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Braille Monitor

Vol. 69, No. 5              May 2026

Chris Danielsen, Editor

Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, by the
National Federation of the Blind

Mark Riccobono, President

telephone: 410-659-9314
email address: [email protected]
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and nonmembers are requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be
made payable to National Federation of the Blind and sent to:

National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND ADVANCES THE LIVES OF ITS MEMBERS AND ALL BLIND PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. WE KNOW THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE EXPECTATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE AND OUR DREAMS. OUR COLLECTIVE POWER, DETERMINATION, AND DIVERSITY ACHIEVE THE ASPIRATIONS OF ALL BLIND PEOPLE. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND—IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.

ISSN 0006-8829


Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots—the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again. (Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive, the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.

You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in order to stretch our funding. Please use the return envelope enclosed with the drive when you return the device.


Contents

Vol. 69, No. 5                      May 2026

Convention Bulletin (HTML)
Convention Bulletin (MP3)

From the Editor (HTML)
From the Editor (MP3)
by Chris Danielsen

Keeping Convention Weird: Plan Your Visit to Wacky, Wonderful Austin (HTML)
Keeping Convention Weird: Plan Your Visit to Wacky, Wonderful Austin (MP3)
by Norma Crosby

Resolution Reminders (HTML)
Resolution Reminders (MP3)
by Donald Porterfield

Building Momentum from Coast to Coast (HTML)
Building Momentum from Coast to Coast (MP3)
by Rachel Held

Two Displays, Two Philosophies: Comparing and Contrasting the Monarch and the Dot Pad X (HTML)
Two Displays, Two Philosophies: Comparing and Contrasting the Monarch and the Dot Pad X (MP3)
by Jonathan Mosen

The Courage to Bloom (HTML)
The Courage to Bloom (MP3)
by Elizabeth Rouse

Generational Federationism (HTML)
Generational Federationism (MP3)
by Latonya Phipps Cross

We Need Your Help (HTML)
We Need Your Help (MP3)

Course Corrections: Developments in LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco Governance and DeafBlind Services (HTML)
Course Corrections: Developments in LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired of San Francisco Governance and DeafBlind Services (MP3)
by Chris Danielsen

The Nature of Independence (HTML)
The Nature of Independence (MP3)
An Address Delivered by Kenneth Jernigan

Learning Independence through Life Experiences and the National Federation of the Blind (HTML)
Learning Independence through Life Experiences and the National Federation of the Blind (MP3)
by Andrew D. Adams

The Meaning of Membership and Independence (HTML)
The Meaning of Membership and Independence (MP3)
by Melissa Riccobono, Anil Lewis, and Denise Avant

Oregon State University Commits to Accessibility Improvements for Blind and Low-Vision Students (HTML)
The Meaning of Membership and Independence (MP3)

NFB Kids Camp: Tons of Fun! (HTML)
NFB Kids Camp: Tons of Fun! (MP3)
by Harriet Go

Complete Braille Monitor

Complete Braille Monitor (Zipped Word Version)

Complete Braille Monitor (Braille Version) Vol. 1 | Vol. 2

Complete Braille Monitor Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Complete DAISY Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Copyright 2026 by the National Federation of the Blind