ACB Focus: Transportation and Advocacy (2021)

~~That’s What Friends are For: Are you having a problem handling low vision? What’s been your journey with low vision? We discussed the journey of low vision, and shared experiences, offered encouragement and strategies. Come join our low vision community as we support one another. Sponsored by CCLVI Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 21~~

~~Out and About with Canines and Canes: A panel of cane and guide dog users, with some vision to none, discussed pedestrian adventures, tips and tricks for fun and safe travel. Hear how getting lost can be a confidence-boosting adventure and how to leverage blind street smarts to create a more pedestrian friendly environment for everyone! Moderator: Sheila Styron, chair, ACB Transportation Committee, Kansas City, MO  Co-sponsored by: Environmental Access and Transportation Committees Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 19~~

[GDUI: Help Drive the Future of Driving: In this interactive session, Dr. Giudice described some of his current research on making autonomous vehicles (AVs) accessible for use by blind and visually impaired passengers, discussed the many benefits and huge potential of this newest form of transportation, and highlighted some of the challenges that need to be addressed. A significant part of successfully making AVs accessible is getting input from the key stakeholders and users of these vehicles. Thus occured by answering attendees’ questions, both those submitted prior to the session as well as in real time, Dr. Giudice fostered a discussion of user preferences and concerns around the roll-out of AVs. This brain storming can be used to guide future research. Presenter: Nicholas A. Giudice, PhD., Professor of Spatial Informatics: School of Computing and Information Science- University of Maine, Founder & Chief Research Scientist: VEMILab, Co-founder & Chief Research Officer Unar Labs, LLC.,  [email protected] Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 21](mailto:[email protected])

~~RSVA® “The importance of the RS15”: Kathy Roet, Director of the Business Enterprise Program, Iowa Department of the Blind, Des Moines, IA will led this deepening discussion following the initial presentation at the 2021 Sagebrush conference. She shared how to use the RSA form to show the details of each state’s current program. Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17~~

~~crossings with no traffic signal or stop sign: When you're at a crossing that has no stop sign or traffic signal, do you wonder when is the appropriate time to cross, and whether it is safe to do so?  Then this presentation is for you!  Attendees learned about analyzing these crossings and what kinds of skills you will need. Presenter: ♠ Dona Sauerburger, MA, COMS, Gambrills, MD Co-sponsored by: Environmental Access and Transportation Committees Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 19~~

~~ACBL Lessons in Leadership: Speaker - Dr. Patti Hill, Third Vice President of Lions Clubs International. Since joining the Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) Host Lions Club in 1990, Dr. Hill has served in many capacities, including multinational coordinator for Campaign SightFirst II, Secretary for the Alberta Lions Eyebank Society, Vice President of the Lions Eye Research Institute of Northern Alberta, and Committee Member of the USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forum. Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 21~~

~~ACBF/MCAC Schools for the Blind - From Segregation to Integration: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in 1954 that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.  How did that landmark case affect schools for the blind across the country? What had gone before, and what came afterward, in the integration of the schools? Micheal Hudson, Director of the museum at the American Printing House for the Blind, guided us through this chapter of our history from both the students' and the staff's points of view. Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 20~~

~~Practical and Legal Issues for Government Employees: Issues and Challenges for today: Members of ACBGE and AAVIA discussed current challenges, practices and law bearing upon the provision of reasonable accommodations to workers with visual impairments. Participants addressed the process of obtaining assistive technology and reflected on the frustrations and the triumphs people face every day. Presenters: ♠ Renee Zelickson, ACBGE President, and Social Security Administration Employee, Chicago, IL ♠ Pat Sheehan, ACB Board Member, and Veteran Affairs Employee, Silver Spring, MD Co-sponsored by: AAVIA and ACBGE Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 20~~

En-vision America: Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda, WILL: Why Asking for Help is so Difficult: En-Vision America briefly addressed the psychology of why it is so hard to ask for help, offered hints and how to overcome hesitations and how to craft more effective requests. ~~Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 16~~

AAVIA hosts this presentation by Bill Piatt, former dean at St. Mary's law school in San Antonio TX, as he reviews the 2020-21 Supreme courst decisions and their ramifications. Recorded on July 17 during the 2021 ACB virtual conference and convention