The American Council of the Blind of Ohio is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality and equality of life for persons who are blind or visually impaired.
We offer information and referral for resources, training programs, emotional support, recreational opportunities, scholarships, and more.
Our purpose is to support a sense of community and to ensure full participation in all aspects of life for persons who are blind or visually impaired, leading to an increased quality of life.
Executive Director Mary Hiland
PO Box 307128
Gahanna, OH 43230
Phone: (614) 221-6688 or (800) 835-2226 (ACBO)
E-mail: mary.hiland@sbcglobal.net
WWW.acbohio.org
At our annual convention Scholarship Breakfast, held on November 8, we honored three college students with $2,000 each in scholarships.
Tara McCarthy, of the Ohio State University, received the scholarship established in 2006 for her pursuit of a degree in teaching visually impaired children.
Zach Holler, a student at Wright State University who is blind and deaf, received their first scholarship created by the endowed scholarship fund established in 2008 by ACB-Ohio.
Shannon Dunigan was the second scholar from the University of Toledo to receive $2,000 from that scholarship endowment, established in 2008.
In 2009, ACB-Ohio contributed $500 toward matching the $25,000 it donated to Wright State University’s scholarship endowment and $250 toward matching the Ohio State University/ACB-Ohio scholarship fund.
In addition, as it has done for a number of years, ACB-Ohio continues to award a total of $11,000 in five scholarships to visually impaired college students and to students in the field of rehabilitation for individuals with vision impairments. The recipients were as follows:
Robert Campbell received the David Newmeyer scholarship for $2,000.
Brooklyn Gee received the Max Edelman scholarship for $2,000.
Ashley Stephens received the Joann Fischer scholarship for $2,500.
Kerrie Ann Shisila received the Linwood Walker scholarship for $2,500.
Lindsey Hall received the Nola Webb-McKinney scholarship for $2,000.
The third annual family seminar, Building Blocks for a Brighter Future, was held on September 26, 2009, at the Ohio State School for the Blind. Approximately 75 family members and children participated. The keynote speakers were Katie Robinson, recent graduate of OSSB, and Josie Jenicki, a fourth grader who recently participated in a national Braille reading contest.
Other presenters from the Coalition of Education for Children with Disabilities and the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, spoke on the assessment process, parents’ rights, and understanding IEPs. A hands-on technology presentation was conducted by Universal Low Vision Aids. 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 and to the Ohio State School for the Blind for the use of its facilities and the skilled participation of its physical education staff.
Goal: Stronger presence in advocacy
Many of our members, along with our executive director, sent letters to our state representatives regarding issues that affect Ohioans who are blind. Several members attended many meetings at the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, RSC, for the purpose of representing the interests of Ohioans who are blind or visually impaired. The executive director gave a presentation to RSC adjudicators as a representative of those who are blind and particularly those who are members of ACB-Ohio.
On February 22-24, we sent representatives from ACB-Ohio to the national legislative conference sponsored by the national organization, the American Council of the Blind. This year we presented two main legislative imperatives on Capitol Hill:
The first was the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (HR 734), which deals with problems caused by the new generation of hybrid, electric, and other cars which are so quiet that they often can’t be heard. This act has already been introduced in the House, and our main goal was to encourage our representatives to sign on as co-sponsors.
The Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act will be reintroduced later in the current Congress, but it will deal with audio description, audible emergency announcements, and spoken menus for television, mobile phones and Internet-based entertainment.
Five ACB-Ohio members visited the offices of both of our senators and all 18 representatives, where we met with either members of Congress or their legislative aides to discuss our legislative imperatives.
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 Rehabilitation Services Commission, National Library Services, Vision and Vocational Services, Voicecorps Reading Service, and the Governor’s Council on People with Disabilities.
Financial contributions were made to Newsreel Magazine for the Blind, the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band (for participation in the Rose Bowl Parade), a fourth-grade student from OSSB to compete in a national Braille reading contest, the Ohio Telephone Reader, and Eyeing the Future, a program for high school students who are blind.
Goal: Improve ACB-Ohio’s Outreach
On March 14, at the Ohio State School for the Blind, ACB-Ohio hosted a half day seminar featuring technology for people who are blind. Hands on demonstrations of several pieces of equipment were conducted both for people who are totally blind and for those who are partially sighted. This seminar was so popular that plans are being made to expand the concept for next year, to include one on one tutoring and to take the seminar around the state to educate Ohioans in remote and rural areas about the technology opportunities that are available to them.
On July 18, ACB-Ohio hosted a seminar called Living With Vision Loss in Marietta at the Washington State Community College. Although it was not well attended, there were speakers from an optometry practice, the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, and Vision and Vocational Services. In addition, several board members presented ideas and strategies for dealing with vision loss from a personal perspective. The goal was to start a support group in that underserved area. Plans are being made to hold a second seminar in 2010.
On September 26, our annual Building Blocks for a Brighter Future brought parents and siblings of children who are blind together for an all day seminar, which included speakers, panels, and an opportunity to network with one another. This seminar will certainly be an annual event.
Our annual state convention was held over the weekend of November 6, 7 and 8. Highlights included an inaugural meeting for veterans who are blind, inspirational speakers, legislative updates, presentations of awards, presentations of scholarships, recognition of our thirtieth anniversary as an organization, many workshops and exhibits, and a banquet address by the First Lady of Ohio, Frances Strickland.
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, 1-800-835-2226, 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. Approximately 140 calls were handled in 2009.
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 third annual Takes Two to Tandem bike rally was held on September 19 near Loveland, Ohio. The Tukandu Cycling Club, in Cincinnati, were the majority of the riders. This was a tandem bike ride that included riding on a “Rails to Trails” flat path in addition to rolling countryside. Our cyclists rode varying distances, from 26 miles to 56 miles that day.
Summary of Changes in 2009
In 2009, ACB-Ohio underwent several changes in its administrative structure and relationship with other entities.
The Holiday Inn on the Lane, where we have held our state conventions for many years, was sold to the Ohio State University, so we moved our convention to the Worthington Holiday Inn.
We now have a Master Card from Heartland Bank.
Our secretary, Rob Rogers has taken over the job of webmaster for our website, www.acbohio.org at no cost to ACB-Ohio.
Our office staff and two of our board members have assumed more of a portion of producing the quarterly newsletter, The Ohio Connection, so the yearly cost has been reduced by approximately $1,000.
We changed our insurance company to Lauterbach & Eilber, which was very helpful in finding ways to cut our insurance expense in half.
The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, RSC and the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired, both have new directors, so there are most likely to be changes in the coming year in our relationship with those agencies.
For the first time in many years, our 990 has reflected that 90% of our expenditures were for programming.
Net Income (52,096.03)
Officers
The ending date of the term for a given position appears after the name.
Linda C Wyman, president, term 1, 2010
242 W New England Avenue
Worthington OH 43085
Home: (614) 846-7268
Email: lcwyman@columbus.rr.com
Patricia L Yarman, first vice president, term 1, 2009
108 E Pleasant Street
Mount Vernon OH 43050
(740) 397-8492
Email: syarman@columbus.rr.com
Nolan Crabb, second vice president, term 1, 2010
4899 Princess Diana Ct.
Hilliard, OH 43026
Home: (614) 219-7292
Email: ncrabb@myrealbox.com
Robert R Rogers, secretary, term 1, 2009
1121 Morado Dr
Cincinnati, OH 45238
Home: (513) 921-3186
Email: rrrogers@nuvox.net
Jill D Noble, treasurer, term 1, 2008
3633 Riedham Road
Shaker Heights OH 44120
Home: (216) 283-6949
Work: (216) 433-3711
Lynn Wachtell, immediate past president, term 1, 2010
4542 Leo Street St.
St. Bernard OH 45217
Home: (513) 242-4232
Email: lmwachtell@fuse.net
Directors
1 Kimberly Ruf, term 1, 2009
5019 Arrington Ln
Columbus, Ohio 43214.
Phone: 614 395-1674.
E-mail: princesskimberly@woh.rr.com
2 Katie Frederick, term 1, 2010
2877 E. Broad St. Apt B11
Columbus, OH 43209
(419) 306-3721
Email: katiefred@gmail.com
3 Irwin Hott, term 2, 2009
1540 Northridge Road
Columbus OH 43224-2801
Home: (614) 263-5319
Work: (614) 469-0700
Email: ishott@wideopenwest.com
4 Leah Wachtell, term 2, 2010
4542 Leo Street
St. Bernard OH 45217
Home: (513) 242-4232
Email: lawachtell@fuse.net
5 Vicky L. Prahin, term 1, 2009 (partial)(replace Wyman)
601 Richards Road
Columbus, OH 43214-3743
Phone: 614-268-0380
Email: Prahin@hadley.edu
6 Carl Kienzle, term 3, 2010
4533 Timberwilde Drive
Kettering OH 45440
Cell: (937) 361-6909
Email: number1coffeeman@yahoo.com
7 Charlee Major, term 1, 2009 (partial) (replace Crabb)
2233 Lytham Road
Columbus, OH 43220
(614) 459-6555
Email: cmajor@columbus.rr.com
8. Enjie Hall, term 1, 2010 (replace Chisnell)
1760 Neil Avenue
150 Pomerene Hall
Columbus, OH 43210
Office: (614) 292-3307
Cell: (614) 584-2508
Email: Hall.1270@osu.edu
9 Sue Wesley, term 1, 2009 (partial) (replace Rogers)
4130 Forest Avenue
Cincinnati OH 45212
Home: (513) 679-0944
Email: wesley1939@yahoo.com
10. George Barnes, term 2, 2010
3174 Townhouse Drive
Grove City OH 43123
Home: (614) 875-5223
Email: gbarnes_ohio@hotmail.com
11 Jacqueline G. Horn (Jacque), term 1, 2009
4728 Mayhew Avenue Apt-B
Cincinnati, OH 45238
Home: (513) 242-1767
Cell: (513) 967-5564
Email: jghorn@fuse.net