December 2025

Dear Friends,

Living the life you want is about having the freedom and confidence to pursue your goals and dreams without letting blindness—or society's misconceptions about blindness—hold you back. It's a philosophy that's at the very heart of the National Federation of the Blind and it begins with believing in blind people.

In the early days of developing my own belief in myself as a blind person, I had the opportunity to be mentored by a number of blind people. The moments that meant the most were those sitting in their living rooms, outside next to their backyard fountain, or on their deck while they grilled some food. It was as much about what was said as what I observed.

They rarely talked about their blindness, but in the everyday conversation I began to understand that they figured out how to do things as blind people and if they did not know how, they utilized the powerful network of the Federation. I think about those everyday experiences as we prepare the Riccobono home for the Christmas holiday including distracting the cat from the live tree in the center of our living room. 

I am grateful to be part of our Federation family and appreciate the actions each of you take—sometimes loud advocacy but often quiet everyday things to demonstrate a belief in blind people—that helps us change the understanding of blindness in society. We are reclaiming our stories and creating a new joyful narrative about living the lives we want. 

Sincerely,
Mark A. Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind

Connection, Community, and Knowing What Is Possible 

Every day blind people live their lives in a world that was not made for them and where low expectations are common. But the National Federation of the Blind has shown that real change is possible when people come together with purpose and belief in the full capacity of blind people.

Throughout our eighty-five-year history, we have found in this movement a place to learn from one another, challenge assumptions, and replace isolation with community. With shared experience, mentorship, and collective problem-solving, we have come to understand that blindness is not a barrier to a full life.

Belief in blind people is at our core. Our programs teach alternative techniques to daily tasks, develop confidence, and build on the wisdom of those who have walked the path before us. Through connection and community, our members learn not only what is possible but how to create a future where all blind people can live the lives they want.

"The Federation gave me more than skills; it gave me people who believed in my dreams even before I did. Every step toward owning my home was made possible because someone in this community encouraged me, answered a question, or showed me that blind people do this every day." – Daniel 

"In my freshman year of college, I found the National Federation of the Blind. I met blind couples who were successfully raising children, but above all I met blind and sighted people who expected more of me than I expected of myself. The members of the National Federation of the Blind made it clear to me that, if I couldn’t live the life I wanted, including having children, it wouldn’t be because of blindness." – Eric

Learn more about our community, including resources for blind students, blind parents, people who are losing their vision, and more. Or connect with one of our many groups, including NFB in the kitchen, blind crafters, blind journalists, and more. 

Latest News at the NFB

Legislation Introduced to Establish the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement

Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined the National Federation of the Blind to announce the lawmakers’ joint introduction of legislation to designate the new Museum of the Blind People’s Movement in Baltimore as the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement. The museum will be dedicated to the history, battles, and achievements of blind Americans.

Watch the introduction of the legislation.

Waymo Autonomous Ride-Hailing Coming to Baltimore

Baltimore, home to the national headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind and where thousands of blind people live as well as visit every year, has been added to the list of U.S. cities with autonomous ride-hailing service Waymo.

In welcoming the announcement, NFB President Mark Riccobono said, "Waymo's arrival in Baltimore will significantly strengthen our collaboration, because it gives our preeminent experts in nonvisual accessibility the chance to engage with this technology every day, bringing lived experience and high expectations to the table as we work to shape a future where blind people can fully and confidently participate."

Read more at waymo.com/blog.

NFB Partners with ElevenLabs to Transform Accessible Reading

The National Federation of the Blind is proud to announce a partnership with ElevenLabs, bringing the innovative ElevenReader platform to blind readers across the United States. As part of this partnership, premium access to ElevenReader is available at no cost to members of the National Federation of the Blind. This benefit underscores NFB’s commitment to ensuring that blind individuals have access to cutting-edge tools that enhance independence and inclusion.

Learn more in our Press Room.

Take Action This Month

There are many ways to get involved and learn more about the Federation. Here are a few things you can do to engage with our movement. 

Important Dates

We certainly are a busy organization. Don’t miss these upcoming events, seminars, and conferences taking place across the country and virtually.