ACB Media Calendar

We, the members of the Difficult Council of the Blind, request the honor of your presence at our chapter meeting. Be prepared  for a unique experience.  After the meeting, there will be time for discussion that will focus on conducting effective meetings.

What were the challenges as the Pandemic took hold?  How did leaders respond to them?  What changes that were made during the Pandemic have continued as we emerge from it?  Dr. Janet Szlyk, President and CEO of the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired will talk with us about how the Lighthouse adapted to the Pandemic and what they are doing as we move forward.  She’ll also discuss what they learned from the Pandemic and how it is helping.

What is compassion fatigue? What are the signs? What to do about it? This engaging workshop will help you develop the self compassion tools you need to replenish your inner resources and take back your joy in giving.

Communication takes time and practice. Did you know you can not, not communicate? The first step to communicating effectively is to focus on ourselves and the way we talk and listen to each other. Join us as we learn about communication styles and methods at all levels, from exchanges in a professional setting, to advocating for your individual needs. As communicators we’re always a work in progress and by joining us today we hope you will be inspired to better communicate and be better heard.

This session will highlight the Business Enterprise Program in Illinois so participants will learn how they train vendors, the types of facilities they have in the program, and some statistics of relevance: gross sales, number of facilities, number of vendors, etc. They will also learn how blind persons can become a vendor in the state.

Back by popular demand, come with Tristan Snyder as he takes you on another 3D audio excursion to places real and fantastic. Put on your headphones and tune in to ACB Media to get the full, 3D sound experience, sit back and journey with us as we go from the ordinary to the unbelievable. We’d tell you what to expect, but where would be the fun in that? Life is an adventure, and this is one you won’t want to miss!

This session will have speakers telling about gadgets and tech used by blind persons. We’ll ask the audience for favorite ones.

Amazon obsesses about customer delight, and that includes customers with disabilities. In this session, we will discuss the latest accessibility features for Fire TV, Fire tablet, Echo Show, Echo Frames, and more. We will share more about Prime Video’s journey to make audio descriptions as common as captions, as well as text-to-speech voice improvements. We will also review the suite of award-winning Fire OS accessibility features that have been delighting Amazon’s customers with disabilities for years.

Listeners will hear about using the iPhone more easily. Some great apps for the phone will also be discussed. You’ll also learn about programs on the MAC. Presenter: Diane Scalzi, Blind Information Technology Specialists Treasurer, Saint Clair Shores, MI