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Braille Monitor

Vol. 69, No. 2               February 2026

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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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. 69, No. 2                      February 2026

Correction and Apology (HTML)
Correction and Apology (MP3)

Convention Bulletin 2026 (HTML)
Convention Bulletin 2026 (MP3)

National Federation of the Blind Responds to Attack on Randolph-Sheppard Priority for Army Dining Facility Contracts (HTML)
National Federation of the Blind Responds to Attack on Randolph-Sheppard Priority for Army Dining Facility Contracts (MP3)
by Chris Danielsen

Position Statement on Structured Discovery Training (HTML)
Position Statement on Structured Discovery Training (MP3)
by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB)

Case Closed: The Story of Technology, a Blind Woman, and an Eyewitness Account to Solve a Mystery (HTML)
Case Closed: The Story of Technology, a Blind Woman, and an Eyewitness Account to Solve a Mystery (MP3)
by Kristen Dockendorff

Becoming a Federationist: The Lesson I Didn't Ask For (HTML)
Becoming a Federationist: The Lesson I Didn�t Ask For (MP3)
by Gary Wunder

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

Sexual Health Education and Research: A Community-Centered Approach Driven by the Blind (HTML)
Sexual Health Education and Research: A Community-Centered Approach Driven by the Blind (MP3)
by Mika Baugh, PhD

The 2026 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards (HTML)
The 2026 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards (MP3)
by Everette Bacon

A $10,000 Investment (HTML)
A $10,000 Investment (MP3)
by Anil Lewis

The 2026 Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award (HTML)
The 2026 Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award (MP3)
by Carla McQuillan

The 2026 Blind Educator of the Year Award (HTML)
The 2026 Blind Educator of the Year Award (MP3)
by Robin House

Monitor Miniatures (HTML)
Monitor Miniatures (MP3)

Complete Braille Monitor

Complete Braille Monitor (Zipped Word Version)

Complete Braille Monitor (Braille Version)

Complete Braille Monitor Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Complete DAISY Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Copyright 2026 by the National Federation of the Blind