[NFBSF] Air Carrier Access Survey

Tue Feb 27 21:05:20 UTC 2024

FYI, 

Dots and Dashes

February 26, 2024

January's Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to Monica Svopa, who was voted Volunteer of the Month for
January!

Bringing Your Kids to Convention?

In the past ACB has offered our Kids Club to convention attendees for
children ages 5 to 13. Before we confirm the hiring of kids club leaders and
begin scheduling events, I'd like to determine if there is interest in our
holding kids club. 

If you are considering bringing your children to Jacksonville, please email
Janet by March 15 at  <mailto:Janet.dickelman at gmail.com>
Janet.dickelman at gmail.com, or call her at (651) 428-5059.

Register Now for the Audio Description Institute

ACB's Audio Description Project's 23rd Audio Description Institute will be
held virtually April 8-12, from 1 to 5 p.m. each day.

Participation is strictly limited. The Institute will issue ACB-sponsored
certificates to all successful participants confirming completion of this
professional description training program. 

To register, visit
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBimt5clYCJnAOnNk6Cjz97D5aQi2_jMu9c0tY4UPIswIEib3
tAr80c2Rzg3p2FT7Dc-UsqT5LFfms9DzE9Ovb3HT7Nw1TykJAH-FpzH8GbdalNIOCOvtUQ4jf3lK
LnW5q_Gk2oaxvlCkJXIdkS4cikxeD-OVjD7u6ObWm-VqgxddQ=&c=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6
hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoI
dhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==>
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E144393&id=94.

A Reminder from the Awards Committee

The Awards Committee is searching for nominees who you feel are deserving of
national recognition for their work in ACB or the blindness community.
Awards will be presented at the 2024 conference and convention in
Jacksonville, Fla. For the full list of awards, and their criteria, visit
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBiekZtD72uaZP_xWunhbLGkHqQtNNPmv9_6Ta5dGRKpxxO27
8y_DV1Kz_rSoQ9CCsmEVaAtCcwmdz7PBIv-zdkeD70mB5cR_DMnlB244fFHg_mWCLDpFdqNA==&c
=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9
skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==>
https://www.acb.org/call-nominees-2024-acb-awards. 

All nomination letters must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern
on April 1st, 2024. Letters received after that date will not be accepted.
We ask that letters be limited to no more than 750 words. Email your
nomination letters to  <mailto:acbawards1 at gmail.com> acbawards1 at gmail.com.

BOP Seeks to Award Writing Excellence

The ACB Board of Publications proudly recognizes excellence each year with
three annual writing awards. We are seeking nominations for the Ned E.
Freeman Excellence in Writing Award, the Vernon Henley Media Award, and the
Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Award.

For a list of the awards and their criteria, visit
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBidNAhPMqt-u1vdDAA6W8InzEES40i8kynfb28-zaFMUZEjB
fkdSBhRbVHdAS2Hp2anwqozSY2hvBxrLpTy_ieMGFkSAc8r7CxIP2FyOvP3bjg0W8CAKQaMXqbRV
P8Z84AQA3L520l0qs=&c=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw=
=&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==>
https://www.acb.org/bop-seeks-award-excellence-writing-media. 

All nominations must be submitted to the ACB Braille Forum Editor, Sharon
Lovering, with a postmark of no later than April 1, 2024. You may also
submit your nomination electronically to  <mailto:slovering at acb.org>
slovering at acb.org. All submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter
providing details about the nominee, including name, address, telephone
number and email address of the nominee, if known, and details about the
submission, its origin, and any other pertinent information. The return
address of the person making the nomination should be included in the cover
letter.

Call for Nominations for the 2024 ADP Awards

What do a chef, a museum, and a very large telescope have in common? They
were all recipients of a 2023 ADP Award! The ADP Awards recognize
achievement in audio description in seven categories, including media,
performing arts, museums, the public sector, and research and development.
Nominations will be accepted now through April 21, and the winners will be
announced in July at the ACB convention.

Any person, organization, or institution that fits in one of the categories
below and is involved in the research, development, production, design,
creation, and/or delivery of great audio description is eligible. You are
welcome to nominate yourself, your local theatre or museum, or a well-known
institution. 

Help us celebrate the people and organizations that are contributing
significantly to the growth of audio description.
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao7tDeYY5VarnXuTONrh-Wuwa2rma7NmcaZBiwWf0J-KNCIeCBOLiRQUbGZ
F7AeKcBvbg6z9orrtRO_jjL7d8gsF7wzHcnopNBY1t6wKxm5DVcEzuKi7O1Bg=&c=V3OuFoGgA1s
zJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffj
G64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==> Submit your nomination online before April
21, 2024.

ICDR Launches Research Portfolio

The Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) recently launched
the Interagency Rehabilitation and Disability (IRAD) Research Portfolio. The
IRAD Research Portfolio is a searchable, government-wide inventory of
disability, independent living, and rehabilitation research. Its purpose is
to enable trend and data analysis across federal agencies, with a goal of
aiding collaboration and coordination. 

The Research Portfolio currently features data from five federal agencies:
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF),
Veterans Affairs (VA), Administration for Community Living (ACL), and the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from fiscal years 2016 to 2023. The ICDR
plans to expand the Research Portfolio to include data from more years and
agencies.

University of Washington Research Study

Researchers at the University of Washington are investigating if technology
can play a supplementary role in how blind or low-vision parents or adult
relatives and their children discuss or co-create physical artwork. Arts and
crafts play an integral part of many children's lives, through school
projects, extra-curricular activities, and more. However, many of these art
pieces are often 2D visual creations, which can be inaccessible for blind or
low-vision relatives. We are conducting a study to understand blind or
low-vision parents' or relatives' current practices of engaging with their
children's visual artwork.

We are looking to recruit English-speaking adults who are blind or
low-vision and have children relatives who create visual artwork. If you're
interested, fill out the form at
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBimNjaEJ6ORneK6-Zv_eD7qXCVm573U_hE6-NqnvezY49Uv_
O2J3G7nT0IRrn-h4HlS8N206OtPTapx8MVfdwJLF34PRradBGbm633rCG3Gsk=&c=V3OuFoGgA1s
zJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffj
G64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==> https://forms.gle/FiBD2KNpmbWgQcxc6. Or you
may email Arnavi Chheda-Kothary at  <mailto:chheda at cs.washington.edu>
chheda at cs.washington.edu. 

Stargardt's Summit

The Stargardt's Summit will be held on Thursday, February 29 at 1 p.m.
Eastern time. Learn about the newest research, explore adaptive living
resources, hear impactful patient stories, and connect with others going
through a similar journey! This year's event is hosted by The Carroll Center
for the Blind, in partnership with Foundation Fighting Blindness, Prevent
Blindness, and The Blind Life.

The summit will have a patient panel, a medical/research panel, and an
accessibility and adaptive strategies panel. To learn more, or to register,
visit
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBiRPgzaFhL7DpW5DCr-sDgP5y0X5q_a1g00pYDROx5bUD8U7
eSCH0FbvDPgiIAY9UqIS9dszFMwz1dlJarA_DsmFJr665RRfHI&c=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6
hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoI
dhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==> http://tinyurl.com/bp6xaevs. 

AAPD 2024 Fall Internship Program

The 2024 AAPD Fall Internship Program Application is now accepting
applications! AAPD's Internship Program places students and recent graduates
with disabilities in paid internships. 

The Fall Internship Program will be fully virtual. Ten interns will be
selected to complete remote internships at placement sites. Interns will
work part-time for 15 hours a week, and be paid $18/hour. The program will
run for 14 weeks from September 3 to December 6, 2024.

Interested potential applicants can join a virtual information session on
Monday, March 4 from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern to learn more about the program and
the application process and get your questions answered. CART and ASL will
be provided. The session will be recorded and available on the AAPD website.

For more information, visit
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBip_9H76THlXyeOxR00avZpvv66NAha8faHCC9a_EgJGqahn
ad9z6KuC1y0INWVBmKlq2OCMY9qlwQQ4_K_9hYCj7ZxHShwXxPrtMLzgEuWDFDa0pd6Phmyw==&c
=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9
skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==>
https://www.aapd.com/fall-internship-program
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBip_9H76THlXyeOxR00avZpvv66NAha8faHCC9a_EgJGqahn
ad9z6KuC1y0INWVBmKlq2OCMY9qlwQQ4_K_9hYCj7ZxHShwXxPrtMLzgEuWDFDa0pd6Phmyw==&c
=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9
skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==> /. If you have questions, send an
email to  <mailto:internships at aapd.com> internships at aapd.com, or call (202)
975-0241.

Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion & Disability Conference 

The 24th annual Multiple Perspectives On Access, Inclusion & Disability
Conference will be held April 8th and 9th at the Columbus campus of the Ohio
State University. Featured speakers include Scot Danforth, Siva Priya
Santhanam, and others. 

For more details, go to
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBi3QAb3rsoxv2qJEu1nEpT7Tsd4mv7kipegJD6KThHP8mNaw
UrJCPZHgQ5DUES_oQ3xVP95nBFdYg-Y-282AYFfcHAgYEr5hW9XMDGp9_830v77IyJ-4Ii6uvKB6
HAFoB9bqr9Bh8jFs4lGd4eETkCySG9to2VRA-s&c=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgF
CXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K
9dw==>
https://ada.osu.edu/multiple-perspectives-conference/multiple-perspectives-2
024. To register, visit
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBiPNZX-_f6yNbV9AXDlf2mSkjp9KAFA6sJu4PCK1Kd0Q7Fgf
3M5hIjD8CXaEZnKBqSuWIFEyZAzZavgvkOSUzythofRYESgAenyMbGUzwKzGqZGmKjuY6ZP34gY4
15jJgpKM2IDwe_uep27axwVtfr-dXT2hdp-2r1&c=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgF
CXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K
9dw==>
https://web.cvent.com/event/b7d98b63-e0ec-44c2-81b6-07eafa19c85f/summary. 

Envision Conference East

Envision Conference East 2024 is scheduled for April 11-13, at the Salus
University campus in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. This unique conference,
co-hosted with Pennsylvania College of Optometry and the William Feinbloom
Vision Rehabilitation Center, stands out as a pivotal event for
professionals in vision rehabilitation and research, offering a
comprehensive variety of interactive sessions and presentations.

Envision Conference East is an in-depth gathering of professionals that aims
to bridge practice gaps while showcasing the latest in rehabilitation
techniques, research and technological advancements. It is the only event of
its kind that fosters multidisciplinary collaboration among vision
professionals across the United States. Participants are encouraged to take
register by March 3, with details available on the Envision Conference
website.

Stick & Poke

Zachary Blair is a filmmaker and artist from New York City, who is currently
working on a short film titled "Stick & Poke." It's about a visual artist
who is diagnosed with LHON and rediscovers her creative path after she's
lost her vision. I have found many inspiring stories about artists who have
found a creative life after their vision loss, and that's exactly the kind
of story I want to tell. We would love to speak to people with LHON to make
sure our material is an accurate and positive representation. If you are
interested in sharing your personal experiences with LHON, you can reach me
via email at  <mailto:zrblair at flicksbyzeebz.com> zrblair at flicksbyzeebz.com.
I can send you questions, or we can schedule a phone call. To learn more
about me and my work, visit Flicksbyzeebz.com. 

Best and Worst States for Eye Health

<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBiMk_Jypzf1GzOm_JFbN7_QxgBKK8_veFLFeoOkImRYNJ5iO
07WvDqR_pKW16wiRwtdS7kOBaNoLKNX_fHA7rSdw==&c=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZI
zZgFCXdWVCw2R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJ
O5_K9dw==> RX-Safety today released a study on the
<https://4eqo4f5ab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001LOX5UohjCaCz5iwbjxpyW0Gtz4tYIW0ApA
CnQXPM--LFzzA7go_Ao5UNsinOnlBi_I3jO1z3tiauDRY-FJm6xfUGim0nss4_Nevvh9CBeuTojr
nWv3IQy2ZLhZHLBXvAS64Iihgec3LCcLErpghrHJwyjH7tyPlv909MagQEKO0kdRUgfg5o78xSBY
lt9tKOAfFtmKFwFsVIJYFHD-vreA==&c=V3OuFoGgA1szJ6g_x3_uyn6hkGZFeZIzZgFCXdWVCw2
R6Ul97mVqGw==&ch=KRMWA-KI3rxsyp9skwlMpWDTffjG64qJheCQkoIdhjoKEcJO5_K9dw==>
Best & Worst States for Eye Health after analyzing seven key factors in all
50 states and D.C. using the most recent data from the CDC, KFF, and BLS. 

The 10 best states are Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Iowa, New
York, Utah, Maryland, Colorado, and Alaska. 

The 10 worst states are West Virginia, Kentucky, D.C., Florida, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina. 

Air Carrier Access Act Survey

At the recommendation of the US Department of Transportation's (DOT) Air
Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee, a working group is examining barriers
and solutions for passengers with disabilities who need disability-related
assistance during air travel, which may require them to ask for help, or
"self-identify" their needs to a service provider. A "service provider" may
be an airline, an airport, or a contractor that provides accessibility
services. The working group's goal is to help passengers with disabilities
let service providers know that they need help during the travel process.

The purpose of this survey is to identify barriers and solutions that will
help with the working group's creation of best practices and guidance.

When completing questions about possible solutions, we ask that you use each
question's text field to provide information on potential issues, best
practices, implementation, and timelines for those solutions.

The survey is designed to work well with screen readers and other assistive
technologies, but if you experience accessibility difficulties due to the
survey's formatting, an alternative format of this survey can be made
available upon request at (202) 626-4211.

Access the survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FZP6TJQ

From, 

Lisa Irving 