Anyone who is blind, or who has worked with the blind, knows how expensive our technology can be. This couldn't be more true with relation to braille displays. Even the cheapest costs at least $799, and it's already behind the newest in that line, at $899. This is the Orbit Reader 20 and 20+. Now, a student in India wants to change that by creating a display that is truly affordable (under $50)! Please pass this on, so that we can give him greater recognition within the blind community. Even if it costs a bit more than he initially suspected it would, there is no excuse for the $2,000 to $5,000 average price of such technology when cheaper alternatives can be designed! He is determined to bring this to market, so let's help him do it and show our appreciation for his hard work on this life-changing project!

forbes.com/sites/kevinanderton…

Liga ACB PICKS
Record 9-5 = +7.9u
- Real Madrid (-197) 0.6u

*X - TMTBettingModel

This is going to ruffle some feathers but its my opinion. Personally, I believe its possible for #Blind people to be employed, and not just in blindness specific jobs that don't pay well enough to be worth the work, no, I believe its possible for blind people to be employed into the mainstream at high levels, and I'm not talking 5 figures here, which isn't bad, i won't lie there, but no, 6 figures and above. I also personally believe that largely, the blind community has essentially given up. I think its a matter of 3 things, 1, learned helplessness, why try when everyone else has failed so logically, there's no point when only less than 1 percent of the community makes it to those positions? I know that's what many people think and while I'm not saying its easy to do, I believe that its not as grim as people say it is because let's be honest, blind people have skills, bline people have the same abilities as anyone to do well at very high level jobs, and blind people can live rich lives filled with great things, but its that learned helplessness holding many back. The second thing is lack of connections, while the #NFB and #ACB are good organizations in terms of advocacy, they are having problems in terms of real tangible programming that allows blind people to get into these high level positions and that's due to 2 things, scandals, and organizational leadership mismanagement. We can't have the spector of these scandals that I won't go into especially with the NFB continue to block our path to success, and its important to regain the powers we once had in the world, because right now, the blindness specific organizations are much weaker than they were even in the 70's and 80's. My dad told me of a time when the NFB had the power to attract congressional leaders and now they can't even do that for their conventions, its mostly lower level government officials now. The third problem I see is that we continue to not push the making of our own paths, business isn't taught, learning how to affectively market ourselves if we want jobs or learning how to start businesses just isn't a thing and I've seen it, how many blind business owners are there? I know of very few personally, and that's sad because if we can't get jobs, why not make our own jobs? why must some people simply give up and continue living on the government's dime when blindness is perfectly able to be dealt with, especially in 2024? I've heard some people say well, its not worth it,or, its risky or its easier not to work and get a check than it is to do any of these things and to that I say, sure, its easier but is it a better life? Who wants to live in their parents house when they're 50? I know i don't. In the end, I'm not hear to judge anyone, that's not why I made this post, I made this post to point out that its actually possible to get to where you want to go if work is put into it. Hell, i wouldn't have my job now if I didn't do anything to make it happen, that and connections help, oh, and one more thing, we need to bring Braille literacy up, I mean by a whole lot, because if you can't read braille, you can't read, end of story, and I am not budging on this point and yes, I'm a fluent braille reader. If you can't read, you'll only get shit jobs, its just the deal and nothing will convince me otherwise. WE fix these things and we'll be alright, but it starts with the mentality, first and formost because without a better outlook on things, absolutely nothing gets done and that leads to more problems down the road. We're already not taken seriously by society and I'm sorry to say but that's our fault as a populous, and not necessarily all the sighted people's problems, even though I have a lot to say about the sighted population. Thank you for reading/listening.

#ACB

Мега-сенсація на старте іспанського чемпіонату - новички елитного дивізіону #ЛеймаКорунья переграють #Реал у пешому ж домашньому матчі — 86:85.

Реал вів +3, але Юніо Барруета примудрився забити три с фолом!

The American Council of the Blind's hybrid convention continues tomorrow (July 8), with 6 events that you can listen to on ACB Media. All times are eastern.

9:00 AM: "Bridging the Generational Gaps in Advocacy" on Media 1.
10:30 AM: "Current Case Law on Issues Impacting People with Vision Loss" on Media 3.
10:30 AM: "Motivating State Agencies to Improve Their Business Enterprise Programs" on Media 2.
1:00 PM: "Veterans of ACB Business Meeting" on Media 3.
2:30 PM: "Looking How I'm Feeling (CCLVI)" on Media 2.
9:00 PM: "Prose and Poetry (FIA)" on Media 2.

There are many ways to listen to ACB Media. On the web at https://www.acbmedia.org/home/streams/
You can use the ACB Media Alexa Skill.
Or, get the ACB Link app in your app store of choice. #ACB #ACB24

AI In the workplace as presented to @bitsacb on 29 June 2024. https://www.hartgen.org/bits2024 #ACB

Today marks the last full day of the virtual portion of the National Convention of the American Council of the Blind. There are 14 events you can listen to on ACB Media.. All times are eastern.

11:00 AM: "Guide Dog Schools Beyond Our Borders" on Media 2.
11:00 AM: "AI in the Workplace" on Media 3.
11:00 AM: "Blind Film Critics, Audio Description, and More" on Media 4.
11:00 AM: "Understanding Trauma" on Media 5.
12:30 PM: "From Trauma to Triumph" on Media 3.
12:30 PM: "Managing Those Workplace Technology Hassles" on Media 4.
12:30 PM: "Meet Barbara Hinske, Author of Guiding Emily (GDUI)" on Media 5.
2:00 PM: "Get to Know Computers For The Blind (BITS)" on Media 2.
2:00 PM: "Exploring New Worlds Through Sensory Games (ACB NG)" on Media 3.
3:30 PM: "Writers Workshop - Book Banning. The Threat and Some Solutions (FIA)" on Media 2.
3:30 PM: "ACB Inspire Mentoring Program Graduation Ceremony" on Media 3.
5:00 PM: "ACB Families Goes to Camp" on Media 2.
5:00 PM: "Sister Power Happy Hour" on Media 3.
5:00 PM: "Convention Pep Rally with ACB Next Generation and ACB Students" on Media 4.

There are many ways to listen to ACB Media. On the web at https://www.acbmedia.org/home/streams/
You can use the ACB Media Alexa Skill.
Or, get the ACB Link app in your app store of choice. #ACB #ACB24

There are a handful of ACB convention activities today that you can listen to on ACB Media. All times are in the Eastern timezone.
At 11 AM it's the "Exhibitor Open House", on Media 2.
At 2 PM, it's the "Mock Election", on Media 1.
At 7 PM it's day 2 of Resolutions. The resolutions being discussed tonight are:
2024-09: Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Individuals Who are Blind or Have Low Vision.
2024-11: Promoting Military Dining Facilities.
2024-12: Audio Description for Streaming Services.
2024-13: Accessibility of NextGen TV.
If you would like to read the text of the resolutions, go to https://www.acb.org/2024-proposed-resolutions-and-bylaws

There are many ways to listen to ACB Media. On the web at https://www.acbmedia.org/home/streams/
You can use the ACB Media Alexa Skill.
Or, get the ACB Link app in your app store of choice. #ACB #ACB24

Believe it or not, despite my many years in tech so far, I have already learned quite a few new things about GitHub and Visual Studio Code in the #ACB #BITS #Python class. I just completed, added, committed and pushed the first quiz to my branch and I am looking forward to getting my hands dirty with Python itself. Great thing about the approach taken is that I will now be much more confident when using tools for participating in open source projects everywhere.

is there any other source of zoom or online gathering of #blind people where i can join like #ACB comunity thing? love to join if there are any. #Blindness #Accessibility

Are you going to DC Leadership this year for #ACB? Looking for a roommate? Not wanting to go unless you can find a roommate? Lets talk. If you have my mobile text/call or email my first name @ my username.media https://www.acb.org/acb-2024-leadership-conference @ACBNational

Outstanding BITS meeting tonight. Still time to join BITS during the Moratorium on collecting dues. Already looking forward to see what events we have planned. And the February meeting. #ACB, #BITS

While welcoming the Dream Team to the Bits board, let us remember to give a big appreciative thank you to Chanelle with whom we could not have achieved our multi-night election this past six nights with such a high level of efficiency. Thank you Chanelle for your diligent work on behalf of bits. We appreciate you. Thanks also to the vote counters who made sure our election was both fair and accurate. #ACB, #bits

So now #ACB is sending a letter to the corporate entities at X. Hmm why now at this late date? they could have done that almost a year ago, almost, a, year, ago.

For #ACB members subscribed to the Conversation list, you may be interested to know that after the BOP meeting, yesterday I subscribed to that list so I could immediately exercise a right of reply to things said at that meeting.
At this stage, my subscription has still not been approved.
I don’t know who approves it and who is consulted, whether the process is just slow, or if something else is going on. But perhaps someone who knows the process can help.
Failing that, I will post the message I have prepared on this topic, which include some advanced audio from the forthcoming #LivingBlindfully episode, to my blog later today. I am entitled to a right of reply and will have it one way or another.