Voice of the Nation's Blind Blog

While most people think of being blind as some kind of tragedy, I don’t always see it that way. My name is Cole Carper, and I have been legally blind since birth. I attended Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired until third grade, when I transferred to public school.

In follow up to the National Federation of the Blind Rideshare Rally, President Mark Riccobono sent the following correspondence on October 31, 2024, to Uber regarding the implementation of self-identification. Dear Mr. Byrne: 

Over the years, the National Federation of the Blind of Oregon has pursued a mix of legislative priorities in the state related to vocational rehabilitation (VR), the Blind Enterprise Program (BEP), and more. BEP is a federally authorized program that trains eligible, legally blind entrepreneurs to manage food, vending, and other business services in federal and state office buildings and properties. Nevertheless, there is still work to be done. Two of our priorities that have yet to be realized are to increase blind representation on the consumer advisory committee of the Oregon Commission for the Blind and to increase protections for qualified blind parents, so that they may be free from harassment from hospitals and social service agencies who question whether disabled people should be allowed to raise children.

By Karl Belanger

By Mark Riccobono Greetings, fellow Federationists.

By Donald Porterfield

Q&A with Louisiana Center for the Blind's founder By Joanne Wilson Editor’s Note: Joanne Wilson is the founder of the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston, Louisiana. The following is an excerpt of a question and answer session between her and President Riccobono, the rest of which can be found on our Presidential Release page.

By Mark Riccobono Greetings fellow Federationists,

Project BOLD is an initiative from our Texas affiliate, which received a 2023 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award.

Emily Coleman participated in our Teachers of Tomorrow program. She was a member of the 2011-2012 cohort, and is now the principal of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI).