Click “Launch Event” to identify the ACB Media stream for each event.
July 9, 2025
NIB Breakfast
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July 9, 2025
Updates (and a conversation) from NIB on veterans hiring and key initiatives in Congress.Presenters: Rick Webster, Vice President, Public Policy and Andy Monday, Program Manager, Veterans and Business Development Support.
Kid’s Club: Perot Museum of Nature and Science
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July 9, 2025
Soar to new heights learning about the avian world, including discovering the astonishing links between prehistoric dinosaurs and modern-day birds. Travel through the ages studying everything from ancient animal bones and rare fossils to the bodies and behaviors of modern-day animals. Stand in awe at the beauty of the stars, planets and distant galaxies with an interactive stargazing adventure and out-of-this-world experiences. Dive into the possibilities of energy and learn how we harness natural resources like oil, natural gas and alternative energies. Discover Earth’s greatest wonders as you gaze into the eye of the storm, feel the ground shake beneath your feet and marvel at a nearly fully articulated mammoth fossil. https://www.perotmuseum.org
Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance, Corporate Sponsor Recognitions
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July 9, 2025
Diamond Sponsorship Presentation: Meta, Maxine Williams
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July 9, 2025
Affiliate Roll Call
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July 9, 2025
Cigna Evernorth Health Services
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July 9, 2025
Democracy Live
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July 9, 2025
Digital Accessibility
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July 9, 2025
Nominations and Candidate Speeches – Elections
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July 9, 2025
Audio Description Awards
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July 9, 2025
Exhibit Hall
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July 9, 2025
Larry Thacker, Author
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July 9, 2025
Door Prizes
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July 9, 2025
Envision Dallas Tour
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July 9, 2025
This amazing center has something for everyone. From the rooms for birth through five-year-old children, a manufacturing facility, technology center and a store with lots of shopping posibilities.
Rocky Mountain Chocolates Tour
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July 9, 2025
This candy store is known for their caramel apples. Your tour cost will include an apple that you can customize with various toppings. Learn about how to make taffy apples, and buy everything from fudge to peanut brittle! Lunch at Rodeo Goat is included in this tour. Note: There will be a short outdoor walk between the candy store and restaurant.
ACBDA Presents Advocating for Mental Health Techniques in Action
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July 9, 2025
Join Emily Durfey, MSW, LSW and Stephanie Ash, MSW, LSW, Esq. as they review techniques for how people with diabetes can advocate for their mental health! We’ll review ways to identify and combat stigma and stereotypes; learn techniques to successfully engage in self-advocacy with family, friends, and providers and discuss signs of diabetes distress/burnout and how to seek help. Participants will have an opportunity to put learned techniques into action through guided role-plays during the last half of the session and will leave feeling empowered to take action to advocate for their mental health! Facilitator: Randy Knapp, Board Member: ACBDA, Rockville, MD. Presenters: Stephanie L. Ash, MSW, LSW, Social Worker, Endocrinology, Cleveland, OH; Emily Durfey, MSW, LSW, Social Worker, Endocrinology, Cleveland, OH.
IVIE Business Expo
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July 9, 2025
Blind and visually impaired business owners will showcase their products and services and answer your questions.
Mastering AI for Unmatched Accessibility Productivity and Affiliate Transformation
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July 9, 2025
Step into the forefront of digital innovation at the BITS AI and Technology Training! Over three transformative days, you’ll experience live AI demonstrations, hands-on sessions with cutting-edge assistive technology, and master the art of effective prompt engineering. Discover how to automate everyday tasks, enhance digital workflows, and boost productivity with the latest AI tools. You will: 1. Master Essential Tools: Learn to harness AI across platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. 2. Elevate Your Communication: Develop impactful prompting techniques to enhance research, content creation, and affiliate communications. 3. Transform Virtual Meetings: Optimize Zoom interactions to drive effective and engaging meetings. 4. Expand Content Distribution: Generate newsletters, articles, business documents, and meeting minutes in versatile formats including phone-based systems and podcasts. Transform your affiliate with groundbreaking technologies designed to increase engagement, expand outreach, and drive effectiveness. Our expert-led workshops and interactive exercises deliver actionable insights to revolutionize your operations and create a lasting impact in your community. Post-convention sessions will further empower you to build personalized, optimized solutions for your professional goals and affiliate interactions. The BITS team will be in touch with pre-convention workshops to set expectations and tailor the experience to your needs.
Museum of Biblical Art Tour
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July 9, 2025
This is an overwhelming experience. Touch the statue of the piata where Mary is holding Jesus’s body, put your finger in a ring made by someone in Auschwitz, feel a mirrored fabric from a concentration camp. There are many statues and other artifacts depicting biblical scenes such as Moses descending Mount Horeb, and the Pieta (Mary holding Jesus’s body).
Community Hospitality
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July 9, 2025
Here’s your opportunity to meet up with those you’ve only met virtually or to see friends you haven’t been with for a few years or more. Drop in for a few minutes or the entire time. You’re sure to find some midday convention cheer here.
Advocacy Bootcamp
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July 9, 2025
Advocacy can look like a lot of things; there is no right or wrong way to do it. This session will talk through the structure of our government to understand the various platforms in which to advocate through. Then, the discussion will expand further to explore other, out-of-the-box forms of advocacy that do not require engaging with the government at all. Lets put on our thinking caps to find various ways to advocate and make change for the blind and low vision community.
Get Crafty with CCLVI
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July 9, 2025
Come learn how to make bracelets and cane keychains with us. We can’t wait to see your creativity shine, and who doesn’t love getting hands-on and making something that you get to take home? Bracelets are bound to look fashionable and keychains are versatile on any object! Space is limited, so please be sure to register.
IVIE Business Expo
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July 9, 2025
Continuation of 1:00 PM.
Meal Planning for a Healthy Life with Diabetes
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July 9, 2025
Three dietitians and diabetes educators from Pennsylvania Hospital will join us in sharing ideas for planning tasty, fun, and interesting meals following eating recommendations for health with diabetes. Deciding what to eat for your meals and snacks every day is certainly a daunting experience and even more, so, when you’re stopping to think about carbohydrates, proteins, fats, nutrition labels, etc. come join us to help pick up some new tips to help make everyday meal planning easier and enjoyable. There will be time for attendees to share their own suggestions and ask any questions about diabetes. Facilitators: Patricia Maddix, ACBDA Board Member, Vancouver, WA; Abigail Chesterson, MPH, RD, LDN, CDCES, Director, Diabetes Education Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; Carolyn Ramondo RD, LDN, CDCES, CNSC, Clinical Dietitian Specialist, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators and Raised Sidewalk Applications for Vision Loss
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July 9, 2025
A discussion on what current information is being shared and raising awareness for cities, designers and community members. By StrongGo Industries, manufacturer of TekWay Tactile Warning Systems. In today’s urbanized living, new is everywhere, and that can be challenging. New jobs, new streets, new parks, new schools, even with GPS it can be difficult to navigate. We strive to give designers of urban areas ideas of the challenges that come with limited vision or none at all, but also possible solutions for support with TWSIs. In this session, we will discuss our current efforts to educate entities on Tactile Walking Surface Indicators and answer any questions the group may have. We also welcome feedback on how the message may be improved to be more effective. Sponsored by: ACB Transportation Committee
Unlocking Human Potential Stories in AI and Wearables
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July 9, 2025
Join Meta’s product and design teams for an exploration of AI-powered wearable technology to enhance the everyday life for the blind and low vision community. Discover new AI-powered features on Ray Ban Meta smart glasses, discuss emerging trends, and learn how these advancements can unlock new possibilities for independence and inclusivity.
A Conversation on the International Blindness Experience
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July 9, 2025
This is your opportunity to hear from and ask questions of Dave Williams, Chair, Braillists Foundation who is visiting us from England. He will address the ACB banquet on Thursday, this is your chance to talk with him in an informal setting. Topics will include Worldwide Education of the blind, issues facing blind and visually impaired people in foreign countries, and the global importance of braille. There will be plenty of time for questions. Co-sponsored by: IRC and MCAC
Improving Membership Outcomes by Bridging the gap between Seniors and Younger Members
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July 9, 2025
Join the membership committee for a two-part session. Panel 1 Fostering Trust between generations. This panel will give tips for working together with members of all ages. This will provide benefits for using the wisdom of older members and taking advantage of the excitement of new members. Presenters: Amanda Selm, Immediate Past President Next Generation, Louisville, KY; Jeff Thom, ACB Advocacy Chair, Sacramento, CA; Sheila Young, Immediate Past President Florida Council of the Blind, Orlando, FL Panel 2 Providing ACB resources to new members. This session will highlight many ACB Programs and documents that many members may not have heard about or been able to use. Participants can then pass on this information to all of their members. Handouts will be available at the event. Presenters: Scott Thornhill, ACB Executive Director, Greensboro, NC; Jeff Thom, ACB Advocacy Chair, Sacramento, CA; Sheila Young, chair ADP Performing Arts, Museums and Parks subcommittee, Orlando, FL; Larry Gassman, ACB Media Coordinator, Fullerton, CA; and Dan Spoone, ACB Director of Operations, Orlando, FL.
Staying Connected Hearing from Major Telecommunication Companies
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July 9, 2025
This session will include a panel of representatives from some of the biggest telecommunication providers, such as AT and T. The panel will highlight aspects of their services that specifically serve those who are blind or low vision.
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators and Raised Sidewalk Applications for Vision Loss
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July 9, 2025
A discussion on what current information is being shared and raising awareness for cities, designers and community members. By StrongGo Industries, manufacturer of TekWay Tactile Warning Systems. In today’s urbanized living, new is everywhere, and that can be challenging. New jobs, new streets, new parks, new schools, even with GPS it can be difficult to navigate. We strive to give designers of urban areas ideas of the challenges that come with limited vision or none at all, but also possible solutions for support with TWSIs. In this session, we will discuss our current efforts to educate entities on Tactile Walking Surface Indicators and answer any questions the group may have. We also welcome feedback on how the message may be improved to be more effective. Sponsored by: ACB Transportation Committee
Yes Braille Can be Fun
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July 9, 2025
Come join your Braille Revival League friends at an in-person convention session to test your trivia knowledge about braille, its history, and the Braille Revival League, as well as see what other fun things we have in store. And by the way, there will be prizes!!
BITS Reception
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July 9, 2025
Join all your BITS friends at the 2nd Annual BITS Reception at the ACB Convention in Dallas. There will be a cash bar and live entertainment. Each ticket includes one drink coupon redeemable at the cash bar.
Turn Big Dreams into Great Leaders with DKM
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July 9, 2025
Come and meet the 2025 DKM First Timers and learn how big dreams become reality. Join them and past recipients for a time of sharing and fun!
Mama’s Daughters Diner Tour
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July 9, 2025
Mama’s daughters Diner, ‘where they have been serving the best home cooking the old fashion way for over 65 years.’
ACB Film Night
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July 9, 2025
Wicked, the Movie Night film selection, nabbed two Academy Award wins – Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. Misunderstood because of her green skin, Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a fellow student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths. Exceptional music and great audio description – you are in for a real treat!
CCLVI Game Night
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July 9, 2025
CCLVI’s annual game night is all about Family Feud! Our 2024 event was a resounding success so we’re bringing it back for a second round. If you know a group of people you’d like to team up with, please call or text Patti Cox at 1 (502) 905-0869 as soon as possible to list your team name and members for a smooth game night.