ACBVA held its annual meeting on November 2, 2024. Below is information on four program sessions featured at the annual meeting.
Reflections by an author with low vision – ACBVA’s own Judith Goode Kirby shared her experiences involved in writing her book, Blurred Vision. This book is a ten—year compilation of poems, meditations, and personally taken photographs and describes her life as a person who has experienced progressive vision loss due to Stargardt’s macular degeneration. Her website is: https://blurredvisionbooks.com/
You can find the presentation, ACB Va 2024 Annual Meeting Judith Goode Kirby, at:
Update from the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired – Rick Mitchell, Commissioner, once again shared with us exciting news from DBVI.
You can find the presentation, ACB Va 2024 Annual Meeting Dr Rick Mitchell Commissioner DBVI, at:
Did You Know…?
There are lots of programs and services available to seniors who are blind or who are losing their vision, from Meals On Wheels to weatherizing your home. Listen to this panel of statewide and regional entities, what they have to offer, how they include people who are blind or low vision, and how we can help them outreach to people we know and ensure they will be accessibly welcomed when they approach these entities.
This panel, moderated by ACBVA’s President Doug Powell, included the following presenters:
Matt Jones, Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Director of Programs at DARS Division for Aging Services, spoke to us from the state perspective and discussed Area Agencies for Aging (AAA) and senior centers. More information can be found at:
https://www.vda.virginia.gov/index.htm
Dave Fuller, DIRECTOR OF REHABILITATION TEACHING and INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES, at the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI). He directs the Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) program for individuals 55 and over.
DBVI has six Regional Offices across Virginia in: Richmond(Headquarters), Staunton, Bristol, Roanoke, Fairfax, and Norfolk.
Here is DBVI’s new promotional video:
DBVI Overview Video – audio described
More videos can be found on You Tube (all are close captioned and video described):
DBVI Rehabilitation Teaching Services – audio described
DBVI Orientation & Mobility Services – audio described
DBVI DeafBlind Services – audio described
DBVI Library & Resource Center Services – audio described
VRCBVI Adult Program – audio described
DBVI Rehabilitation Technology Services – audio described
| Independent Living For Older Blind Individuals | Time To Be Bold Time To Be Bold is a national public service awareness campaign through the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center. timetobebold.org |
Doris Ray, Endependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV), spoke about getting services from the centers for independent living across the state. She can be reached at:
Tara Aziz, Prevention of Blindness (POB) Society of Metropolitan Washington, Senior Coordinator, low vision programs, spoke to us about POB’s services. She can be reached at:
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington®
415 2nd Street NE, Suite 200, Washington DC, 20002
(202) 234-1010, ext 233 • youreyes.org
Annie Presley, Associate Director of Rehabilitation Services at the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB), spoke about the services this organization can offer to blind and low vision individuals in the Metropolitan Washington area.
Their website is: www.clb.org
They can be reached by email at: info@clb.org
Or by phone at 240-737-5100. When you ask for their services, an intake will be completed, and you will be instructed on the next steps.
Doug Powell, President of the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL), one of ACB’s special interest affiliates, talked about their latest initiatives and the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.
You can find the panel presentation, ACB Va 2024 Annual Meeting Speakers Doug P Matt J Dave F Doris R Tara A Annie P, at:
Update from ACB: A National Perspective – Scott Thornhill, ACB’s Executive Director, provided an update on the latest happenings in ACB at the national level, a good description of ACB’s latest program and advocacy initiatives, as well as ways to get involved to support the organization.
You can find the presentation, ACB Va 2024 Annual Meeting Speaker Scott Thornhill, at:
Archived Agenda
November 2, 2024, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Come join us to celebrate the achievements of the American Council of the Blind of Virginia. Get ready for a lively and interactive day via Zoom. Current subscribers to the ACBVA listserve will receive Zoom information for this Annual Meeting automatically. If you are not currently subscribed and want to receive information from us, join the email list by sending a blank email to Acbva+subscribe@groups.io. You will then receive an email message asking you to confirm your subscription. Alternatively, if you prefer not to subscribe to our list at this time and want to attend the meeting, please drop a note with your name, phone number, and email to info.acbva@gmail.com and you will receive sign in credentials prior to the meeting.
(Please do this early. Requests that come in less than an hour before the meeting begins may not be answered.)
10:00: Business Meeting
- Roll Call of Officers, Members, and Guests
- Approval of Minutes from Last Year’s Annual Meeting
- Report from Treasurer Marie Brinas
- election of new officers and board members
- report from President Doug Powell
- committee reports (membership/outreach, program/convention, advocacy, communications, administration, and fundraising)
- Discussion of future advocacy in Richmond during the 2025 legislative session and beyond
12:30: Reflections by an Author with Low Vision
Our own Judith Goode Kirby will be sharing her experiences involved in writing her book, Blurred Vision. This book is a ten—year compilation of poems, meditations, and personally taken photographs and describes her life as a person who has experienced progressive vision loss due to Stargardt’s macular degeneration. Her website is: https://blurredvisionbooks.com/
1:15: Update from the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired – Rick Mitchell, Commissioner, has once again agreed to share with us exciting news from DBVI.
2:00: Did You Know…?
There are lots of programs and services available to seniors who are blind or who are losing their vision, from Meals On Wheels to weatherizing your home. Listen to this panel of statewide and regional entities, what they have to offer, how they include people who are blind or low vision, and how we can help them outreach to people we know and ensure they will be accessibly welcomed when they approach these entities (speakers are still being confirmed):
- Independent Living for Older Individuals Who are Blind (the OIB program administered by DBVI)
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
- Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), and Senior Centers
- Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
- Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
- Prevention of Blindness Society
- the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL).
3:30: Adjourn
Door prizes will be announced throughout the day; you must be present to win!