February 2025

Letter from the President

Dear Friends,

Our members have just concluded our Washington Seminar in Washington, DC, where we spoke with hundreds of our elected representatives. This annual gathering of blind people from across the United States is an important part of advancing the policy and advocacy initiatives that the Convention voted for and, equally important, it is an opportunity to make our voices heard as valued and respected citizens of this country. It is common for blind people to be spoken for instead of being listened to. Our voice is often overlooked or ignored by those who believe they know what is best for us. But it’s crucial to get the perspective of blind people, individually and collectively, when addressing the challenges we face. 

Policymakers should have the opportunity to hear our own stories about what we can achieve. The impact of our advocacy has led to many critical pieces of legislation becoming law, such as the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act requiring hybrid and electric vehicles to make a safe level of sound. And we continue to advocate for things like accessible home medical devices, the end to subminimum wages for people with disabilities, and changes to Social Security that will make it easier for blind people to pursue full-time employment and fulfilling careers. 

Our voices are not only important in legislation--our experience and perspectives are valuable in workplaces, in implementation of education plans, and in the development of technology that all people use in their everyday lives. Commonly, solutions are applied to us without our input or consideration. But who knows what blind people need better than we do? Our perspective as a movement of blind people should be respected and valued because of our authenticity and consistency. We know that technology companies can feel confident that we will give them clear feedback aimed at making products better for everyone. Partners value that they can rely on our expertise and our strong philosophy. 

All of our initiatives are designed to amplify and center the voices, experiences, and leadership of blind people. That is because we know that the challenges we face are not because we are incapable, but because of the low expectations that society has of blind people. The National Federation of the Blind is the only organization directed by blind people that believes in our full capacity and centers blind people at every level. We have the expertise, history, and determination to empower blind people, and to raise expectations so that blind people can live the lives they want. Thank you for being part of this movement and helping to share our perspectives.

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

Center Blind People and the Blind People’s Movement 

The National Federation of the Blind centers blind people because blind people know best what blind people need. Because we value authentic lived experience and perspectives, our constitution requires that every member of the Board of Directors be a blind person. Our board members bring first-hand knowledge of the challenges we face and the solutions that work best for our community. The President and the Board of Directors are democratically elected by members, so it is ultimately the members who determine the direction our organization takes.

Donald Porterfield, a member of the Board of Directors, shared his reason for becoming a leader in the Federation:

“Hamilton is one of my favorite plays. In Hamilton they ask the question ‘who will tell your story.’ That same question has been asked of us. Only we can tell our story because we are the only ones living an authentic life as blind people. I like educating the public about the positive truths about blind people. I was faced with so many misconceptions when I was ready to take the bar examination and was searching for a job that any chance to minimize these for others is one I enthusiastically embrace.”

President Mark Riccobono, in his 2023 National Convention banquet speech, underscored why our blind-led movement is so powerful:

“We come in our thousands to affirm our commitment to direct our own future, to speak and act for ourselves, and to build the community that has made the most significant difference in elevating the blind throughout society: a community founded by blind people, led by blind leaders elected by the blind themselves, and sustained by the authentic ingenuity of blind people—a unified force built on hope, fueled by love, sustained through determination, and motivated by the truth that blindness is not the characteristic that exclusively defines us or our future.” 

Learn more about our national leadership and Board of Directors and read President Riccobono’s banquet speech: Belief, Courage, and Wisdom: Centering on the Blind People’s Movement.

Latest News at the NFB

Making Meta Accessible: Update on Latest Improvements

The National Federation of the Blind actively collaborates with technology companies to enhance the accessibility of their products. Our contributions have significantly improved, and will continue to improve, the tools used by blind people. In October 2024 we initiated discussions with Meta regarding accessibility regressions on Facebook. Thanks to the advocacy efforts of the National Federation of the Blind, Meta has introduced a URL that forces the current mobile Facebook experience to work on modern desktop/laptop browsers. While there is still more work to be done, there have been improvements, and we will continue to work with the company to improve accessibility. 

Learn more about our advocacy with Meta in our latest blog post.

Program Dates and Registration for Youth STEM program Now Available 

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is dedicated to improving opportunities for blind students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Blind youth are invited to embark on a transformative day of discovery and innovation as we dive into the world of the scientific method. Participants in STEM2U will engage in hands-on, accessible experiments that harness the power of observation, prediction, and testing to solve real-world challenges. From physics and technology to chemistry and engineering, this year’s activities are designed to inspire curiosity and ignite a love of STEM. This unforgettable opportunity for exploration is available in various states on different dates. 

For more details and to sign up, please visit NFB STEM2U webpage. 

Leading Disability Organizations React to Blame of Deadly Plane Crash on Disabled Federal Workers as Baseless and Irresponsible

Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, stated,

“We know that people with disabilities are among the best and brightest. We also know that our focus today and in the days to come should be on the lives lost not the misunderstanding of the lives of people with disabilities.”

Read the entire press release.

Take Action This Month

Here’s what you can do this month to get involved and support the National Federation of the Blind:

Important Dates

Throughout our local chapters and national divisions, we certainly are a busy organization. Here are some deadlines, training, and conference dates to keep in mind.