Wednesday

8:00 - 8:45 AM—DEVOTIONS

  • Tradewinds D

8:45 - 9:15 AM—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

  • Islander Registration Desk

8:45 - 9:15 AM—REGISTRATION ($30) AND BANQUET TICKET SALES ($75)

  • Islander Registration Desk

OPENING GENERAL SESSION

  • 9:30 AM, CALL TO ORDER AND INVOCATION
  • 9:35 AM, WELCOMING CEREMONIES
    • 2019 National Convention Host Committee: National Federation of the Blind of Idaho, National Federation of the Blind of Nevada
  • 10:05 AM, CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM: VETERANS RECOGNIZED
    • Dwight Sayer, President, National Association of Blind Veterans, a Division of the National Federation of the Blind; Winter Garden, Florida
  • 10:25 AM, ROLL CALL OF STATES AND APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
  • 11:55 AM, REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS
  • 12:00 PM, ADJOURN

Noon - 1:45 PM—EXHIBIT HALL AND INDEPENDENCE MARKET

  • Islander Ballroom 

12:15 - 1:45 PM—LOUISIANA CENTER FOR THE BLIND ALUMNI RECEPTION

  • South Pacific Ballroom C
  • All Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB) alumni and those interested in learning more about our life-changing programs are welcome. Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni. Learn how LCB training will help you “live the life you want!” Pam Allen, Executive Director

12:15 - 1:45 PM—EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

  • Tropics B
  • Employment is the first pillar of the NFB strategic plan. What does the future of employment for blind people look like? What should it look like? Learn about new employment resources. Networking between employers and jobseekers. Bring your résumés and jobs. Dick Davis, Chair

12:30 - 1:30 PM—THE ORBIT READER 20 BRAILLE DISPLAY

  • Tropics A
  • Developed in partnership with the NFB and other members of the Transforming Braille Group, the Orbit Reader 20 Braille display provides the highest quality Braille at the most affordable price. Join the Orbit team to learn about its features, functions, and latest developments.

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

  • Islander Registration Desk

1:30 - 2:00 PM—REGISTRATION ($30) AND FINAL BANQUET TICKET SALES ($75)

  • Islander Registration Desk

GENERAL SESSION

  • 2:00 PM, CALL TO ORDER
  • 2:05 PM, PRESIDENTIAL REPORT
    • Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
  • 3:05 PM, DIGITAL EQUALITY AND THE MYTH OF INJUSTICE: EQUAL ACCESS FOR THE BLIND MAY NOT BE DELAYED
    • Eve Hill, Co-Leader, Inclusivity Strategic Consulting, and Partner, Brown, Goldstein, and Levy; Baltimore, Maryland
  • 3:25 PM, LEADERSHIP, PARTNERSHIP, AND THE PURSUIT OF FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY
    • Doug Marshall, Executive Vice President, Chief Digital and Product Officer, BECU; Tukwila, Washington
  • 3:45 PM, ADDING VALUE THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ORGANIZED BLIND
    • Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
    • Kathy Martinez, SVP: Disability/Accessibility Strategy, Wells Fargo Bank; San Francisco, California
    • Eve Andersson, Director, Accessibility and ML Fairness, Google; Mountain View, California
  • 4:10 PM, A CENTURY OF ADVANCING LITERACY FOR THE BLIND: A LEGACY OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORGANIZED BLIND MOVEMENT
    • Barbara Loos, President, American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults; Lincoln, Nebraska
    • Marc Maurer, General Counsel, American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults; Baltimore, Maryland
  • 4:40 PM, REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS
  • 5:00 PM, ADJOURN

5:30 - 6:30 PM—NOMINATING COMMITTEE

  • Tradewinds D

5:30 - 6:30 PM—WHAT’S NEW IN WINDOWS NARRATOR

  • Coral A
  • Come hear about Narrator’s new home, quick-start guide, improved reading, improved responsiveness, along with a sneak peek at what is coming for summer insiders, and more.

5:30 - 7:30 PM—RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS MEETING

  • Tropics A
  • The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute's Research Advisory Council invites interested individuals to discuss current research, discuss publication in the Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research (JBIR), and share ideas for increasing the research and academic presence of the NFB. Edward Bell, Arielle Silverman, and Lou Ann Blake, Coordinators

6:00 - 9:00 PM—UPWARD MOBILITY SEMINAR

  • Tropics B
  • Looking to switch careers? Wondering how to achieve balance between your life and work? Come learn about these topics and more at the Upward Mobility Seminar, where we do not shy away from answering the tricky dilemmas we face in today's workplace. Sponsored by the NFB Employment Committee.

6:30 - 7:30 PM—WHAT’S IT REALLY LIKE TO BE A PLAINTIFF

  • Tradewinds F
  • In this session, you’ll hear from NFB members who have stood up for the civil rights of the blind in negotiations and litigation, and from the lawyers who represent the NFB. Hear what it’s really like to challenge injustice, negotiate, and go to court for our rights. Scott LaBarre and Eve Hill, Facilitators

6:30 - 8:00 PM—BLIND FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

  • Coral C
  • Come learn about issues facing federal employees and applicants. Share your experiences with and your solutions to federal workplace challenges. Ronza Othman, Chair

6:30 - 9:00 PM—COLORADO CENTER FOR THE BLIND OPEN HOUSE

  • South Pacific Ballroom A
  • Meet the staff and students at the CCB to discover what great training will do for you! Learn about new apps for your phone, get some favorite recipes, use a click rule, and learn about stone carving, rock climbing, and more. Training in Colorado will change your life! Julie Deden, Director

7:00 - 9:00 PM—WHITE CANE AND AFFILIATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

  • Tradewinds C
  • Fundraising takes imagination, dedication, and a little bit of ingenuity! This is your opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and become a leader in funding our movement! Every state should send a representative. Everette Bacon, Chair

7:00 - 9:00 PM—COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: OPEN TO ALL LEADERS

  • Tradewinds D
  • Join together with chapter, affiliate, and division leaders to learn best practices in communications. We’ll explore the tools available to us through our national office and exchange ideas. Learn to effectively use communication as our greatest tool to build the Federation. Jessica Beecham, Chair

7:00 - 9:00 PM—NFB LGBT MEETING

  • Tradewinds E
  • Building the NFB and giving back with pride! Proposed topics include special concerns related to being blind and coming out, inclusion at Pride events, accessibility and availability of LGBT books, and community resources. Contact Tai Tomasi at 515-329-4908 for location of group social. Tai Tomasi, Chair

7:00 - 9:00 PM—EXHIBIT HALL

  • Islander Ballroom

7:00 - 9:45 PM—NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS

  • 7:00-9:45 PM—Mini BELL for Parents: Hands on Activities—Coral A
  • 7:00-8:15 PM—The Basics of a High Quality IEP—Coral B
  • 8:30-9:45 PM—Strategies for IEP Record-Keeping and Beyond—Coral B

7:00 - 10:00 PM—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK ACTIVITY (ages 11-18)

  • Shell Seekers A and B

7:30 - 10:00 PM—HOST COMMITTEE WELCOME CONCERT ($10)

  • South Pacific Ballroom CD
  • Put on your dancing shoes and join your Federation friends and family for an evening of live entertainment, featuring local Las Vegas performers, the Broken Spectacles. This all-blind band has rocked places like the Smith Center of Performing Arts and the House of Blues. Escape the casinos for an intimate performance where the under-21 crew is welcome, too. Tickets can be purchased at the lobby information table, the hospitality suite, or from any member of the Nevada or Idaho delegations. Show your NFB membership coin or convention badge to pay only $5!

8:00 - 10:00 PM—SPORTS AND REC SWIM UP

  • Wave Pool
  • Meet by the pool. You will hear one of us marshaling until 8:00 p.m. and after that you can find us in the water!

8:00 - 10:00 PM—RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

  • Tropics A
  • Technology is omnipresent in our lives. While it is invaluable in education and employment, the blind are still excluded from many products. Hear about new advances and discuss how to influence developers to include accessibility in their offerings. Brian Buhrow, Chair

8:00 - 10:00 PM—MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

  • Tradewinds F
  • You're invited! If you are interested in finding ways to discover potential members while keeping current members engaged and interested, this is the meeting for you. Sharing our best practices across the Federation will take our chapters, affiliates, and our national organization to the next level. Jeannie Massay and Kathryn Webster, Co-Chairs

8:30 - 10:00 PM—WEBMASTERS MEETING

  • Coral C
  • A meeting for all NFB affiliate and division webmasters to discuss the importance of an informative, accessible, and visually attractive website. Gary Wunder, Chair

9:00 PM - Midnight—TRIVIA NIGHT (Admission: $5)

  • South Pacific Ballroom B
  • New year, new categories, possibly new champions? Trivia Night is back with a new twist. Bring your chapter, your friends, or make new ones. Leave with bragging rights. Proceeds benefit future programs and activities of the Community Service Division.