Voice of the Nation's Blind Blog

By Mark Riccobono Greetings, Fellow Federationists, January 4 was World Braille Day, which commemorates the birth of Louis Braille in 1809. This was a special World Braille Day because he invented his code when he was fifteen. The 215th anniversary of his birth is a special year for promoting and celebrating Braille.

By John Pare I attended my first Washington Seminar twenty years ago as part of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida delegation. It was the first time I had stepped foot in one of the House of Representatives or Senate office buildings, and it was the first time I ever had a one-on-one conversation with a member of Congress.

By Jamie Principato Crane

As the new year approaches, I reflect on the progress that the National Federation of the Blind has made and look forward to our future advancements.

In a world overflowing with technology, few innovations genuinely stand out for their potential to change the way blind and low-vision users live independently. The Lyriq Assistive Reader is one such device, which will transform the way individuals with visual impairments access and enjoy physical text.

Read for our December 2023 update from President Mark Riccobono about activities and important Federation announcements.

From snowflakes on the tip of your nose to delicious hot chocolate on your tongue, there is more to the holidays than sparkling lights and window displays. Whether or not you admit it aloud, ripping wrapping paper and preparing elaborate holiday feasts with family are incredibly satisfying. And none of these require vision.

The ability to vote using a secret ballot that can be marked privately and independently has long been a fundamental cornerstone of America’s democratic system. For centuries, blind voters were forced to rely on the help of election judges, trusted friends or relatives, or other human readers to mark their ballots. This deprived them of the right to a truly secret ballot.

By Barbara Pierce

By Karen Anderson