ACB Maine

05/15/2026

Join ACB in urging Congress to support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act!

Today, Americans who are blind receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) face an unfair “earnings cliff” — if they earn just a bit too much, their benefits are cut off completely. This system discourages people from working and limits economic independence.

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act would replace the cliff with a fair, gradual reduction in benefits. This model would empower people who are blind to pursue meaningful employment without fear of losing all support.

Since launching our advocacy campaign for the Blind Americans Return to Work Act last fall, the bill has picked up 29 additional sponsors, including 8 last month! Let’s keep the momentum going by sending a message to your members of Congress here: https://speak4.app/lp/5t01cset/?ts=1759238261

05/09/2026

Meet Leo — a brave 13-year-old from New Zealand living with congenital glaucoma. Since birth, Leo has undergone more than 50 eye surgeries and countless hospital visits, all while continuing to show incredible strength, positivity, and resilience.

Now, Leo and his family are fundraising to travel to the 2026 Glaucoma Patient Summit — a place where patients and families from around the world come together to learn, connect, and find hope through education, advocacy, and community.

Leo has already become a powerful advocate in his own community, helping classmates understand what living with glaucoma is really like through awareness presentations and vision simulation activities.

We’re inspired by Leo’s courage and determination, and we hope our community can help support his journey to the Summit. 💚

If you’d like to support Leo and his family, you can learn more here:https://tinyurl.com/3pxhczsb

05/08/2026

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

The Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk is more than a tradition — it’s a powerful way to support ACB’s mission! This year’s walk will take place on July 27 as part of the ACB Conference and Convention, with both in-person and virtual participants.

Funds raised through the walk help support ACB’s advocacy on Capitol Hill, expand community programs that connect thousands of members nationwide, invest in leadership development and scholarships, and strengthen local affiliates across the country.

The walk honors Brenda Dillon, a beloved leader whose passion for community, inclusion, and service continues to inspire us all.
Every step makes a difference — and so does every donation.

Give today and help build a more accessible, inclusive future: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E144393&id=109

05/05/2026

Join us for a new webinar series from ACB’s Accessibility Consulting and Compliance Services (ACCS) team!

Our first session, “Accessibility Makes the Difference,” will take place on Thursday, May 21, at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Hosted by Kolby Garrison, ACB Accessibility Consulting & Compliance Services Coordinator, this FREE 1-hour webinar will cover:

✅ Why accessibility is a design principle, not just a feature
✅ How inclusive design expands your reach and strengthens your brand
✅ The risks of ignoring accessibility, from compliance to lost revenue
✅ The POUR Construct: A deeper dive into making web content Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust
✅ Common accessibility barriers and how to address them

This webinar is specifically designed for professionals responsible for digital and physical accessibility within their companies. Whether you’re just starting to learn about accessibility, or if you're ready to move beyond basic compliance toward true inclusiveness, this webinar provides the roadmap you need.

Register here: https://acb-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_b-PWt90CRridKS8kIvsOLg

04/29/2026

Join ACB in advocating for vision services for young children! Two bipartisan House bills—the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act and See the Board Act—would direct funding to diagnose, treat, and serve children with vision loss. The early detection will enable children to receive treatment or school services needed to address their disability. In doing so, it will allow the children to be more successful in the long run.

The EDVI Act picked up eight new cosponsors this month! Help us keep the momentum on this bill by contacting your representatives. Click here to send a message:
https://speak4.app/lp/sm01zs8u?ts=1776872567

04/28/2026

Join ACB for a webinar on STEP 2026 (Strengthen Teens, Elevate Potential), a new national program designed for blind and low vision high school students and their families.

Taking place during the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention in St. Louis, STEP is an immersive program focused on building confidence, independence, and future readiness. Aligned with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), it emphasizes self-advocacy, career exploration, workplace readiness, and independent living skills.

This webinar is open to all, and will highlight the STEP program structure, intended outcomes, and opportunities for collaboration with state agencies, educators, and service providers.

Webinar info:

🗓️ Apr 29, 2026
⏰ 2:00 p.m. ET
🛜 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WYmziDAIRsyGmlVIeyia2A

Presenters:

👉 Cindy Hollis, Manager of Membership Engagement, ACB
👉 RaLynn McGuire, Teen Program Lead, Texas
👉 Carrie Muth, Parent Program Lead, Oregon

We hope you can join us!

04/27/2026

The ACB team was thrilled to attend the Illinois Council of the Blind (ICB) convention in Springfield, Illinois. We appreciated the opportunity to share updates on ACB programs and to learn more about the impactful work ICB is doing as an ACB state affiliate. Learn more about ICB at https://www.icbonline.org.

Pictured in the back row, left to right: former ACB Second Vice President and current ICB President Ray Campbell; ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill; and ACB Media and IT Manager Rick Morin. Front row, left to right: Karyn Campbell; ACB Board Director Rachel Schroeder and her guide dog, Bilbo. The group is standing in a hotel conference room.