On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha reflect on all that has happened in 2024 with special guests Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President, and Scott Thornhill, ACB Executive Director. From major staff changes to cross-country travel, come hear about it all!

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha speak with ACB’s Audio Description Project Coordinator, Tabitha Kenlon, in addition to Brett Oppegaard from the University of Hawaii about the Descritathon, a 3 day hackathon-like event to make National Park Service brochures and exhibits accessible for blind and low vision visitors. Recruitment for Descriptathon 11 is currently underway, and these two, with the assistance of two ADP members, Pat Sheehan and Renee Arrington Johnson, talk all about it. Learn what it is, what it’s like to participate in it, why you should sign up, and how to sign up. Dates are February 25th through February 27th. Don’t miss it!

This week, Claire speaks with Will Schell from the Disability Rights Office of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about a newly submitted report to the Disability Advisory Committee on the accessibility needs for people who are blind or have low vision as it pertains to communication functions of videogames. Will Schell oversaw the subcommittee as it explored future opportunities to make communication on videogames more accessible for our communities as videogames continue to grow in popularity across generations. To file an accessibility complaint with the FCC, call (202) 418-2517, email the Disability Rights Office at [email protected], or visit fcc.gov/dro.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha provide a smattering of topics and advocacy issues that ACB has been working on over the last month. Topics discussed include video conferencing program accessibility, the Census, and a save-the-date for our 2025 DC Leadership Conference and Legislative Seminar.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha preview the 4th annual audio description awards gala with ACB’s Audio Description Project Coordinator, Tabitha Kenlon and one of the hosts of the gala, Alie B. Gorrie. Listen as we tease all that is happening this year at the gala, including what it was like recording at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City. Don’t forget to join us on November 14th at 7:30pm eastern on Peacock, adawardsgala.org, ACB Media, or on YouTube for the most glamorously inclusive award show of the year!

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha revisit the topic of accessible voting with Microsoft's Rylin Rodgers. In this global year of elections, listen as we discuss the work Microsoft is doing to make voting more accessible for people with disabilities.

Find more information about the accessible voting options in your state at Accessible voting - Your guide to a private and independent voting experience

Access ACB's Voting Toolkit at www.acb.org/voting.

On This episode of ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha and Claire speak with Sarah Malaier, Senior Advisor, Public Policy and Research at the American Foundation for the Blind, on the long awaited Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG. Listen as we go through what these guidelines are and what they mean for the blind and low vision community.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha recap a series of hearings held by the United States Access Board on AI’s impact on people with disabilities. We discuss its implications in the workplace and in transportation, and even how it can be used to enhance accessibility of both the digital environment and the physical built environment. The Access Board also solicits comments from the public on AI and its impact on the disability community. Comments are due on October 31st and can be emailed to events@access-board.gov or submitted on the Federal Register at Regulations.gov.

To access the hearing recordings, visit Artificial Intelligence (access-board.gov)

Scott Thornhill and Claire Stanley Attended the Disability:In conference in Las Vegas Immediately after the annual convention, Scott and Claire had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas where the 2024 Disability-In conference was held. They had the opportunity to meet with several corporate partners including companies like Google, Microsoft, Athena, and many more. Listen to Scott and Claire discuss the many discussion and experiences they had that week. ACB greatly values the relationships it has with many of these companies.

On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha speak with Cassie Trosper, President of Veterans of ACB and DKM First Timer Award Recipient, and Rachel Schroeder, ACB Board Member, about their experiences at ACB’s 2024 Conference and Convention in Jacksonville, FL.