ACBM 2021 Convention Audio Highlights

ACBM Equity for All

Convention Sponsors

Listen to Democracy Live: Convention sponsor Charlie Kinnuneone and Brian Finney
DemocracyLive.com

Listen to Vanda Pharmaceuticals: Convention Sponsor Jennifer Lyman, R.N., B.S, Nurse Educator
Vanda Pharmaceuticals – VandaPharma.com

Friday, January 22nd

Listen to Star Spangled Banner, Sung by Jason Castonguay, Manchester Connecticut

Listen to Gangsters and Prohibition in St. Paul, 1919-1933 presented by William Convery, PhD, Director of Research, Minnesota Historical Society

Listen to full Friday Evening Opening Presentation: 47 minutes

Saturday, January 23

Listen to Welcome to 2021 ACBM Convention Marian Haslerud, ACBM President, and Janet Dickelman, ACBM convention coordinator

Listen to Justin Page, Assistant Supervising Attorney, Minnesota Legal Aid and the Minnesota Disability Law Center

Listen to Updates from Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB), Faribault, MN Terry Wilding, Superintendent; John Davis, Principal

Listen to “So You Want to Be an Advocate! Clark Rachfal, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, Alexandria Virginia

Listen to “What’s New at the Library Catherine A. Durivage, Director, Minnesota Blind and Talking Book Library, Faribault, MN:
Transition to multiple books on cartridge and subscribing to the braille eReader pilot project

Listen to “Self-Driving Cars and Updates: Minnesota’s Connected and Automated Vehicles Program Kristin R. White, Executive Director, Connected & Automated Vehicles Office (CAV

Listen to State of the State Services for the Blind Natasha Gerde, Director, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development State Services for the Blind

Listen to Blind Authors, from Process to Promotion published authors Peter Altschul, Columbia, MO, Annie Chiappetta, New Rochelle, NY, Elizabeth Salmons, Columbus, OH and Deborah Kendrick, Cincinnati, OH
They discuss writing their books, methods and technologies used, how they did their research, locating a publisher, and how they promoted their manuscripts.

Listen to full Saturday Morning Presentation: 4 hours

Listen to When All They Can See Is That You Can’t, by Deborah Kendrick Cincinnati, Ohio

Listen to fitness class with emphasis on balance training Angela Croisant, Health educator and exercise physiologist

Listen to Dan Spoone, ACB President discuss latest happenings with ACB on a national level

Listen to Life as a Blind Film Composer Stephen Letnes is a multi-award-winning film composer, receiving an Emmy nomination for the film, “Beneath the Ink”). He is the founder, and Executive Director of Able Artist Foundation; a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Listen to Vision Loss Resources (VLR)
John Filek, Director of Programs and Susan Anderson, Associate Director of Programs
Vision Loss Resources is a nonprofit provider of training, classes, social activities and emotional supports for people with vision loss

Listen to full Saturday Afternoon Presentation: 2 hours, 11 minutes

Vendor showcase

Listen to A T Guys
A T Guys, Your Access Technology Experts
Email Jason Meddaugh
Order by Phone: 269-216-4798
A T Guys, your home for cool gadgets, accessories, and more. Products are all tested to work great for blind and visually impaired users, and for anyone.

Listen to BackTPack
BackTPack LLC
Email Marilyn M. von Foerster, PT
Order by Phone: 503-365-7554
BackTPack is an ergonomic carrying system designed by a physical therapist, for orthopedic health of the wearer, like a vest, but with bags that hang accessibly on the sides. You don’t have to take it off to get into it or to sit down.

Listen to Guidelights Dog Products and Gadgets

Guidelights Dog Products

Email KaeAnn Rausch
Order by Phone: 781-286-1696
Travel bowls; deodorizing wipes; fur lifters for furniture and clothing; grooming accessories; collar bells; bath robes; raincoats; travel cases; clip-on accessible collar lights, and toys!
Also, ladies’ purses; dog treat pouches (hip packs
and Cross body/shoulder bags.

GuideLights and Gadgets
Email Barry Scheur
Order by Phone: 617-969-7500
Products include: Sound boxes that increase volume for your phone or Stream without wires or Bluetooth; speakers, headphones and cables; | leather bags and pouches of all types and sizes, from shoulder bags to phone and Braille display cases and hands free pouches.

Listen to Hayward Gourmet Products
Hayward Gourmet
Catalina Martinez
Order by Phone: 612-227-3011
Hayward Gourmet is a family-owned business, crafting gourmet products, made daily in small batches, then heat sealed to secure their freshness. From delicious popcorn to delectable fudge. From wonderful saltwater taffy to tasty old-fashioned candy, and more.

Listen to HIMS, Inc.
HIMS, Inc.
Email Mike Tindell
Order by Phone: 888-520-4467
braille displays and notetakers

Listen to Mama Otters Tidbits
Mama Otter’s Tidbits
Email Charlotte Lange
Order by Phone: 612-564-5405
Handmade gemstone and charm jewelry in lots of varieties, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings made with semiprecious gemstones and some higher end stones; charms including dog breeds and other animals; holiday jewelry; sports theme jewelry; matching jewelry sets, and more.

Listen to Norwex
Norwex
Email Debra Sand
Order by Phone: 651-253-5261
Norwex offers sustainable cleaning and personal care products that reduce the use of harmful chemicals including microfiber, and natural cleansers with plant and enzyme-based ingredients, reducing plastic and single-use disposables.

Listen to Tupperware
Tupperware: Kellie Bangsund
Email Kellie Bangsund
Order by Phone: 612-910-2029
Tupperware has bowls, prep tools, cooking products and food storage for the freezer, fridge, microwave, oven and pantry. All products have a lifetime warranty.

Listen to Info on Non-24 Sleep Wake Disorder from Vanda Pharmaceuticals
Vanda Pharmaceuticals
Email Jennifer Lyman, Nurse Educator
Phone: 202-875-4714
Information about Non-24 Sleep Wake Disorder

Listen to all vendor showcase presenters: 55 minutes

Sunday, January 24

Listen to Reflections from Father Ron Reflects upon where we’ve been as an organization, where we’d like to go, and perhaps how we might get there.

Listen to ACBM Membership Meeting

2021 ACBM Convention Committee

  • Barbara Appleby
  • Randee Boerboom
  • Gary Boettcher
  • Janet dickelman
  • Jennifer Dubbin
  • Marian Haslerud
  • Colleen Kitagawa