Thursday

8:00 - 8:45 AM—DEVOTIONS

  • Tradewinds D

8:15 - 8:45 AM—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

  • Islander Registration Desk

8:15 - 8:45 AM—REGISTRATION ($30)

  • Islander Registration Desk

GENERAL SESSION

  • 9:00 AM, CALL TO ORDER AND INVOCATION
  • 9:05 AM, GLOBAL LEADERSHIP, RESPONSIBILITY, AND TECHNOLOGY: ACCESSIBILITY AS A CORE VALUE AT MICROSOFT
    • Brad Smith, President and Chief Legal Officer, Microsoft Corporation; Redmond, Washington
  • 9:25 AM, A PLATFORM OF INFORMATION AND INNOVATION: INSIGHTS INTO THE AIRA ECOSYSTEM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLIND
    • Suman Kanuganti, Founder and President, Aira Tech Corp.; San Diego, California
  • 9:40 AM, FINANCIAL REPORT AND HONOR ROLL CALL
  • 10:55 AM, ELECTIONS
  • 11:25 AM, REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS
  • 12:00 PM, ADJOURN

Noon - 1:45 PM—EXHIBIT HALL AND INDEPENDENCE MARKET (final opportunity to visit the Independence Market and Exhibit Hall)

  • Islander Ballroom

12:15 - 1:45 PM—APPS OF COMPUTER VISION AND G SUITE UPDATES

  • Tradewinds C
  • Members of the Google Accessibility team will present two computer vision applications: Lookout and Auto-Captioning. We will also present Google G Suite accessibility features and functionalities added over the last year across Calendar, Gmail, Drive, Docs, and more.

12:15 - 1:45 PM—NOPBC BRAINSTORMING SESSION

  • Tradewinds F
  • Please share your ideas with us. What did you like at this convention? What resources would help you stay connected throughout the year? What workshops might you like to see us offer next year? Be a part of this valuable conversation. Carlton Cook-Walker, President

12:30 - 1:30 PM—NLS FOCUS GROUP ON TACTILE GRAPHICS

  • Coral B
  • In its continuing quest to provide the material that patrons want, NLS is seeking patron feedback via a focus group on providing graphics. Please join us so that your voice can be included as we develop collection development and production strategies for the next few years.

12:30 - 1:30 PM—ACCESSIBILITY: POWER OF INNOVATION AND CIVILIZATION

  • Tradewinds D
  • For more than thirty years, Apple has developed new and innovative solutions for persons with disabilities to learn, to be creative, productive, independent, and active, and to live out their dreams. Come learn how Apple continues to break barriers in new arenas, including the entertainment industry, striving to empower the blind community in bold ways. Sarah Herrlinger, Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives, Apple, and Everette Bacon, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind; President, National Federation of the Blind of Utah, Facilitators

1:30 - 2:00 PM—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

  • Islander Registration Desk

1:30 - 2:00 PM—REGISTRATION ($30)

  • Islander Registration Desk

GENERAL SESSION

  • 2:00 PM, CALL TO ORDER
  • 2:05 PM, THE CONTINUED SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE BLIND: EXPANDING BRAILLE AND IMPLEMENTING THE MARRAKESH TREATY
    • Karen Keninger, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Washington, DC
  • 2:20 PM, ACCELERATING ACCESSIBLE CONTENT: PROGRESS THROUGH THE DAISY CONSORTIUM
    • Richard Orme, Chief Executive Officer, DAISY Consortium; Warwick, United Kingdom
  • 2:35 PM, NEGOTIATION, COLLABORATION, AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS: THE JOURNEY OF THE MARRAKESH TREATY TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO PUBLISHED WORKS FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR OTHERWISE PRINT DISABLED
    • Justin Hughes, Hon. William M. Byrne, Jr. Chair, Professor of Law, Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University; Los Angeles, California
  • 2:55 PM, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES, PROTECTING RIGHTS, AND ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY: A REPORT FROM THE ADVOCACY AND POLICY DEPARTMENT
    • John Paré, Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
  • 3:25 PM, REPORTS, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER BUSINESS
  • 5:00 PM, ADJOURN

5:15 - 6:45 PM—ACCESSIBLE COLLABORATION AND GOOGLE ASSISTANT

  • Tradewinds C
  • Learn about new ways Google Docs is improving the accessibility of real-time collaboration so you can meaningfully keep track of live changes in your documents. We will also present the new features in Google Assistant and all the new devices that support it.

5:15 - 7:15 PM—AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND RECEPTION

  • Tradewinds F
  • AFB President, Kirk Adams, and AFB Board of Trustees Chair, Russell Shaffer, cordially invite you to join AFB for an evening reception to celebrate the work and achievements made by both AFB and the NFB to create a more accessible and inclusive world for people with vision loss.

5:30 - 6:30 PM—ADVENTURES WITH MICROSOFT SOUNDSCAPE

  • Tropics B
  • Soundscape uses 3D spatial audio to promote a person’s mobility and independence. Come along to learn what Soundscape is and how it works. We’ll share what we’ve learned from our first year since release and how people are using Soundscape every day in a variety of ways.

5:30 - 8:30 PM—Q&A OPEN HOUSE: SPECTRUM ACCESSIBILITY

  • Coral A
  • Come join Petr Kucheryavyy from Spectrum's Accessibility Center of Excellence to ask questions, share your experiences, and learn more about Spectrum's accessibility efforts in their products, services, and employment practices.

6:00 - 7:00 PM—INTERSECTIONAL MEET-UPS

  • Participate in a series of special topic community conversations. Shawn Callaway and Rosy Carranza, Co-Chairs, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
  • 6:00 - 7:00 PM—Masculinity, Blindness, and Latino Culture: Explore these topics and learn how others negotiate these various identities.—Tropics A
  • 6:00 - 7:00 PM—Blindness and Interracial Relationships: Share experiences around dating, marriage, family dynamics, and social perceptions.—Coral B
  • 6:00 - 7:00 PM—Marriage and Dating as a Blind Person in the Asian/South Asian Community: Discuss cultural practices, social expectations, and their relationship to blindness.—Shell Seekers A

7:00 - 8:30 PM—SSI AND SSDI 101: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • Tropics B
  • Bring your questions regarding SSDI and SSI benefits, eligibility criteria, the application process, reporting obligations, and information about working while receiving benefits. James Gashel, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind

7:00 - 9:00 PM—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK (ages 11-18)

  • Shell Seekers B

7:00 - 9:00 PM—BRAILLE PROOFREADING SEMINAR

  • Tradewinds E
  • If you are a parent of a blind child, a teacher of blind and visually-impaired children, a rehabilitation teacher, or if you are interested in learning what’s happening in the Braille field, join us to get hands-on experience. Presented by the National Association of Blind Office Professionals Division. Lisa Hall, President

7:00 - 9:00 PM—COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION OF BRAILLE

  • Coral C
  • The committee will discuss developments in the teaching and delivery of Braille, research priorities, Braille-related policy, strategies for bringing improvements where needed, and resources and activities across our organization. All are welcome! Jennifer Dunnam, Chair

7:00 - 10:00 PM—WHAT’S NEW AND AMAZON AT THE MOVIES

  • Tradewinds D
  • Join us to learn about improvements to Amazon Fire TV, Echo, Kindle, and more. Stay for our second annual audio-described movie night. This year's movie, Love and Friendship, stars Kate Beckinsale and is an adaptation of Jane Austen's novella, Lady Susan. Snacks will be provided.

7:30 - 8:30 PM—HOW TO BE A BRAND AMBASSADOR

  • Tropics A
  • Exchange ideas on how to best represent our brand to the public, potential members, new members, and our community. Karen Anderson, Stephanie Cascone, Chris Danielsen, Suzanne Shaffer, and Alyssa Vetro, Facilitators

7:30 - 11:00 PM—NINETEENTH ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF TALENT ($5)

  • South Pacific Ballroom CD
  • Join us for a night of great performances. Whether you take the stage or support your friends from the audience, it is an enjoyable evening of entertainment! Performer cost: $10. Admission: $5. We will award cash prizes to three acts. Presented by the Performing Arts Division. Julie McGinnity, President

8:00 - 9:00 PM—FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING

  • Coral B
  • All convention attendees interested in getting or remaining clean and sober are welcome to our confidential meeting. For more information, call 304-994-5103. Sheri K., Coordinator