American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Convention Issue 2025 CONVENTION EXTRAS
Finding a Place in the Movement Through NFB Youth Track
by Amy Porterfield
From the Editor: Amy Porterfield serves as president of Saavi Services for the Blind in Phoenix, Arizona (www.saavi.us). She wears a different hat at the NFB National Convention each summer, when she coordinates NFB Youth Track, four days of fun and learning for blind young people. Here is her account of Youth Track at the 2025 NFB Convention.
Each summer, when thousands of grown-up Federationists gather for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention, the next generation of leaders gathers, too. This year, more than fifty blind youth, ages eleven to eighteen, came together in New Orleans for the 2025 NFB Youth Track—four days filled with learning, laughter, and discovery about what it really means to live the life you want.
Finding Our Place
The first morning of Youth Track was all about meeting new friends and reconnecting with familiar ones. The registration space quickly turned into a lively hangout as students swapped stories, played Braille games, and tried out team-building activities. For some, this was their first time at an NFB convention; for others, it was a long-awaited reunion. Everyone found a place to belong.
Those who didn’t yet have a cane picked one out from the cane bank and learned to use it with confidence. That simple moment—standing tall with a cane in hand—set the tone for the rest of the week: we move through the world on our own terms.
Learning from the Movement
Later that morning, participants met President Mark Riccobono, who shared stories from the movement and encouraged the group to imagine what the Museum of the Blind People’s Movement could one day hold. The youth also met members of the National Association of Blind Students (NABS) and discovered that their peers are already leading advocacy work, building community, and shaping the future of the Federation.
The afternoon brought out everyone’s creative side. Screen printing T-shirts and tote-bags gave students the chance to design something that reflected who they are. There were no visual models, no templates, just hands, imagination, and conversation guiding the work.
That day ended with one of the most talked-about sessions of the week: the Career Mentoring Fair. Blind professionals from dozens of fields—teachers, engineers, chefs, lawyers, and more—sat down for one-on-one conversations with the youth. One student summed it up best: “I didn’t realize blind people did so many different jobs. Now I know I can do any of them, too.”
Walking Proud and Thinking Big
On Wednesday morning, students hit the hallways and streets for the Cane Walk, led by certified orientation and mobility instructors. For some, it was their first travel lesson; for others, it was a chance to brush up on skills. Either way, the energy was electric as students learned to walk independently and confidently.
That evening, the group turned its attention to how the Federation makes decisions. Together the young people unpacked this year’s resolutions, discussed what each one meant, and practiced forming their own positions. Several students even drafted notes to share on the convention floor. The discussions were passionate and thoughtful—proof that the future of the movement is in good hands.
Exploration, Games, and Growth
Thursday’s challenge took students into the Exhibit Hall for an interactive scavenger hunt. Teams collected clues, met vendors, and learned about new technology and tools—all while racing to complete their challenge cards and win prizes. Later that night, the room transformed into a gaming arena, filled with accessible video and audio games. Whether participants were into storytelling, strategy, or fast-paced competition, everyone got in on the fun.
Finding Our Collective Power
By Friday night, friendships were deep, and the energy had shifted from excitement to reflection. The session “Finding Our Collective Power” brought the youth together with college students from the National Association of Blind Students to talk about what confidence and boundaries really look like in daily life. Conversations were honest, funny, and sometimes serious—covering everything from advocacy to personal space. The takeaway was clear: strength isn’t something we wait to earn; it’s something we build together.
Looking Ahead
By the end of the week, the youth had gained much more than door prizes or T-shirts. They walked away with new friends, stronger skills, and a deeper sense that the Federation isn’t something that happens for them—it’s something they are part of, right now. Every handshake, every conversation, every moment of laughter helped shape a community of young blind people ready to step forward, ask questions, and take their place in the movement.
The future isn’t somewhere off in the distance—it’s already here, and it starts with learning to use a long white cane.