Advertise on podcast: ACB Advocacy Update

Making Transportation More Accessible for All This week, Claire speaks with two colleagues who attended the NCUTCD and Transportation Research Board conferences. They talk all things transportation and pedestrian safety after two weeks of interesting sessions on the latest and greatest in this field.

On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill speaks about the Randolph-Sheppard Act, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. Scott speaks with members of ACB’s affiliate, Randolph-Sheppard Act Vendors of America (RSVA), and board member Jeff Thom about the history of this important legislation in creating entrepreneurial opportunities for people who are blind. Over the last few months, changes in policy will mean that action is needed.

This week, Claire speaks with Lea Rowe from BVA about their experience at a Meta Wearables Summit in Northern California.

This week, Claire, Kolby, and Scott look back over all of the advocacy work that was done in 2025.

This week, Claire speaks with our intern about two more bills ACB is following closely. Congress has been busy introducing new bills. We will explore new bills that impact the lives of people who are blind and low vision.

This week Claire speaks with another member of the Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee (CPAAC) with the Federal Communications Commission. The two talk about the newly formed group and its responsibilities over the next year.

This week, Claire speaks with 3 individuals from other advocacy organizations we work closely with to learn about where the 2025 legislative imperatives currently stand.

This week, Claire and Kolby are joined by Em Whitworth and Dewey Bushaw from Speak4 to discuss how ACB partnered with Speak4 to make the platform more accessible. ACB uses Speak4 to support its national advocacy campaigns, making it easy for members to contact their representatives and advocate for key issues.

On the 15th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), Claire speaks with three experts, reminiscing on the journey to get the bill passed and talking about what it includes. We also look forward to what the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) will bring.

This week, Claire speaks with the chair of the resolutions committee about the process to complete the 2025, ACB resolutions. The process to complete another year’s of ACB resolutions takes a lot of hard work. Claire and Gabe Griffith talk through the process to get there, and they then review the six resolutions that were voted in at the 2025 annual convention.

This week, Claire speaks with two experts on library services and potential federal funding cuts to such services. The two experts outline how the programs are run and advise listeners on how they can help advocate for ongoing library services.

This week, Claire speaks with two ACB members about their positive experience using the Speak4 platform. They share their thoughts and experiences with the platform.

This week, Claire speaks with our Advocacy Fellow about several new bills Congress has introduced that will benefit the blind and disabled community.

This week Claire speaks with Doug Powell and Pris Rogers about the Older Americans Act and related legislation. These two experts in services for older Americans talk about the bill and needed services for people losing their vision as they age.

This week, Claire talks with Rob Buettner about their experiences at the 2025 VisionServe Alliance conference that was held in Scottsdale, Arizona.