Counting the Reasons to Celebrate in July

Bang the drum! Toot the horn! Throw the confetti! July is a momentous time to celebrate, and we hope you’ll join us in this month-long party.

Happy 25^th anniversary to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On July 26, 1990, the ADA was signed into law to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities. This legislation established a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing perceptions, and increasing full participation in community life. Through its global literacy initiatives like Bookshare and DIAGRAM, Benetech demonstrates its commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities.

Happy 75^th anniversary to the National Federation of the Blind, the largest organization of blind and low-vision people in the United States. Founded in 1940, the Federation has grown to over fifty-thousand members, with affiliates and local chapters in every state. The NFB strives to raise the expectations of blind people so they can live the life they want.

The 2015 NFB National Convention takes place July 5-10 in Orlando, Florida. Will you be there to help break the Guinness World Record for the largest umbrella mosaic? The Bookshare team will be at tabletop #C16 in the exhibit hall. Stop by, say hello, and get your Bookshare questions answered.

Perhaps you will be attending the 2015 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention from July 3-11 in Dallas, Texas. At the heart of the philosophy of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) is the belief that we must accept people who are blind where they are and value each and every person for their individual accomplishments. Benetech is participating in the Office Hours event on July 7 from 5:45-7:00 pm in Cityview 8. Please visit us – we love to meet members in person.

Bookshare is offering a special promotion for NFB and ACB conference attendees. Get 50% off a Bookshare membership for anyone renewing or joining Bookshare. Find us in the exhibit areas to get a promo code. You can either sign up on site with a staff member or send an e-mail to promo@bookshare.org to apply the code.

And since our plate isn’t full enough, the Bookshare team will be exhibiting at the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Conference on July 13-18 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The theme is “Diverse Perspectives: Creating a Vision for the Future.” AHEAD is the premier professional association committed to full participation of persons with disabilities in postsecondary education. If you are attending this conference, please visit us in booth #23.

Bookshare salutes and supports these important organizations that ensure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, to Bookshare it means more than just our national holiday; it symbolizes our mission to leverage technology to help individuals with disabilities gain personal independence. We measure success by the number of lives changed for the better. More than 320,000 people in nearly 50 countries have access to Bookshare’s collection of over 340,000 titles. More than 500 U.S. and international publishers contribute to our social mission by donating their digital files, making it possible for Bookshare to serve users around the world and ensuring that content is available to people with print disabilities at the same time as their peers. Let’s run all of these accomplishments up the flagpole and let the celebration begin.