Athens Council of the Blind

Athens Council of the Blind The Athens Council of the Blind is an advocacy group of blind/visually impaired people for the support & promotion of blind/visually impaired people.

The Athens Council of the Blind is a non-profit consumer organization affiliated with the Georgia Council of the Blind, which in turn is affiliated with the American Council of the Blind. We strive to elevate the social, economic, and cultural levels of the blind and visually impaired. We strive to educate the public about the problems of blindness and the needs and capabilities of the blind and v

isually impaired. GCB activities and programs include: educational programs, legislative actions, scholarships, peer support, technology, exhibits, newsletters, social activities and Braille. Due to our efforts, Georgia was the first state to have accessible voting for the blind and visually impaired through the use of speech output voting machines. We the Athens Council of the Blind pledge to defend and support the objectives of GCB and do all in our power to further the well being of all blind and visually impaired persons within the state, nation and throughout the world.

08/05/2026
08/05/2026

ATHENS COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (Athens, GA) Open to people of all ages with vision impairments, their families and friends. Topics include adaptive equipment, recreational and social opportunities, and advocacy. 706-424-2794, [email protected]

08/05/2026

Join us on Zoom for a full slate of practical, patron-focused events this month! All take place at 7 p.m. eastern time. Get details on how to join each session and listen to recordings of previous sessions at the links below.
First up, on Thursday, August 13, is the Many Faces of BARD. This month’s topic is Updating the DA2, the next-generation NLS audiobook player. After the presentation and demonstration, we will take your questions about all things BARD for the remainder of the hour. https://www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/many-faces-of-bard?loclr=fbnls
The topic for the Thursday, August 20, Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker program is Updated Preference Options in the My Talking Books Skill on Alexa, Part 2. A recording of Part 1 from last month is available at the link below. After the presentation and demonstration, we will answer any questions you have about the My Talking Books skill for Alexa-enabled smart speakers. Get details at https://www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/smart-speaking-to-the-smart-speaker?loclr=fbnls.
Finally, the topic for the Tuesday, August 25, That All May eRead program will be Previewing the New Features of Version 3.1 of the NLS Braille eReader. https://www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread?loclr=fbnls.

[Image: Close-up photo of a DA2 audiobook player in a patron’s hands.]

08/04/2026

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08/04/2026

This webinar has been rescheduled to Thursday, August 13 at Noon ET.

Join us for another AI webinar, Thursday, August 6 at noon ET. We’ll look back at what we’ve learned, what’s become part of our everyday workflow, and the techniques that continue to deliver the best results.
https://hubs.li/Q04rKsL60

08/03/2026

We'll trade in the heat dome for the added humidity this week. A lot of fun features at work here... The "Bermuda High" is about where it is supposed to be in the Atlantic, feeding a steady stream of Atlantic moisture toward Georgia. Our regular source of humidity, the Gulf, is also doing its part. All of this feeding into a low pressure center that is parked over the state. The rising air will keep the clouds building up each day, with chances of showers and thunderstorms. Even though the actual highs will be in the upper 80's to low 90's, the high humidity will help make up the difference. Keep cool and stay hydrated. It looks like this weather pattern will stay in place through the rest of the week and possibly into next week.

08/03/2026

NLS Director Jason Broughton was the guest on a recent episode of the US Postal Service podcast “Mailin’ It” to discuss Free Matter for the Blind mail and its importance to the NLS program. Broughton also talked about the history of NLS, how the program operates and the ways evolving technology has made it easier than ever for patrons to access audio and braille books whenever and wherever they desire. You can listen to the 30-minute podcast at https://usps-mailin-it.simplecast.com/episodes/free-mail-for-the-blind. And read more about the partnership between NLS and the USPS to improve the speed and efficiency of Free Matter mail in last fall’s issue of the NLS newsletter, at https://www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/quarterly-newsletter-news/news-july-december-2025?loclr=fbnls.
[Image: NLS Director Jason Broughton speaks at an NLS-USPS event this past February to celebrate the Free Matter for the Blind program.]

08/03/2026

JAWS Jumpstart Week 1 is here! As the new school year approaches, we are kicking things off with essential navigation shortcuts every JAWS user should know. Check out our latest blog article to dig deeper: https://hubs.li/Q04rKcCw0

08/02/2026
07/31/2026

That’s a wrap on !

Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention a tremendous success. We we’re honored to welcome in so many of our members, affiliates, partners, and friends. Our nearly 1,200 virtual and in-person attendees from around the country brought energy, passion, and engagement throughout the event.

We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our many volunteers, as well as the Hyatt Regency staff for their hospitality and outstanding support. And we’re deeply grateful to our sponsors and supporters for helping to make our annual convention possible. Thank you!

Save the date: The 2027 ACB Conference and Convention will be held July 23-30 in Jacksonville, Florida. Follow us on social media for more announcements and updates!

Address

367 Prince Avenue Suite 3M
Athens, GA
30601

Opening Hours

10:30am - 12pm

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