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Any agenda changes made after Braille and print production can be accessed on the NFB24 app or at https://nfb.org/convention. Changes will be marked with an asterisk (*).
8:00 - 10:00 a.m. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Meeting
Salon 7
Hear of the progress that we, as an organization, are making in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. How can we drive DEI efforts across the Federation in fulfillment of our movement’s strategic priorities? Bring your questions, feedback, and concerns to the committee.
Moderators: Shawn Callaway and Kenia Flores
8:30 - 11:00 a.m. Committee for Advancement and Promotion of Braille
Salon 16
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
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Membership Committee Meeting
Salon 12
Members represent our most powerful asset. All those who are interested in joining the membership committee to discuss innovative ideas to grow, nurture, and sustain membership in the organized blind movement are welcome.
Denise Avant, Chair
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Seeking Success: Employment, Exploration, and Entrepreneurship
Salons 1 and 2
Job seeker seminar with new time and new format! Come to a large group session and then break into smaller groups focusing on career exploration and the pros and cons of starting your own business. Give feedback on future topics.
Jennifer Wenzel and Lia Stone, Co-Chairs
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. NFB Sports and Recreation Business Meeting
Salon 11
Learn about adaptive sports, inclusive fitness and recreation opportunities, and build community at our annual business meeting. Let’s move to keep the movement alive!
Richie Flores, President
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration (30 dollars), Packet Pickup, and Banquet Ticket Sales (80 dollars)
Grand Ballroom Prefunction Foyer
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall and Independence Market
WA1, Convention Center
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Drop by the JAWS AI Suite
Salon 5
Get hands-on training with some of our newest AI-powered features including Picture Smart AI and Face in View and bring your JAWS questions. You will also have an exclusive opportunity to try out and give us feedback on a preview of our newest upcoming feature!
*10:00 - 11:00 a.m. AI for Accessibility
Salon 3
Join Microsoft technologists and explore the ways AI is transforming our assistive technologies, from screen readers to assistive applications. This session will introduce select AI features and products and demo their daily applicability for blind and low vision users.
Microsoft Accessibility Team
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. HIMS Product Showcase
Salon 9
Come join us to learn how to be more informed, organized, and entertained with products such as the BrailleSense 6, BrailleSense 6 Mini, QBraille XL, the SensePlayer, and the new Braille eMotion.
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Intro to OrCam's Latest Tech: MyEye 3 and Read 3
Salon 4
OrCam's newest innovations, the MyEye 3 and Read 3, are here. Come learn about the latest “Just Ask” feature, an AI assistant that provides immediate responses to all your questions!
Josue Rivera, Area Sales Manager, Florida
10:00 - 11:30 a.m. LGBT+ Group: A Meeting for Community Members
Salon 14
Open to all community members and allies. Join us to learn about being LGBT+ in the NFB, how to get involved, and various advocacy efforts throughout the United States.
Sanho Steele-Louchart, Chair
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Navigating the Future: Unveiling AI-Powered Innovations in JAWS
Grand Ballroom D
Join Ryan Jones to discuss what has been going on with JAWS and ZoomText over the past year and how AI is helping us break down barriers. You don’t want to miss learning about Picture Smart AI, Face in View, and what we are doing next! Let’s join together and explore our future.
Ryan Jones, VP Software & Product Management, Vispero
*11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Accessible Products for Life, Work and Play
Salon 3
Microsoft’s VIP experts showcase our suite of accessibility features tailored to the needs of blind and LV users. Join our team for interactive demo sessions showcasing new products and exciting updates to our community’s well-established favorites.
Microsoft Accessibility Team
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Mujeres of the Federation
Salon 13
Join blind Latina women to network, share successes, and tackle challenges together and help develop the next generation of Latina leaders in the National Federation of the Blind.
Moderator: Kenia Flores
1:00 p.m. Resolutions Committee
Grand Ballroom C
Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
1CapApp Event: https://ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
Donald Porterfield, Chair
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Drop-In Art Room
Salon 10
Free tactile art exhibition and art activities for everyone! Come with friends or come and meet new people. We will be teaching at different times, raised line drawing, coloring, sculpting, origami folding, SVG coding, and LEGO building. We will also have tactile picture books!
Ann Cunningham, Coordinator
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. LGBT+: Education for Everyone
Salon 14
What does being LGBT+ have to do with blindness? How do blind LGBT+ people live, work, and love? Sincere questions will be answered in kind. This session is offered courtesy of our LGBT+ members who seek to educate separately from our primary meeting.
Sanho Steele-Louchart, Chair
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Blind Survivors Group Meetup
Salon 16
Celebrate the spirit of survival on this Independence Day. Let’s talk about the struggle and the quest for resilience, and support each other in our individual, unique journeys.
Christine Faltz Grassman, Chair
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Wells Fargo: Banking on Your Future
Salon 9
Join members of Wells Fargo in conversation about the importance of accessibility to pursue financial goals.
Andrew Holbrook, PhD, Chief Accessibility Officer, Wells Fargo
4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Aira: Visual Interpreting and Access AI
Salon 12
Aira presents Access AI! The only collaborative AI experience where the human visual interpreter can verify image descriptions! Come and meet many members of the Aira team!
Troy Otillio, CEO, and Everette Bacon, VP Blindness Initiatives
4:15 - 5:45 p.m. Twenty-Fourth NABL Mock Trial (Admission: 5 dollars)
Executive I
Federation lawyers oppose each other to enact a case addressing the civil rights of blind people, and the audience serves as the jury. The subject matter is serious, but the courtroom portrayers are very entertaining.
Ronza Othman, President, National Association of Blind Lawyers
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Fourth Annual Blind Muslims Group Seminar
Salon 14
Diverse in Culture United in Faith: Our struggle in finding our space in the blindness movement. Join us to network and to learn about our group and our involvement. Connect via listserv [email protected] or email the chair, Tasnim Alshuli at [email protected].
Tasnim Alshuli, Chair
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. NOPBC Youth Track
Salon 17
For youth 11-18. Refer to the Youth Track agenda for activity details.
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Greek and Masonic Group
Salon 7
Are you a member of a national Greek organization, the Masons, or the Eastern Star? Help build our relationships with Greek letter organizations to ensure inclusion and participation, to engage in fundraising, and to serve as a resource for the blind considering membership.
Shawn Callaway, Chair
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Blind Christians Group
Salon 16
Publishers of Christian literature will provide an update regarding the work of their respective organizations. Learn about ministries in which blind people are involved in their local communities.
Linda Mentink, Chair
6:00 - 10:00 p.m. NABS Annual Business Meeting
Grand Ballroom A
All are welcome to join our lively division as we dive into all things blind students! Registration begins at 6:00, followed by programming at 7:00. Only members who have completed our membership process before June 30 will be eligible to participate in official business.
Lauren Altman, President
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Blindness in AAPI Communities
Salon 13
Join us to explore the intersection of Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identity and blindness. Discuss unique challenges faced by our community, gain insights, celebrate diverse experiences, foster inclusive communities, and explore pathways to empowerment.
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. SSI and SSDI 101: What You Need to Know
Salon 9
Ever wonder what the difference between Blind Work Expenses and Impairment Related Work Expenses is? Afraid you might go over the SSDI earnings cliff? Hear from an expert on these programs and have all your questions answered.
Michael Dalto, Social Security Expert
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. NFB in Judaism Meeting
Salon 8
Join us as we hear from Rabbi Larry Sarko as he shares his Braille Sefer Torah Scroll. We will also hear from Livia Thompson, Executive Director, JBI International, on what that outstanding organization is working on. We will also have some time to meet each other.
Stewart Prost, Chair
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Advancing our Advocacy: Legislative Meet Up
Salon 12
An opportunity for members interested in advocating for the rights of the nation’s blind to interact with our government affairs specialists and exchange strategies to advance our legislative priorities at the local, state, and federal levels.
Jesse Shirek, Jeff Kaloc, and Justin Young, Government Affairs Specialists, National Federation of the Blind