American Council of the Blind

ACB is proud to partner with Meta and the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) to distribute complimentary Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses to eligible veterans who are blind during the upcoming 2026 ACB Conference and Convention in St. Louis!   The distribution will take place on Monday, July 27, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. CT at the Hyatt St. Louis at The Arch in downtown St. Louis. Eligible veterans can receive Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses at no cost while supplies last and a day pass to the ACB convention for July 27.   Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/eZ4XgPgq   Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eX3RMCqg

The July/August issue of The Braille Forum is now available online and via podcast! Here’s how to access the most recent issue:   🌐 Online Edition: https://lnkd.in/e--pe3DY   🎙️ Podcast: https://lnkd.in/eAW6RGQq   ACB members get early access to The Braille Forum, delivered to their inboxes or mailboxes in a format of their choosing. Learn about membership at https://acb.org/join-ACB and access a list of our affiliates at https://lnkd.in/evbhSn2v.   Support The Braille Forum and other ACB publications by making a donation at https://acb.org/donate.

We hope you can join ACB at the 2026 M-Enabling Summit on October 5-7 in Arlington, Virginia!     The M-Enabling Summit is the premier global event for digital accessibility leaders to share strategies, explore emerging technologies, and advance inclusive digital transformation.   Early Bird pricing ends on July 15, so register now and save at https://lnkd.in/efkZsK2. #mEnabling26 #GlobalAccessibility #AccessibleFuture #DisabilityInclusion

Today, ACB provided witness testimony at the Washington, D.C. Council's public hearing on the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026. ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill and Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Claire Stanley, J.D. testified before the Committee on Transportation and the Environment at City Hall. The proposed legislation would pave the way for the deployment of autonomous vehicles in D.C. through an iterative process. ACB shared how autonomous vehicles have the potential to expand mobility, independence, and access to transportation for people who are blind or have low vision. ACB has worked closely with Waymo as they work to introduce autonomous vehicle service in D.C. and other cities across the country, providing feedback to help ensure the rider experience is accessible. We continue to engage with policymakers and autonomous vehicle developers to ensure this technology works for everyone. Thank you to the D.C. Council and the Committee on Transportation and the Environment for the opportunity to share our perspective on this important legislation and for considering the needs of people who are blind or have low vision as the future of transportation takes shape. Pictured are Scott Thornhill (left) with Claire Stanley (right) and her guide dog, Tulane, standing in front of the John A. Wilson Building in Washington, D.C.

Here's what's happening this week at ACB! Links mentioned: 👉 2026 ACB Conference and Convention: https://acbconvention.org 👉 Audio Description Project survey on accessible streaming services: https://lnkd.in/e-eqb7Cb 👉 Audio Description People’s Choice Awards: https://lnkd.in/evUrk5iM 👉 ACB advocacy and Speak4 campaigns: https://acb.org/advocacy Follow ACB and the Audio Description Project on social media to stay updated on the latest news and announcements!

We’re excited to begin the virtual portion of the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention today! Virtual programming for this year’s convention runs from Monday, July 13 through Saturday, July 18. The combined in-person and virtual portion of the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention will take place from July 24-31 in Saint Louis at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch.    The annual Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk will take place on July 27 as part of the convention, with both in-person and virtual participants. Funds raised through the walk help support ACB’s advocacy on Capitol Hill, expand community programs that connect thousands of members nationwide, invest in leadership development and scholarships, and strengthen local affiliates across the country. Every donation makes a difference—give today at https://lnkd.in/eGKiGgZJ. Follow ACB on social media for updates from this year’s convention and visit acbconvention.org for a full schedule of events.    #ACB2026 #ACB65Years

ACB is excited to be part of a new project that will create an accessible, immersive storytelling experience about the War of 1812 at Fort Astoria in Astoria, Oregon. A team led by the Oregon Institute of Technology has received a grant from the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program to develop “Battlefield Sound.” As the project's blindness and low vision partner, ACB will help research, co-create, and test audio narratives that interpret the fort's complex history. Read more in the press release: https://lnkd.in/eADEzPdd

A friendly reminder that the 2026 Audio Description People’s Choice Award finalist voting is officially open! The winners will be revealed during the 2026 ACB Audio Description Awards Gala, which will take place virtually on November 12 at 7:30 PM ET. Five AD People’s Choice Award finalists in each category (films and series) have been chosen to compete for the 2026 award. The finalists represent the top titles selected through an open nomination process that took place in April. The finalists are: 🎬 FILMS: Final Destination: Bloodlines Happy Gilmore 2 Project Hail Mary The Roses Undertone 🎬 SERIES: I Love LA NCIS Primal Shifting Gears Stranger Things 👉 Access finalists’ clips with AD: https://lnkd.in/eANh9wTh 👉 Cast your vote online: https://lnkd.in/eaCg7PzF 👉 Vote by phone: 202-467-5081 Voting ends on Sunday, July 19, at 11:59 PM ET. One vote per person, please! For more information about the 2026 AD Awards Gala, visit https://adawardsgala.org.

Help shape the future of accessible streaming by taking the Audio Description Project survey! ACB's Audio Description Project is launching a comprehensive survey to capture the real-world experiences of blind and low vision consumers using popular streaming services. Learn more and take the survey at https://lnkd.in/esNAYPfr.

ACB Development Officer Caitlin Lee was the latest guest on the Eyes Free Sports podcast! Caitlin shared her journey as a marathoner and endurance athlete, discussing how she got started in running, the adaptations she uses, and her memorable race experiences, including her recent first-place finish in the Para Athlete T13 female division at the 2026 Boston Marathon. Access the episode: https://lnkd.in/eU6hGd-h