2025 National Convention

The 2025 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind was held Tuesday, July 8, through Sunday, July 13, 2025 at the New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Convention Highlights

Below are the resolutions, presidential report, and banquet speech which are available in multiple formats.

Presidential Report

President Riccobono recaps the combined accomplishments of members, affiliates, and staff.

Banquet Speech

President Riccobono highlights the organized blind movement's role in advancing the truth about the capabilities of blind people and sharing narratives to challenge societal misconceptions.

Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the advancement of blind people.

Platinum: Google, Microsoft, Meta, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Wells Fargo, WhyAmIUp.

Gold: Amazon, Be My Eyes, Oracle, Salesforce, Target, Vispero.

Silver: Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, CVS Health, Delta Airlines,  Market Development Group, UBER.

Bronze: American Printing House, Centene Corporation, Chris Park, Cruise, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, HumanWare, Lyft, National Industries for the Blind, Mobile Voting, Spectrum, United Airlines.

White Cane: Aira, AccessAbility Officer, AGIGA, Inc, ABLE today at the National Association of State Treasurers, American Foundation for the Blind, AudioEye, Computers for the Blind, Democracy Live, En-Vision America, Envision-US, Feeldom, LLC, Govivid, Ike Smart City, Independence Science, Innosearch AI, Inc., Jackson Walker LLP, Leader Dogs for the Blind, McGraw Hill, Mohawk Groupm Penny Forward, Personal.ai, PLANETS, Saavi Services for the Blind, Sam's Club, Selvas BLV, VitalSource.

Agenda

Browse the national convention agenda. It is available in multiple formats:

General Session Recap

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

Board Meeting

General Session I

Who Dat: A Welcome from the Louisiana Federation Family

2025 National Convention Host Committee: The National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana

Presentation of Colors and Pledge of Allegiance

National Association of Blind Veterans, a Division of the National Federation of the Blind; Goodyear, Arizona

“Access On” through Collective Action: Mobilizing Leadership through Blind-Centered Technology Perspectives

Jonathan Mosen, Executive Director for Accessibility Excellence, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

Accessibility, AI, and Community Engagement: A Growing Relationship Between Meta and the Organized Blind Movement 

Maxine Williams, Vice President, Head of Accessibility and Engagement, Meta; Menlo Park, California

Copiloting Accessibility in Partnership with the Blind: Reflections on the Past Decade and the Future at Microsoft

Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Vice President, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft; Redmond, Washington

Meaningful Social Security for Blind Americans: A New Era of Opportunities

Frank Bisignano, Commissioner, Social Security Administration; Washington, District of Columbia 

Collective Action through Financial Technology: Utilizing Disability Wisdom to Build Meaningful Innovations

John Ciocca, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Purple; New York, New York

America's Library for the Blind: An Update on Continued Collaboration with the Organized Blind Movement

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

Building a Constellation of Opportunities: A Blind Astronomer Researching the Cosmos with Multisensorial Perception

Wanda Díaz-Merced, Astronomer and Director of Science in Braille Global Office of Excellence; Gurabo, Puerto Rico

Equal Protection Under the Law Demands Collective Action: The Blind and Our Right to Live in the World

Eve Hill, General Counsel, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

Power by the People: A Progress Report on Our Collective Advocacy Achievements

John G. Paré Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland, Jesse Shirek, NFB Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland, Sanho Steele-Louchart, Legal Program Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland, and Justin Young, NFB Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 

Blind-Centered Innovations through JAWS for Windows: Celebrating Thirty Years and a Commitment to Leadership into the Future

Ryan Jones, Vice President Software Product Management, Vispero; Clearwater, Florida and Glen Gordon, Software Fellow, Vispero; Clearwater, Florida

Accessible Independent Check-Out: Blind-Centered Leadership Makes All the Difference

Jake Konerza, Director of Digital Accessibility, Target; Minneapolis, Minnesota

A Commitment to High Expectations: Leadership through Reflecting the Hopes of Blind People in Education

Anne Lancaster, Vice President, Innovation and Strategy, American Printing House for the Blind; Louisville, Kentucky 

Sexual Health Education and Research: A Community-Centered Approach Driven by the Blind

Mika Baugh, PhD, Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health; Bloomington, Indiana

Museum of the Blind People's Movement: Building Support to Shatter Misconceptions

The Eighteenth Annual Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards

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

The Quest for Equal Access: Innovating Blind-Centered Maps and Diagrams

Brandon Biggs, Chief Executive Officer, XR Navigation; Gilroy, California

From My Story to Our Story: A Life Shaped by Collective Action

Chris Danielsen, Braille Monitor Editor, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

Lived Experience in Action: Blind Leadership Comes to the Lighthouse Guild

Thomas Panek, Chief Executive Officer, Lighthouse Guild; New York, New York

Perspectives on Growing Pains in the Organized Blind Movement: A Panel of Student Leaders