Monday, July 3, 2023

Board Meeting and Division Day

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration ($30), Packet Pickup, and Banquet Ticket Sales (75 dollars)

Registration Desk, Level 4

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall and Independence Market

Ballroom of the Americas

9:00 - 11:30 a.m. NFB Board Meeting

Lanier Grand Ballroom A - I
Zoom meeting ID: 916 8496 8543
1CapApp Event: nfb

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Banquet Exchange

Lanier Grand Ballroom Pre-function Area

12:00 p.m. Megan Bening Memorial Fund Technology Giveaway

Room 340 A and B
For blind children twenty-one and under who are registered for the NOPBC conference, have a parent/guardian also registered for the conference, and have placed tickets into item containers. There will be $15,000 worth of technology! Must be present to win.

1:00 - 3:45 p.m. NOPBC Youth Track

Room 332
For youth 11-18. See Youth Track agenda for activity details.

1:00 - 3:45 p.m. National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) Annual Meeting

Room 340 A and B
Vendor Fair; hear from the Distinguished Educator of Blind Children; learn about cutting-edge products and opportunities for our kids. Experience Parent Power; participate in our business meeting, elections, and much more!
Carla Keirns, President

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. National Association of Blind Merchants

Lanier Grand Ballroom J
Randolph Sheppard employment opportunities for the blind—the GOAT. Is it still? We will discuss entrepreneurial opportunities for the blind. We will also discuss new rules/regulations regarding Social Security with Michael Dalto.
Nicky Gacos, President

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Blind Rehabilitation Professionals Division

Room 343 A
Calling all rehabilitation professionals! Join us as we explore the latest trends, strategies, tools, and resources to support our blind consumers in living the life they want in work and independent living goals. You will walk away with a full toolbox for the coming year!
Amy Porterfield, President

1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Writers Division Business Meeting and Story Workshop

Room 346 B
Bring your questions and story ideas to our meeting. Help us elect our new division leaders for 2023. Fees for this meeting will be $15 including workshop, participation, and automatic membership in the Writers Division for 2023. See you there!
Shelley Alongi, President

1:00 - 4:30 p.m. National Organization of Blind Educators Division

Room 342
Blind educators discuss techniques they use in their classrooms. Participants meet in groups specific to grade level and content area to create a network of colleagues and mentors. If you teach or are considering a career in teaching, please join us.

  • 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Registration

Cayte Mendez, President

1:00 - 5:00 p.m. NFB in Computer Science

Room 335 A
Enhancing nonvisual access to information technology and improving the ability of blind information and computer technology professionals to compete in today's world.
Brian Buhrow, President

1:00 - 5:00 p.m. DeafBlind Division

Room 327
Join us as we reorganize the DeafBlind Division. Consider the division’s most important issues, share experiences and solutions unique to the deafblind community, and participate in division elections.
Carla McQuillan and Sheila Wright, Coordinators

1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Seniors Division

Room 335 B
Annual meeting of the National Federation of the Blind Seniors Division.
Glenn Crosby, President

1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Diabetes Action Network Annual Meeting

Room 329
Come learn about blind diabetics who are self-sufficient, manage their disease, and work for the development of technology equivalent to that available to other diabetics. Join with those who have overcome being scared and who have embraced the challenge of this disease.
Debbie Wunder, President

1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Performing Arts Division and Improv Workshop

Room 343 B
Come prepared to network with other performers! Join us for our annual business meeting followed by an interactive workshop all about improv. Gain skills for the stage and self-confidence for daily life.
Katelyn MacIntyre, President

1:00 - 6:30 p.m. National Association of Blind Lawyers Division Meeting

Room 344 A and B
Examine legal issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic for the blind; address ongoing struggles to gain equal access to websites, employment, legal texts, and exams; share practice tips and technology tools for blind lawyers. Please go to www.blindlawyers.net to register for the meeting.

  • 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Division Meeting
  • 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Ticketed reception

Ronza Othman, President

2:00 - 5:00 p.m. National Association of Blind Veterans Meeting

Room 338
All veterans are invited. We will conduct our annual business meeting after a short networking period. We will not be holding elections this year. Remember your dues must be paid in full to vote.

  • 2:00 p.m. Networking
  • 3:00 p.m. Business meeting

Vernon Humphrey, President

2:30 - 5:00 p.m. Human Services Division Annual Meeting

Room 328
If you have a passion for people, we invite you to join our meeting! We will hold our biannual business meeting, which will include the election of a new board of directors. Additionally, we will have dynamic speakers, important discussions, and a fun activity or two!
Candice L. Chapman, President

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Sports and Recreation Division Business Meeting

Room 330
Come network, move, learn, share, have fun, and get down to business with the Sports and Recreation Division at our annual business meeting.
Richie Flores, President

4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Braille Book Fair

Lanier Grand Ballroom K and L
4:30 blind children only. 5:00 open to all. New/used Braille and print/Braille books—fiction, nonfiction, early readers, cookbooks, and more—all free! Volunteers will box and ship books Free Matter. Donations welcome.
Sponsored by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults with the support of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.

5:00 - 5:45 p.m. Devices Accessibility at Amazon

Room 339 A and B
Amazon obsesses about customer delight, and that includes customers with disabilities. In this session, Amazon accessibility experts will discuss the latest accessibility features for Fire TV, Fire tablet, Echo Show, Echo buds, Echo Frames, and more.
Peter Korn, Josh Miele, and Elodie Fichet, Amazon

5:00 - 7:30 p.m. Third Annual NFB Muslims Group Seminar

Room 346 B
Diverse in Culture United in Faith: Join us for a discussion on our involvement within the NFB and beyond. We will also have booths of accessible materials provided by Islam by Touch, hijab tips, mentorship, other essential resources, and so much more.
Tasnim Alshuli, Chair

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Affiliate Presidents and Treasurers

Room 335 B
All state affiliate presidents and treasurers are asked to attend this session. We will discuss issues related to tracking affiliate finances and other aspects of organization administration. Participants can discuss state issues with facilitator Bridgid Burke.

6:00 - 6:45 p.m. What’s New with Alexa?

Room 339 A and B
Alexa makes it easier for customers to order groceries and household essentials, ask product questions, use smart home devices, and collaborate with families and caregivers. In this session, Amazon accessibility experts share some of the neat things Alexa can do.
Jessie Lorenz, Fabio Sacca, and Juliana Tarpey, Amazon

6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Accessible Prescriptions: A Tale of Two States

Room 327
Maryland and Hawaii successfully used the NFB’s model bill on accessible prescription labeling to get new laws passed. Come hear representatives from both states discuss the work that went in behind the scenes to get the laws passed and how you, too, can advocate in your state.
Jenna Reed (Moderator), Director of Marketing, En-Vision America

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Community Service Division Rodeo

Room 340 A and B
Are y’all feelin’ the Texas heat? CSD is fixin’ to strap on their boots and kick-up the dust with the hottest celebration in Houston! We’re gonna celebrate rodeo style, tip our hats to the finest division in town, and show y’all how our members serve bigger and better in Texas!
Jeanetta Price, President

6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Professionals in Blindness Education Division

Room 328
All professionals serving students from birth through age twenty-one are welcome and encouraged to join our informative and interactive meeting. Come network and collaborate, sharing and learning with colleagues and future educators.
Emily Gibbs, President

6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Blind Christians Group

Room 342
Publishers of Christian literature will provide an update regarding the work of their respective organizations. Other speakers will describe how their faith has helped them to overcome challenges.
Tom Anderson, Chair

6:00 - 10:00 p.m. National Association of Guide Dog Users Division

Room 335 A
Come learn how to make an informed choice when deciding to get a guide dog. Get current updates from our legal counsel about matters pertaining to guide dog users: airline and rideshare travel. Find out what NAGDU has been up to over the past year and elect our leaders!
Raul Gallegos, President

6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Assistive Technology Trainers Division

Room 343 B
Current and aspiring tech trainers: join us for professional development, networking, and fellowship. We’ll explore what it takes to become a great trainer, how to help our students build sustainable digital literacy skills, and what's new in the world of AT.
Chancey Fleet, President

6:30 - 10:00 p.m. Science and Engineering Division

Room 343 A
Learn about STEM with interactive multi-line refreshable Braille and tactile graphics with color, biochemistry lab access, leading in STEM, dealing with two disabilities and combining engineering and theater.

  • 6:30 p.m. Registration
  • 7:00 p.m. Meeting

John Miller, President

7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Hear What Your Camera Sees with Blink Camera

Room 339 A and B
The customer-obsessed team at Blink worked to combine the use of the Blink iOS app with Apple’s VoiceOver scene image recognition so customers can hear what the Blink camera sees. In this session, see, hear, and learn about the customer benefits to hearing what a camera sees.
Wendy Richardson and Michael Forzano, Amazon

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. National Association of Blind Government Employees

Room 329
Join employees, retirees, and applicants for employment of federal, state, and local government entities, including pseudo-government entities, as we explore barriers and opportunities related to access, employment, and benefits.
Ronza Othman, President

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Upward Mobility Seminar

Room 330
You're employed, but what comes next? Step out of your comfort zone with innovative ideas for career advancement and entrepreneurship. Brainstorming is always welcome. Sponsored by the NFB Employment Committee.
Jennifer Wenzel, Chair

7:00 - 10:00 p.m. National Organization of Blind Black Leaders Division

Lanier Grand Ballroom J
Come celebrate the numerous contributions of Black Federation leaders. We will conduct our first annual division meeting and present an inspirational program that will highlight the gifts and talents of our Black membership within the Federation.
Shawn Callaway, President

7:45 - 8:30 p.m. Audio Description on Prime Video

Room 339 A and B
Join the Prime Video accessibility team to hear more about our journey to make audio description as common as captions, our text-to-speech voice improvements, and how we are enhancing customers’ audio experiences with our new feature, Dialogue Boost.
Dipa Balakrishnan, Jayashree Rajagopalan, and Pemra Narli, Amazon

8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Here to Listen

Room 335 B
Join Dr. Lionel Wolberger, Chief Operating Officer of UserWay and member of the W3C Accessibility Platform Architectures, for an open forum about how you experience automated technology as a blind individual, family member, or ally.
Lionel Wolberger, UserWay COO and W3C Accessibility Platform Architectures member

8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Friends of Recovery Meeting

Room 346 A
All convention attendees interested in getting or remaining clean and sober are welcome to our confidential meeting. For more information, call 828-505-0338.

8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Blind Survivors Group

Room 327
Join the Blind Survivors Group for reflection, support, and planning for future survivor and victim-centered programming within the Federation. Please email [email protected] with any access needs ahead of the event!
Kathryn Webster and Danielle Montour, Co-chairs

8:00 - 11:00 p.m. Southern Strums

Lanier Grand Ballroom G
Join the NFB of Texas and Harley’s Wallet, a 501(c) 3 organization formed in memory of Harley Fetterman, for the triumphant return of Southern Strums! Stop by the cash bar and enjoy live acoustic covers. Your $10 donation will fund scholarships and Braille books for kids.

8:30 - 10:30 p.m. Audio Described Movie Screening

Room 339 A and B
After our evening sessions, join Amazon for a movie screening (audio described) and some treats!