About ACB
Since it's founding in 1961, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) has been a leader in national, state, local and even international advocacy efforts. The mission of ACB is to advocate for equality of people who are blind and visually impaired, inspire community, and connect individuals with education, resources, and each other to support independence.
Some of the advocacy work ACB is focusing on includes:
Accessible Currency
Tactile information, conveyed through the fingers, is all around us: on keyboards and keypads, elevators and bank machines, building entrances and even the plastic lids of fast-food soda cups. However, one place it cannot be found is on U.S. paper currency, even though Congress required 48 years ago that all federal programs and services be made accessible for people who are blind and visually impaired. Since a 2008 court ruling, the U.S. Treasury has tried time and time again to stall efforts to make the next paper note accessible for Americans who are blind. Its reasons and rationale are weak at best, especially when every other developed country in the world has been able to create accessible paper currency. ACB is working with the Treasury Department on the redesign of the $20 bill to ensure it includes tactile features to distinguish it from other paper currency.
Audio Description
ACB and its Audio Description Project (ADP) aim to bring more meaning and enjoyment to entertainment, cultural, and educational experiences for blind and visually impaired people. The key is Audio Description. Audio Description—live or as a voiceover narrative—makes visual imagery accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. It’s used to enhance movies, television, media, theater and other live performances/events, museums, national parks, meetings, and educational programming. These visual elements can include action, costumes, settings, facial gestures, facial expressions and other visually important images.
The Audio Description Project works to promote and advocate for the use of high-quality Audio Description in television, movies, performing arts, museums, educational materials and other venues where the presentation of visual media is critical to the understanding and appreciation of the content.
Accessible Technology
The American Council of the Blind has tirelessly worked with state and federal officials and with private industry to enhance the use of assistive technology, both in school and on the job, for blind and visually impaired people. Our representatives have served on various committees and task forces in an attempt to assist software and hardware developers in the design of standards and products that make assistive technology more accessible on a broader scale. ACB works closely with other blindness-related organizations to educate both government and the private sector regarding the potential for education and employment that exist for blind and visually impaired people who have access to proper training and assistive technology.
Accessible Transportation
ACB has been in the forefront of accessible transportation issues for many years. Some successes include: Getting detectable warning requirements enforced at the edges of subway and train platforms and those areas where people encounter vehicular traffic; getting accessible pedestrian signalization installed at intersections where we need to know when the crossing phase is active; and working with United Airlines to add Braille throughout the interior of their planes. Current projects ACB is working on include: Working with public and private transportation companies to ensure individuals with guide dogs aren't denied service and working with Amtrak to ensure their stations and trains are accessible to their blind and visually impaired riders. ACB is working on the local, state and federal level to ensure transportation is accessible for everyone.
