Click “Launch Event” to identify the ACB Media stream for each event.
Events in June 2025
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Guide Dog School Updates Guide Dog School Updates
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June 26, 2025Double session (with no break) of the ever-popular North American guide dog school updates.
Guide Dog School Updates Guide Dog School Updates
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June 26, 2025Continuation of Double session (with no break) of the ever-popular North American guide dog school updates.
LUA Presents the New DA2 Player and the NLS My Talking Books Smart Speaker Skill LUA Presents the New DA2 Player and the NLS My Talking Books Smart Speaker Skill
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June 26, 2025Don Olson, customer service specialist and Zhe Huang, Patron Education and Training Specialist will familiarize us with the new DA2 talking book player which will shortly be available and will allow an NLS patron to download books directly from BARD. We will also learn about the My Talking Books smart speaker skill which gives a patron hands-free access to BARD through the Amazon Alexa devices. Presenters: Don Olson, Customer Service Specialist and Zhe Huang, Patron Education and Training Specialist, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Washington, DC. Facilitator: Jane Carona, LUA Vice President, Silver Spring, MD
LUA Presents the Journey from Print Book to Talking Book LUA Presents the Journey from Print Book to Talking Book
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June 26, 2025Presenters from NLS detail the process a book goes through in its journey to becoming available as an audiobook on BARD. Presenter: Alice Baker O’Reilly, NLS, Washington, DC. Facilitator: Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA.
Update on Legal Advocacy Impacting People with Disabilities Update on Legal Advocacy Impacting People with Disabilities
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June 26, 2025Learn about the legal landscape in what many on all sides of the political spectrum view as an unprecedented period in our history. Experts in disability advocacy law will cover a spectrum of issues important to our community. Be prepared with your questions about the latest happenings in disability law. Panelists: Matthew Handley, Partner, Handley Farah and Anderson, Washinton, DC; Rachel Weisberg, Supervising Attorney, Disability Rights Advocates, Chicago, IL; Madeleine Reichman, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Advocates, New York, NY Facilitators: Claire Stanley, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Alexandria, VA; Jeff Thom, ACB Advocacy Steering Committee Chair, Sacramento, CA
Low Vision Research with Dr. Soltau Low Vision Research with Dr. Soltau
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June 26, 2025Join us in welcoming Dr. Joern Soltau, Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Louisville, as he shares the latest findings and insights on low vision research. Sponsored by: CCLVI
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Audio Description and Sports Audio Description and Sports
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June 27, 2025Presenters discuss and explore how audio description for sports events is different from play-by-play on radio and what is being done in other countries with AD for sporting events. Moderator: Clark Rachfal, Former ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Beverton, OR Presenters: Rhys Lloyd, Studio Head, Descriptive Video Works, Vancouver, BC Canada; Sonali Rai, Senior Manager, Media, Culture and Immersive Technologies, RNIB, United Kingdom; Jerred Mace, CEO, OneCourt, Seattle, WA; Stasha Boyd, President/Creative Director, Q Media Productions Inc., and Founder/Executive Director, Audio Description Initiative (ADI Foundation, Inc.), Orlando, FL
The Coaching Roundtable The Coaching Roundtable
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June 27, 2025Join ACB Women and IVIE for a conversation with three women coaches. You will learn about their training, their coaching philosophies, and their experience as coaching entrepreneurs. One of them might be the perfect coach for you. Facilitator: Linda Porelle, Retired Social Worker and Life Coach, Westbrook, ME. Presenters: Ardis Bazyn, CEO, Bazyn Communications, Thornton, CO; Dr. Cathy Schmidt Whitaker, Empowerment and Energy Leadership Coach, E3 Coaching and Speaking LLC, Diamond Bar, CA; Darian Slayton Fleming, Certified Happiness Trainer, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Portland, OR.
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Using Your Phone and Smart Glasses to Describe the World Around You Using Your Phone and Smart Glasses to Describe the World Around You
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June 28, 2025Learn from experts how to use smart phone apps to help describe images, photos, and videos to help you better understand the world around you. Several apps will be demonstrated including Ally, Gemini, PiccyBot, Seeing AI and more. Moderator: Carl Richardson, Co-Chair, ACB Audio Description Project, Boston, MA Presenters: Cory Kadlik, Assistive Technology Manager, Perkins Library, Framingham, MA; Michael Babcock, American Council of the Blind Member Services Administrative Assistant, Coos Bay, OR; and Jeff Bishop, BITS President, Tucson, AZ
Together We Thrive Families Embracing Vision Challenged Members Together We Thrive Families Embracing Vision Challenged Members
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June 28, 2025Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt program that highlights the power of family resilience, and support in the face of vision-related challenges. This session feature the unique journeys of three families who have navigated life with vision loss and emerged stronger together. The Carpenter Family will share how they rally around their mom and wife, offering steadfast support and love through every challenge. The Nipper Family will explore a mother’s role in empowering her daughter’s independence, leadership aspirations, and personal growth. The Allen Family will discuss how they balance life with two daughters, challenging preconceptions, fostering advocacy skills and navigating their community with strength and grace. Each story reflects a different perspective, but all speak to the importance of family, understanding and perseverance. This event is especially for families of individuals experiencing vision loss and anyone seeking encouragement, connection, and hope. This session is sponsored by ACB Next Generation. Speakers: The Carpenter Family – Moe, Robert, and their boys, West Des Moines, Iowa; The Nipper Family – Cecily and her mom; The Allen Family – Lauren, Derek, and their girls, Louisville, KY Facilitators: Megan Meigs, San Leandro, CA and Amanda Selm, Louisville, KY
Using Braille in the Workplace Using Braille in the Workplace
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June 28, 2025Come here from a panel of braille users about how they are using braille every day as a vital part of their job. How important is it in improving job productivity? Explore how braille is being used now versus 40 years ago. Co-sponsored by: Braille Revival League, ACB Employment Committee and AABT
Poems of Protest Resistance and Empowerment Poems of Protest Resistance and Empowerment
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June 28, 2025Poetry is meant to be read aloud. In this session, poems written by Langston Hughes, Mya Angelou, Denise Levertov, Alan Ginsberg, and other powerful talents will be performed and discussed. Facilitated by: Annie Chiappetta.