June
ACB Convention
Deadline to make reservations: Monday, June 9
ACB Announces Banquet Speaker
The American Council of the Blind is thrilled to announce our banquet speaker. The banquet will be held on Thursday, July 10 during our 64th annual conference and convention in Dallas Texas. Joining us in-person will be Dave Williams.
Dave is the Inclusive Design Ambassador, for Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Chair of the Braillists Foundation. He champions inclusive design principles to ensure equal access and opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.
For 25 years Dave's work has driven change enhancing accessibility across a wide range of industries, including technology, product design, the built environment and public services. Dave collaborates with stakeholders, including designers, developers, policymakers, and disability rights advocates, to raise awareness, influence decision-making, and create a more inclusive society for people who are blind or low vision to live our best lives.
Dave hosts RNIB Tech Talk, the UK's leading radio show and podcast for blind and partially sighted technology users. He is regularly invited to speak with local, national, and international partners and clients about blindness and the transformative power of accessible and inclusive technology, braille literacy, parenting and participation in sport.
As Chair of the Braillists Foundation, a community passionate about promoting independence and opportunity through Braille literacy, Dave received the Prime Minister's Point of Light award that recognizes outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community. He sits on the European Blind Union Braille Working Group and has been a UK delegate to the International Council on English Braille.
As a runner, Dave has completed the classic six Abbott World Marathon Majors, including New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo, raising thousands of pounds for RNIB. As a keen tandem cyclist, Dave completed Prudential Ride London 100 miles raising funds for Blind Veterans UK.
During his time as ACB Radio Director, from 2003 to 2006, Dave delivered hundreds of hours of live and on demand content including coverage of three ACB Conventions and the General Assembly of the World Blind Union from Cape Town South Africa.
Hotel details:
Room rates at the Hyatt are $99.00 per night (single or double occupancy), $124.00 (triple occupancy) and $149.00 (quadruple occupancy) plus tax, which is currently 17.2%. To make reservations online go to https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/DFWRD/G-AMCB.
If you prefer to make reservations by phone call (214) 651-1234, and use group code G-AMCB. If asked the Hyatt is located at 300 Reunion Blvd. The cut-off date to make reservations is Monday, June 9, but don't delay, make your reservations today!
Staying in touch:
Once again, this year, the ACB conference and convention announce list will be filled with information. To subscribe to the list, send a blank e-mail to acbconvention-subscribe@acblists.org.
For any convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, (651) 428-5059 or via e-mail, janet.dickelman@gmail.com
July
July 4-11, 2025, Dallas, TX, ACB National Convention – for more information check out https://acbconvention.org
ACB Convention
Deadline to make reservations: Monday, June 9
ACB Announces Banquet Speaker
The American Council of the Blind is thrilled to announce our banquet speaker. The banquet will be held on Thursday, July 10 during our 64th annual conference and convention in Dallas Texas. Joining us in-person will be Dave Williams.
Dave is the Inclusive Design Ambassador, for Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Chair of the Braillists Foundation. He champions inclusive design principles to ensure equal access and opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.
For 25 years Dave's work has driven change enhancing accessibility across a wide range of industries, including technology, product design, the built environment and public services. Dave collaborates with stakeholders, including designers, developers, policymakers, and disability rights advocates, to raise awareness, influence decision-making, and create a more inclusive society for people who are blind or low vision to live our best lives.
Dave hosts RNIB Tech Talk, the UK's leading radio show and podcast for blind and partially sighted technology users. He is regularly invited to speak with local, national, and international partners and clients about blindness and the transformative power of accessible and inclusive technology, braille literacy, parenting and participation in sport.
As Chair of the Braillists Foundation, a community passionate about promoting independence and opportunity through Braille literacy, Dave received the Prime Minister's Point of Light award that recognizes outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community. He sits on the European Blind Union Braille Working Group and has been a UK delegate to the International Council on English Braille.
As a runner, Dave has completed the classic six Abbott World Marathon Majors, including New York, London, Boston, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo, raising thousands of pounds for RNIB. As a keen tandem cyclist, Dave completed Prudential Ride London 100 miles raising funds for Blind Veterans UK.
During his time as ACB Radio Director, from 2003 to 2006, Dave delivered hundreds of hours of live and on demand content including coverage of three ACB Conventions and the General Assembly of the World Blind Union from Cape Town South Africa.
Hotel details:
Room rates at the Hyatt are $99.00 per night (single or double occupancy), $124.00 (triple occupancy) and $149.00 (quadruple occupancy) plus tax, which is currently 17.2%. To make reservations online go to https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/DFWRD/G-AMCB.
If you prefer to make reservations by phone call (214) 651-1234, and use group code G-AMCB. If asked the Hyatt is located at 300 Reunion Blvd. The cut-off date to make reservations is Monday, June 9, but don't delay, make your reservations today!
Staying in touch:
Once again, this year, the ACB conference and convention announce list will be filled with information. To subscribe to the list, send a blank e-mail to acbconvention-subscribe@acblists.org.
For any convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, (651) 428-5059 or via e-mail, janet.dickelman@gmail.com
August
UCB Meeting of the Board
Thursday, August 7, 2025, 4:45 p.m.
Members are invited and encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Board of Directors meetings will typically be held the first Thursday of each month at 4:45 p.m. on via Zoom.
Join us via ZOOM at
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1602819329
Or call: 1(669)254-5252: Enter meeting id: 1602819329 then press pound twice.
September
September 19, 2026, 9:00 a.m., UCB Annual Business Meeting, DSBVI
September 8 and 10, Utah State Fair – watch for updates (Kate Balzly, chair)
September 20, 2025, 9:00 a.m., UCB Annual Business Meeting, DSBVI
October
October 2, 2025, 4:45 p.m. – Budget and Planning Meeting (by invitation only)
October 25, 2025, Time TBD, Spooktacular Halloween Party Fundraiser – watch for updates (Kate Balzly, chair)
November
November 7-8, 2025, "Being Empowered by Creating Your Own Happiness", Statewide Training Conference – watch for updates (Mindi Larson, chair)
Statewide Training Conference
Get ready and mark your calendars for this year's training conference. This year's theme is "Being Empowered by Creating Your Own Happiness", It will be held on November 7-8 at the Embassy Suites in South Jordan, Utah. We will have awesome speakers and fun activities. Plan to join us for this exciting event!
November 26, 2025, History of the Blind – watch for updates (Kira Larkin, chair)
December
December 6, 2026, Holiday Celebration, DSBVI – watch for updates (Shelly Hendriksen, Cindy Vega chair)
January
UCB Meeting of the Board
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 4:45 p.m.
Members are invited and encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Board of Directors meetings will typically be held the first Thursday of each month at 4:45 p.m. on Zoom.
Join us via ZOOM at
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1602819329
Or call: 1(669)254-5252: Enter meeting id: 1602819329 then press pound twice.
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