Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Outcomes
2008

Goal: Better education for students who are blind or visually impaired

In addition to donating $50,000 to The Ohio State University’s endowed scholarship fund for students in the field of education of blind children, established in 2007, the American Council of the Blind, ACB-Ohio, has established a similar endowed scholarship at the University of Toledo, with a matching grant of $25,000. It is expected that a deserving student will receive a substantial scholarship from this fund in the fall of 2009. ACB-Ohio made a matching grant of $25,000 to Wright State University to be awarded to a deserving visually impaired student. It is expected that the first scholarship from this fund will be awarded in the fall of 2009.

In addition, as it has done for a number of years, ACB-Ohio continues to award a total of $11,500 in five scholarships to visually impaired college students and to students in the field of rehabilitation for individuals with vision impairments.)

The second annual family seminar, Building Blocks for a Brighter Future, was held on September 13, 2008 at the Ohio State School for the Blind. Approximately 15 families participated. The keynote speaker was Ashley Morgan, the recipient of the first ACB-Ohio/OSU scholarship. Other presenters spoke on the assessment process, legal rights, and technology. Parents had the opportunity to network with one another, while their children were entertained by the skilled physical education staff of OSSB. Our thanks go to the financial support of RSC and the Ohio Lions Foundation.

GOAL: Stronger presence in advocacy

On Jan. 28, the ACB-Ohio Legislative Committee sent a letter to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner concerning accessible voting machines with copies to Elizabeth Sammons (RSC legislative liaison), Lucille Walls (executive director of governor's council), and Bret Harbage (ADA coordinator for office of secretary of state.

From Feb. 10 to Feb. 12, the legislative committee participated in the ACB national legislative seminar in Washington D.C.; and dealt with three issues; web site accessibility, access to telecommunications including digital television, and standards for audible signals on “quiet” cars; and visited or left materials at all twenty U. S. legislators' offices.

In March, members and staff conducted phone campaign concerning full funding for NLS; three U. S. representatives from Ohio signed on to the letter of support after the campaign.

On May 8, the Legislative Committee sent letters to Ohio's representatives in Washington D. C. on H.R.5734, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, calling for standards for audible signals on quiet vehicles.

On May 15, the legislative committee sent letters to Ohio's representatives in Washington D. C. on the draft language for the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. This legislation will require equipment and devices such as televisions and DVD's to have audible out-put, so people who are blind and visually impaired can operate such equipment and devices independently; as it will require video description when digital television arrives in 2009. It will have provisions for greater accessibility to communications for individuals who are deaf-blind; and will have other requirements for people with all disabilities. This legislation is strongly supported by COAT, the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology.

In May and June, the Legislative Committee conducted phone campaigns to follow up on the sending of the letters to the representatives inWashington D. C. Six to ten e-mail messages with personal stories were also sent. We received positive responses from most of the representatives, especially, from Steve Chabot and Zack Space.

On April 30, Mary Hiland, Mike and Julie Russell, and Joyce and Robert Rogers attended the All Aboard Ohio legislative seminar in Columbus and visited legislative offices. With the support of Governor Ted Strickland, the reduction in public transportation services across Ohio is beginning to be reversed, and The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, which provides federal funds for states to initiate or improve passenger rail is gaining more support in the U. S. Congress.

On June 21, Joyce and Robert Rogers attended the All Aboard Ohio annual business meeting held in Cincinnati for the first time.

On Aug. 11, the legislative committee sent a thank you letter to all eighteen representatives and the two senators from Ohio for the passage of H.R. 4137 and S. 4137 on Aug. 1. This legislation sets up a system whereby college textbooks can be made readily available in an accessible format to college students who are blind or visually impaired. Sixteen of our representatives and our two senators voted to pass the legislation.

On Sept. 20, Joyce Rogers and Elizabeth Sammons (RSC legislative liaison) jointly presented a workshop on advocacy at the Ohio Association of the Deaf Blind ?conference in Columbus. It was a new and exciting experience for both presenters: speaking to and interacting with an audience who is deaf blind.

GOAL: More active role in other disability organizations

The executive director, in addition to some board members, has served on numerous committees and councils, including the Columbus Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, the planning committee for Solidarity 09, the consumer advisory committee for the Secretary of State’s office, the Joint Campus advisory committee for the Ohio State School for the Blind, the Rehabilitation Services Commission, the Ohio Votes Coalition, National Library Services, Vision and Vocational Services, Voicecorps Reading Service, and the Governor’s Council on people with Disabilities.

Financial contributions were made to the Cleveland Sight Center in memory of board member, Arlene Cohen and to the Vision and Vocational Services of Columbus in memory of Mike Morrison. MCB-Ohio co-sponsored The Ohio Telephone Reader and made a donation to VIPS, Visually Impaired Pre School program..

Exhibits, panel discussions, and presentations were conducted at the Transitions Weekend for high school visually impaired students, BSVI area managers, supervisors, and counselors, Chase Bank, and the National Patient Accessibility Week, sponsored by Midmark Corporation, among others.

GOAL: Improve ACB-Ohio’s Outreach

Three seminars were conducted around the state, addressing varying issues faced by those who are blind.

On February 1, 2008, Passport to Employment was held at the downtown library in Cincinnati. Job search strategies, technology, interviewing techniques and networking were the featured topics of discussion.

On April 16, 2008, Success in a Sighted World, held at the Northwest Sight Center of Ohio, addressed such widely varied topics as adjustment to blindness, strategies for finding employment, family relationships, and daily living skills.

On August 16, 2008, cool Tools for School, held at Wright State University, with the assistance of WSU staff, featured discussions about financial aid for students, self advocacy, and social life on campus.

BSVI was a major financial contributor for each of these endeavors, with a $5,000 grant for the purpose of education, referrals, technology mentoring, and stipends for the annual ACB-Ohio convention..

The Information and Referral line, (800) 835-2226, continues to be a life line for hundreds of people around the state who are bewildered by the onset of blindness. Referral to resources for support groups, transportation, technology, accessibility to print materials, and emotional support are some of the results of this 24/7 service. To date, approximately 140 calls were handled in 2008.

A technology mentoring program has been established in coordination with BSVI. Former BSVI clients and those who do not qualify for training paid for by BSVI can contact one of our members who has sufficient knowledge in computer technology and other adaptive equipment to advise and coach individuals with problems they encounter, after their BSVI training is complete, and their cases are closed. A mentoring list serve has been formed, and specific problems are addressed by individuals who have been asked to address specific problems.

Three recreational opportunities were offered to individuals who are blind.

The Winter Sports Retreat was held over Martin Luther King Day weekend and featured cross country skiing and hiking.

The summer Sports Retreat was held over the weekend of August 16 near Hockingport, Ohio on the Ohio River. Boating, swimming, hiking, and bicycling were among the leisure activities.

The second annual Takes Two to Tandem bike rally was held on September 21 in Mt. Vernon Ohio. Riders from as far away as Washington, D.C. and Illinois joined us for a bike ride that included riding on a “Rails to Trails” flat path in addition to rolling countryside. Our cyclists rode varying distances, from 24 miles to 50 miles that day.

Our annual State Convention is the largest and most well known of our outreach activities. It draws over 100 attendees. Most are blind, but friends, families, and professionals in the field also attend. This year, the convention was held on November 7, 8, and 9. Featured speakers included Eric Bridges from the National Office of ACB, Scott Lissner, the OSU ADA coordinator, and Elizabeth Sammons, the RSC Liaison. Exhibitors, workshops, and networking with other people who are blind were valuable aspects of this unique convention. Highlights included the presentations of awards and scholarships. Among them were the Ambassador , The Employer of the Year, the Ken Morlock, the Ruth Davidson, the Arlene Cohen Art of Teaching, and the media awards. Each award recognizes outstanding work, attitude, leadership, or accomplishments of people who are blind or those who enable people who are blind to reach their full potential.

2008 ACB-Ohio Annual Report