Orlando, Florida (June 27, 2016)

Event:             National Federation of the Blind National Convention

Dates:             June 30–July 5, 2016

Place:             Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, Florida 32819

Attention Technology, Business, and Education Editors:

Amazon and Other Education, Business, and Tech Executives to Address Convention

Amazon.com will address attendees of the convention of the National Federation of the Blind at 3:15 p.m. on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 5. Rohit Agarwal, General Manager, Amazon K-12 Education, Amazon.com, Inc., will discuss advancements the company has made to make its educational content and technology accessible to blind students through a collaboration with the National Federation of the Blind. The convention will also hear from representatives of Microsoft, H&R Block, and Pearson Education.

Attention Technology and Disability Editors:

Blind Software Engineer from Apple to Address Convention

Jordyn Castor, a blind software engineer with Apple, Inc., will address convention attendees at 9:55 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, July 5. She will discuss how she is able to have the career and the life she wants as a blind person with the help of the National Federation of the Blind.

Attention Technology Editors:

KNFB Reader Featured throughout Convention

KNFB Reader, the National Federation of the Blind's innovative product that gives blind people quick access to printed documents, uses the power of digital photography and a specially designed mobile device app to read print on the go using just an iOS or Android phone or tablet. This award-winning, life-changing technology will be featured at demonstration and training sessions on Friday, July 1, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and on Monday, July 4, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. All sessions will be held in Suwannee 11, Level 2. James Gashel, Vice President of Business Development and Product Evangelist, KNFB, LLC, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind, will also address the convention on the future of this groundbreaking technology at 11:00 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, July 5.

Attention Business, Economy, Labor Editors/Reporters:

National Federation of the Blind to Hold Job Fair

On Thursday, June 30, the National Federation of the Blind Employment Committee will hold its annual job fair in Panzacola Ballrooms F-3 and F-4. Approximately two hundred blind job seekers and twenty employers are expected, including four Fortune 500 companies (FedEx, Oracle, Target, and Wells Fargo), as well as the American Heart Association and other agencies, businesses, and nonprofits interested in hiring blind people.

Attention Arts, Culture, and Lifestyle Editors:

Blind Artists to Create and Exhibit Work

Blind people are often told that they cannot participate in art, and the National Federation of the Blind works to dispel this and other misconceptions and encourages blind people to live the lives they want. On Saturday, July 2, from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Panzacola Ballroom H-4, special sessions will be held to allow blind people to experience tactile art as a creative way to gather information and share ideas. There will also be drop-in activities from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by an art exhibit and a special session for parents and teachers of blind children.

NOTE:  The entire convention agenda is available at www.nfb.org.

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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.