National Convention Highlights

Audio recordings from past conventions are available here. This page will be continually updated with more highlights, so please visit often.

2018 National Convention

Friday, July 6, 2018

• Welcoming Ceremonies (Play MP3; 32 minutes; English)
• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized (Play MP3; 16 minutes; English)
• 2018 Presidential Report, President Mark Riccobono (Play MP3; 1 hour 13 minutes; English)
• Dream Makers Circle (Play MP3; 6 minutes; English)
• The Unexplored Dimensions of Photography: The Blind and the Freedom of Tactile Understanding, John Olson (Play MP3; 21 minutes; English)
• Directing Big Data and Technological Innovation: Perspectives on the Importance of Leadership by the Blind, Chancey Fleet (Play MP3; 24 minutes; English)
• Bringing Connections to Scale: The Blind and a Worldwide Crowd for Access to Information, Christian Erfurt (Play MP3; 12 minutes; English)
• Networking That Empowers Innovation: Accessibility for the Blind Through Facebook, Monica Desai (Play MP3; 13 minutes; English)
• Introducing Chloe: Artificial Intelligence Guided by the Blind, Suman Kanuganti (Play MP3; 26 minutes; English)

Saturday, July 7, 2018

• What Does "Blind" Have to Do with It? The Right to Parent from a Sighted Daughter's Perspective, Joanne Gabias (Play MP3; 25 minutes; English)
• Common Bonds of Blindness Around the World: A New Blind Chief Executive Officer for the World Organization, José Viera (Play MP3; 20 minutes; English)
• Leading with Conviction: Making Equality for People with Disabilities the Priority for the United States of America, Neil Romano (Play MP3; 23 minutes; English)
• Raising Expectations for the Nation from Florida's Ninth Congressional District: Perspectives from the United States House of Representatives, The Honorable Darren Soto (Play MP3; 10 minutes; English)
• A Record Year of Advocacy for the Blind of America: A Report from the Advocacy and Policy Department, John G. Paré Jr. (Play MP3; 34 minutes; English)
• Resolutions (Play MP3; 1 hour 39 minutes; English)

Sunday, July 8, 2018

• The Untapped Potential of Blind Entrepreneurs: Progress Through Collective Action of Blind Business Owners, Nicky Gacos (Play MP3; 21 minutes; English)
• A Movement of Excellence Built Upon Blind Experience: A Report from Our Jernigan Institute, Anil Lewis (Play MP3; 22 minutes; English)
• From My Blind Child to Our Blind Children: Why the National Federation of the Blind Is the Answer, Carlton Anne Cook Walker (Play MP3; 24 minutes; English)
• Raising Expectations for Education and Rehabilitation: Creating Opportunities for the Blind Through the United States Department of Education, Johnny Collett (Play MP3; 32 minutes; English)
• Playing Your Hand: A Blind Songwriter Doing What It Takes to Live the Life He Wants, JP Williams (Play MP3; 21 minutes; English)
• Authentically Blind on Stage and Screen: One Blind Actress Transforms Obstacles into Stepping Stones, Marilee Talkington (Play MP3; 27 minutes; English)
• Overcoming Obstacles and Recognizing Opportunities: A Blind Entrepreneur Breaks Through Barriers Everywhere He Builds, Isaac Lidsky (Play MP3; 15 minutes; English)
• From Raising Wages to Defending the Right to Live in the World: A Champion for Disability Rights and Friend of the Blind, The Honorable Tom Ridge (Play MP3; 29 minutes; English)
• Aviation, Technology, and Law, Marc Maurer (Play MP3; 25 minutes; English)
• Equal Access in Air Travel for the Blind: Raising Expectations from the United States Department of Transportation, Blane Workie (Play MP3; 23 minutes; English)
• The Eleventh Annual Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards, James Gashel (Play MP3; 27 minutes; English)
• Shaping Automotive Innovation for the Future: An Alliance with the Blind of America, Mitch Bainwol (Play MP3; 12 minutes; English)
• No Borders to the World’s Knowledge: A Commitment to Accessibility for the Blind, Francis Gurry (Play MP3; 15 minutes; English)
• Artificial Intelligence and Authentic Experience: Remarks from an Innovation Partner of the Blind, Ray Kurzweil (Play MP3; 17 minutes; English)
• 2018 Banquet Speech, President Mark Riccobono: Authenticity, Diversity, and the Synergy of the Organized Blind (Play MP3; 58 minutes; English)

2017 National Convention

Thursday, July 13, 2017

• Opening Ceremonies (27.8 MB)
• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized (10.1 MB)
• A Worldwide Revolution: The Marrakesh Treaty, the Accessible Books Consortium, and Global Literacy for the Blind (14.1 MB)
  Scott LaBarre, President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
• 2017 Presidential Report (46.9 MB)
  Mark A. Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind
• Leadership in Self-Driving Automobiles: The Blind and the Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets (7.55 MB)
  David Strickland, General Counsel and Spokesperson, Self-Driving Coalition for Safer Streets
• Leadership in Literacy: How Do We Know What We Do Not Know? (17.1 MB)
  Marc Maurer, Director of Legal Policy and Immediate Past President, National Federation of the Blind
• Engineering Tools for Tactile Fluency: A Partnership with the Organized Blind Movement (8.68 MB)
  Josh Coffee, President, E.A.S.Y. LLC
• Empowering STEM Education through Technology: HumanWare's Commitment to the Future (13.9 MB)
  Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare
• Building New Paths to Accessibility: Powering the Next Generation of Accessible Educational Materials (12.8 MB)
  Betsy Beaumon, President, Benetech

Friday, July 14, 2017

• Leadership in Fitness: A Crossfit Trainer Living the Life She Wants (9.92 MB)
  Bettina Dolinsek, CrossFit Trainer
• Running Across America: A Blind Ultra-Athlete's Challenge to Change (17.1 MB)
  Jason Romero, Ultra-Athlete
• Breaking Blind: Staying Fit with A Dose of Federation Love, Hope, and Determination (11.7 MB)
  Maureen Nietfeld, Home Management Instructor, Colorado Center for the Blind
• The American Foundation for the Blind: New Directions for the Future (8.96 MB)
  Kirk Adams, President, American Foundation for the Blind
• Transforming Hope into Action: A Report from the World Blind Union (15 MB)
  Fredric Schroeder, President, World Blind Union
• Building the Twenty-First Century American Workforce: Disability Does Not Define Your Employment (12.9 MB)
  The Honorable R. Alexander Acosta, Secretary, United States Department of Labor
• From Knowledge to Power: A Report on Advocacy and Policy Programs (11.7 MB)
  John Paré, Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind
• 2017 Resolutions (76.3 MB)

Saturday, July 15, 2017

• The Future of Access Technology for the Blind: Progress at VFO (9 MB)
  Tom Tiernan, President and CEO, VFO
• The Future of Equal Access to Technology: A Commitment to the Journey at Microsoft (14.2 MB)
  Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft
• Worldwide Excellence in Travel: Accessibility in Partnership with the Blind (13.6 MB)
  Bhala Dalvi, VP of Technology and Executive Sponsor of Accessibility, Expedia Inc.
• Educational Leadership and Product Innovations: The Future of the American Printing House for the Blind (14.2 MB)
  Craig Meador, President, American Printing House for the Blind
• Excellence in Technology Led by the Blind: A Report from the Jernigan Institute (12.1 MB)
  Anil Lewis, Executive Director for the Jernigan Institute, National Federation of the Blind
• Supporting Equality for Blind Americans: A New Sheriff in the United States House of Representatives (9.33 MB)
  The Honorable Val Demings, United States House of Representatives, 10th Congressional District, Florida
• The Power of the Mind: Research Exploring the Capacity of the Blind (9.97 MB)
  Marina Bedny, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University
• Building New Paths to Accessibility: Powering the Next Generation of Accessible Educational Materials (12.8 MB)
  Ann Cunningham, Art Instructor, Colorado Center for the Blind
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards (24.5 MB)
  James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee
• KNFB Reader: Demonstration and Product Update (8.69 MB)
• Exploring the Future: Disability, Technology, and Partnership (15.6 MB)
  Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering, Google, Inc.
• Revolutionizing Access to Information: A Platform for Testing the Limits (19.7 MB)
  Suman Kanuganti, Co-founder and CEO, Aira Tech Corp.
• The Blind Cook: Chopping Through Misconceptions to Live the Life She Wants (9.37 MB)
  Christine Hà, Chef, Cookbook Author, and Master Chef Season 3 Winner
• Transforming Dreams into Reality: The Fulfillment of One Blind Man's Mission (20.4 MB)
  Ron Gardner, Past President, National Federation of the Blind of Utah
• Leadership through Action: A Champion for the Blind in the United States Congress (11.5 MB)
  The Honorable David Young, United States House of Representatives, 3rd Congressional District, Ohio
• Banquet Speech (40.4 MB)
  Mark A. Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind

2016 National Convention 

Sunday, July 3, 2016

• Opening Ceremonies (19 MB)
• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized (8 MB)
• 2016 Presidential Report (31 MB)
  Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind 
• Top of Mind Everyday: Microsoft’s Commitment to Accessibility and Innovation through Partnership with the Federation (10 MB)
  John Jendrezak, Partner Director of Program Management, Microsoft 
• The Law of Disability, Special Treatment, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, and the Constitution (16 MB)
  Marc Maurer, Director of Legal Policy and Immediate Past President, National Federation of the Blind 
• Undefined by Blindness: Seeking Employment and Financial Literacy Opportunities for the Blind (6 MB)
  Kathy Martinez, Senior Vice President, Lead Disability Segment, Marketing and Brand Strategy, Enterprise Marketing, Wells Fargo & Company 
• National Industries for the Blind: Continuing to Raise Expectations and Create Opportunities (5 MB)
  Kevin Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Industries for the Blind

Monday, July 4, 2016

• A Community of Practice: The Federation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (16 MB)
  Natalie Shaheen, Project Director, National Federation of the Blind
  Joe Heimlich, Executive Director, Center for Research and Evaluation; COSI and Principal Researcher, Lifelong Learning Group
  Cricket Bidleman, Apprentice, NFB STEM2U; Participant, NFB EQ
  Frances Hammond, Board Member, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
  Arianna Benally, Junior, NFB STEM2U Columbus and NFB STEM2U Phoenix
  Salvador Villa, Apprentice, NFB STEM2U Phoenix; Participant, NFB EQ 2016
• The Blind in the World: Leadership, Philosophy, and Action on a Global Scale (10 MB)
  Fredric Schroeder, First Vice President, World Blind Union
• The Roots of the Federation in the World: The Isabelle Grant Story in Her Own Words​ (8 MB)
  Deborah Kent Stein, Editor, Future Reflections; First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
• Advocacy and Policy Report (15 MB)
  John G. Paré Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind
  Parnell Diggs, Director, Government Affairs, National Federation of the Blind
  Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Derek Manners, Advocacy and Policy Analyst, National Federation of the Blind
• Resolutions (43 MB)

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

• Putting News First: Breaking Down Stereotypes as a Blind Journalist (7 MB)
  Gary O'Donoghue, BBC Washington Correspondent
• Engaging Blind People in the Real Problems of Blindness: A Report on the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (15 MB)
  Anil Lewis, Executive Director for the NFB Jernigan Institute, National Federation of the Blind
  Lou Ann Blake, Deputy Director for the NFB Jernigan Institute, National Federation of the Blind
  Clara Van Gerven, Manager of Accessibility Programs, National Federation of the Blind
• Slam That! Living the Life She Wants Begins with the Federation​ (8 MB)
  Jordyn Castor, Software Engineer, Apple, Inc.
• Participating in the American Dream Means Paying Taxes: The Innovation of Accessible Financial Tools at H&R Block (6 MB)
  Bret Reimer, Technology Manager, H&R Block
• Educational Assessments, Math Innovations, and Real Accessibility: Progress at Pearson (9 MB)
  Jon Twing, Executive Vice President and Chief Measurement Officer, Pearson Education
• Bringing the Braille Commitment to New Heights: The Transformation of the BrailleNote (10 MB)
  Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare
• Investing and Leading in Technology: The Federation in Advancing Access to Information (7 MB)
  James Gashel, Vice President of Business Development and Product Evangelist, KNFB, LLC; Secretary, National Federation of the Blind
• The Library for the Blind in the Twenty-First Century: Accelerating and Expanding Access to Books (7 MB)
  Karen Keninger, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards (15 MB)
  James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee; Secretary, National Federation of the Blind
• Living the Life She Wants: Rehabilitation Professional, Community Leader, and Mother (18 MB)
  Amy Buresh, President, National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
• How Exponential Technologies Will Impact Disabilities (9 MB)
  Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering, Google, Inc.
• Educational Leadership at Amazon: A Plan for Accessibility and Excellence for the Blind (6 MB)
  Rohit Agarwal, General Manager, Amazon K-12 Education, Amazon.com, Inc.
• Eliminating Artificial Barriers: Civil Rights and Disibility at the United States Department of Justice (11 MB)
  Eve Hill, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice
• Equal Opportunity and Discovering Talent: A Journey from Discrimination to Particle Astrophysics Research (10 MB)
  Jamie Principato, Undergraduate Physics and Math Student, University of Colorado Boulder
• Leading the Nation in Systemic Accessibility (2 MB)
  Tristan Denley, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Tennessee Board of Regents
• The Understanding of Fear and the Power of Progress (27 MB), Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind 

2015 National Convention

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

• Opening Ceremonies (20 MB)
• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized (18 MB)
• 2015 Presidential Report
  Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind (65 MB)
• Protecting the Bonds of Love: Progress in Defending Our Right to Parent
  Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP (22 MB)
• Sixty Years of Living and Singing in the Federation
  Tom Bickford, Member of the Sligo Creek Chapter, National Federation of the Blind (15 MB)
• The Impact of the Organized Blind Movement: Perspectives from a Friend and Champion in the Maryland Legislature
  The Honorable Brooke Lierman, Delegate, District 46, Maryland House of Delegates (15 MB)
• Adjusting Attitudes: A Landmark Victory in the Iowa Supreme Court
  Aaron Cannon, Software Accessibility Engineer, Instructure, Inc. (16 MB)
• We Wrote the Book: Reflections on the Federation
  Scott LaBarre, President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
  Debbie Kent Stein, First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois (17 MB)
• Building Technology to Enhance Employment: The Next Generation of Innovation at Freedom Scientific
  John Blake, President and CEO, Freedom Scientific, Inc. (10 MB)

Thursday, July 9, 2015

• Sharing the Spirit of Our Movement Around the World: A Federationist in the Peace Corps
  Serena Olsen, Peace Corps Volunteer (14 MB)
• The Blind in the World: Spreading the Federation Message
  Fred Schroeder, First Vice President, World Blind Union (19 MB)
• Celebrating Excellence in eBooks: A Commitment to Equal Access
  Rick Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, VitalSource, Inc. (14 MB)
• We Can Bank On It: The Cardtronics Accessibility Center of Excellence and the Future
  Randy Rice, Director, Cardtronics Accessibilty Center of Excellence and Executive Vice President, Audit and Risk Management, Cardtronics (15 MB)
• Living the Lives We Want: Opportunities and Strength in Numbers
  Jeannie Massay, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind (13 MB)
• Advocacy and Policy Report
  John G. Paré, Jr. Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind
  Rose Sloan, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Lauren McLarney, Manager of Government Affairs, National Federation of the Blind (41 MB)
• Resolutions (87 MB)

Friday, July 10, 2015

• The Rhythm of the Movement: The 75th Anniversary in Song
  James Brown, Member, Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind
  Richie Flores, Project Consultant, Vocational Enrichment Project LLC (30 MB)
• The Art of Illusion: Determination, Imagination, and Skill with No Vision Required
  Chad Allen, Member, Magic Castle (10 MB)
• The Federation Philosophy at Work: Transforming Dreams into Reality through Our Jernigan Institute
  Anil Lewis, Executive Director for the Jernigan Institute (20 MB)
• #NCBYS: Making the Connection and Equipping the Next Generation
  Angel Ayala, Apprentice, National Federation of the Blind STEM2U (23 MB)
• Raising Expectations: A Commitment to Full Participation in the Twenty-First Century Workforce
  The Honorable Christopher P. Lu, Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Labor (17 MB)
• A Growing Partnership for Accessibility: Google and the Organized Blind Movement
  Kannan Pashupathy, Director and Chief Operating Officer, Research, Google, Inc.(14 MB)
• Pushing the Limits: Change the World through Big Ideas
  Eileen Bartholomew, Senior Vice President, Prizes, XPRIZE Foundation (19 MB)
• Increasing the Investment in Accessibility: Nonvisual Access in Microsoft Products and Services
  John Jendrezak, Partner Director of Project Management, Microsoft Corporation (16 MB)
• The Nature of Blindness
  Marc Maurer, Director of Legal Policy and Immediate Past President, National Federation of the Blind (31 MB)
• The Next 75 Years of Blindness: Perspectives from an Inventor and Partner
  Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering, Google, Inc. (36 MB)
• Leadership through Law: Perspectives on Advancing Civil Rights for the Blind
  The Honorable Maura Healey, Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (22 MB)
• Innovation and Accessibility: Creating Outstanding Customer Experiences at Target
  Alan Wizemann, Vice President of Product, Target.com & Mobile, Target Corporation (13 MB)
• Leadership from a Blind Person's Perspective: Accessibility in Action at the United States Access Board
  Sachin Dev Pavithran, Chairman, United States Access Board (8 MB)
• Leadership through Education: Raising Expectations, Improving Training, and Innovating Opportunities
  The Honorable Michael Yudin, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education (14 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards
  James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee (13 MB)
• Newell Perry Award
  Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind (5 MB)
• 2015 Banquet Speech: The Federation at Seventy-Five: The Determination of Value and the Reflection of Hope 
  Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind (52 MB)

2014 National Convention

Friday, July 4, 2014

• Opening Ceremonies (26 MB)
• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized (21 MB)
• The National Federation of the Blind Mobile App: The Power of Technology Supporting Federationists
  John Berggren, Executive Director for Operations, National Federation of the Blind (11 MB)
• 2014 Presidential Report
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (61 MB)
• A Standard of Literacy for the Blind from the Library of Congress
  Robert Dizard, Jr., Deputy Librarian of Congress, The Library of Congress (19 MB)
• The Federation at Work with Google: Changing the Structure of Expectations
  Eve Andersson, Accessibility Engineering and Product Manager-Core Team, Google (18 MB)
• Enforcing the Law of Inclusion: A Personal and Professional Journey
  Dan Goldstein, Esq., Partner, Brown, Goldstein, & Levy LLP (25 MB)
• Improving Disability Employment: A Pathway to Success for Employers and Workers
  Patricia A. Shui, Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, United States Department of Labor (20 MB)
• Fifty Years Later: Traveling with the Beatles on Their First Cross-Country Tour of America
  Arthur A. Schreiber, Reporter, and Chairman, New Mexico Commission for the Blind (3 MB)
• Ten Years of Progress in the Jernigan Institute
  Mark A. Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (30 MB)

Saturday, July 5, 2014

• Guide Dogs for the Blind: Striving for Excellence
  George Kerscher, Chairman of the Board, Guide Dogs for the Blind (12 MB)
• Blind Workers Deserve Fair Wages, Too
  Platt Allen, III, President and CEO, Lighthouse for the Blind of Forth Worth, Texas (18 MB)
• The Promise of Rehabilitation: Offering Hope, Building Opportunity
  Janet L. LaBreck, Commissioner, Rehabiliation Services Administration, United States Department of Education (21 MB)
• Working to Advance Equal Rights and Protections for People with Disabilities in the Workforce of Today, Tomorrow, and the Future
  Laura Fortman, Deputy Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, United States Department of Labor (19 MB)
• Advocacy and Policy Report
  John G. Pare, Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind
  Rose Sloan, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Lauren McLarney, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Jesse Hartle, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind (47 MB)
• Resolutions (86 MB)

Sunday, July 6, 2014

• The Blind At Speed
  Dan Parker, Race Driver (11 MB)
• Game-Changing Technology From an Innovator
  David Bradburn, President, BAUM USA (12 MB)
• A Plan to Create Total Accessibility on Campus
  Lucy France, Esq., Legal Counsel, University of Montana (14 MB)
• Accessibility on Computers and Mobile Devices
  Rob Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft Corporation (15 MB)
• Free Global Access for the Blind to the Computer
  Michael Curran, Developer of NVDA, NV Access Limited (18 MB)
• Accessible Set-Top Box
  Tom Wlodkowski, Vice President of Accessibility, Comcast Cable (14 MB)
• Minimum Wage Guarantees for Disabled Workers-A Report from the Department of Justice
  Eve L. Hill, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, United States Department of Justice (26 MB)
• Architecture: A Profession for the Blind
  Christopher Downey, Principal, Architecture for the Blind (25 MB)
• The Federation Spirit in the World
  Arnt Holte, President, World Blind Union (13 MB)
• Working with the Blind to Build a World of Opportunity: A Voice in Congress
  The Honorable David W. Jolly, United States House of Representatives, 13th Congressional District, Florida (12 MB)
• Seventy-Five Days of Action
  Kevan Worley, CEO, Worley Enterprises, Inc., and Rooster's Men Grooming Center, and Executive Director, National Association of Blind Merchants (22 MB)
• What Makes a Mind
  Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering, Google, Inc. (25 MB)
• K-NFB Reader: The Fastest, Most Portable, And Least Expensive Reading Machine Ever
  James Gashel, Vice President, Business Development, K-NFB Reading Technology, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (13 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
  James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (30 MB)
• Reflecting the Flame: Twenty-Eight Years Building Our Movement
  Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D., Research Professor, San Diego State University Research Foundation, and First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind (33 MB)
• 2014 Banquet Speech: The Challenge and the Limit
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (54 MB)

2013 National Convention

Thursday, July 4, 2013

• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized (17 MB)
• 2013 Presidential Report
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (60 MB)
• Reinterpreting and Expanding “The Right to Live in the World” 
  Adrienne Asch, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Ethics at Yeshiva University and Edward and Robert Milstein Professor of Bioethics (20 MB)
• Equal Access for the Blind to Job Searches on the Internet

  Mark Conway, Chief Information Officer, Monster Worldwide (9 MB)
• The Poetry of Motion, The Grace of Movement, The Delight of Physical Expression: Blindness No Barrier 
  Moderator: Natalie Shaheen, Director of Education, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (38 MB)
• The Newest Digital Book Player with Added Connectivity and Other Revolutionary Technology 
  Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare (21 MB)

Friday, July 5, 2013

• A Teacher in the Movement Who Believed in Blind Children and Taught the Legislature to Share Her Faith 
  Casey Robertson, Teacher of Blind Students (17 MB)
• The Electronic Brailler of Tomorrow Here Today: Distance Learning and Braille Production in One Device 
  David Pillischer, President, Electronic Brailler LLC
  Peter Sullivan, Vice President of Software Development, Duxbury Systems, Inc. (19 MB)
• Supporting the Blind of America in Congress 
  The Honorable Daniel Webster, United States House of Representatives, 10th Congressional District (16 MB)
• Equal Access to Digital Information: Tools That Help In Getting It Done 
  Preety Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Deque Systems, Inc. (7 MB)
• Exploring Pharmaceuticals in Partnership with the Blind 
  Robert Repella, Chief Commercial Officer and Senior Vice President, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (9 MB)
• Ending Legalized Discrimination in Wage Payments for Disabled Americans 
  The Honorable Gregg Harper, United States House of Representatives, 3rd Congressional District (31 MB)
• Advocacy and Policy Report 
  John G. Paré, Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind
  Anil Lewis, Director of Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind
  Lauren McLarney, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Jesse Hartle, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind (56 MB)

Saturday, July 6, 2013

• Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL): Changing Educational Expectations for the Blind of America 
  Moderator: Mark A. Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
  Sandy Halverson, President, National Association to Promote the Use of Braille; Lead Coordinator, Virginia BELL Programs, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
  Kayleigh Joiner, Junior, Stephen F. Austin State University 
  Raveena Alli, Second Grader, Springdale Park Elementary School (37 MB)
• Accessible Education That Works: A Commitment from Desire2learn 
  Dennis Kavelman, Chief Operating Officer, Desire2Learn (19 MB)
• Valuing the Talent of Disabled American Workers: Ending Subminimum Wage Payments 
  Moderator: Anil Lewis, Director of Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind
  Sheila Leigland, a worker at Goodwill being paid less than the minimum wage who escaped the exploitation
  Serena Lowe, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor
  Allison Wohl, Executive Director, The Collaboration to Promote Self Determination (52 MB)
• Literacy for the Blind Without Borders 
  Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D., Research Professor, Interwork Institute, San Diego State University Research Foundation; First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind
  Scott LaBarre, Esq., LaBarre Law Offices; President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (36 MB)
• Creating Opportunity for the Blind of the United Kingdom, Building Partnerships with Like-Minded Blindness Organizations Around the World 
  Lesley-Anne Alexander, CEO, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) (15 MB)
• A Partnership with the Organized Blind Movement: Creating Employment Opportunities in the Department of Veterans Affairs 
  Jan R. Frye, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Acquisition and Logistics, Department of Veterans Affairs (17 MB)
• The Blind at Work in an Unusual and Demanding Profession 
  Cassandra McNabb-McKinney, Funeral Director and Embalmer; President, National Federation of the Blind of New Hampshire (18 MB)
• Access for All: The Library of Congress in the 21st Century
  Roberta I. Shaffer, Associate Librarian for Library Services, The Library of Congress (9 MB)
• On the Cutting Edge: Accessible Technology That Provides Greater Opportunity Than Ever Before in History
  Peter Chapman, President and CEO, Media Arc (a company incorporating K-NFB Reading Technology) (17 MB)
• An Alternate Method of Thought: Adding Power to the Human Mind
  Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering, Google Inc. (24 MB)
• A Collaboration That Enhances Opportunity: The Association of American Publishers and the National Federation of the Blind Change Possibilities for Literacy 
  Thomas H. Allen, President and CEO, Association of American Publishers (15 MB)
• A Commitment to Equality of Opportunity: A Report from the Department of Justice
  Eve L. Hill, Senior Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice (20 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
  James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee; Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (21 MB)
• Banquet Speech: The Power of Belonging
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (68 MB)

2012 National Convention

Saturday, June 30, 2012

• 2012 Job Seeker Seminar(1 MB)
• 2012 Employment Committee Meeting (1 MB)

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

• Opening Ceremonies (15 MB)
• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized (24 MB)
• Access to the Internet for the Blind 
  Preety Kumar, C.E.O., Deque Systems, Inc., Web Accessibility Champion (18 MB)
• 2012 Presidential Report
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (60 MB)
• Descriptive Video Change: Enhancing the Experience by Empowering the Consumer
  Joshua A. Miele, Ph.D., Director, The Smith-Kettlewell Video Description Research and Development Center (17 MB)
• The Degrees of Freedom, the Organized Blind Movement: The Dynamics of Independence and Success
  Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (26 MB)
• Windows 8 Accessibility
  Rob Sinclair, Director of Accessibility and Chief Accessibility Strategist, Microsoft (18 MB)
• Minar Directae
  Scott LaBarre, Esq., LaBarre Law Offices; President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (27 MB)
• Accessible Travel and a Safe Environment for the Blind: A Commitment from the Secretary of Transportation
  The Honorable Ray H. LaHood, Secretary, United States Department of Transportation (13 MB)

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

• The Seeing Eye App: GPS for the Blind on the iPhone
  Mike May, Chief Executive Officer, Sendero Group (17 MB)
• Inspiring Independence for the Blind Through Faith and Service: From New York to the Vatican
  Father John R. Sheehan, S.J., Chairman, Board of Directors, Xavier Society for the Blind (24 MB)
• The Federation in the World
  Maryanne Diamond, President, World Blind Union; and General Manager, International and Stakeholder Relations, Vision Australia
  Arnt Holte, Vice-Executive Director, Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (29 MB)
• Equal Access for the Blind: Airfares, Hotels, Cruises: Saving with Travelocity
  Steve Dumaine, Senior Vice President of Global Strategy and Product Innovation, Travelocity Global (31 MB)
• The Affordable Powerful Notetaker for the Blind
  Deane Blazie, Inventor; Hobe Sound (12 MB)
• Strategic Initiatives Report
  John G. Paré, Jr., Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind
  Anil Lewis, Director of Strategic Communications, National Federation of the Blind
  Lauren McLarney, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Jesse Hartle, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind (46 MB)

Thursday, July 5, 2012

• The Democratisation of Braille
  Kevin Carey, Chair, Royal National Institute of Blind People (16 MB)
• The Client/Career Paradigm: An Entrepeneurial Perspective
  Anil Lewis, Director of Strategic Communications, National Federation of the Blind (17 MB)
• State Programs to Encourage Independence for the Blind
  Larry E. Temple, Executive Director, Texas Workforce Commission (27 MB)
• Accessible Television Equipment: The United Kingdom Scoops the U.S.
  Richard Orme, Head of Accessibility and Head of Digital Inclusion, Royal National Institute of Blind People (18 MB)
• Implementing Accessibility for the Print Disabled at the University System Level
  Gerard L. Hanley, Ph.D., Senior Director, Academic Technology Services, and Executive Director, MERLOT, California State University, Office of the Chancellor (18 MB)
• An End to Legalized Discrimination: A Demand for Justice and a Call for Action
  Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D.; Research Professor; San Diego State University (18 MB)
• Equal Access for the Blind to Education
  Seth M. Galanter, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Office for Civil Rights, United States Department of Education (15 MB)
• The Library of Congress: Pursuing Policies and Practices that Meet Needs
  Roberta I. Shaffer, Associate Librarian for Library Services; The Library of Congress (8 MB)
• Blind People At Work
  Kevan Worley, CEO, Worley Enterprises, Inc., and Roosters Men’s Grooming Center
  Mark Jones, Owner, Owensville Communications WVBG-AM/FM (33 MB)
• Disability Policy from the White House
  Kareem A. Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy (14 MB)
• The Policy of Integration Enforceable at Law 
  Eve L. Hill, Senior Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, United States Department of Justice (14 MB)
• Making Chemistry Accessible to the Blind One Atom at a Time
  Henry Wedler, Ph.D. candidate, University of California, Davis (16 MB)
• Inventions that Alter Thought
  Ray Kurzweil, President and Chief Executive Officer, K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. (25 MB)
• The Accessible Bookstore, the Accessible Library, and Millions of Books to Come
  Marshall A. (Arnie) Wight, President and Chief Operating Officer, Baker & Taylor, Inc. (18 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
  James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (24 MB)
• Banquet Speech: Intersection of Law and Love
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (60 MB)
• Scholarship Program Presentation
  Patti Chang, Chairperson, National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program (20 MB)

2012 NFB National Convention Sponsor Videos

• HumanWare (7 MB)
• Oracle (5 MB)

2011 National Convention

Sunday, July 3, 2011

• Employment Committee Seminar - Morning Session (67 MB)
• Employment Committee Seminar - Afternoon Session (54 MB)

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

• 2011 Presidential Report
  Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind (30 MB)
• Getting an Education for Blind Children and Adults: How to Survive with Proper Expectations and Accessibility
  Moderator: Anil Lewis, Director of Strategic Communications, National Federation of the Blind (22 MB)

• • The Honorable Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, United States Department of Education
  • Gaeir Dietrich, Director of the High Tech Center Training Unit, California Community Colleges; Chair, Advisory Commission On Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities, Convened by the Secretary of Education, United States Department of Education
  • Peter Osborne, Head of International Partnerships and Development, Royal National Institute of Blind People

• The American Spirit in Action: Creating Opportunity, Responsibility, and Faith
  Harris Rosen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Rosen Hotels and Resorts (12 MB)
• The First Blind Driver on the Daytona Speedway: A Program Initiated by the National Federation of the Blind
  Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (25 MB)

Thursday, July 7, 2011

• Developing Entrepeneurial Opportunities Online Through eBay
  Mary Ellen Gabias, Director of Online Entrepreneurship, National Federation of the Blind (11 MB)
• An Accessible Android PDA
  Marc Mulcahy, President, LevelStar (7 MB)
• Quiet Cars, Pedestrian Safety, and Protection for the Environment: A Panel Discussion
  Moderator: John G. Paré Jr., Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind (16 MB)

• • The Honorable David Strickland, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, United States Department of Transportation
  • Report from General Motors
    Douglas B. Moore, Vehicle Performance Owner, General Motors
  • Report from Toyota Motor Corporation
    Kevin Ro, National Manager, Technical & Regulatory Affairs, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

• Strategic Initiatives Report (19 MB)
• Equal Access to Technology and Programs in the United States
  David M. Capozzi, Esq., Executive Director, United States Architectual and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (6 MB)

Friday, July 8, 2011

• No More Subminimum Wages: The Time is Now
  Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D.; Research Professor; San Diego State University (8 MB)
• Conditions for the Blind in the Workshop During Three Decades
  Stancil Tootle, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia; Employee, Georgia Industries for the Blind (6 MB)
• Report on Disability Employment Policy from the United States Department of Labor
  The Honorable Kathleen Martinez, Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy, United States Department of Labor (9 MB)
• Valuable Work and Valuable Workers: A Report from the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
  Dr. Janet Szlyk, President and Executive Director, The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (7 MB)
• Changes in Policy in Employment Programs for the Blind
  Jim Kesteloot, Member, Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (7 MB)
• Addressing Inequities in the Workplace: The Promise of Equal Opportunity
  The Honorable Jacqueline Berrien, Chair, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (10 MB)
• A Blind Chief Executive of One of the Largest States in America
  The Honorable Governor David A. Paterson, New York, New York (8 MB)
• Building Accessible Tools for Knowledge: A Commitment by a Computer Giant
  Dr. Alan Eustace, Senior Vice President, Knowledge; Google (4 MB)
• Library Services to the Blind of the Nation and Access to Digital Material from the Library of Congress
  Dr. Deanna B. Marcum, Associate Librarian for Library Services, The Library of Congress (8 MB)
• Equal Access to Information: The Urgency and the Law
  Daniel Goldstein, Esq., Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP (11 MB)
• The Accessible Campus in California: An Example for the Nation
  Peter M. Siegel, Chief Information Officer and Vice Provost, Information and Educational Technology; University of California Davis (10 MB)
• Civil Rights for Disabled Americans
  Samuel Bagenstos, Esq., Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice (9 MB)
• Transcendent Ideas, the Man to Make them Current, and a Partnership Expanding Access for All
  Ray Kurzweil, President and Chief Executive Officer, K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. (7 MB)
• Blio: Providing Access to Three Million Books and Growing
  James Gashel, Vice President of Business Development, K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. (6 MB)
• A Partnership for Access: Comments from the Major Distributor of Books in the United States
  Robert Nelson, President, Digital Group, Baker & Taylor (5 MB)
• Baseball, Hall of Fame, Blindness
  Ron Brown, Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind (5 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
  James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee; Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (14 MB)
• Banquet Speech: Opportunity, Danger, and the Balance of Risk
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (32 MB)

2010 National Convention

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

• A Defense Department Priority for Blind Wounded Warriors
  Colonel Donald Gagliano, M.D., Executive Director, Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Center of Excellence (17 MB)
• 2010 Presidential Report
  Dr. Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (60 MB)
• The Blind Driver Operating a Vehicle at Speed: Creating the Technology That Puts the Controls Under Our Hands
  Parnell Diggs, Esq., Coordinator, Race for Independence; President, National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina (17 MB)
• SWEP and the Bars of Our Prison
  Scott LaBarre, Esq., LaBarre Law Offices; President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (26 MB)
• The Xavier Society for the Blind: Serving the Blind Since 1900
  Father John R. Sheehan, S.J., Chairman, Board of Directors, Xavier Society for the Blind (17 MB)
• One Million Books for the Print Disabled and More to Come
  Brewster Kahle, Digital Librarian (12 MB)
• Not Just Surviving the Disaster of September 11 But Providing Leadership in a Deadly Emergency
  Michael Hingson, President, Michael Hingson Group (39 MB)

Video

• 2010 Presidential Report
  Dr. Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (155 MB)

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

• The Apex and Other Developments at HumanWare
  Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare (21 MB)
• The Failure of the Educational System in Meeting the Needs of the Blind (66 MB)

• • Mark Riccobono, Moderator; Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (3 MB)
  • Sheila Amato, Ed.D., University Teacher Trainer (12 MB)
  • Noreen Grice, Founder and President of You Can Do Astronomy, LLC (11 MB)
  • Laura Webber, Secretary, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (14 MB)
  • Eric Vasiliauskas M.D., parent and advocate (17 MB)

• Assuring Internet Accessibility
  Preety Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Deque Systems, Inc. (8 MB)
• Strategic Initiatives Report
  John Pare, Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind
  Jesse Hartle, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
  Lauren McLarney, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind (37 MB)

Thursday, July 8, 2010

• Buying and Selling Online: Ebay Builds Accessibility for the Blind into its Platform
  Dane Glasgow, Vice President, Buyer Experience Product Management, Ebay, Inc. (13 MB)
• Braille is Literacy
  Deane Blazie, Inventor (12 MB)
• Eighty-four Languages and Growing
  Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress (19 MB)
• Educating Blind Children: Changing the Paradigm
  Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D.; Research Professor; San Diego State University (19 MB)
• Toward Full Employment for Blind Americans
  Lynnae Ruttledge, Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, United States Department of Education (9 MB)
• Accessible Education for All, Including the Blind: Meeting the Standard
  Jessica Finnefrock, Senior Vice President, Product Development, Blackboard (8 MB)
• Accessible Design: A Model for the Future
  Steve Eastman, President, Target.com (14 MB)
• Location-based Services Using Bus Stop and Geocoded Media Content
  Mike May, Chief Executive Officer, Sendero Group (11 MB)
• Blind Car Builder? We're Here to Tell You!
  Marcus Simmons, Chief Executive Officer, Simmons BOSS CREATIONS (18 MB)
• Copyright and the Right to Read
  Marybeth Peters, Esq., Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress, Copyright Office (15 MB)
• The Future of Books and Beyond
  Ray Kurzweil, President and Chief Executive Officer, K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. (17 MB)
• Calling All Drivers: Advancing Leadership, Collective Action, and the Boundaries of Independence
  Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (24 MB)
• The Interface That Touches the Mind: Advancing Beyond Autonomous Vehicles
  Dennis Hong, Ph.D., Director, Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (14 MB)
• A Practicing Blind Physician
  Timothy Cordes M.D./Ph.D., Resident in Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (15 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
  Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (28 MB)
• Disability Policy from the White House
  Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President on Disability Policy (17 MB)
• Banquet Speech: The Advantage of Uncertainty
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (61 MB)
• Banquet: Ray Kurzweil (5 MB)
• Banquet: 2010 Jacobus tenBroek Award Presentation (11 MB)
• Banquet: 2010 Scholarship Awards Presentation (33 MB)

Video

• Banquet Speech: The Advantage of Uncertainty
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (155 MB)

2009 National Convention 

Monday, July 6, 2009

• March for Independence Rally Program (48 MB)
• Celebration of Freedom: Veterans Recognized
  Dwight Sayer, President, National Association of Blind Veterans (12 MB)
• 2009 Presidential Report
  Dr. Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (56 MB)
• Policies to Enhance Employment, Inclusion, Safety, and Productivity
  The Honorable John D. Dingell, Member of Congress (20 MB)
• Promoting Pedestrian Safety: A Priority for Manufacturers
  The Honorable Dave McCurdy, President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (13 MB)
• The Journey of Braille: From the Hands of the Creator to Earth Orbit (10 MB)
• The Value of a Coin, of a Communication System, and of a Class of Human Beings
  Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D., Research Professor, San Diego State University (16 MB)
• Providing the Fundamental Tools: Braille Books
  Brian A. MacDonald, President, National Braille Press (15 MB)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

• Expanding Access to Digital Information for the Blind
  Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare (25 MB)
• A Blind Athlete in the Paralympics
  Tyler Merren, 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team Member, Men's Goalball (11 MB)
• Developments at the First Educational Institution for the Blind in the United States, Perkins
  Steven M. Rothstein, President, Perkins School for the Blind (12 MB)
• The Federation in the World from the Perspective of the World Blind Union
  Maryanne Diamond, President, World Blind Union (23 MB)
• Strategic Initiatives Report
  John Pare, Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind (24 MB)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

• The Near-Perfect Audio Book: How We Do It
   Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (31 MB)
• The Demand, the Crisis, the Solution in Education for the Blind
  Edward Bell, Ph.D., Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University (14 MB)
• The Theory and the Practice: Education for the Blind in the Public School
  Denise M. Robinson, Ph.D., Teacher and Coordinator of Programming for Blind and Visually Impaired Students (19 MB)
• Why Are You Trying to Make that Child Blind?
  Carol Castellano, President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (19 MB)
• Teaching an Essential Skill: Braille

• • Jerry Whittle, Teacher-Counselor, Louisiana Center for the Blind
  • April Davis, Coordinator of Summer Programs for Blind Children,  Louisiana Center for the Blind
  • James Mays, Industrial Arts Teacher, Louisiana Center for the Blind
  • Deja Powell, Cane Travel Instructor, Utah Division of Services for the  Blind and Visually Impaired
  • Anil Lewis, President, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
  • Terri Rupp, President, National Federation of the Blind of Nevada (35 MB)

• From the Center of History: Five Years into the Future of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
  Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (27 MB)
• NFB-NEWSLINE: From Phone to Computer to Podcast to Pocket
  Scott White, Director of Sponsored Technology, National Federation of the Blind (12 MB)
• Shaping the Standard for the Legal Community: The Neccessity for Access to Information for All
  Daniel Goldstein, Esq., Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP (21 MB)
• Negotiating Accessible Electronic Books: A Massive Undertaking, A Smashing Success
  Jack Bernard, Esq., Chair, Counsel for Disability Concerns, and Assistant General Counsel, University of Michigan (18 MB)
• The Commitment of Microsoft to Accessible Technology
  Rob Sinclair, Director of Accessibility, Microsoft Corporation (14 MB)
• Transcending the Barriers of Yesterday, Anticipating the Romance of the Human Experience with the Technology of Tomorrow
  Ray Kurzweil, President and Chief Executive Officer, KNFB-Reading Technology, Inc. (15 MB)
• Representing the City of Chicago
  Patti Chang, Esq., Senior Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago (21 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards
  Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (39 MB)
• The Right of the Pedestrian to be Safe in the World
  Ronald Medford, Acting Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (9 MB)
• Banquet Speech: The Value of Decision
  Dr. Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (61 MB)

Video

• Banquet Speech: The Value of Decision
  Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind (157 MB)

2008 National Convention

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

• 2008 Presidential Report
  Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind
• Independent and On the Move: The Blind Have a Friend in Congress
  The Honorable Pete Sessions; Member of Congress (10 MB)
• The Quiet Car Revolution
  Deborah Kent Stein; Chairperson; Committee on Automobiles and Pedestrian Safety (8 MB)
• A Safer Environment, Safer Travel for the Blind: A Champion in Congress
  The Honorable Edolphus Towns; Member of Congress (16 MB)
• Building Cars for the Future: A Partnership That Includes the Blind
  Robert S. Strassburger; Vice President, Vehicle Safety & Harmonization (12 MB)
• Devising Solutions That Work for Pedestrian Safety
  Daniel J. Selke; Chairperson, Society of Automotive Engineers Safety and Human Factors Committee (14 MB)
• The tenBroek Law Symposium: The Impact of Jacobus tenBroek on the Legal System of the United States and the World

• • Dutch tenBroek; son of Dr. Jacobus tenBroek (12 MB)
  • Lou Ann Blake; Chairperson; Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium Committee (24 MB)
  • Robert Dinerstein; Professor of Law; Washington College of Law; Washington, D.C. (11 MB)

Video

• March for Independence Rally Program (56 MB)
• 2008 Presidential Report (160 MB)

Thursday, July 3, 2008

• Access for the Blind to American Business: A Priority for Amazon
  Craig Woods; Senior Manager for the Content Platform; Amazon.com (16 MB)
• Making Capcha More Accessible for the Blind
  Dr. Jonathan Lazar; Director, Universal Usability Laboratory, Department of Computer and Information Sciences; Towson University (16 MB)
• Equal Access to Web 2.0 and Beyond
  Dr. Wayne Dick; Professor, Computer Engineering and Computer Science; California State University (18 MB)
• National Federation of the Blind Nonvisual Access Certification
  Anne Taylor; Director of Access Technology, National Federation of the Blind (14 MB)
• Congressional Decision-Making, Government Policy, and Blindness
  The Honorable Louie Gohmert; Member of Congress (24 MB)
• Access for the Blind to Consumer Products: A Commitment from General Electric
  Michael Eisenreich; Leader; GE.com Digital Media Technologies (13 MB)
• Developing Technologies for School and Work
  Larry Skutchan; Technology Project Leader, Department of Educational Research; American Printing House for the Blind (15 MB)
• System Access to Go
  Mike Calvo; Chief Executive Officer, Serotek Corporation (8 MB)
• Pacmate Omni: The Newest PDA from Freedom Scientific
  Jonathan Mosen; Vice President of Blindness Hardware Product Management, Freedom Scientific (15 MB)

Friday, July 4, 2008

• Honoring America's Veterans
  Dwight Sayer; President, National Association of Blind Veterans, National Federation of the Blind (12 MB)
• The Federation in the World From the Perspective of South Africa and Four Years of International Effort
  Dr. William Rowland; President, World Blind Union (7 MB)
• The Federation in the World From the Perspective of a Human Rights Advocate and Blind Leader In Australia
  Graeme Innes AM; Human Rights and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (9 MB)
• Protecting the Rights of Blind Individuals in the United States
  Daniel Goldstein, Esq.; Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP (23 MB)
• Building the Dream: Collection Development at Your National Library
  Frank Kurt Cylke; Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Library of Congress (9 MB)
• Twenty-five Years of Program Initiatives for Parents and Their Blind Children
  Barbara Cheadle; President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (16 MB)
• Technologies Developed in Partnership with the Blind
  Gilles Pepin; Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare (9 MB)
• National Center For Excellence in Enterprise Computing
  Luke Kowalski; Corporate User Experience Architect, Oracle (8 MB)
• Crashing Through In Technology, In Business, and In Living
  Mike May; President, Sendero Group (9 MB)
• The Future of Technology for the Blind
  Ray Kurzweil; President and Chief Executive Officer, KNFB-Reading Technology, Inc. (10 MB)
• Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Presentations
  Gary Wunder; Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee; and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (40 MB)
• Literacy, Learning, and Enlightenment
  Dr. Fredric K. Schroeder; Research Professor, San Diego State University; and First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind (12 MB)
• Believing Enough to Question: The Jernigan Institute - A Revolution in Education and Research
  Mark Riccobono; Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute (12 MB)
• Blind Youth in Computer Science: An Educational Commitment
  Richard E. Ladner; Boeing Professor in Computer Science and Engineering, Department of Computer Science & Engineering (7 MB)
• Education of Blind Youth: A Worldwide Imperative
  Larry Campbell; President, International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI); International Program Administrator, Overbrook School for the Blind (5 MB)
• Banquet Speech: The Urgency of Optimism
  Dr. Marc Maurer; President, National Federation of the Blind (63 MB)
• Banquet: Jacobus tenBroek Award Presentation (10 MB)
• Banquet: Scholarship Awards Presentation (23 MB)

Video

• Banquet Speech: The Urgency of Optimism
  Dr. Marc Maurer; President; National Federation of the Blind (167 MB)