American Council of the Blind

10/14/2026

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! On October 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. ET, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is celebrating with a webinar open to the public. Guest speakers include:

👉 Keith Sonderling, Secretary of Labor
👉 Julie Hocker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy
👉 Neil Romano, former ODEP Assistant Secretary
👉 David Keeling, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Administration
👉 Daniel Aronowitz, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security Administration
👉 Kathryn Burgum, Great American Recovery Initiative Co-Chair

This webinar is set to cover ODEP's 25-year history and celebrate the record high number of employed individuals with disabilities.

Register here: https://usdolevents.webex.com/weblink/register/r88d429803ebb473bff76d80fa380af55

10/14/2026

ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill was a recent guest on the WCATea Pod, a podcast from AccessAbility Officer! Check out the episode wherever you get your podcasts by searching “WCATea.” You can also access the podcast on the AccessAbility Officer YouTube channel:

What really opens doors for blind and low-vision job seekers? S...

10/13/2026

The 2026 Audio Description Awards Gala will take place virtually on...

10/13/2026

This past weekend, ACB’s Caitlin Lee delivered the keynote banquet address at the American Council of the Blind of New York Inc (ACBNY) 2026 state convention in Yonkers! It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with members of our New York affiliate, share updates from ACB, and learn more about the great work ACBNY is doing. Thank you to ACBNY for the warm welcome and hospitality!

Pictured (left to right) are Martin Cahill, Vice President of the Westchester Council of the Blind of New York; Caitlin Lee; and ACBNY President Rodney Stanford (right).

10/13/2026

This past weekend, ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill attended the Michigan Council Of The Blind & Visually Impaired (MCBVI) annual convention in Grand Rapids. Scott was honored to share updates on ACB's programs and learn about the great work MCBVI is doing to advocate for people who are blind or have low vision across the state of Michigan. It was a wonderful weekend of learning, connection, and celebration!

Picture 1 (left to right): MCBVI President Casey Dutmer, Convention Committee Chair Kristen Kelling, and Scott Thornhill.

Picture 2: Scott Thornhill addresses convention attendees from a lectern in a hotel ballroom.

Picture 3: Scott Thornhill (center) stands with MCBVI board members Cindi Dail (left) and Jessica Dail (right) at the convention.

10/12/2026

The Audio Description Project of the American Council of the Blind and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) are once again accepting entries for Benefits of Audio Description In Education (BADIE), an essay contest for young people (ages 7 to 21) who are blind or have low vision. Details below 👇

Calling all film critics! The American Council of the Blind’s Audio Description Project (ADP) and the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) are once again accepting entries for The Benefits of Audio Description In Education (BADIE), an essay contest for young people (ages 7 to 21) who are blind or have low vision.

How students can enter:
1️⃣ Browse the free DCMP library at https://dcmp.org/.
2️⃣ Watch any audio-described film (there are more than 6,000 educational titles to choose from!).
3️⃣ Write an evaluation of the film’s audio description, commenting on the ways the audio description enhanced or detracted from your experience.
4️⃣ Visit http://badiecontest.org to submit your entry. There you’ll also find guidelines and prize details, tips on writing a good review, and information about how audio description is created.

Contest winners receive first, second and third place prizes, and the grand prize winner is awarded an iPad mini, and the chance to read his/her winning essay at the American Council of the Blind's 2027 National Conference and Convention in Jacksonville, Florida. Teachers of first place winners also receive prizes.

Don't delay! The deadline for contest entries is March 15, 2027. Winners will be notified in April.

10/10/2026

Cindy Hollis and Bel Collins preview what's coming up in ACB Community for the week of October 11, 2026!

To get the full daily ACB Community schedule in your inbox six days a week, email [email protected].

Access the list of ACB Community events here: https://www.acb.org/weekly-community-events

10/09/2026

This week, ACB’s Claire Stanley attended a special event at the Federal Communications Commission celebrating the Chairman’s Awards for Advancement in Accessibility and the 16th anniversary of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA).

Claire participated in a panel discussion exploring how AI and other emerging technologies are shaping accessibility for people with disabilities. She was honored to join fellow panelists to represent ACB and share our perspective on the opportunities and challenges these technologies present.

Pictured (left to right) are Ike Ofobike, an attorney advisor in the Disability Rights Office of the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau; Claire Stanley; Rachel Nemeth, Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA); AnnMarie Killian, President and CEO of TDIforAccess, Inc.; and Dr. Christian Vogler, Director of the Technology Access Program at Gallaudet University. The panelists are seated at table in the front of a large conference room with the FCC seal on the wall behind them.

Access the panel discussion on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/TpXdbx984EU?si=POcb-o4rteTAdr0q&t=2512

10/09/2026

Local news stations WHO 13 News and KCCI covered this week's Meta smart glasses distribution event for blinded veterans, hosted by ACB and our affiliate, the Iowa Council of the United Blind, in Des Moines. Check out the coverage here:

https://www.kcci.com/article/veterans-in-des-moines-receive-ai-glasses-to-improve-daily-life/74071171

https://who13.com/news/iowa-veterans-receive-free-ai-glasses-from-meta/

Learn about upcoming distribution events at https://www.acb.org/glasses-blinded-veterans

Meta partnered with the American Council of the Blind to donate AI glasses to blind and visually impaired veterans in Des Moines, providing tools to enhance independence and navigation.

10/09/2026

October is Blindness Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of people who are blind or have low vision, while raising awareness about the barriers that still exist.

And on October 15, White Cane Safety Day, we’ll have a special opportunity to come together in support of the ACB community. This year, ACB is making October 15 a Day of Giving!

That day, we’ll celebrate independence, opportunity, advocacy, and community, while inviting you to support ACB’s work to make a difference in the lives of people who are blind or have low vision.

In this video, you’ll learn more about ACB’s Day of Giving from ACB Development Officer Caitlin Lee. Save the date for October 15!