[blindlaw] FW: Save these Dates for the Maryland ACB cnvention!

[Norman, Gary C. (CMS/OSORA)]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Charles Crawford [mailto:ccrawford at RCN.com]
>Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 11:21 AM
>Subject: Save these Dates for the Maryland ACB cnvention!
>
>
>
>                         SAVE THESE DATES!
>
>If you liked past ACB of Maryland conventions, you're gonna love this one!
>This is the first announcement of what will be coming up and more details to
>come later, but check out the following!
>
>      With Halloween over and Thanksgiving a few weeks away, what is there
>to do?  The first weekend in November, from Friday the first through Sunday
>morning the third promises to be a weekend you won't soon forget.  Let's
>just take a peek at what will be happening.
>
>      Friday evening will offer the ability to register and spend some time
>getting to know other ACB of Maryland members and our friends from other
>places.  We guarantee you a hassle free easy evening to enjoy good company
>and a bit of some tasty food and liquid refreshments.  All capped off with a
>good night's sleep at the BWI doubletree where we held last year's
>convention.  You will need that sleep in order to fully take advantage of
>Saturday's events we have in store for you!
>
>      On Saturday morning you'll have the opportunity to register in the event
>you were not able to do so the night before, and then we will launch into our
>exploration of how we as a blindness and low vision community will be
>coping with all that is happening in our Twenty-first century.
>Just think about all the changes we have seen over the past 20 years an
>more!  WE have cassette tapes, Personal Computers, and even network TV
>and Cable evolving into a new and interesting form of communications.  How
>can we keep up with it all and be ready to deal with all the changes of our
>current century?  Here are just some of the areas we will be addressing at our
>convention.
>
>1.  While many have accused Congress of  basically doing next to nothing
>over the past few years, that is anything but true when it comes to issues
>that we must face on a daily basis.  You will not want to miss the legislative
>presentation that will guide us through the many areas we have dealt with
>and those remaining on the Congressional burners.  Even with all these
>changes, there are a number of new regulatory requirements from audio
>description to housing to what is happening for folks who travel and
>encounter the Transportation Security Administration screening at airports.
>
>2.  Yes, something is finally happening to get the information on our drug
>labels into our awareness so we will know what medicines we are taking,
>when we should take them, what dosage they are, and other pertinent
>information that currently appears in print on the labels.  These are not just
>our own drugs, but those of others we care about.
>
>   3.  There was a time when we had little to read and now there is a literal
>explosion of materials!  How can we read them all and how can we manage
>the whole new reading environment?
>
>4.  The whole field of vocational rehabilitation is undergoing much thought
>and new models of how that service will be delivered and who will be doing
>it are evolving at breathtaking speed.  Is our new Commissioner of the
>Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) up to the task of managing so
>much change?
>The whole system we have known may simply disappear, and what would
>replace it if anything?  How will we as a community address and manage
>within this fast paced environment?
>
>  5.  iPhones, Androids, set top boxes, smart devices, New models of
>accessible appliances and a host of other technologic changes.
>How are we to understand, much less deal with all the changes?
>While much of this is to our advantage, how can we know what is good and
>how to use it properly in a world that seems to have completely
>revolutionized our whole environment!
>
>6.  This year, Obamacare kicks into gear in a way that will impact upon us all.
>Not only that, but the changes and requirements within Medicare have some
>splaining to do!  This is an area of utmost importance to all of us and our
>families.
>Don't get lost in the maze, but get educated and maximize your good health.
>
>Now these are only some of the items which you will want to check out, but
>there's more!  So save those dates from November 1 through November 3
>and you'll be hearing lots more from us as we get nearer to registration time!
>
>-- Charlie Crawford: President - ACB of Maryland (ACBM.)
>