American Council of the Blind

06/23/2026

ACB and our special interest affiliate, Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS), recently shared perspectives on how artificial intelligence is transforming accessibility for people who are blind or have low vision.

In a new article published by the Agentic AI Foundation, representatives from ACB and BITS discuss why people who are blind are among AI’s most advanced users. The article also highlights the importance of ensuring accessibility is built into emerging AI standards from the beginning, rather than added later.

As new technologies continue to evolve, ACB and BITS are helping ensure that people who are blind or have low vision are part of the conversation!

Read the full article: https://aaif.io/blog/native-speakers-why-ais-most-powerful-users-are-blind/

Large language models don't “see” interfaces, buttons, or navigate visually. They live and die by language, and that fact arguably makes LLMs one of the most consequential accessibility developments in the history of computing, not because they were designed for it, but because they can't help i...

06/23/2026

This past weekend, ACB’s Caitlin Lee took second place at the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) 10K in the Para T11-T13 (blind and visually impaired) division. The B.A.A. is a leader in para racing, and Caitlin was honored to race alongside some of the fastest athletes in the country!

Inspired by Caitlin’s achievement? Support the 2026 Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E144393&id=109

06/22/2026

ACB’s Scott Thornhill and Claire Stanley are featured in a recent Waymo spot as they work to bring Waymo autonomous vehicles to Washington, D.C. 👇

06/22/2026

Here's what's happening this week at ACB!

Links mentioned:

👉 Candidate Pages for 2026 Elections: https://www.acb.org/candidates-pages-2026-elections

👉 2026 ACB Conference and Convention: https://acbconvention.org

👉 Braille Forum June 2026 Issue: https://www.acb.org/acb-braille-forum-june-2026

👉 Braille Forum Podcast: https://acb-braille-forum-and-e-forum.pinecast.co/

👉 2026 Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E144393&id=109

Follow ACB and the Audio Description Project on social media to stay updated on the latest news and announcements!

06/22/2026

Today marks the 27th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C., which affirmed that the unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The ruling reinforced the right of people with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities rather than in institutions. Twenty-seven years later, Olmstead remains one of the most important disability rights decisions in our nation’s history and continues to advance inclusion, independence, and equal opportunity.

This anniversary comes just days after the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo challenging longstanding interpretations of the integration mandate and the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision. ACB is deeply troubled by the memo’s conclusions and its potential implications for the rights of people with disabilities to live in their communities without fear of unnecessary institutionalization.

Despite this recent challenge, we remain committed to defending the rights and freedoms recognized in the Olmstead ruling, and will continue to advocate for policies that promote full participation, independence, and social and economic opportunity for all people with disabilities.

06/22/2026

OneCourt is at several World Cup venues and will have their tactile devices available for use free of charge for fans who are blind or have low vision! Details below 👇

06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day! Today, we’re celebrating all the amazing dads out there, including ACB member Steven Salas, the proud father of 4-year-old Athena.

Steven is a member of the Austin chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Texas and works as an adaptive skills instructor at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center in Austin.

Pictured is Steven holding Athena, who is wearing a pink shirt that says, “Loved by Daddy.” Steven is also holding Athena’s pink Sour Patch Kids plush pillow.

06/19/2026

Here's what's coming up in ACB Community for the week of June 21, 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

06/19/2026

This Juneteenth, ACB and the Multicultural Affairs Committee are proud to recognize Janae Miller, an ACB community leader whose dedication and advocacy are helping create a more accessible and inclusive future.

Janae serves as president of the Columbus chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Ohio, is a member of the ACB of Ohio Board, and serves on ACB's Multicultural Affairs Committee. An INSPIRE program graduate, Janae has participated in both the D.C. Leadership Conference and ACB national conventions. She also serves as a commissioner on the City of Columbus Disability Commission. In addition to her advocacy work, Janae is an accomplished pianist and singer.

As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor leaders like Janae whose service, leadership, and advocacy strengthen ACB and help advance equality, opportunity, and independence for people who are blind or have low vision.

06/19/2026

On this week's episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire, Grace, and ACB Advocacy Fellow Amanda Wickstrom discuss four recently introduced (or reintroduced) bills that ACB is tracking. They discuss the Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act, the Cogswell-Macy Act, the We Can't Wait Act, and the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act.

Access the podcast: https://acb.org/advocacyupdate