ACB Media Calendar

From extreme weather events (cold, heat, wind, or rain) to wild fires, how can people who are blind or have low vision plan and prepare for such events? Presenter: Professor Michael Ashley Stein, co-founder and Executive Director of the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, and a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law school since 2005.

Double session (with no break) of the ever-popular North American guide dog school updates.

Slack is a communication platform designed for teams and workplaces, facilitating collaboration through instant messaging, file sharing, and integration with various productivity tools. Slack provides channels for topic-specific discussions, direct messaging for private conversations, and supports video calls and screen sharing. But how do you get started using Slack? Join BITS and presenter Jack Falejczyk, as he helps us understand and get started using this popular platform. Jack will explain how to download and install the app on your PC, and create an account. Jack will also demonstrate how to begin using the platform, use of keyboard commands for increased efficiency, and more. Presenter: Jack Falejczyk, self-employed – Access Technology consultant, Chicago, IL

This session will share information and Best Practices for Designing Accessible At-Home Diagnostic Test Kits. ACB advocacy efforts has collaborated with the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation® (AAMI), a global leader for the development and production of national and international consensus standards. This initiative includes work done by the National Institutes of Health and RADX on accessible COVID-19 home tests and other diagnostic testing. Come and hear from members of the Task Group that championed and developed this accessibility guidance for future production by pharmaceutical companies.

Continuation of Double session (with no break) of the ever-popular North American guide dog school updates.

While blind musicians naturally hear music, reading it is also possible – and empowering – through Music Braille. This session offers an introduction to the Music Braille system, including its history, how it differs from literary braille, and the ways modern technology is transforming access to written music. Attendees will explore practical examples, learn strategies for understanding Music Braille signs, and gain insights into how to begin or enhance their own learning journey.

Learn how AI enhances skills and productivity for the blind community. Discover Copilot tools that streamline workflows, foster collaboration, and equip the community with digital skills for the modern workplace. Speaker: Crystal Jones, Microsoft

Did you know that most theatrical releases are audio described? Learn from a blind movie goer, AMC Theaters, the National Alliance of Theater Owners, and others on how to make your visit to the movie theater a successful one by enjoying the magic of cinema with the help of audio description. Moderator: Carl Richardson, Co-Chair, ACB Audio Description Project, Boston, MA Presenters: Alex Howard, Enthusiastic Blind Theater-Goer and Co-Creator of The Dark Room Podcast, Burbank, CA; Cinema United (formerly known as National Association of Theater Owners (Invited); AMC Theatres (Invited)

Join us for a discussion of Christian Nationalism, what it is and its growing impact on civil, legal and religious life within the United States. Presenters: Mariko Hirose, Chief Program Officer, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Washington, DC; Reverend Peter Heide, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and ACB Board Member, Baraboo, WI.

AI is taking the world by storm, and there are many apps available for your iPhone that can help you take advantage of this powerful technology. In this session, iBug Today members Sandhya Rao and Brad Snyder take a look at several apps that can help you put this powerful technology to work for you. Presenters: Sandhya Rao, Vice-President and Director of Training, iBugToda, Houston, TX; Brad Snyder, Vice-President Blind Information Technology Specialist and iBugToday, SME, Dallas, TX

Don 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

This session from ACBRA will feature a Podcast followed by time for questions with John Farina W2QCY on making radios accessible for blind and low vision hams.

Are you worried that you might live longer than your money? How do we plan for an uncertain future? The Royal Bank Of Canada investment manager and financial planner has the answers to these questions and many more. Please join the ACB Resource Development team and our ACB investment advisor for this informative session on how to plan for your retirement and make the right choices for your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Presenter: Mike Dickson – RBC Wealth Management Financial Advisor

Presenters 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.

Discussion and demonstrations of audio description AI writing and assessment tools and how they work on their own and with essential human collaboration Moderator: Renee Arrington-Johnson Presenters: JOEL SNYDER, PhD., Author of The Visual Made Verbal, President, Audio Description Associates, LLC, Takoma Park, MD; Caroline Desrosiers, Founder and CEO, Scribely, Truckee, CA; Brett Oppegaard, Ph.D., Professor, School of Communication and Information, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, HI; Professor Sri Kurniawan, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA; and Rick Morin, ACB Media and IT Manager, Burlington, MA

Participating in a Lions Club or other organization can be very rewarding, but meaningful participation and leadership demand time, dedication and hard work. Whether you are just getting started in a Lions Club or another organization, or if you have been a member for some time and you want to explore new horizons in your leadership journey, our Lessons in Leadership Conference and Convention series will help you learn by example from the experiences of others.

Learn 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

Join Scott Davert, Coordinator of the Technology Research, and Innovations Center for the deaf blind at HKNC, as he explains how we can use technology to live without dual sensory loss to the fullest.

What role does food play in your life? Do you view it as a way to fuel your body, experience pleasure, or manage your blood sugar levels? ACB Next Generation, in collaboration with ACB’s Mental Health and Wellness Committee and ACB Diabetics in Action, presents an opportunity for individuals to gain insight from three unique perspectives on relationships with food. Amanda Selm will discuss how she has adopted healthy habits and continues to reap benefits. Patricia Maddix will share how she successfully manages her relationship with food while living with Diabetes. Lastly, Pam Shaw will talk about her emotionally driven relationship with food. Together, let’s nourish our minds and explore the profound connection between food and our thoughts. Presenters: Amanda Selm, Immediate Past President of ACB Next Generation, Louisville KY Pam Shaw, Chair of ACB’s Mental Health and Wellness Committee; Patricia Maddix, ACB Diabetics in Action Board Member, Vancouver WA. Facilitators: Debby Green, First Vice President of the Kentucky Council of the Blind and Vice Chair of ACB’s Mental Health and Wellness Committee; Cassie Coyner, Secretary ACB Oregon, North Bend, OR

Join 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