Convention Roundup #NFB24

Introduction

The annual national convention of the National Federation of the Blind is often compared to a reunion or homecoming. This seems particularly applicable to #NFB24, as the convention was known on social media and its dedicated mobile app. Not only were veteran convention attendees reconnecting with our extended chosen Federation family, but we were also on familiar ground at the beautiful Rosen Centre Hotel in the heart of downtown Orlando, Florida. This was the site of our seventy-fifth anniversary convention in 2015, at which we broke a world record, and where the National Federation of the Blind proudly hosted the 2016 General Assembly of the World Blind Union. It seemed that many Rosen Centre staff were looking forward to the convention as much as we were. On Wednesday, July 3, the first convention morning, they greeted us with their expected courtesy, friendliness, and efficient service. Staff at the large hotel restaurant known as Café Gaugin not only served many of us our first hearty breakfast from its buffet (including your humble correspondent, who being a Southern boy at heart was delighted to find decent grits available), but also eagerly directed crowds toward the registration area just beyond the restaurant. These helpful staff members joined volunteers from other Rosen properties, where we have also held conventions and which were serving as overflow hotels, in helping the convention run smoothly and making sure everyone found the meeting or gathering they were looking for. Of course, our Convention Ambassadors, the Federation volunteers who serve as "talking signs" and assist in other ways, were also on hand.

Some Federationists had risen well before convention registration started to attend the annual daylong conference of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) or the twenty-third annual Contemporary Issues in Rehabilitation and Education for the Blind Conference sponsored by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board and the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness.

Many of the rest packed the ballroom foyer to wait patiently in the registration and preregistration lines while greeting each other and discussing their plans for the upcoming week. Registrants and preregistrants received a packet containing their convention name badge and any banquet tickets they had purchased, and many received a QR code so that they could start playing a trivia game created by the consultants working with the Federation to create the Museum of the Blind People’s Movement. On the twenty-fourth floor, the Presidential Suite was also receiving guests, who enjoyed coffee, snacks, and the opportunity to meet President Mark Riccobono and other Federation leaders and staff. The afternoon brought the annual career fair sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind Employment Committee. Some seven hundred people, most of them attending their first convention, gathered for the "Rookie Roundup" that evening, where they were welcomed by President Riccobono, First Vice President Pam Allen, and others who helped to give them a preview of the convention and tips for making the most of it.

Throughout this first day and the rest of the convention, many other meetings or breakout sessions took place. They included gatherings of Federation divisions, committees, and groups; presentations by some of our sponsors; "Youth Track" activities for children, teens, and their families sponsored by the NOPBC; and much more. Readers can obtain an overview of the hundreds of convention activities by reviewing the #NFB24 agenda, which is available at https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2024-national-convention-agenda . We have highlighted only a few of them in this article to give a flavor of the variety of activities available. We have asked committee, division, and group leaders to provide reports of the meetings they led or attended, so we are hopeful that this request will bring additional content in the coming months.

Overview of the Virtual Experience

In keeping with a tradition begun in 2022, the first in-person convention after the COVID-19 pandemic, those who could not attend #NFB24 for whatever reason were invited to participate in a virtual experience. This allows those who cannot attend the convention to audit the general sessions, as well as the meetings of the Resolutions Committee and Board of Directors. They can also access exclusive content designed to give a taste of the rest of the convention. The first of the virtual experience sessions during the convention proper was an extensive welcome from the Presidential Suite beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning. For two hours, Federation First Lady Melissa Riccobono, with some help from Membership Building Coordinator Danielle McCann and your correspondent, gave listeners a sense of the conversation and activity among visitors to the Presidential Suite and previewed the other content that would be available to virtual experience participants in the coming days. Much of the exclusive virtual convention content is now posted on our 2024 convention archive page, which readers can visit at https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/past-conventions/2024-national-convention . This page also contains many of the presentations you will read about in the following pages, in case you cannot wait to experience them in this and future issues of this magazine.

Day Two: Exhibit Hall and Independence Market Open, Resolutions Committee Meets, and More

The next day was July 4, Independence Day. This is an important celebration for our nation, but also coincided nicely with the first opportunity for attendees to visit the Federation’s Independence Market and check out some of its over four hundred offerings, from our ever-popular white canes and Braille writing supplies to the brand new Rubik’s Sensory Cube, which uses tactile markings along with colors to allow blind people to solve the "world’s most popular puzzle" independently. The National Federation of the Blind worked directly with Spin Master, the global entertainment company that holds the rights to Rubik’s Cube, to create this product and its accessible packaging, which incorporates Braille. The rest of our convention exhibit hall was open as well, boasting everything from the latest and greatest technology products to various swag being offered by Federation affiliates in exchange for donations. The exhibitors included many of our convention sponsors, which have the thanks of our movement for helping to make this enormous annual undertaking possible. Here is a complete list of these valued partners by sponsorship level.

Platinum:

• Google
• Microsoft
• Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24)
• Oracle
• Vispero
• Waymo
• Wells Fargo

Gold:

• Amazon
• Target

Silver:

• Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP
• Delta Airlines
• JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Market Development Group
• Uber

Bronze:

• American Printing House
• AmGen
• Centene Corporation
• Charter Communications
• Cruise
• CVS Health
• Guiding Eyes for the Blind
• HumanWare
• United Airlines
• Zoox

White Cane:

• ABLE United / ABLE Today
• Aira
• AllyADA
• American Foundation for the Blind
• C&P-Chris Park Technology
• Central Intelligence Agency
• Computers for the Blind
• Democracy Live
• En-Vision America
• Envision, Inc.
• GoodMaps
• IKE Smart City
• Jackson Walker LLP
• Leader Dogs for the Blind
• McGraw Hill
• National Industries for the Blind
• National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
• OrCam
• Penny Forward
• Personal.ai
• Saavi Services for the Blind
• Selvas BLV, formerly HIMS Inc.
• Sensotec
• Tactile Engineering / Independence Science

Meanwhile, beginning at 11 a.m., virtual experience participants could listen into a sampling of audio from throughout the convention as part of their exclusive content package. This lively and fun presentation is available on the convention archive page referenced above.

One of the most important functions of the national convention is as the supreme governing authority of our movement. Not only are annual elections held, but our policy priorities for the coming year and beyond are set. That process begins with the meeting of the Resolutions Committee, which by longstanding tradition took place on the convention’s second afternoon. The Resolutions Committee receives proposed policy statements from members of the Federation, debates them, and takes an initial vote that determines whether the committee will recommend that the full convention pass each resolution during one of its general sessions. During the committee meeting, a proponent is asked to speak in favor of each resolution and answer questions from committee members. Beyond the participation of these proponents, debate takes place exclusively among the committee members at this point. Nonetheless, the meeting is often packed with other convention attendees eager to learn what policy proposals they will be asked to consider later. This year was no exception.

As noted, it was the afternoon of July 4, and fittingly the twenty-two resolutions considered by the committee often touched on the theme of facilitating the greater independence of blind people in a variety of activities, from life’s "fun stuff" such as accessing the many theme parks in Orlando and beyond to more serious matters like managing our own healthcare, receiving nondiscriminatory treatment in employment settings, and purchasing goods and services independently, whether in store or online. Resolutions Chair Donald Porterfield, with help from resolution readers Jennifer Dunnam and Pat Miller and of course the resolution proponents and members of the committee, handled the proceedings with efficiency and aplomb, with all resolutions duly debated and voted upon in just under three hours. Although not all resolutions make it out of the committee in some years, this time the committee sent all twenty-two of the proposals to the convention floor. Accordingly, the text of all resolutions remained posted to the NFB website so that members could read and consider them in advance of floor debate and prepare any comments they wished to make.

The Board Breaks Big News

The morning of Friday, July 5, featured the meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind. While convention attendees could still visit the Exhibit Hall and Independence Market, as well as enjoy other group meetings, sponsor sessions, and more, many chose to be in the grand ballroom for this important kickoff event, considered to be the first general session of the convention. Among other things, the board meeting sets the stage for elections and often provides important news, such as the location of next year’s convention. In addition, some awards are presented, and the thirty national scholarship finalists introduce themselves to the audience. This year’s board meeting did not disappoint on any of these fronts; in fact, it broke more news than usual.

President Riccobono gaveled the meeting to order precisely at nine o’clock and called the roll. All officers and directors were present. President Riccobono then called us to remember Federationists we had lost since our last convention by reading fifty-six of their names and reminding us to lift up those whose names did not make the list but were inscribed on the hearts of all those who knew and loved them. The gathering then recited the Pledge of Allegiance and Federation Pledge. The latter was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, having been proposed by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan at the 1974 convention. President Riccobono then reminded attendees to avoid engaging in conduct that was not welcoming and respectful of others, including jam-packing the elevators, mingling in crowds if we were feeling ill, and wearing fragrances. The upcoming elections were then discussed, with the members up for re-election and those whose terms would continue read to the audience. Ron Brown, second vice president of the Federation, sought the floor and was recognized. Ron said that his philosophy of service is best summed up by a quote from the poet Maya Angelou: "When you get, give; when you know, teach." He recounted his service on the board beginning in Philadelphia in 2001 and his election as second vice president in 2008 in Dallas. He said that, having helped drive the train of our movement, he was ready to kick back with his wife Jean, his "Miss Sunshine," and ride it for a while. President Riccobono thanked Ron for being a "rock" of the board during the transition between Immediate Past President Dr. Marc Maurer and himself and averred that there may never be another board member with as many World Series of Beep Baseball championship rings.

Carla McQuillan was recognized next. She announced that she would not seek the office of president of the National Federation of the Blind of Oregon when it meets for its convention in October and has recently been elected chair of the board of BLIND Inc., our Minnesota blindness skills training center, to help reimagine and reinvigorate its program. She therefore declined to be nominated for another term on the Board of Directors. Joking that her husband, Lucas, was raising money by conducting a poll as to when she would begin to cry, Carla expressed that she did not believe that she would ever be able to give back to the Federation everything that it had given to her, but that she would continue to try. There were indeed a few tears, perhaps not only from Carla. President Riccobono fondly recalled that Carla was one of the first Federationists he met at his own first convention and thanked her for the many years of running NFB Camp, our convention childcare, as well as her board service and her anticipated contributions to BLIND Inc.

Adelmo Vigil then sought the floor to announce that he was concluding his eight years of service on the board. He added, however, that he was quite sure that he would continue to work in the movement, since every time he announced his retirement from something, true retirement seemed to slip further and further away. President Riccobono thanked Adelmo for his service and reflected that he was not the loudest board member, but when he spoke he did so with authenticity and authority that commanded respect.

Our national President then introduced Jorge Hernandez, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, who welcomed us home to Orlando, invited us to visit the Florida hospitality suite, and previewed the exciting opening ceremony that the host affiliate had planned for the first general session.

Then the big news came. John Berggren, chair of convention arrangements, called our attention to various logistics, such as the shuttle transportation among hotels, guide dog relief areas, and banquet ticket exchange. In doing so, he alluded to next year’s convention, but noted that he did not seem to have legibly printed information on where it would be located. President Riccobono responded that his Braille notes were intact and announced that the 2025 convention would take place at two familiar-sounding hotels with competitive rates and ample facilities in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Norma Crosby then sought the floor and was recognized. She slyly stated that she had earlier assured some of her Federation family that the President would never keep secrets from our members, so she was sure that if he knew where conventions were taking place after 2025, he would tell us. President Riccobono wondered if Norma thought perhaps attendance would be harmed at forthcoming conventions if too much information about their locations were provided (she did not think so), and then needled her by asking if she thought there was a better location than New Orleans. Norma replied that she thought there were perhaps some cities that could at least equal New Orleans. This prompted President Riccobono to announce—after revealing dates, hotels, and room rates first to build more suspense—that the 2026 convention would be our first-ever to take place in Austin, Texas. Norma then asked, "Is that all you got?" which prompted the revelation that our 2027 convention will also take place in Austin. Marilyn Green of Illinois was recognized and mentioned that other affiliates might want a convention in their state as well, perhaps in someplace cooler than Texas in summer. "Maybe by a lake?" President Riccobono teased, previewing his revelation that the 2028 and 2029 conventions will be held in Chicago. It is probable that not since the then-pending six Orlando conventions, plus one intervening in Dallas, were revealed in 2010 have so many conventions been previewed at a single board meeting. All of the known convention dates and locations are now posted at nfb.org/convention.

A video presentation from Federationist Sachin Pavithran was then introduced. Sachin’s day job is as executive director of the Access Board, a small, independent federal agency that sets accessibility standards. He announced that in 2025, the entire Access Board, along with key staff, would attend the New Orleans convention and hold an official town hall on the morning of the Resolutions Committee meeting, as well as breakout sessions throughout the rest of the event. He also announced that the Access Board would soon be issuing a new standard regarding the self-service transaction machines that are proliferating across the government and private sector and urged all of us to read it when published and submit our comments. These announcements were greeted with great enthusiasm by the audience, and President Riccobono complimented Sachin and the Access Board for taking the bold and historic step of holding a meeting in conjunction with the largest annual gathering of people with disabilities, its direct constituents.

Critical Committees and Supporting Our Movement

Following all of this thrilling news and throughout the rest of the board meeting, President Riccobono shared more convention logistics and invited the leaders of several important committees and fundraising efforts to make brief presentations. A few highlights of what they had to say are as follows:

Ronza Othman, chair of the Code of Conduct Feedback Committee, reminded members that they are invited and encouraged to provide critical input regarding the organization’s Code of Conduct, which governs the expected behavior of our members and outlines disciplinary procedures for violations, by sending an email to [email protected] or by calling 410-659-9314 (the Federation’s main national office number), then dialing extension 2284. This feedback is confidential; only members of the committee will be aware of the information about individuals submitting the feedback, and the overall results will be aggregated so as not to identify them.

Kenia Flores was introduced as the new cochair of the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She thanked outgoing cochair Colin Wong for his mentorship and service and expressed how much she looks forward to working with cochair Shawn Callaway and the rest of the committee. She also urged listeners to complete their member profiles at www.nfb.org so that the committee will have accurate information about the various intersectionalities and demographics of our membership.

Patti Chang, Director of Outreach and Development, reminded everyone of our critical fundraising initiatives, including our continued acceptance of vehicle donations, which can be made by calling 855-659-9314. She also thanked the convention sponsors mentioned earlier in this article and shared that a fundraiser planned for Blind Equality Achievement Month in October of 2024 will feature a drawing to win the new BT Speak device from Blazie Technologies. Information about all of the ways you can support our movement is at https://nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give , and Patti can be reached at [email protected] or extension 2422.
Tracy Soforenko, chair of our Kenneth Jernigan Fund Committee, which provides scholarships for people who need financial assistance to attend their first convention, announced that the committee received nearly two hundred applications this year and was able to award grants to 111 individuals and families, the largest class of awardees in the fund’s history.

Everette Bacon, board secretary and chair of the White Cane Fund, reminded the audience of this fund’s importance, as it is our general fund that supports much of the work of our organization. He encouraged all to participate in the "Dream Big, Give 25" campaign to support this fund before it ended at the close of general session the next day, pointing out that this would not only help our movement but give donors a chance to win exciting and valuable prizes, including a trip to next year’s convention or a Monarch dynamic tactile display.

Marilyn Green, chair of the Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) Committee, reminded us of the importance of that effort and encouraged the friendly but fierce competition among affiliates that is always part of the national convention.

Sandy Halverson, reporting virtually from Virginia as her husband John, a leader in his own right, recovered from a stroke, chairs the SUN Fund Committee, and reminded listeners of its critical importance in serving as the emergency fund of our organization. She urged us to find creative ways to support the fund, including passing a "SUN basket" at caucuses and events to add to the relatively small but critically important balance.

In the absence of its board chair Kathryn Webster, who had been called away from the meeting by her employer and could not present her virtual report, President Riccobono reminded the audience that our Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Fund supports and manages our property in Baltimore. He announced that the tenBroek Fund board has authorized the construction of a new, covered guide dog relief area on this property.

Distinguished Educator and Scholarship Presentations

Carla McQuillan chairs the committee that selects the recipient of the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award. She took the microphone for the second time during the board meeting to announce this year’s winner. The full presentation and the winner’s acceptance remarks, along with the official press release announcing the award, appear elsewhere in this issue.
The final presentation of the morning, and probably the most eagerly anticipated portion of the board meeting except perhaps for the future convention reveals, was given by Cayte Mendez, who chairs the National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Committee. Her task was to announce the thirty finalists for the scholarships and allow them to introduce themselves briefly to the convention. The winners of scholarships were announced later at the convention banquet. Full information about the scholarship finalists and awards appears elsewhere in this issue. Following the presentation of the scholarship class, Federation First Vice President and Board Chair Pam Allen moved that the scholarship program be continued. The motion was quickly seconded and unanimously adopted.

Before closing the meeting, President Riccobono invited Pam Allen to give some brief additional remarks. Pam’s comments focused on the core values of our organization, as adopted in our strategic plan published in the July 2023 issue of this magazine. Here is what Pam had to say in closing the board meeting:

Thank you. Hello, my Federation family! I’m thrilled to be here with all of you for our 2024 convention. And whether you’re here in person or participating through our Virtual Experience, I know you feel the energy and the love. I want to commend President Jorge Hernandez and our Florida team for all of their outstanding hospitality, and I want to send a special shout-out to our first-time attendees. It was great to be together at the Rookie Roundup where our first-timers learned firsthand how to make the most out of their convention. Just like today, the excitement in the room was palpable, and our convention veterans and KJ Committee members did an extraordinary job.

This convention I encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities. As we gather this week, let us reflect on our core values:

We believe in the potential of blind people to achieve our dreams. We lead courageously, taking bold steps toward a more inclusive society. We champion collective action, knowing that together we are stronger. We foster inclusion and celebrate our diversity, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued, and we dream big because the possibilities are limitless. When we believe in ourselves and one another, we have the power to shape our own destinies.

How fortunate we are to have been nurtured by our leaders like Dr. and Mrs. Maurer, Dr. and Mrs. Jernigan, and so many who showed us how to live our philosophy through our actions and words. I also want to acknowledge and celebrate the exceptional leadership of President Riccobono.

Your unwavering commitment to each of us and to our mission transforms lives. Your leadership has been instrumental in driving our mission forward, guided by our core values, and we are so grateful to you and to Melissa for your loving dedication, which motivates us all. I want to thank each of you for being here and for the work we’re doing this week, but also all year at our local and state levels. We could not turn our dreams into reality without you, and if you have not joined yet, we hope that you will. Whether this is your first convention or your fifty-first, I know you will leave here uplifted and renewed, ready to spread our message.

Eleanor Roosevelt said: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Let’s embrace our dreams with determination and optimism, knowing that together, we can achieve extraordinary things. Happy convention! Let’s go build the National Federation of the Blind!

It is worth noting here that the core values Pam mentioned were the guiding theme of the convention. The registration badges contained the words "believe, lead, champion, include, dream big" and the print and Braille bracelets that many attendees received read "Believe in blind people 2024."

After Pam’s stirring remarks, the board meeting was adjourned. Those who stayed tuned in to the virtual experience heard a one-on-one discussion between Danielle McCann and Lia Stone, who cochairs the NFB Employment Committee along with Jennifer Wenzel. The employment efforts that this committee helps to direct include a career fair that takes place as part of each convention. Lia reported that this year’s career fair, which had taken place Wednesday afternoon, was an outstanding success, with some thirty employers and some 170 job seekers participating. She noted that representatives of employers who had not participated were impressed and approached her to say that they would join the event next year. She also answered questions from the virtual audience, relaying employment tips and insights from her own professional journey. This conversation is archived on the 2024 convention page mentioned above.

The balance of Friday brought the business meetings of many of the divisions and groups of the National Federation of the Blind, as well as the annual Braille Book Fair sponsored by our partner organization, the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. President Riccobono had noted during the board meeting that 181 boxes of books were received for the book fair, with plenty of reading material for both children and adults.

The First General Session Begins

The opening general session of #NFB24 was set to begin at nine o’clock on the morning of July 6, and like all Federation meetings, it started on time. Well before it commenced, though, Federationists who had found their affiliate delegations and snagged seats early were loudly and enthusiastically directing others from their affiliate to join them. The deep, sonorous voice of Dwight Sayer, immediate past president of the National Association of Blind Veterans, was also heard directing all veterans, active-duty personnel, and reservists to come to the right of the stage in preparation for the Celebration of Freedom, a beloved tradition that he helped to inaugurate. President Riccobono brought the convention to order at the appointed time, and introduced Linda Mentink, chair of the Blind Christians Group, for the opening invocation. After the first door prize, current NABV President Dr. Vernon Humphrey was introduced. He in turn summoned the color guard, which brought the American flag and the standards of the United States Armed Forces to the stage. Our national anthem was sung, and then the color guard was dismissed. Vernon thanked the local Shriners for assisting with the patriotic opening, then turned the microphone back over to President Riccobono. The President took a moment to thank the Youth Track participants for gifting him with a new hat, featuring a parrot, in honor of our Florida convention, mentioning past gifts from them as well, including his rubber chicken, Banquet. He named the parrot hat Buffet. He then introduced host affiliate President Jorge Hernandez, who once again welcomed us all and then introduced Tomasito Cruz and the Ritmo Latino Band. This high-energy combo, led by its Grammy-winning percussionist, soon had some singing along and many others dancing in the aisles as it played a spirited set of authentic Latin songs and familiar Latin-flavored pop and rock tunes. The energetic performance was all the more impressive given that, as Danielle McCann learned in conversation with their manager and relayed later to virtual listeners, they were reporting to our convention after a gig the night before that had lasted until 4 a.m.

The musicians took brief breaks to allow Kaye Baker and Camille Tate, the secretary and first vice president of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, respectively, to introduce themselves.

Celebration of Freedom and Roll Call of States

This electrifying opening ceremony was followed by the Celebration of Freedom. Vernon Humphrey introduced the thirty-six individuals connected to the Armed Forces who had earlier assembled on stage. These heroes briefly introduced themselves and the service branches they represented, and in some cases identified the conflicts in which they served. Each received a Freedom Ribbon to affix to their convention badge. A small choir of Federationists completed the ceremony by performing "God Bless America." Vernon then thanked the Federation family, the "hidden army" of staff and volunteers that makes the convention happen, and President Riccobono. He then presented the President a check from the division in the amount of $11,574.91. Readers are strongly urged to experience the full breadth of this powerful celebration by viewing or listening to it from our #NFB24 archive page.

It was then time for the Roll Call of States. To keep delegates on their toes, and to ensure that delegations toward the end of the alphabet were not rushed, the roll call this year proceeded in reverse alphabetical order. This meant that Wyoming would have been first, but President Riccobono noted that no delegation from that state was present. He mentioned, however, that members of the Colorado affiliate, the national board, and the national staff had recently participated in an event to start rebuilding the affiliate, and that he hoped that a Wyoming delegation would be present in New Orleans next year. Each of the fifty-one delegates present, in turn, identified themselves and their alternate delegate, appointed their affiliate representative to the Nominating Committee, and announced the date and location of their affiliate convention if known, along with whether a national representative had been appointed by President Riccobono to attend it. Many also took a moment or three to identify Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship recipients and other first-time conventioneers, scholarship finalists, representatives from their state rehabilitation agencies, students of training programs, and other noteworthy individuals seated in their delegations. They also touted their various programs, including NFB BELL® Academies and STEM2U events. Minnesota President Corbb O’Connor announced that the affiliate was successful in getting protections for parents with disabilities and a requirement for accessible prescription drug labels passed into law. Ronza Othman, president of the Maryland affiliate, touted its recent legislative achievements as well, including a grant from the state legislature for the Museum of the Blind People’s Movement. Colorado also passed accessible prescription labeling legislation, as well as securing a grant for more assistance to the blind in rural parts of the state. Arizona announced that in October of 2023, SAAVI Services for the Blind became the latest official Structured Discovery training center. President Riccobono then appointed Pam Allen chair of the Nominating Committee that had just been appointed by the delegates. After a final door prize, the convention adjourned until 2 p.m.

General Session II: The Presidential Report, Braille and Tactile Literacy, Adventures at Sea, and More

The afternoon session again packed the ballroom, as everyone eagerly anticipated the annual delivery of the Presidential Report. The Federation’s national President, in addition to chairing the convention, traditionally gives two addresses, and the Presidential Report is the first. In it, the President recaps the year since the prior convention, highlighting the major legal victories, legislative progress, program activities, and other achievements of our movement. This year’s report emphasized the aforementioned core values, using them to categorize the accomplishments it described. The full report follows this article. Its conclusion was greeted with a standing ovation and chants of "Ric-co-bo-no" to honor the man who delivered it and spearheaded the work that it summarized, just as he had concluded the report by honoring the membership of the Federation who made the work possible.

Back in his role as chair of the proceedings, the President welcomed the presentation of door prizes and brief reports from the White Cane and PAC Committees, then called the audience’s attention to the next scheduled presentation. This came from Casey Robertson, the lead instructor at the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech. Casey’s topic was "Leading Courageously with High Expectations: Braille and Teacher Preparation." She described the rigorous requirements she has set for learning Braille, a component that is sadly missing from far too many other programs that are supposed to train teachers of blind students and other professionals in the blindness field, but not from the program that she leads. With humor and heart, she explained the Braille reading and writing requirements of her curriculum and how they benefit the professionals in training and, ultimately, the blind people that these professionals will help to instruct and mentor. Casey’s remarks will appear in a future issue.

The next item on the agenda was a report on the progress of the Monarch, the dynamic display for Braille and tactile graphics that is a product of a partnership among the National Federation of the Blind, HumanWare, and the American Printing House (APH). Bruce Miles, president of HumanWare, began the presentation by telling us that the Monarch is set to be available for sale on September 3, 2024. He proudly announced that since the original prototypes were created, the Monarch has gained a host of new features. Among these are the ability to instantly produce a tactile graph of an equation and announce the coordinates when the user clicks any point on the graph. Users can also play tactile chess with a friend or against the Monarch’s computer brain, access a library of thousands of tactile images, and explore maps. More features are planned, including an app that will allow teachers to draw images on a tablet and have them instantly appear on the Monarch and an email client to send and receive digital files. Bruce emphasized that none of this would be possible without the feedback received through the partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. Through this partnership and others, he told the audience, "We have released more than two hundred Monarchs into the wild, and they are being used by teachers, parents, researchers, testing companies, technology experts, libraries and more." Through these opportunities for various entities to test and learn about the Monarch, he said, the hope is to identify uses for the device beyond education in employment, transportation, and more. He then introduced Dr. Craig Meador, the president of APH, to lead a panel consisting of a teacher, parent, and student who are already using the Monarch. The panelists were Gina Fugate, a computer science teacher at the Maryland School for the Blind; Katie Carlock, a Georgia parent from the Atlanta area; and Katie’s daughter Kennedy, who is in second grade. Gina emphasized how the Monarch helps her students in robotics and computing because they can view and edit many lines of code at once. Katie said that her daughter’s young age was no barrier to her working with the Monarch and emphasized that blind students should have access to technology just as their sighted peers do. And Kennedy gave the ultimate kid endorsement when she shared her own reaction to the device and the reactions of her friends: "That’s cool!"

Dr. Meador closed the presentation by talking about the important work that our community will need to do to make the Monarch widely available. The device is expensive, but he noted that thousands of dollars are spent on technology for sighted students, so it is simply a matter of equity for funds to be spent on blind students as well. He then outlined strategies that our community can use to obtain such funding from the federal government and from state rehabilitation agencies.

The theme of partnership continued with the next item. In introducing the speaker, Robert Fenton, President Riccobono explained that they came to know each other through his role as chair of the board of directors for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The President credited Robert with helping to bring a more blind-centered approach to the work of that agency and noted that they both are enthusiastic about ways we can cooperate as neighbors. Robert, who is also general counsel to the Calgary Police Service, spoke about his job and how he has succeeded in it as a blind attorney, but also about the difficulties he has faced and what he has learned from his career that applies to our shared advocacy to change societal perceptions of blindness. His remarks will appear in a later issue.

The final presentation of the afternoon was entitled "Inclusion by Example: Adventures of a Blind Woman Navigating the Oceans of STEM Professionals." The presenter was Amy Bower, a blind woman who is the senior physical oceanographer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and "adventures" was truly an apt word for the stories she shared with us. These included not only tales of her work on the mysterious waters that cover most of our planet but also of how she navigated the particular challenges of a high-pressure academic institution to succeed. Her remarks appear elsewhere in this issue, and we will say no more about them at this time except to whet your appetite by noting that one of her stories involved pirates. Yes, you read that right: actual pirates! Following this truly edge-of-your seat presentation, the latest registration numbers, and a final door prize, the session was adjourned so that conventioneers could take their last opportunity to visit the Exhibit Hall, get dinner, and enjoy the many other evening meetings and activities on the agenda.

General Session III Begins: Financials and Elections

After the gavel fell at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 7, Stuart Proust, chair of the National Federation of the Blind in Judaism, gave the invocation. President Riccobono then proceeded to summarize the organization’s financial position for the delegates and members. The full financial audit report and 990 form for the year 2023 are available in accessible formats at https://nfb.org/about-us/annual-report-and-financials . President Riccobono was able to tell the convention that our financial position improved from last year’s report, which contained concerning deficit numbers, so that by December 31, 2023, our net assets were in the black, although just barely. He reported that the first half of 2024 was looking much brighter, with positive net assets to the tune of roughly four and a half million dollars, though he stressed that number did not yet account for convention expenses, which are always significant. He acknowledged and thanked the affiliates that had participated in the virtual Honor Roll Call of States by submitting donations to the four funds mentioned earlier.

President Riccobono then took a moment to emphasize that our legal program, while it has great impact, also costs the organization a good deal of money, typically between 2.5 and 4 million dollars a year, and needs our continued support. He said that based on his rough calculations over the past five years, we only recover in damages and attorney’s fees about a third of what we spend on litigation, and sometimes recovery in a given suit can take many years. For example, our litigation against the Los Angeles Community College District has been going on since 2017, and although we won on the merits in a jury trial, the question of specific remedies for the harm done to the blind students we fought for is still being litigated. It is therefore unclear when we will see the financial fruits of victory, although we expect them to be substantial when we do. With all of that said, President Riccobono asked if there were questions, and then requested and received a motion and second for the report to be accepted, which carried unanimously.

Elections were next on the morning agenda. Pam Allen, wearing yet another proverbial hat as chair of the Nominating Committee, gave its report, which proposed the following officers for election: Mark Riccobono of Maryland, President; Pam Allen of Louisiana, First Vice President; Everette Bacon of Utah, Second Vice President; Barbara Manuel of Alabama, Secretary; and Norma Crosby of Texas, Treasurer. This proposal moved Everette Bacon from secretary to second vice president, filling the position Ron Brown was vacating, with Barbara Manuel replacing Everette as secretary. Jamie Richey of Nebraska, Jim Marks of Montana, and Ben Dallin of Wisconsin were nominated by the committee to fill the vacant board seats. The committee’s report further recommended that Shawn Callaway of the District of Columbia, Donald Porterfield of Arizona, and Shelia Wright of Missouri retain their positions. The Nominating Committee report was duly accepted by the convention, and elections began with President Riccobono turning the chair over to Pam Allen to conduct the vote for President. After the traditional three calls for nominations from the floor, a procedure repeated for each subsequent election, President Riccobono was re-elected by thunderous acclamation. He kept his remarks brief, having just given his Presidential Report the day before, but thanked his family, his mentors Dr. and Mrs. Maurer, and his "left hand" on stage for many years, Federation Chief of Staff Beth Braun. Of the board, he said: "We have extraordinary leaders, and they are tough. They are not folks that just say yes. They ask hard questions, but they are the best group of leaders you could serve with." Concluding with "I love you all," he proceeded with the remaining elections.

Pam Allen was re-elected to the office of first vice president by acclamation. She thanked the membership and spoke of the privilege of serving with her board colleagues and with President Riccobono, whom she described as a "cherished friend.” She also thanked her husband, Roland. She concluded by saying:

Together we have already achieved so much: reshaping policies, breaking down barriers, and creating systemic change. But our work is far from over. We need you! We need all of us. Now is the time to ignite even greater commitment and purpose. We must be bold in our actions and steadfast in our resolve, ensuring our diverse voices are heard and our rights are upheld. Michelle Obama says success is not about how much you make. It’s about how much of a difference you make in the world. Let us reflect on these words, united in our pursuit for equity and justice for all blind people. I love you all. I look forward to serving and working with you as we write the next chapter of our Federation story. Thank you!

Everette Bacon was elected by acclamation to serve as second vice president. He reflected on his predecessor, Ron Brown, whose shoes he said he would strive to fill and on whose shoulders he was proud to stand. He acknowledged the close friendships he has developed while serving on the board. He concluded:

I have faced adversity as a blind person, like many of you. Henry Ford once said: ‘When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.’ Challenges are a part of growth. When I came to this organization, I didn’t believe in myself as a blind person. I doubted what I had become. And I definitely sold myself short. My wife Angela, my friends in this room, and especially the teachings of the NFB movement have taught me that I can overcome and that I have overcome the challenges of blindness, and that it is truly respectable to be blind. So with hope, love, and determination, and the strength of all of you, I am so proud and honored to be able to say that I am and will be living the life that I want! Thank you all so much.

Barbara Manuel was then elected by acclamation to serve as secretary. She thanked the convention for granting her the privilege of serving on the board for the past two years and for electing her to this new role. She thanked her family, giving a special shout-out to her son, who was celebrating a birthday.

Norma Crosby accepted her election by acclamation to serve as treasurer with these opening words: "Thank you. For our first-timers this year, I want to say welcome to the house that built me. Forty-three years ago, I was a young blind person not sure where I was going in life and not sure I could succeed. But all of you were the foundation to that house that I’m talking about that built me. Every member of this organization has shown me nothing but love and support, and I hope that I can offer the same back to you." Federationists know well that she already has, and will no doubt continue to do so.

Shawn Callaway accepted his re-election by acclamation by thanking God, his wife, and his daughter, his "princess." He also paid extensive tribute to Ron Brown, mentioning that they shared the bond of being Black men and the traumatic experience of having been blinded in their youth by gunshots. Although Ron served as second vice president for many years, Shawn praised Ron’s humility, saying: "Ron never sits above you; he always sits with you." He noted that Ron’s wife Jean proves the old adage that behind every great man, there is a great woman, and thanked them both for their leadership and love, concluding that he planned to personally make sure that Ron was not "put out to pasture" but always would have a role in the organization’s leadership. It seems likely that Ron will resist any attempt to put him out to pasture and that Shawn will not be alone in ensuring Ron’s continued participation.

Jamie Richey of Nebraska was next elected by acclamation. She is perhaps not a Federation household name yet, but is well loved in her home state and has the thanks of BLIND Inc. for serving as its interim executive director. In her remarks, she said that she was happy to fill a need at President Riccobono’s request in Minnesota but had no intention of ever leaving her beloved Nebraska. She thanked her husband Jeremy and their family at home, all four generations of them.

Longtime National Federation of the Blind of Montana leader Jim Marks was next elected by acclamation. With his characteristic wit, he told the convention that Federationists are like grizzly bears in two respects: most of us don’t see very well, but it doesn’t matter because we both go wherever we want to go anyway.

Upon his re-election to the board by acclamation, Donald Porterfield credited his wife Amy with bringing him to the Federation and former Arizona President Bob Kresmer with giving him his first leadership role as the state’s legislative director. He also shared that he first met President Riccobono in Orlando, when Donald rode in the back of the vehicle that the President drove. He spoke of his faith in the arc of the moral universe bending toward justice and in God. "I never ask, why me God, but rather, what am I supposed to learn from this challenge?" he said.

Ben Dallin of Wisconsin, accepting his election by acclamation, told his version of a story that many Federationists have shared: he grew up with a positive attitude about blindness, but without all of the wherewithal to make that belief real. When he realized that he needed more training and self-confidence, he attended the Louisiana Center for the Blind.

Shelia Wright accepted her re-election to the board by acclamation by thanking the affiliates that had been her home (South Carolina and Nebraska) before settling in Missouri, her husband Jeff, and God. President Riccobono brought the election proceedings to a close by congratulating all those elected.

Access to Information and Indoor Navigation: General Session III Continues

Jason Broughton, director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled of the Library of Congress (NLS), was the next speaker. This charming gentleman was unknown to the blind community when he first stepped into his role, but he quickly built trust and confidence, and President Riccobono introduced him by calling him "a true friend of the Federation" and praising him as a savvy steward of the NLS program who is dedicated to ensuring that it is the library service blind people want.

Jason kept his remarks brief, but highlighted several important items, including the forthcoming rollout of a BARD smart speaker skill, a plan to allow simultaneous book searches in up to four languages of the user’s choice, and the good news that the NLS will be moving from its rented office space to a home within the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill. We will publish his full remarks in a future issue.

The penultimate item on the morning agenda was entitled "Indoor Navigation: Access to Information and Blind-Led Innovations." This was a panel discussion led by Mike May, currently a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada and long known to the blind community as an innovator in the use of GPS and other navigation technologies, with the fondly remembered Sendero GPS product line among his most notable accomplishments. The other panel participants were Charlie Meredith, Chief Technology Officer for GoodMaps, a company in which APH is a majority owner; and Tom Pey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waymap, who came to us all the way from London and said he was pleased to visit a place with much better weather than his home city. Mike May facilitated a discussion which allowed these two gentlemen to describe their companies’ efforts while also humbly calling for collaboration to meet the challenges inherent in creating and enhancing indoor navigation technology, which presents many more difficulties than outdoor navigation. All agreed that it would and should be blind users who ultimately identify and co-create the most effective and usable answers to these challenges. The full panel presentation will appear in a later issue.

Having sped through the rest of the morning’s business, the convention was able to use the final minutes of the Sunday morning session to consider two of the twenty-two resolutions recommended to it by the Resolutions Committee. Both passed quickly and unanimously, and the convention adjourned for the noon break.

Many attendees took their last opportunity to visit the Independence Market, while others exchanged banquet tickets or attended brainstorming sessions held by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children or by our museum consultants, Prime Access Consulting and Origin Studios. Our NFB in the Kitchen group, led by Chef Regina Mitchell, also held a meeting.

General Session IV: History, Programs, Progress, and Policy

When the convention was gaveled to order again at two o’clock on Sunday afternoon, President Riccobono announced that a change had been made to the agenda due to the unavailability of a panel participant. In lieu of the scheduled item, Peggy Chong, the Blind History Lady, came to the stage to share some interesting historic facts about past conventions. Her remarks will appear in a future issue.

Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiatives, then came to the microphone. His topic was "Putting Our Values into Action: A Report on Twenty Years of Innovative Research and Training Driven by the Blind." As the title suggested, Anil’s presentation emphasized how our core values influence the programs and projects that our Blindness Initiatives department oversees under his leadership. Anil’s remarks will also be published later in the fall or winter.

Our Advocacy and Policy team, known affectionately as the four J’s (John, Jeff, Jesse, and Justin), next took the stage. Their presentation was entitled "We Belong: A Report on Our Collective Progress toward Equality in America and Beyond." Their full presentation will appear in next month’s issue, but a few highlights are worth mentioning. John Paré, Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, was first to speak. His office also oversees the NFB-NEWSLINE® service, which he proudly noted is accessed every 1.85 seconds, and he doubtless delighted many with the news that an Android Newsline app is coming later this year, complementing the mobile app for iOS devices that is currently available. Jeff Kaloc, whose portfolio includes our fight for equal access to all forms of voting, updated us on the progress made in that area, along with providing comments on other legislative items. He concluded with a call for us to "organize, strategize, and mobilize to ensure that our voices are heard by those in power." Justin Young proudly shared that while we continue to fight for the federal elimination of subminimum wages through the Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, we have already had considerable success in curtailing this antiquated and discriminatory practice at the state and territorial level. Twenty-one states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have passed legislation that either reduces the number of people working for subminimum wages or eliminates the practice entirely within their jurisdictions. Jesse Shirek announced that the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, which will eliminate the "earnings cliff” for blind recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance, was introduced just prior to the start of convention and assigned bill number H.R. 8878. This fulfilled a promise made at the 2024 Washington Seminar Congressional Reception by Representative Pete Sessions of Texas to introduce this crucial legislation. Jesse dramatically illustrated the need for this change in the law with a heart-wrenching real-life story about how the current policy has trapped just one of far too many blind people in unemployment and financial insecurity. John Paré returned to the microphone to conclude the presentation, in part, as follows: “Our government affairs team consists of everybody in this room. It’s the big ‘we.’ It’s we who are doing the collective action, that are making the progress over the past year, and we’re going to work even harder together as a team to do even more in the next twelve months, so we have more to report at our next convention. So for all of us, this is our report. Thank you.”

The convention then turned to the consideration of the remaining twenty resolutions. Floor debate was respectful but robust on four of them. For three of those, the chair could not determine the will of the convention by voice vote, so the official delegates participated in a roll call vote, and the number of yes and no votes were announced by the President. All of the resolutions passed. They are reprinted elsewhere in this issue and available at www.nfb.org/resolutions. President Riccobono closed the deliberations with some important observations. He noted that while he personally might have preferred that certain resolutions had been less fiercely contested, he believed that this kind of vigorous debate is exactly what should take place. He further said that while our resolutions set policy, there is nothing wrong with the convention later changing its mind, citing the historical example of how several “quiet car” resolutions failed before we finally agreed on a policy that we pursued all the way to the enactment of federal law and international standards. He concluded by emphasizing that while NFB staff participate in the drafting of some resolutions, they are ultimately considered the work of their proponents among the membership rather than as having been authored by individual staff members. This final observation was shared to clear up a point raised in the debate around one of the contested resolutions. With the critical work to set our collective forward-looking agenda as a movement done, the convention adjourned for Sunday evening.

The penultimate night of the convention was of course packed with activities. To name just two of the options available to the attendees, there was an audio-described screening of Unseen, a dramatic and innovative documentary film that explores the efforts of a blind immigrant to pursue his dreams. As readers will discover, this film was also the subject of a presentation at the next morning’s general session. There was also the ever-popular Showcase of Talent, sponsored by our Performing Arts Division, which could be enjoyed both by in-person and virtual attendees.

General Session V: Accessibility at the Social Security Office, Authentic Representation, AI, and More

The final day of convention is sometimes called “the longest day of the year” by members of the Federation, but this is not a complaint. It simply refers to the fact that the day begins before 9 a.m. and doesn’t end until the banquet does, usually some thirteen or fourteen hours later. This year, the longest day began with a thoughtful invocation delivered by Ronza Othman. Ronza holds many leadership roles, including serving as president of our Maryland affiliate, but she spoke this morning as a representative of the Muslim faith. President Riccobono also asked us to keep those affected by the hurricane approaching Texas in our thoughts and prayers. He then took a moment of privilege to present a video from exactly nine years before, July 8, 2015, when Federationists, then as now assembled at the Rosen Centre, set a Guinness World Record® for the world’s largest umbrella mosaic. As described in the video, the mosaic represented a figure holding a white cane and the words “Live the life you want.”

Roderick Hairston, Deputy Associate Commissioner for the Office of Electronic Services and Technology of the Social Security Administration, was then introduced for remarks. He began by expressing his pleasure at having met his cousin Ever Lee Hairston, and mentioned that the Hairstons are the largest family in America. He then expressed the hope that many of us had the opportunity to try out the new, accessible SSA visitor check-in kiosk in the exhibit hall, and proceeded to describe its features for those of us who had not. He noted that customers can also check in on our own mobile devices instead of using the new kiosks and touted the agency’s online services and accessible notices as well. His full remarks will appear in a later issue.

Anil Lewis then took the stage for the second time to chair a panel entitled “Shaping Twenty-First Century Rehabilitation Systems: Leadership, Partnership, and High Expectations.” The panelists were Cassondra Williams-Stokes, President, National Council of State Agencies for the Blind; and Stephen Wooderson, Chief Executive Officer, Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation. The subject was the opportunities for partnership between agencies that serve the blind and blind people ourselves as represented through the National Federation of the Blind. The presentation will appear in a later issue of this magazine.

The next agenda item was the first of three presentations having to do with the authentic representation and inclusion of blind people in entertainment and the arts. “Leading Courageously in Art: Poetry, Sensibility, and Aesthetics of Sharing Our Unseen Stories” was presented by Set Hernandez, Filmmaker and Community Organizer, and specifically Director/Producer of the film Unseen. As mentioned earlier, the film is the story of Pedro, an aspiring blind social worker who must meet not only the challenges of blindness, but of his other intersecting characteristics. In introducing Set, President Riccobono noted that the filmmaker, who is sighted, had rightly asked him why Pedro himself, who was at the convention, was not a more appropriate presenter. President Riccobono told Set, and us, that while we always center blind people, it is also important to hear from “the allies who get it right.” Set’s remarks, which will appear in a future issue, showed that they are indeed such an ally. President Riccobono encouraged affiliates and chapters to host screenings of the film. If your chapter or affiliate is interested, visit www.unseen-film.com.

The second art-themed presentation was “All the Barriers We Cannot See: A Behind-the-Scenes View on Authentic Representation of the Blind in Film.” Its presenter was Joe Strechay, Accessibility Consultant for Film and Television, Producer and Consultant for the Apple TV+ Series See. Joe was at convention not to discuss that science-fiction series featuring a world of blind people, but primarily his latest project, the Netflix adaptation of Anthony Doer’s novel All the Light We Cannot See. He was introduced by a video in which the producers and directors of the series discussed their decision to cast unknown blind actors to play Marie-Laure, the show’s blind main character, at different ages. He then told us about his work with the production team and the two blind performers, Nell Sutton (the young Marie-Laure) and Aria Mia Loberti (the teenage version and primary protagonist.) The full presentation will also appear later in the fall or winter. Keely Cat-Wells, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Making Space, was the third and final presenter in this arts and entertainment segment, delivering her remarks from London via Zoom. She discussed finding employment in all aspects of the entertainment industry, including but not limited to performing, and we will also present her comments in a later Braille Monitor.

The next two items focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is being and can be used to enhance the lives of blind people. The first speaker was Bryan Bashin, well known to his Federation family and currently vice-chair of Be My Eyes. He told us about the outstanding success of the company’s Be My AI tool and previewed its forthcoming features. It will soon incorporate Open AI’s GPT 4.0 to chat with us in a more conversational manner, listening to our questions and responding with its own voice, and will be able to describe the live video feed from our phone cameras and answer questions about it. A demonstration of this new capability got a rapturous reception from the audience. You can hear it now, along with Bryan’s other remarks, on the convention archive page mentioned above, and we will also share the show in a later issue.

Suman Kanuganti, founder and former CEO of Aira and now founder of Personal AI, was next. Joined by his own personal AI, he explained the concept and demonstrated the personal AI belonging to one Mark Riccobono. We will share this presentation in these pages later, but you can experience Mark AI directly by going to Riccobono.personal.ai if you want to dive right in. In doing so, you will be helping to enhance the first truly blind-centered artificial intelligence chat tool in the world.

After these two fascinating visits to the strange and challenging but also wonderful new world of AI, and a couple of door prizes, the morning session adjourned.

General Session VI: Bolotin Awards, the Pursuit of Justice, and More

The afternoon general session began with the presentation of the seventeenth annual Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards. Dr. Jacob Bolotin (1888-1924) was the first medical doctor who was blind from birth, and each year, with funding from the Alfred and Rosalind Perlman Trust and the Santa Barbara Foundation, the National Federation of the Blind gives awards in his honor to individuals and organizations that are advancing the lives of blind people. The awards are decided upon by a committee chaired by Everette Bacon, who took the microphone to introduce the 2024 recipients. The full presentation, including remarks from the winners, appears later in these pages.

To accommodate the schedule of its presenter, a later agenda item was moved up, so the convention next heard “Closing the Door on Discrimination: Championing the Blind in Society through Civil Rights Protections at the Department of Justice.” The speaker was Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General who leads the Civil Rights Division of that agency. She described in detail the process of promulgating the long-awaited regulations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requiring accessibility for state and local government websites and mobile apps, which, to her credit and that of her staff, were issued in April of 2024. She also highlighted other work of her office, including enforcement around the right to vote and the rights to equal access to education, healthcare, transportation, and more. She also properly acknowledged that there is much work left to do, including the issuing of regulations under Title III of the ADA addressing the websites and mobile apps of public accommodations. Her passion for and commitment to the work were clear, and you can experience her presentation on the convention archive page or in next month’s issue of this magazine.

Troy Otillio, Chief Executive Officer of Aira Tech Corp, was next to the podium to report on this company’s continued mission to provide equal access through “visual interpretation.” Troy had high praise for our own Everette Bacon, who joined the company last year. He also spoke about Aira’s own AI offering, Access AI, and how Aira Explorers, the blind subscribers to its service, can help improve it and receive free minutes in the bargain. You can listen to his remarks on the archive page or just open the Aira Explorer app, if you have it, to learn about and sign up for the Build AI program. You can also visit www.Aira.io, and of course we will also publish what Troy had to say in a later issue.

After some more door prizes, John Berggren spoke to the convention about the important logistics surrounding preparing for the upcoming banquet. After John reminded us to clear the ballroom quickly when the session ended so that hotel staff could “flip” it for banquet service and gave other useful tips for getting to our rooms and back, the next guest speaker was introduced. This was Andy Burstein, the CEO of Accessible Pharmacy Services. This company, a 2023 Bolotin Award winner, makes the business of acquiring and taking our medicine easier for blind people by incorporating accessible prescription labeling technology, Braille and/or large print on packaging, and other accessibility features into a mail-order pharmacy service specifically tailored to each customer’s health and access needs. Andy’s remarks touched on a number of things, but one standout was support for the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, one of our key legislative priorities. His remarks will appear in a future issue.

The last agenda item was “Telling Our Stories: A Conversation about Blindness, Justice, and Shattering Misconceptions from the Federal Bench.” This took the form of an onstage interview, conducted by Deepa Goraya, first vice president of the National Association of Blind Lawyers, with retired federal judge David Tatel, who recently left the bench of the influential United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and is senior counsel at the DC law firm of Hogan Lovells. If you are thinking this is a presentation that only lawyers could love, you are incorrect. Although the law was discussed, Judge Tatel was able to explain it clearly and concisely. A big takeaway from his remarks is the crucial role that the National Federation of the Blind has played in influencing all branches of our government at all levels, and why our legal and legislative advocacy will likely need to be even stronger and smarter in coming years. The judge also expressed his love for NFB-NEWSLINE® and thanked Scott White and the retiring Bob Watson in particular for their work for the service. President Riccobono presented Judge Tatel with a Louis Braille commemorative coin, minted by the United States in 2009 pursuant to legislation that the Federation supported. Check out the conversation with Judge Tatel on the convention archive page, or wait for it to appear in next month’s issue. In the meantime, you can whet your appetite by reading Judge Tatel’s recently published memoir, Vision.

One more large door prize, in the amount of $250, was presented to close the afternoon session, and then, as John Berggren had directed, the audience quickly cleared the hall and headed off to get dressed for the convention banquet.

The Convention Banquet: A Celebration of Dignity

Ever since the pandemic, and possibly slightly before, we have been encouraging those who cannot be at the convention in person to hold banquet parties with their local Federation family. The virtual banquet festivities kicked off at 6:30 p.m., with pre-show hosts Danielle McCann and Chris Danielsen checking in on three different banquet parties happening across the country. Sandy Halverson was hosting members of Virginia’s Potomac Chapter; Lisa Rodriguez and her crew checked in from Stockton, California; and Connie Scheu and the Erie County, Chapter of Pennsylvania put in an appearance as well. Check-ins with these celebrations continued throughout the banquet. Many other Federationists checked in via social media to let us know they were having their own gatherings, or just kicking back with their own dinner or snacks, to enjoy the evening’s festivities.

When the process of seating a couple thousand people in a reconfigured grand ballroom was mostly completed, the versatile Pam Allen assumed her role as master of ceremonies and gaveled the banquet to order. She then introduced Jean Brown, wife of our outgoing second vice president and Federation leader, for the invocation. Following Jean’s thoughtful prayer, the door prize drawings began and continued throughout the banquet, with the cash prizes generally being larger than those presented during the general sessions. A video was shown thanking those who fund our scholarships. Tracy Soforenko announced the winners of the Dream Big Give 25 drawings. He thanked all those who contributed to the campaign, which raised $38,019.58. Marilyn Green gave the final PAC report and recognized the divisions, affiliates, and individuals whose increases in contributions merited special attention.

Then came the highlight of the banquet, and one of the most anticipated moments of the entire convention: the annual address by our national President, Mark Riccobono. Unlike the Presidential Report given earlier, the banquet address is typically designed to advance our understanding of the philosophy upon which our movement is built and how we can put it into action. The Presidential Report primarily informs, while the banquet speech primarily inspires, although each contains both of these elements. President Riccobono began the address with these words: “I would like to be the first to welcome all the dignitaries of the organized blind movement here tonight. Yes, you.” The speech that followed expounded on why the word “dignitary” and the concept of dignity applied to everyone in the audience, and reflected on how, as individuals and a movement, we maintain our own dignity and that of all blind people. The remarks are prominently reprinted in this issue, and the speech is highly likely to become a classic of our movement’s thought and literature.

Our longtime friend Ray Kurzweil, the single individual most responsible for the creation and development of the print reading technology that blind people routinely use today, was present for his fiftieth convention banquet, and in keeping with tradition he offered some brief reflections and memories describing how the Federation and its leaders have touched him personally and changed our world. He mentioned that some of these reflections will appear in the autobiography he is writing. His remarks can be heard by going to the convention archive page.

Pam Allen then presented the Jacobus tenBroek Award. For the first time, this highest honor that the Federation bestows was presented to participants who could not be with us in Orlando, so careful arrangements had been made to ensure that they were present virtually for the banquet and also for them to receive the award plaque in real time as well. The presentation appears elsewhere in this issue.

Ron Brown is a previous recipient of the Jacobus tenBroek Award, but his fellow officers thought it fitting that he receive another special gift at the end of the convention at which his service as second vice president concluded. Ron is also a beep baseball player, and his team, the Indianapolis Thunder, have won the World Series of Beep Baseball many times. Accordingly, President Riccobono presented him with a Louisville Slugger baseball bat inscribed with the following words: “Thank you Ron Brown, lifelong NFB All-Star. Keep hitting home runs; proud to be on your team.”

Following the presentation of Louis Braille commemorative coins to the winners of the museum trivia game and the presentation of scholarships, covered elsewhere in this issue, the banquet drew to a close. The grand door prize, totaling $2,024 and donated by the Florida affiliate, was presented, and then Pam Allen handed the microphone over to President Riccobono. He announced that 2,590 individuals had registered for the convention in person and 655 virtually, with Florida having the most attendees at 242. He then led us in cheers of thanks for the Federation staff and all the convention volunteers, and then requested that we raise a final Federation cheer to end the event. After that glorious sound of whoops, screams, cheers, and applause, he gaveled the convention to a close, saying, “We are adjourned until New Orleans!”

Some Concluding Thoughts

#NFB24 repeatedly stressed the core values of our organization and the concept of dignity. We believe in blind people, and the substance of that belief is that blind people have as much dignity as all other human beings and thus we have the right to pursue the lives we want, without needing to earn that right or ask for society’s acceptance, charity, or consent. Because society, often unintentionally but sometimes intentionally, places artificial barriers in our way that undermine our rights and our dignity, we have come together to lead courageously and champion collective action. We foster inclusion because the blind are a diverse cross-section of society, and the characteristics that make up each of us as blind people may also present us with intersecting challenges that we need each other’s support to overcome. Finally, we dream big, not just through our many programs and initiatives but in pursuit of the overarching goal of a society where every blind person is included, valued, and respected. #NFB24 was a reunion for many of us and a welcome for many more. It was a celebration of our accomplishments and a burst of renewed energy for the work still to be done. Most of all, it set the direction of our forward motion and strengthened our resolve.