Dedicated to Improving the Lives of Blind and Visually Impaired People

Upcoming Virtual Events

Future In Sight is offering online workshops on a variety of topics during the coming weeks, including:

On July 13, 2023 from 7 to 8:30 pm: A Sneak Peak at NLS (National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled) Talking Books Coming to Alexa: NLS Talking Books will soon be available on Amazon’s Alexa. This free workshop for adults will provide a demonstration of how this new feature works and what it will sound like. Learn more here about Sneak Peak at NLS Talking Books Coming to Alexa.

On July 18, 2023, from 10:30 am to 12 noon: An Indoor Gardening Workshop: Gardening indoors can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors inside, even in a small space. This workshop, offered at no cost and open to adults and youth, will provide basic information about selecting and caring for plants. Find out additional details here about the Indoor Gardening Workshop.

On July 25, 2023 and August 1, 2023 from 3 to 5 pm: Parts One and Two of Kaila’s Crafts: Basketry: Learn the basics of basket making, using a wooden bottom and reeds. Instruction will cover how to prepare the materials, weave the sides of the basket, and how to finish it “so that it is both beautiful and functional.” The event is open to both adults and youth. A craft kit is available for $18. However, registration is free for anyone who does not want to buy a kit. Learn more here about Part One of Kaila’s Crafts: Basketry and here about Part Two.

The Zoom link for all of the events noted above will be provided with registration confirmation.

Creating a Disability-Inclusive Workplace: Webinar on July 19, 2023

An upcoming webinar, marking the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) and the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act of 1990, will explore the important role of accommodations in creating inclusive places of employment. The primary goals of both of these legislative advances include “full participation, equal opportunity, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.” The program, Creating a Disability-Inclusive Workplace: The Role of Accommodations, will take place July 19, 2023 from 2 to 3 pm ET. The discussion will focus on the “significance of accommodations in achieving the goals of the Rehab Act and ADA and how they contribute to creating inclusive workplaces.” Some people with disabilities require modifications to have equal opportunity and success at work. Not only are these adaptations required by law, they also are a necessary part of the creation of inclusive workplaces. Webinar attendees will learn about: the impact of the Rehab Act and ADA on today’s work environments; the role of accommodations in developing an inclusive workplace culture; and how to go beyond compliance in using effective accommodations. To learn more and register, visit the EARN (Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion) webpage for Creating a Disability-Inclusive Workplace: The Role of Accommodations.

Livestream Available for Virtual Attendance to Town Hall Meeting About Accessibility on July 25, 2023

A town hall meeting of the U.S. Access Board on July 25, 2023 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm ET, will be available online to interested members of the public. The meeting will be held in person at the national headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), in Baltimore, Maryland and broadcast live via Zoom for virtual attendees. Access Board members, as well as representatives from other federal agencies and the Maryland governor’s office, will be at the meeting to hear from local community members about the state of accessibility in Baltimore and in the national capital D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Virtual attendees will be able to listen to the meeting, but not make public comments. For more information, and the Zoom link, read the Access Board webpage announcement about the Livestream Available for Virtual Attendance to U.S. Access Board Town Hall Meeting in Baltimore. The U.S. Access Board, a federal agency, “promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostic equipment, and information technology.”