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Braille Monitor

Vol. 68, No. 5               May 2025

Chris Danielsen, Editor

Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, by the
National Federation of the Blind

Mark Riccobono, President

telephone: 410-659-9314
email address: [email protected]
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made payable to National Federation of the Blind and sent to:

National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998

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. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND—IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.

ISSN 0006-8829


Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots—the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again. (Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive, the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.

You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in order to stretch our funding. Please use the return envelope enclosed with the drive when you return the device.


Contents

Vol. 68, No. 5                      May 2025

Convention Bulletin 2025 (HTML)
Convention Bulletin 2025 (MP3)

New on the Agenda: The United States Access Board will be at National Convention (HTML)
New on the Agenda: The United States Access Board will be at National Convention (MP3)

From Fear to Empowerment: Moms' Stories of Raising Blind Children (HTML)
From Fear to Empowerment: Moms� Stories of Raising Blind Children (MP3)
by Z'Leah N. Liburd

Crossing the Bay Bridge (HTML)
Crossing the Bay Bridge (MP3)
by Cassie McKinney

A Mother of Faith and Strength: Interview with Mississippi's Linda Lankston Clay (HTML)
A Mother of Faith and Strength: Interview with Mississippi's Linda Lankston Clay (MP3)
by LaShawna Fant

Beyond the Chatbot: Innovations in the Fast-Changing World of AI (HTML)
Beyond the Chatbot: Innovations in the Fast-Changing World of AI (MP3)
by Jonathan Mosen

Plan for the Future (HTML)
Plan for the Future (MP3)

Blindness in Current Political Discourse: Stemming a Toxic Tide (HTML)
Blindness in Current Political Discourse: Stemming a Toxic Tide (MP3)
by Chris Danielsen

From the President's Desk (HTML)
From the President's Desk (MP3)

National Federation of the Blind and Blind Students Sue West Virginia University for Discrimination (HTML)
National Federation of the Blind and Blind Students Sue West Virginia University for Discrimination (MP3)

Resolution Reminders (HTML)
Resolution Reminders (MP3)
by Donald Porterfield

Lawsuit Alleges that New York Courts Systemically Discriminate Against Blind Jurors in Grand Jury System (HTML)
Lawsuit Alleges that New York Courts Systemically Discriminate Against Blind Jurors in Grand Jury System (MP3)

Disability Advocates Sue Social Security Administration and DOGE to Stop Unlawful Cuts to Social Security Services (HTML)
Disability Advocates Sue Social Security Administration and DOGE to Stop Unlawful Cuts to Social Security Services (MP3)

Monitor Miniatures (HTML)
Monitor Miniatures (MP3)

Complete Braille Monitor

Complete Braille Monitor (Zipped Word Version)

Complete Braille Monitor (Braille Version) Vol. 1 | Vol. 2

Complete Braille Monitor Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Complete DAISY Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Copyright 2025 by the National Federation of the Blind