The Seeing Eye this Sunday at 5 p.m. to explore how a Seeing Eye dog and adaptive technology can work together to support independence and mobility. Walk away with practical next steps and the questions you need to make an informed decision.
Vispero
Vispero is the global leader in accessibility for people who are blind or have low vision. We equip individuals with trusted assistive technology, including JAWS, while bringing deep accessibility expertise to help organizations deliver inclusive experiences at scale. Visit our booth in the exhibit hall to connect with our team and learn more about our solutions and hardware or explore additional information at www.vispero.com.
Ruby
CVS Health
CVS Health is a proud sponsor of the American Council of the Blind Convention. Our aim is that CVS Health (R) customers, members and colleagues with disabilities can access the health and wellness services we provide.
We are committed to:
• Educating colleagues and partners on accessibility standards and best practices.
• Enabling the creation of accessible products and services that meet diverse needs.
• Empowering individuals with disabilities and their allies to thrive.
Visit www.cvshealth.com/accessibility to learn more.
Google Accessibility Site
Find resources, documentation, and details about the accessibility features built into our products. Learn how we design for everyone, watch the "What’s New in Google Accessibility" video series, and subscribe to our newsletters.
Visit: accessibility.google
Topaz
American Printing House for the Blind
Since 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind has advanced accessible learning experiences for people who are blind or low vision. We provide innovative braille solutions, from refreshable displays and tactile technology to teaching aids and literacy tools that support education, employment, and independent living for all ages.
Newspaper Sponsors
Many thanks to the American Printing House for the Blind for its generous donation of braille paper to produce the convention newspaper. And big thanks to HumanWare for its generous donation of the use of three Juliet 120 braille embossers to produce the newspaper. Visit their booths in the exhibit hall when it opens and express your appreciation.
Advertisements
Perkins School for the Blind
At Perkins School for the Blind, we help children with disabilities find their place in the world. On our historic campus located just outside of Boston, we have been developing and delivering best practices in education for nearly 200 years. We serve students with visual impairments, deafblindness and multiple disabilities from birth through age 22, and our continuum of services addresses every need, ability and age — from infancy through college prep. Learn more at perkins.org.
Find out more at https://acb-convention.pinecast.co