20260309 Legislative Seminar - Afternoon

Originally Broadcasted March 9, 2026, on ACB Media 6

·      Autonomous Vehicle Panel

o   Many of us in the blind and low vision community are excited for the potential opportunities brought about by autonomous vehicles. This panel discussed the policies being created at the state and federal level that impact access to autonomous vehicles.

§  AVIA, Jeff Farrah

§  Waymo

§  Zoox, Rachel Rathore

o   Responding to the Administrative and Legislative Branches

o   Knowing exactly how to speak to the federal government, whether it is through an official agency notice or through conversations with our Congressmembers, can be difficult. We want to know how best to approach such opportunities. Our two speakers have experience in applicable agencies and on Capitol Hill and walked us through best practices in such advocacy.

§  Jennifer Mathis, Bazelon CenterMichael Barnett, Powers Law

·      Sponsor**’**s Presentation

·      Federal Panel

o   Several representatives of different agencies shared with us current agency work that impacts on the lives of people who are blind or have low vision. There was also time for Q\&A.

§  Kimie Eacobacci, NCD

§  Sachin Pavithran, U.S. Access Board

§  Molly Burgdorf, FCC

§  Alex Taday, DOT

§  Jason Yasner, NLS

·      Hill Etiquette and Closing

o   We always like to close the Legislative Seminar with time to talk about how to best conduct yourself when visiting Capitol Hill. We went through the “Do’s and Don’ts” of how to act when visiting your congress members.

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20260309 Legislative Seminar - Morning

Originally Broadcasted March 9, 2026, on ACB Media 6

·      Introductions and 2026 Imperatives

o   Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act: Stephanie Enyart, AFB

o   Communications, Video and Technology Accessibility Act: Zainab Alkebsi, Deaf Equality

o   Medical Devices Nonvisual Accessibility Act: Justin Young, NFB

·      Sponsor**’**s Presentation

o   New Staff and Departments - ACB is in an exciting time of change and growth. We have established new programs and are introducing new staff members. This time will be spent talking about such additions.

§  Kolby Garrison, Accessibility Consulting and Compliance Services Coordinator

§  Grace Hart, Advocacy and Accessibility Operations Administrator

§  Legal Counsel

·      Advocating at the State and Local Levels

o   Advocacy does not always have to be done in Washington, D.C. In fact, based on different variables, advocacy at the state level might be more appropriate. Our panelists talked about different forms of advocacy at the state level.

o   Moderator: Ron Brooks, Arizona

§  Chris Bell, Minnesota

§  Jeff Thom, California

§  Steve Heesen, Wisconsin

·      Speak4 Presentation

o   The Speak4 platform has become extremely popular with ACB members since the spring of 2025. We talked through how to use the service. Then, we explored how affiliates can also use the service. We had testimonials from two affiliate leaders: Lori Trujillo Roush, ICUB, and Kim Reese, MCB.

·      Sponsor**’**s Presentation

·      Keynote Speaker: Kristin Stitcher, formerly of the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice

o   Ms. Stitcher worked in the Disability Rights Section when the Department promulgated the Title II website regulations we all advocated for. She will share her experience from the inside as they excitedly worked on the regulations.

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20260308 Presidents’ Meeting – Afternoon

Originally Broadcasted March 8, 2026, on ACB Media 6

·      Announcements and Sponsors

·      Building the Bridge: Member Orientation as a Leadership Strategy – Kenneth Semien Sr., Second Vice President, ACB and Matt Selm, Membership Chair of ACB Next Generation

o   Presenting the new member orientation framework developed for the 2025 ACB of Texas that introduces new members to the roles the chapter, state and special-interest affiliates, and national organization play in their membership experience, from onboarding to opportunities for engagement.

·      Sponsor’s Presentation

·      Purpose to Progress: Introducing the Affiliate Strength Scorecard – Cindy Hollis, Manager of Membership Engagement

o   Sharing a guided framework for affiliate boards to engage in thoughtful self-reflection, highlight strengths and shared needs, and summarized insights with ACB to help shape meaningful, long-term support strategies.

·      Sponsor’s Presentation

·      From Vision to Action: Leading with Confidence, Clarity, and Collective Strength – Cindy Hollis & Kenneth Semien Sr.

o   Being an affiliate president means more than running meetings — it means shaping culture, building trust, and helping others step into leadership with confidence. This interactive session equips presidents with tools to make sound decisions, strengthen board teamwork, welcome new members into a leadership pipeline, and build affiliates that are resilient, engaged, and future focused.

·      Closing Remarks – Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President

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20260308 Presidents’ Meeting-Morning

Originally Broadcasted March 8, 2026, on ACB Media 6Sunday,

·      Welcome and Announcements-Overview of the Day: Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President

·      Introducing ACB’s Legacy & Future Readiness Initiative: Kate Vendemio and Casey Tesfaye, Mount Vernon Consulting

o   Our consultants will explain the work they are doing to help ACB determine and move into our future and will have a fun and thoughtful experience for participants as we continue to gather information from our members.

·      For Virtual listeners, a review of the Legislative Imperatives and Advocacy Update episode 

·      Step-By-Step Guide to Using FreeWill

o   This presentation introduces FreeWill, a secure and easy-to-use online tool that helps you create a legally valid will at no cost. The platform works with screen readers and keyboard navigation, making it usable for people who are blind or have low vision.

o   Participants will receive a clear overview of how the tool works, what information is needed, and how to include support for the American Council of the Blind if they choose. Time will be provided for questions to ensure everyone feels confident taking the next step in their legacy planning.

·      Keynote Speaker: Jamie Dean

o   Jamie Dean leads Microsoft’s Accessibility Legal practice, where he supports the business in influencing, interpreting, and implementing the many global accessibility laws that apply to Microsoft’s products and services. Outside Microsoft, Jamie currently serves on the boards for the American Foundation for the Blind, Academy for the Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals, and Disability Rights North Carolina. Prior to joining Microsoft, Jamie spent more than a decade as a business litigation attorney handling state and federal cases of all sorts. In 2008, Jamie won a silver medal in rowing in the Paralympic Games and, while he has retired from rowing, he still loves the outdoors and stays active hiking and traveling with his wife and their four children.

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ACB Board Meeting Agenda

• Program Reports:
• Membership Services Report: Cindy Hollis
• ACB Media: Rick Morin
• CFO Report: Nancy Marks-Becker
• Financial Reports: Michael Garrett
• ACB Financial Report
• ACB Enterprise and Services Financial Report: Michael Garrett, ACBES Board Chair
• Board of Publications (BOP) Report: Zelda Gebhard, BOP Representative
• Committee Reports (as needed): ACB Officers and Other Committee Liaisons
• Adjourn

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ACB Board Meeting Agenda

• Call to Order: Deb Cook Lewis, President
• Roll Call and Introduction of Board and Staff: Deb Cook Lewis, President
• Review and Approval of Agenda: Deb Cook Lewis, President
• Review and Approval of November 1, 2025, December 1 & 8, 2025 and February 2, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes: Katie Frederick, Secretary
• President’s Report: Deb Cook Lewis
• Program Reports:
• ACB Executive Director: Scott Thornhill
• Advocacy Report: Claire Stanley
• Resource Development Report: Dan Spoone & Jo Lynn Bailey-Page
• Accessibility Consulting Services – Kolby Garrison
• Lunch Break

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ACB Board of Publications Meeting Agenda

• Welcome and Call to Order
• Roll Call
• Approval of the Agenda
• Approval of the Minutes
• Public Comment
• ACB Braille Forum Report
• Braille Forum Themes and Deadlines
• ACB Media Report
• ACB Conversation Email List Guidelines
• Approval of Adjusted Guidelines
• Communicator Gathering Report
• BOP Sponsored Convention Session Update
• Candidate Checklist and Guidelines
• ACB Voices Blog
• Blog Editors
• Other Items
• Adjournment and Next Meeting

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Discussing Imperative: Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act. In preparation for the upcoming Legislative Seminar to be held at the D.C. Leadership Conference, we will be discussing the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act.

Find out more at https://acb-business.pinecast.co

Discussing Imperative: Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act In preparation for the upcoming Legislative Seminar to be held at the D.C. Leadership Conference, we will be discussing the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA).

Find out more at https://acb-business.pinecast.co