2024 National Convention

If you missed national convention, access materials, highlights, audio, transcripts, and more.

The 2024 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind was held Wednesday, July 3, 2024 through Monday, July 8, 2024 at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida.

Key Reports

Agenda

2024 National Convention Agenda (HTML)
2024 National Convention Agenda (Word)
2024 National Convention Agenda (BRF)
2024 National Convention Agenda (MP3)
Introduction
Wednesday, July 3
Thursday, July 4
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Sunday, July 7
Monday, July 8
Convention Notes
Navigating the Hotel
Convention Sponsors
Agenda de la Convención Nacional de 2024 Spanish

Convention Highlights

The following General Sessions materials include, audio, transcripts, and video.

Board Meeting

General Session I

In the Federation We Trust: Welcoming the Family Back to Florida

National Federation of the Blind of Florida Board of Directors

Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized

Vernon Humphrey, President, National Association of Blind Veterans, a Division of the National Federation of the Blind; Mauk, Georgia

General Session II

General Session II (transcript)

Leading Courageously with Higher Expectations: Braille, Teacher Preparation, and the Continued Influence of the Organized Blind Movement

Casey Robertson, Faculty, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, and Educational Advocate; Ruston, Louisiana

Dreaming Big Together: The Monarch and the Butterfly Effect of Partnership

Craig Meador, President, American Printing House; Louisville, Kentucky, Bruce Miles, General Manager, Professional Solutions, and Head of HumanWare, EssilorLuxottica Canada; Montréal, Québec, Canada, Katie Carlock, Parent of Blind Child; Porterdale, Georgia, Kennedy Carlock, Blind Student; Porterdale, Georgia, and Gina Fugate, Teacher of Blind Students, Maryland School for the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

Living a Life Dedicated to Justice: Raising Expectations at the Calgary Police Service

Robert Fenton KC, Director of Legal Services, Calgary Police Service, and Chair, Board of Directors, Canadian National Institute for the Blind; Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Inclusion by Example: Adventures of a Blind Woman Navigating the Oceans of STEM Professionals

Amy Bower, Physical Oceanography Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Woods Hole, Massachusetts

General Session III

General Session III (transcript)

Elections

Expanding Access to the World’s Knowledge: An Update on Library Services Centering the Blind

Jason Broughton, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled; Washington, District of Columbia

Indoor Navigation: Access to Information and Blind-Led Innovations

Moderator: Mike May, Member, National Federation of the Blind of Nevada
Panel: Charlie Meredith, Chief Technology Officer, GoodMaps; Louisville, Kentucky, and Tom Pey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Waymap; Bromley, England

General Session IV

General Session IV (transcript)

Blind History Lady

Putting Our Values into Action: A Report on Twenty Years of Innovative Research and Training Driven by the Blind

Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

We Belong: A Report on Our Collective Progress toward Equality in America and Beyond

Moderator: John G. Paré Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
Panel: Jeff Kaloc, NFB Government Affairs Specialist; Baltimore, Maryland, Jesse Shirek, NFB Government Affairs Specialist; Baltimore, Maryland, and Justin Young, NFB Government Affairs Specialist; Baltimore, Maryland

General Session V

General Session V (transcript)

Umbrella Mosaic

Raising Expectations at Social Security: The Influence of the Organized Blind in Improving and Modernizing Essential Programs

Roderick Hairston, Deputy Associate Commissioner for the Office of Electronic Services and Technology, Social Security Administration; Washington, District of Columbia

Shaping Twenty-First Century Rehabilitation Systems: Leadership, Partnership, and High Expectations

Moderator: Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
Panel: Cassondra Williams-Stokes, President, National Council of State Agencies for the Blind; Little Rock, Arkansas, and Stephen Wooderson, Chief Executive Officer, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation; Washington, District of Columbia

Leading Courageously in Art: Poetry, Sensibility, and Aesthetics of Sharing Our Unseen Stories

Set Hernandez, Filmmaker and Community Organizer, Director/Producer of the Film unseen; San Fernando Valley, California

All the Barriers We Cannot See: A Behind-the-Scenes View on Authentic Representation of the Blind in Film

Joe Strechay, Accessibility Consultant for Film and Television, Producer and Consultant for the Apple TV+ Series See; Fayetteville, West Virginia

Centering on Disability Talent and Employment: Making Space by Controlling Our Own Pathways to Success

Keely Cat-Wells, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Making Space; Los Angeles, California

Dreaming Big: The Influence of Blind-Centered Experience and Direction on Artificial Intelligence

Bryan Bashin, Vice-Chair, Be My Eyes; Berkeley, California

Fostering Inclusive AI: Bridging the Gap between Lived Experiences and Artificial Intelligence

Suman Kanuganti, Chief Executive Officer, Personal.ai; San Diego, California

General Session VI

General Session VI (transcript)

The Seventeenth Annual Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards

Everette Bacon, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind; Salt Lake City, Utah

Closing the Door on Discrimination: Championing the Blind in Society through Civil Rights Protections at the Department of Justice

Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice; Washington, District of Columbia

Leveraging Collective Wisdom: Updates on Building a Blind-Centered Platform Integrating Human and Artificial Intelligences

Troy Otillio, Chief Executive Officer, Aira Tech Corp; Carlsbad, California

From Blind-Centered to Inclusion Leader: Improving Health Management through Equal Access

Andy Burstein, Chief Executive Officer, Accessible Pharmacy Services; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Telling Our Stories: A Conversation about Blindness, Justice, and Shattering Misconceptions from the Federal Bench

David Tatel, Retired Federal Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and Senior Counsel, Hogan Lovells; Washington, District of Columbia, and Deepa Goraya, First Vice President, National Association of Blind Lawyers; Washington, District of Columbia