ACB Advocacy Update

This feed provides updates from the American Council of the Blind on its advocacy efforts.

20251106 - ACB Advocacy Update - The 2025 Legislative Imperatives Where Are They Now.

This week, Claire speaks with 3 individuals from other advocacy organizations we work closely with to learn about where the 2025 legislative imperatives currently stand.

11-06
33:36

Making Advocacy Accessible: ACB’s Partnership with Speak4.

This week, Claire and Kolby are joined by Em Whitworth and Dewey Bushaw from Speak4 to discuss how ACB partnered with Speak4 to make the platform more accessible. ACB uses Speak4 to support its national advocacy campaigns, making it easy for members to contact their representatives and advocate for key issues.

10-23
18:24

ACB Celebrates The 15th Anniversary Of The CVAA

On the 15th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), Claire speaks with three experts, reminiscing on the journey to get the bill passed and talking about what it includes. We also look forward to what the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) will bring.

10-08
46:15

recapping on the 2025 resolutions.

This week, Claire speaks with the chair of the resolutions committee about the process to complete the 2025, ACB resolutions. The process to complete another year’s of ACB resolutions takes a lot of hard work. Claire and Gabe Griffith talk through the process to get there, and they then review the six resolutions that were voted in at the 2025 annual convention.

09-25
33:02

Access to Library Services

This week, Claire speaks with two experts on library services and potential federal funding cuts to such services. The two experts outline how the programs are run and advise listeners on how they can help advocate for ongoing library services.

09-11
34:20

Reaching out to Congress through the Speak4 Platform.

This week, Claire speaks with two ACB members about their positive experience using the Speak4 platform. They share their thoughts and experiences with the platform.

08-28
22:13

Congress is busy introducing new bills.

This week, Claire speaks with our Advocacy Fellow about several new bills Congress has introduced that will benefit the blind and disabled community.

08-14
28:03

Congress Must Reauthorize the Older Americans Act.

This week Claire speaks with Doug Powell and Pris Rogers about the Older Americans Act and related legislation. These two experts in services for older Americans talk about the bill and needed services for people losing their vision as they age.

08-01
35:23

A Recap of the April VSA Conference

This week, Claire talks with Rob Buettner about their experiences at the 2025 VisionServe Alliance conference that was held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

07-17
20:19

a new platform to advocate to Congress.

This week, Claire speaks with a colleague from the VisionServe alliance about a new platform. ACB members can use to reach out to Congress. This new resource, Speak4, Will make it easier than ever to advocate to Congress about important issues the blind community is involved with.

06-18
15:39

The American National Standards Institute What is it, and Why Does it Matter

This week, Claire speaks with Cleo from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to learn more about their involvement in setting accessibility standards and how ACB members can get involved.

06-05
31:25

Disability rights legislation that ACB is following

This week, Claire speaks with allies from three other disability advocacy groups to learn more about three bills ACB is supporting. The bills cover a spectrum of issues that impact the blind and low vision community and exemplify the advocacy work ACB does on Capitol Hill.

05-22
36:29

Intern's First Experience on the Hill.

This week, Claire chats with ACB’s Advocacy Fellow Mia about her recent visits to House offices on Capitol Hill. From hallway meetings to surprise questions, they share what it’s really like to advocate to members of Congress and congressional staffers as ACB and its partners push to reintroduce the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act in the 119th Congress.

05-08
23:33

Learning more about what is going on in disability rights litigation.

This week, Claire speaks with two attorneys from Disability Rights Advocates about current disability rights litigation to better understand caselaw that impacts the blind and disability community.

04-24
35:20

So, so many Things Going on in Washington D.C.

This week, Claire and Scott talk about a “grab bag” of advocacy issues. ACB is busy keeping up with a myriad of new bills that are soon to be introduced to Congress, and activity with the executive branch of the federal government. The two discuss the numerous hot topics and what ACB is doing to track their progress.

04-10
30:48

DREDF: Section 504 and Texas v. Becerra

This week, Claire speaks with an attorney from the Disability Rights Education Fund (DREDF) to better understand the case of Texas v. Becerra. This case could have significant ramifications for Section 504 of the Rehab Act. The episode provides a few ways our members can help advocate to prevent this.

03-27
25:16

ACB’s Involvement with the Consortium of Constituents with Disabilities.

This week, Claire speaks with a previous chair of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) about what the organization is and how ACB is involved in the advocacy it does. CCD is made up of over 120 different disability advocacy groups; ACB has been an active member for many years, working with other organizations to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities across the board at the national level.

03-13
27:57

ACB Goes to Las Vegas, The Consumer Electronic Show.

This week, Claire And Kolby talk about their experience in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronic Show. The conference provided an opportunity to learn about the latest technology, advocate for full accessibility in all designs, and network with other advocates in the world of technology access.

02-27
24:43

DC Leadership Conference.

This week, Claire and Cindy preview the DC Leadership Conference, which will take place March 14-18 at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Listen to find out more about the upcoming event and how you can participate.

02-13
29:30

Understand the U.S. Census

This week, Claire had the opportunity to speak with Stephanie Flynt McEben from the National Disability Rights Network regarding the U.S. Census. In the last year, census officials took steps to change the way disability is defined, which would impact the number of people who identify as so. This would then impact government funding for the disability community. Stephanie explains the action of the disability community, including ACB, to advocate to stop the definition change before more research can be done to protect services to the disability community.

01-30
27:00

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