Our NFB '24 convention sponsors are hosting virtual seminars to explain their accessibility features and more.
Welcome to the National Federation of the Blind National Convention Virtual Experience, a dedicated online space for exclusive convention activities. We are excited to offer opportunities for engagement and connection to participants who are unable to attend the convention in-person.
Our Belief Message
The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.
Our Core Values
- Believe in blind people
- Lead courageously
- Champion collective action
- Foster inclusion
- Dream big
Registration
The Virtual Experience registration fee is 10 dollars. Registration includes access to the convention mobile app and opportunity to win door prizes. Registration closed on July 8, 2024.
How to Access
There are several ways to access the virtual experience. Closed captions and Spanish will be provided on the Zoom platform, and you may also access the closed captions/transcript through 1CapApp. You have to be on the app or web to access. The Zoom links are provided in the agenda below and NFB24 app.
Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/97729777580
During the Resolutions, Board of Directors, General Sessions, and the Banquet. You can also use the following ways to access:
- YouTube Stream, select the "Live" tab and the live video will start at the beginning of the release.
- Access our live stream by asking your Amazon device to play "Nation's Blind"
Schedule and Agenda
The National Convention Virtual Experience is from July 3 through 8 along with pre-convention activities to prepare and access to the mobile app. Registered participants will receive email information for the app during the pre-convention week.
Pre-Convention Activities
Join the following events to prepare for convention.
June 24 at 11:00 a.m. Prepare for the #NFB24 Virtual Experience
Access the recording of the virtual session, "Prepare for the #NFB24 Virtual Experience."
"Prepare for the #NFB24 Virtual Experience" Transcript
For those participating in the virtual experience, we will be sharing tips for making sure your voice is heard at convention. Join us to learn about resolutions, engaging with your delegate, interacting on social media, and navigating the convention app.
June 26 at 8:00 p.m. Exhibitor Showcase
Access the NFB24 Virtual Exhibitor Preview. Passcode: DJ9zt!rr
NFB24 Virtual Exhibitor Preview Transcript
Get a preview of what to expect in the exhibit hall and how to connect with exhibitors.
June 27 at 8:00 p.m. Sponsor Preview
Access the NFB24 Virtual Sponsor Preview. Passcode: fimvS#24
Transcript coming soon.
Meet our sponsors and preview their innovations.
Wednesday, July 3
The virtual access: Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
1CapApp Event: https://ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Virtual Experience Exclusive Event: Welcome to Convention from the Presidential Suite
Access the recording of the Virtual Experience Exclusive Event: Welcome to Convention from the Presidential Suite. Transcript coming soon.
Thursday, July 4
The virtual access: Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
1CapApp Event: https://ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Virtual Experience Exclusive Event: Sounds from around Convention
1:00 p.m. Resolutions Committee
Friday, July 5
The virtual access: Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
1CapApp Event: https://ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
9:00 - 11:30 a.m. NFB Board Meeting
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Virtual Experience Exclusive Event: All About Employment
Saturday, July 6
The virtual access: Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
1CapApp Event: https://ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Opening General Session
- Call to Order and Invocation
- Presentation of Colors and Pledge of Allegiance
National Association of Blind Veterans, a Division of the National Federation of the Blind - 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 - Roll Call of States and Appointment of Nominating Committee
- Reports and Resolutions
- Adjourn
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. General Session II
- Call to Order
- Presidential Report
Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland - 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
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 - Reports and Resolutions
- Adjourn
Sunday, July 7
The virtual access: Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
1CapApp Event: https://ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. General Session III
- Call to Order and Invocation
- Financial Report, Including the Honor Roll Call
- 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
Tom Pey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Waymap; Bromley, England - Reports and Resolutions
- Adjourn
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. General Session IV
- Call to Order
- Reflections on Collective Action: Fifty Years after 504 and the Value of Nothing Without Us
Shawn Callaway, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind, and President, National Federation of the Blind of the District of Columbia; Washington, District of Columbia
Dennis Billups, Lifelong Blind Advocate; San Francisco, California - 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
Jeff Kaloc, NFB Government Affairs Specialist; Baltimore, Maryland; Jesse Shirek, NFB Government Affairs Specialist; Baltimore, Maryland; Justin Young, NFB Government Affairs Specialist; Baltimore, Maryland - Reports, Resolutions, and Other Business
- Adjourn
Monday, July 8
The virtual access: Zoom meeting ID: 977 2977 7580
1CapApp Event: https://ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. General Session V
- Call to Order and Invocation
- 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; 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 - Reports and Resolutions
- Adjourn
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. General Session VI
- Call to Order
- 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 - 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
Deepa Goraya, First Vice President, National Association of Blind Lawyers; Washington, District of Columbia - 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 - Reports and Resolutions
- Adjourn
7:00 p.m. Banquet
- Invocation
- Master of Ceremonies: Pam Allen, Chairperson of the Board, National Federation of the Blind, and President, National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana; Ruston, Louisiana
- Introductions and Presentations
- Banquet Address: Mark A. Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
- Scholarship Awards
Continue the #NFB24 Experience: Virtual Seminars Presented by Our Sponsors
Open House for Accessible Science, sponsored by Independence Science
Target Accessibility: Meet the Team and Ask Questions
Leader Dogs for the Blind: We're More Than Guide Dogs
Accessible Absentee Voting, Presented by Democracy Live
OrCam's Innovative Assistive Technology: For You and Your Business
Estate Planning and Special Needs Trust: Prepare for Your Family’s Future
Open House for Accessible Science, sponsored by Independence Science
Join the staff of Independence Science as we demo equipment and techniques for accessible science. Content will include low-tech and high-tech solutions for use in science lab courses. Bring your curiosity and your questions.
Speakers: Michael Hingson, Greg Williams, Charis Glatthar, and Annalise Diadado.
Date and Time: 7/15/2024 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT.
How to Join: Please send the word science to either 219-730-9699 or [email protected] to receive the Zoom information.
Target Accessibility: Meet the Team and Ask Questions
Join us to meet members of our team, learn about what we do to make our digital experiences accessible for guests and team members, and how we do it. We'll leave plenty of time for questions and feedback from the audience.
Speakers: Hai Nguyen Ly and members of Target's digital accessibility team
Date and Time: 7/16/2024 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT.
Zoom details: https://target.zoom.us/j/95446069957
Leader Dogs for the Blind: We're More Than Guide Dogs
Leader Dogs for the Blind is a nonprofit organization providing people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills for safe and independent daily travel using a guide dog or a white cane. Learn about Leader Dog's free orientation and mobility, guide dog, Teen O&M and a Teen Summer Camp.
Speakers: Leslie Hoskins, COMS and Alyssa Otis, GDMI.
Date and Time: 7/17/2024 from 1:00pm-2:00pm EST.
Zoom details: https://leaderdog-org.zoom.us/j/84621688795
Meeting ID: 846 2168 8795
Passcode: 342185
Accessible Absentee Voting, Presented by Democracy Live
Demonstration of our Accessible Absentee Ballot as well as general discussion on advocating for this very important accessible voting tool.
Speakers: Charlie Kinnune, Curtis Chow, Melissa Carney
Date and Time: 7/18/2024 at 4:00 p.m. PST.
Zoom details: https://democracylive.zoom.us/j/81532041534
Meeting ID: 815 3204 1534
Passcode: 817595
OrCam's Innovative Assistive Technology: For You and Your Business
Join us to learn about how the latest OrCam technology and devices can help you run your business more independently. Ask questions about our technology, see features demonstrated and learn about how you can receive these devices through your VR counselor.
Speakers: Bali March, VP North America and Corinne Nero, Senior Area Sales Manager
Date and Time: 7/22/2024 at 7:00 PM EST.
Zoom details: https://zoom.us/j/94341568742
Meeting ID: 943 4156 8742
Passcode: 6ENgjK
Estate Planning and Special Needs Trust: Prepare for Your Family’s Future
Learn about investment & estate planning and how to leverage trust options, including special needs trusts.
Speaker: Chris Hunter, Vice President, Investment Officer, Financial Advisor and Myrian Garrett, CTFA, Senior Lead Fiduciary Advisory Specialist.
Date and Time: 7/25/2024 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
How to Join: Please email Chris Hunter at [email protected] and an online registration link will be sent following receipt.