Statement from Rodney Stanford, President of the American Council of the Blind of New York, Regarding Governor Hochul’s Autonomous Vehicle Proposal
“Members and leaders of the American Council of the Blind of New York have long been hopeful about the possibilities offered by the development of autonomous vehicle technology. We appreciate the leadership of Governor Hochul and the efforts of so many in the executive and legislative branches of state government to get this right, for all of us.
We strongly encourage the safe commercial use of autonomous vehicles throughout the state as soon as possible. Adding autonomous vehicles to the marketplace will help our community live more independent lives, be more productive, and to participate more fully in our communities. There is still much work to be done to turn the promise of autonomous vehicle technology into a tangible reality. ACBNY stands ready to continue advocating for this technology and supporting those who are doing the work to make this happen.”
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We are also mindful of the environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits this technology can bring to all New Yorkers, but want to draw special attention to this as a potential game-changer for those of us who don’t have the ability to safely operate a traditional vehicle.
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Transportation is very often a major challenge for people who are blind or have low vision. It can be a real impediment to members of our community living independently and realizing their full potential. Employment, education, socialization, healthcare, and participation in commerce all require accessible, affordable, and reliable transportation, and ride-share denials are a frequent feature of being blind across the country.
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Public transportation and/or ParaTransit systems do provide options in some locations, on some routes, and at some times. But this service is not available throughout the state. And even where it is, there are often logistical challenges. Many in our community end up defaulting to private taxis or ride-share services for at least some of their transportation needs, but there continues to be a significant issue with discrimination directed at blind users of legal service animals.
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Some of our local affiliates, along with our national organization, have worked with Waymo to make autonomous transportation more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. ACB, at all levels, appreciates Waymo’s commitment to building a future with greater independence and mobility for all.
The Convention is Coming to Westchester!
It has been a number of years since WCBNY hosted a state convention, but we are all set to do it again in October of 2026. On December 6th, the ACBNY Board of Directors approved WCBNY’s bid to host the annual statewide gathering. The dates will be October 8-11, and the venue will be the Courtyard by Marriott in Yonkers. Everyone at WCBNY is very excited to welcome the attendees and what we know will be an outstanding roster of speakers and sponsors. More to come as the information becomes available.
Annual Meeting – Election Winners
WCBNY had our Annual Meeting of the Membership on November 15th. We reviewed what was a very productive year for us and looked ahead to a 2026 filled with opportunities. We congratulated our president on being elected to that same position with the state organization. And we held our own election of officers and directors. This year’s winners were Jim Pulsoni, who was re-elected as Treasurer, Cathy Bieder, who was re-elected as Director, and our newest boar member, Martin Karges, who was elected to serve as Director.
Have You Noticed?
Our website has a brand new feature, and we could not be more excited to share it with you. Just check the bottom right to start getting AL-based help navigating our site with CoBrowse AI Chat by Innosearch.AI. Just ask (or type) a question and see where the AI can take you. This is, of course, especially useful for those who can’t browse the site visually. We love that this tool gives the blind and visually impaired community an opportunity to easily connect with WCBNY and learn about our programming.
WCBNY Facebook Feed
We have been getting a great response to our outreach and education efforts on Facebook. And we have been able to share a lot of valuable information there. But realizing some of the challenges our members face in participating, we are piloting a new program to make our Facebook feed available directly on this page. To have a look, just click here.
Our Most Common Question
We often get asked about what someone should do if they are losing or have lost their vision. Here is an answer to that question, with actionable instructions. If this is you or someone you know, check out our resources page by clicking here.
WCBNY Facebook
If you haven’t already, please check out the WCBNY Facebook page. We are posting lots of content there, including a good bit of original and/or exclusive stuff. To get there, just search for “WCBNY” on the Facebook website, or in the Facebook app. And if you are already logged in, you can just visit http://facebook.com/wcbny
Resource Link
Resume and Employment Guide for People With Disabilities
This is a great resource with tips for job seekers with disabilities. There are also free tools for creating resumes, cover letters, etc. Thanks to the site for reaching out and sharing this with us.