From the Editor
by Chris Danielsen
As I write this note in preparation for finalizing the issue that is now in your hands, we are in the midst of a very busy May in which the focus is advocacy. It will be clear why that is as you read this issue. Doubtless you have also heard something about our recent advocacy efforts on either the live or recorded Presidential Releases, received calls to action via email, or even ran across mainstream news articles. As President Riccobono has said, the National Federation of the Blind is as critical now as it has been at any time in our history, perhaps even more so. Since there were a lot of fast-moving developments in late April and early May, the Braille Monitor may not be your first source of information on some topics, but we have included items in this issue that we hope make it the most in-depth coverage of some of those developments. We also note that you can get much of the latest information on advocacy efforts by visiting https://nfb.org/advocacy. There you can read our latest policy statements, legislative priorities, and more.
Two informative articles in this issue deal with the intersection of blindness and other disabilities. While the Federation is focused on barriers faced by the blind and deafblind, we must not forget that other disabilities can present barriers to our members’ full participation in our movement if we are not intentional about learning and addressing their needs. Ellana Crew shares what she has learned about using a cane in conjunction with a wheelchair, and Kaleigh Brendle reminds us that disabilities—even physical ones—are not always obvious but have real effects that require the care, consideration, and support of our Federation community.
Ismael Collazo is the president of the National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota. He has been a chef, is now an entrepreneur, and has a family. In a beautifully written piece appropriate to the celebration of Father’s Day this month, Izzy shares his journey and how blindness, training, and fatherhood have molded him into the advocate he is today.
Our May articles centering around the concept of independence continue to generate discussion. Colleen Roth of Ohio called to share her thoughts on how independence redefines itself for many of us as not only our individual needs, but the needs of our families change. She said that as a blind parent of children with other disabilities, she found services like paratransit very helpful, even as she recognizes that blind people generally should learn about and can use public transportation. Now a grandmother, she uses a quad cane rather than a traditional white cane, and sometimes a wheelchair.
She urges us to accept people where they are. In the same vein, Will Hendrick writes about an experience he had earlier in his Federation involvement that, without anyone intending it, did not make him feel valued or welcomed as he worked on building his Braille skills. While he recognizes the role of his own feelings about what happened, we believe that sharing his experience in these pages can help our community be a more inviting one. Finally, Kemuel Perez shared the following: “Through leadership and community involvement, I have learned that independence is not isolation—it is empowerment supported by others who share the same goals. Ultimately, independence begins with mindset. It is something we claim by believing in our abilities and taking action. For me, independence means living with confidence, purpose, and the freedom to define my own life.”
The countdown to National Convention continues, so we’re pleased to include an article from the chair of the National Federation of the Blind Employment Committee sharing what they have planned for jobseekers who will be attending, as well as the last “2026 Convention Bulletin” before the big event. All of this and more awaits your perusal, and hopefully your feedback as well. I look forward to receiving the latter at [email protected] or by phone at 410-659-9314, extension 2330.
Your article submissions are welcome as well. You can review our recently developed submissions policy by visiting https://nfb.org/braille-monitor. There you can also peruse our Early Access content and the online versions of our latest issues.
Happy reading!