ACB Advocacy Update Podcast
On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Swatha preview all that will be happening at the 2024 Leadership Conference and Legislative Seminar taking place from March 1st to 5th at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, VA. We go through the scheduled meetings, guest speakers, fun activities after hours, and our … Read more
On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha chats with an old friend and new Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs for the American Council of the Blind, Claire Stanley. Claire shares her background in disability rights, her previous work with ACB, and what she’s looking forward to in her new role here.
On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update podcast, Swatha reflects on all that happened in 2023 with guests Dan Spoone (ACB Interim Executive Director) and Deb Cook Lewis (ACB President). Listen as we walk through a year of transition and growth for the organization with staff departures and additions, ACB’s accessible currency rally in … Read more
Continuing from where we left off in Part 1, Dan and Swatha speak with Penny Forward on current efforts in the push for fully accessible US paper currency. We highlight the 2023 Accessible Currency Rally held by ACB in front of the US Treasury Building and the White House, and the subsequent actions taken by … Read more
In the first installment of this 2-part collaborative podcast with Penny Forward, we discuss the history behind ACB’s advocacy surrounding the push for the United States to create paper currency that is fully accessible to people who are blind and experiencing vision loss. Dan Spoone, ACB Interim Executive Director, and Swatha Nandhakumar, ACB Advocacy and … Read more
The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Swatha speaks with Mark Richert, International Program Coordinator at Overbrook School for the Blind, about the recently reintroduced Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act (H.R.5748 and S.2945). This bipartisan and bicameral piece of legislation would improve special education … Read more
Enjoy the season of sweater weather, pumpkin spice and apple cider with another round of updates from ACB’s Advocacy Team! On this episode, Clark and Swatha provide updates on legislation, including reintroduction of the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, significant agency rulemakings, like the Department of Health and Human Services update to Section 504, … Read more
People concerned about safety and accessibility for pedestrians have been discussing the “Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines” (mercifully shortened to PROWAG) for more than a decade. And on August 8, 2023, the U.S. Access Board issued this long-sought set of accessibility standards for sidewalks and streets, crosswalks, curb ramps, pedestrian signals, on-street parking, and … Read more
On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Clark and Swatha go over the CVTA, which was re-introduced on July 25th in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate by Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA-16) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) as H.R.4858 and S.2494. We encourage all our members and friends to contact their … Read more
In addition to her role as World Blind Union President, Ms. Abel-Williamson is involved with several disability-related organizations in New Zealand and also serves on the board of the Accessible Books Consortium, an initiative led by the World Intellectual Property Organization. She will speak at Tuesday morning’s general session, and here is a great opportunity … Read more