MEDIA ADVISORY

Share the story of the largest gathering of blind people living the lives we want, learning from each other, teaching the next generation, and transforming dreams into reality. Please post to social media with #NFB23. Join us!

Houston, Texas (June 28, 2023): Members of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, will gather in Houston beginning on July 1 for the organization’s first national convention in the city since 1971. Local media and residents are cordially invited to attend. Those seeking press credentials should fill out the web form located at: https://nfb.org/national-convention-media-credentials-form

• Event:        National Federation of the Blind 2023 National Convention
• Dates:        July 1-6, 2023
• Place:        Hilton Americas-Houston,1600 Lamar Street, Houston, Texas 77010

Attention Education, Sports, Transportation Editors: 

Dan O’Rourke to Address Convention about his Route 66 Ride for Literacy

Dan O’Rourke has been an on-ice official for the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1999. After growing up watching his blind father defeat all obstacles in his path, Dan wants to give back to the organization that further empowers blind people to live the lives they want. Beginning on July 26, Dan will bike ride from Santa Monica, California, to Chicago, Illinois, along the famous Route 66 to raise awareness of our mission of raising expectations and empowering blind people through Braille literacy. Mr. O’Rourke will address the convention on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 4, and will also be participating in the convention throughout the week. 

Attention Politics, Public Policy, Education, and Disability Editors:

Political Leaders and Policymakers to Address Convention

Karla Gilbride, a blind civil rights attorney who has argued before the United States Supreme Court and who is President Biden’s nominee to serve as general counsel to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will address the convention on the morning of July 5. On the afternoon of Thursday, July 6, the convention will hear from the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, member of Congress from the eighteenth Congressional District of Texas. Congresswoman Lee will be immediately followed by the Honorable Tony Coelho, former Congressman and author of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act.

Note: The entire convention agenda, outlining a full week of activities around policies, technologies, and issues that affect the lives of blind Americans, as well as various activities emphasizing the ability of the blind to live the lives they want, is available at www.nfb.org/convention. Please also note that participation in all or any part of our convention is subject to our Code of Conduct.