American Council of the Blind

American Council of the Blind Strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all people who are blind or have low vision.

The American Council of the Blind is a national membership organization formed by people who are blind to promote the independence, dignity and advancement of people with blindness and visual impairment. Members are blind, visually impaired or fully sighted people, from all walks of life, and ranging in age from teens to seniors. ACB encourages people with vision impairment to live and work indepe

ndently, to make significant contributions within their communities, and to advocate for themselves. ACB governmental affairs staff constantly monitors laws and regulations crucial to the lives of people who are blind. Issues which receive ACB’s attention include civil rights, education, employment, Social Security benefits, rehabilitation services, guide dog access, pedestrian safety, travel and recreation, expanded public transportation, adaptive technology, braille literacy and more. When appropriate, ACB works in coalition with other disability groups worldwide to create a range of effective programs for people who are visually impaired.

Casting call! A production company is seeking authentic disability representation for a stock photography photoshoot in ...
05/02/2026

Casting call! A production company is seeking authentic disability representation for a stock photography photoshoot in Atlanta, GA. Among other roles, they are seeking a person with a service dog (18+ years old) and a young adult who is blind or low vision (12-18 years old). They are seeking all genders, races, and ethnicities.

SHOOT LOCATION: Atlanta, GA

SHOOT DATES: May 12-14 (each role will only be needed for 1 day)

RATE: $1,500 per talent (+20% if represented by an agent)

They will provide travel and accommodations for talent not local to Atlanta.

If you or someone you know is interested, email Teamdpd@dpdcasting.com for more information.

Join us for a new webinar series from ACB’s Accessibility Consulting and Compliance Services (ACCS) team! Our first sess...
05/01/2026

Join us for a new webinar series from ACB’s Accessibility Consulting and Compliance Services (ACCS) team!

Our first session, “Accessibility Makes the Difference,” will take place on Thursday, May 21, at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Hosted by Kolby Garrison, ACB Accessibility Consulting & Compliance Services Coordinator, this FREE 1-hour webinar will cover:

✅ Why accessibility is a design principle, not just a feature
✅ How inclusive design expands your reach and strengthens your brand
✅ The risks of ignoring accessibility, from compliance to lost revenue
✅ The POUR Construct: A deeper dive into making web content Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust
✅ Common accessibility barriers and how to address them

This webinar is specifically designed for professionals responsible for digital and physical accessibility within their companies. Whether you’re just starting to learn about accessibility, or if you're ready to move beyond basic compliance toward true inclusiveness, this webinar provides the roadmap you need.

Register here: https://acb-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_b-PWt90CRridKS8kIvsOLg

Honor someone special by sharing their story and ensuring their legacy lives on within the ACB family through the ACB An...
05/01/2026

Honor someone special by sharing their story and ensuring their legacy lives on within the ACB family through the ACB Angels Memorial Tribute. Each tribute includes a photo and personalized testimony on ACB’s website and will be featured at the ACB national convention.

ACB Angels submissions are due Friday, May 1, and contributions of any amount can be combined to reach the $500 minimum.

Learn more: https://www.acb.org/acb-angels-memorial-tribute

This week, ACB’s Scott Thornhill and Claire Stanley attended an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by Waymo, the world’s ...
04/30/2026

This week, ACB’s Scott Thornhill and Claire Stanley attended an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by Waymo, the world’s first autonomous ride-hailing service. The event focused on ongoing efforts to bring Waymo to our nation’s capital.

ACB is proud to continue working with Waymo to advance a future of greater independence and freedom of mobility by expanding access to this technology for people who are blind or have low vision.

Pictured (left to right): ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Claire Stanley with her guide dog, Tulane; Heather Aijian of Waymo; and ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill. The group stands in front of a Waymo autonomous vehicle in Washington, D.C.

As a proud member of the World Blind Union (WBU), ACB attended this week’s North American & Caribbean Region meeting. Ho...
04/30/2026

As a proud member of the World Blind Union (WBU), ACB attended this week’s North American & Caribbean Region meeting. Hosted by National Industries for the Blind in Alexandria, Virginia, the gathering brought together leaders from across the region, including Kenneth Suratt of the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association.

The WBU is an internationally recognized organization representing 338 million people who are blind or have low vision across 190 member countries. It brings together major national and international organizations to advance issues that impact quality of life and inclusion worldwide. Learn more at https://wbu.ngo.

Pictured (left to right) are Zach Kilpa, Board Chairperson, National Industries for the Blind; Kenneth Suratt, Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association; Scott Thornhill, Executive Director, ACB; Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Jason Broughton, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled; Patricia Leader; Craig Meador, President, American Printing House for the Blind; and Susan LaVenture, former Executive Director of Lighthouse Guild and Executive Director of the National Association of Parents of Children With Visual Impairments, Inc.

Also pictured on the Zoom screen in the background is Kim Charlson, ACB Immediate Past President, along with other virtual attendees. Dan Spoone, ACB Director of Operations, was also in attendance.

It’s International Guide Dog Day! Today and every day we recognize the many dedicated guide dogs helping people who are ...
04/29/2026

It’s International Guide Dog Day! Today and every day we recognize the many dedicated guide dogs helping people who are blind or have low vision live independent lives. Pictured is ACB’s Kolby Garrison with her guide dog, Marty, at a NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. Marty is wearing her ear protection and rests her front paws on the inside wall of the track as she and Kolby observe the race.

We encourage you to check out ACB’s special interest affiliate, Guide Dog users, Inc. - GDUI, which has been a leading consumer-driven civil rights organization for guide dog teams for more than 40 years. Learn more at https://guidedogusersinc.org.

Join ACB in advocating for vision services for young children! Two bipartisan House bills—the Early Detection of Vision ...
04/28/2026

Join ACB in advocating for vision services for young children! Two bipartisan House bills—the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act and See the Board Act—would direct funding to diagnose, treat, and serve children with vision loss. The early detection will enable children to receive treatment or school services needed to address their disability. In doing so, it will allow the children to be more successful in the long run.

The EDVI Act picked up eight new cosponsors this month! Help us keep the momentum on this bill by contacting your representatives. Click here to send a message:
https://speak4.app/lp/sm01zs8u?ts=1776872567

04/27/2026

This week on ACB Weekly Highlights:

👉 Aira now works with Meta AI glasses: https://aira.io/aira-now-works-with-ai-glasses-from-meta/

👉 ACB releases a statement on the ADA Title II rule: https://www.acb.org/acb-statement-regarding-ada-title-ii-interim-final-rule

👉 ACB’s Mini Mall Sale ends April 30: https://acbminimall.org

👉 Ask Congress to support the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act: https://speak4.app/lp/02016sf9?ts=1776869242

👉 ACB Angels Memorial Tribute (materials due May 1): https://www.acb.org/acb-angels-memorial-tribute

👉 ACB's Caitlin Lee wins first place in her division at the Boston Marathon

…and more!

Follow us on social media to stay updated on the latest news and announcements from ACB!

The ACB team was thrilled to attend the Illinois Council of the Blind (ICB) convention in Springfield, Illinois. We appr...
04/27/2026

The ACB team was thrilled to attend the Illinois Council of the Blind (ICB) convention in Springfield, Illinois. We appreciated the opportunity to share updates on ACB programs and to learn more about the impactful work ICB is doing as an ACB state affiliate. Learn more about ICB at https://www.icbonline.org.

Pictured in the back row, left to right: former ACB Second Vice President and current ICB President Ray Campbell; ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill; and ACB Media and IT Manager Rick Morin. Front row, left to right: Karyn Campbell; ACB Board Director Rachel Schroeder and her guide dog, Bilbo. The group is standing in a hotel conference room.

Join ACB for a webinar on STEP 2026 (Strengthen Teens, Elevate Potential), a new national program designed for blind and...
04/26/2026

Join ACB for a webinar on STEP 2026 (Strengthen Teens, Elevate Potential), a new national program designed for blind and low vision high school students and their families.

Taking place during the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention in St. Louis, STEP is an immersive program focused on building confidence, independence, and future readiness. Aligned with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), it emphasizes self-advocacy, career exploration, workplace readiness, and independent living skills.

This webinar is open to all, and will highlight the STEP program structure, intended outcomes, and opportunities for collaboration with state agencies, educators, and service providers.

Webinar info:

🗓️ Apr 29, 2026
⏰ 2:00 p.m. ET
🛜 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WYmziDAIRsyGmlVIeyia2A

Presenters:

👉 Cindy Hollis, Manager of Membership Engagement, ACB
👉 RaLynn McGuire, Teen Program Lead, Texas
👉 Carrie Muth, Parent Program Lead, Oregon

We hope you can join us!

Voting ends TODAY (April 25) for Old National Bank’s “Choose Your Charity” campaign! You can help ACB win up to $27,500 ...
04/25/2026

Voting ends TODAY (April 25) for Old National Bank’s “Choose Your Charity” campaign! You can help ACB win up to $27,500 with your vote. Here’s how:

👉 Click the this link: https://m.cmpgn.page/BXr6Xx
👉 On the form, enter your email address and confirm you’re at least 18 years old
👉 Enter ACB’s EIN number 58-0914436 and select ACB from the drop-down list (you can also type “American Council of the Blind” and select the fourth option)
👉 Click the “VOTE” button to submit your vote. That’s it!

Thank you for supporting ACB!

Address

225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 660
Alexandria, VA
22314

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12024675081

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when American Council of the Blind posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category