American Council of the Blind HQ
Together for a Bright Future
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all blind and visually-impaired people.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
ACB advocates on a wide variety of issues for people who are blind and visually impaired. At the government level, ACB works on drafting proposals, analyzing current legislative developments and working with regulatory agencies to support programs that help blind and visually impaired individuals to sustain their independence, security, equality of opportunity and quality of life.
ACB Scholarships
Through the Scholarship program, ACB presents students with scholarships to help with post-secondary education financial needs such as tuition, fees, room and board and other additional costs associated with adaptive technology. Other award programs have been created to foster future leaders through mentoring, training and peer development. A program of recognition awards for exceptional service in a wide range of areas to the blindness community are also supported.
Conference and Convention
Through the annual convention, a strong representation of the membership is present to assist in the governance of the organization. This is where elections are held for officers and directors, and constitution and bylaw amendments are considered. Policy decisions and priorities are established through the adoption of resolutions relating to programs, services, and key issues affecting the blindness community. Many committees, task forces, and special interest affiliates conduct business and have programming during the convention.
This event also features numerous speakers, workshops, seminars, exhibits, tours, new technology, and other activities.
Audio Description Project
Through the Audio Description Project, ACB supports a broad range of activities designed to build awareness and promote the use of audio description for people who are blind or have low vision. The ADP works to make the community aware of the need for audio description for live theater, television, movies, DVDs, museums, and other media formats and venues, where its availability can enhance the understanding and overall experience of blind consumers. This program works to increase levels of audio description activity, impact government and industry policy and regulations, promote development of accessible hardware, software, and mobile applications for use with audio description, conduct training of audio description professionals, and disseminate information on all aspects of audio description through its extensive website and other awareness efforts.
Information and Peer Support
Through utilizing the expertise of our staff and members, ACB provides information, referral and subject guidance in key areas to support people who are blind with their specialized informational needs. This is done through advocacy efforts such as job postings, resources for those who are looking for adaptive technology, individual referrals to state, ACB committees, and special interest affiliates who can best provide needed support for the individual and collective needs of the blind and visually impaired community.
Membership and Organization Services
Through trainings, workshops, and other support services, ACB works to strengthen state and special interest affiliates to develop leadership and grow membership. ACB coordinates an annual leadership conference, promotes consistent two-way communication with board affiliate liaisons and assists affiliates, as needed, with organizational business documentation and reporting. Our membership database is used to ensure accurate certification records, track volunteer hours, and support member communication.
Public Awareness
Through over twenty (20) communication channels, such as our website, information hotline, Facebook, Twitter, ACB Braille Forum magazine, email lists, podcasts, and internet radio, ACB provides valuable accessibility information for and about the blindness community. ACB is a catalyst for communicating topics of interest that are relevant through media interviews, panel discussions, educational training seminars, and individualized outreach.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Develop short and long-term strategies on a variety of civil and equal rights policies and increase information accessibility and usability of products and services.
Forecast financial growth strategies.
Continue building and encouraging an active membership by providing opportunities and relevant training and resources to affiliate leaders and members.
Enrich the convention experience by expanding opportunities for attendance.
Publish an integrated communications plan.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Advocacy, Legislation and Policy
*Participate in government and private sector meetings to assure autonomous vehicles are accessible.
* Work with public transportation providers on accessibility concerns at airports, rail cars and other forms of public transportation and to prohibit fraudulent service animals on aircraft.
*Work with entities to increase accessibility of information which includes the web and mobile devices.
*Continue to work on having currency that is accessible to the blind and visually impaired.
Forecast Financial Growth Strategies
* Create a plan to help forecast potential growth opportunities
* Re-establish the Advisory Board.
Membership
* Strengthen affiliate and special interest affiliates by providing various formats of training.
* Conduct focus groups to determine what topics interest affiliates.
Convention
* Partner with an authorized Continuing Education Credits (CEC) entity so ACB can provide approved CEC sessions at the convention.
* Develop a program which can better accommodate special needs of attendees.
Marketing and Communications
* Update ACB's website so information is easily accessible and more easily searchable.
* Create a communication plan so media if being distributed through the proper channels.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
A strategic plan was developed in early 2017 to identify areas of priority. Teams were created in each area of priority, timeframes were developed to meet these goals and the resources that would be needed to complete the goals. Each team is meeting regularly to implement these goals.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financial Strategies Growth
* A 3 year forecast has been created and is being compared to projections. An analysis is completed to determine which areas are performing as or better than expected and areas where performance is below expectations.
Membership
* Focus groups have been completed, areas of focus have been determined and they are now in the process of completing the needed tasks.
Convention
* ACB has been approved to provide Continuing Educational Credits at the Annual Conference and convention.
Communications
* ACB has created an updated logo, has updated its website.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
American Council of the Blind
Board of directorsas of 10/28/2023
Dan Spoone
No Affiliation
Term: 2021 - 2023
Ray Campbell
Jeff Thom
Deb Cook Lewis
Denise Colley
Kim Charlson
Chris Bell
Donna Brown
Gabriel Lopez-Kafati
Terry Pacheco
Doug Powell
Rachel Schroeder
Kenneth Semien Sr.
Koni Sims
Katie Frederick
David Trott
Jeff Bishop
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/28/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.