2020 National Convention

The 2020 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind was held virtually Tuesday, July 14 through Saturday, July 18, 2020.

Key Reports

Sponsors

Thank you to the sponsor organizations of the 2020 National Convention. You can still view their profile pages on the virtual event platform.

Agenda

The agenda of the 2020 National Convention was available in several formats.

Audio Highlights

2020 Rookie Roundup

Welcoming Ceremonies: From Houston to Everywhere

2020 Presidential Report

A Commitment to Progress through Accessibility: Answering the Call of the Nation’s Blind to Provide Educational Products and Services (Tim Bozik, President, Global Product & North America Courseware, Pearson; Hoboken, New Jersey) 

A Test of Strength and Equality: Blind Students Organize against the College Board (Kaleigh Brendle, Student; Freehold, New Jersey) 

From Chameleon to Mantis and Beyond: A Partnership of Shared Value with the Organized Blind Movement (Craig Meador, President, American Printing House for the Blind; Louisville, Kentucky)

Authentic Intelligence: A Blind Researcher Bringing Wisdom to the Future of Technology Innovations (Cynthia Bennett, Postdoctoral Researcher, Carnegie Mellon; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Advancing Technology Inspired by the Blind: The Vispero Journey Leads to Independence (Tom Tiernan, President and CEO, Vispero; Clearwater, Florida)

Starting Up with the Blind: Remarks from a Partner and Introduction to Luther Primes (Suman Kanuganti, CEO, Luther.ai; San Diego, California)

Making Gains for Blind Americans: Leadership in the United States Senate (The Honorable Dick Durbin, United States Senator; Illinois) 

Our Roots: Advancing Human Rights and the Tradition of Serving Our Nation (Mariyam Cementwala, US Diplomat; Washington, DC) 

Using Knowledge to Inform, Inspire, and Engage: Perspectives on Equal Access from the Largest Library in the World (Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, US Library of Congress; Washington, DC) 

Equal Justice Under Law: A Blind Clerk Blazes a Trail Behind the Scenes at the Supreme Court (Laura Wolk, Law Clerk to the Honorable Clarence Thomas, October Term 2019; Washington, DC)

Leveraging the Power of the ADA to Secure Our Right to Live in the World for Thirty Years: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going, from the Federation’s Perspective (Moderator: Scott Labarre, President, National Association of Blind Lawyers; President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado; Denver, Colorado)

From the Heart to the Hand: A Blind Artist Advancing Touch for Over Forty Years (Michael Naranjo, Sculptor; Albuquerque, New Mexico) 

Broadcasting the Authentic Perspective of Blindness: A Conversation with a Blind YouTuber Who Is Advancing a Positive Image (Molly Burke, YouTuber; Los Angeles, California; Mary Fernandez, People and Communities Consultant, Cisco Systems; Woodbridge, New Jersey)

Movie Enjoyment Made Easy: Innovations to Include All Subscribers at Netflix (Greg Peters, Chief Product Officer, Netflix; Los Gatos, California)

Protecting and Expanding the Right of the Blind to Live in the World: A Report from the Advocacy and Policy Department

Not Blind to Color in the Federation: A Panel on the Experience of Black and Blind in America (Moderator: Ever Lee Hairston, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind; Los Angeles, California)

Connecting with the Heartbeat of the Federation: A Report from the Jernigan Institute (Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland)

2020 Banquet Speech ("Language, Action, and Destiny: The Lived Experience of the Organized Blind Movement")