National Federation of the Blind

08/21/2026

The deadline to apply for our Student Seminar is today!

Are you a blind student seeking professional development, mentoring, and opportunities to connect with other blind students? Attend our Southwest Student Seminar called “The Power of Connection: Networking with Intention,” on September 18-20 in Tucson, Arizona: https://buff.ly/wIyj8ok

Designed for blind students at all stages of their educational journey, the seminar is hosted by our National Association of Blind Students (NABS) and will feature interactive workshops, engaging discussions, and opportunities to connect with blind peers and mentors from across the region.

Participants will explore topics ranging from accommodations and advocacy to identity, leadership, and building meaningful professional networks.

NABS is committed to ensuring that finances are not a barrier to participation and encourages interested students to learn more and register today: https://buff.ly/wIyj8ok

08/20/2026

Episode 89 of Access On, is on.

We conclude our 2026 national convention seminar on what’s new in artificial intelligence over the last year, including AI tools that can record meetings, generate notes, create tasks, and assist with visual interpretation.

We also begin serializing the 2026 technology vendor showcase from national convention, where you’ll hear directly from vendors demonstrating what’s new in access technology, Braille, tactile graphics, visual interpreting, and more.

Plus, we look ahead to our next Access On webinar, Design with Screen Readers in Mind, happening August 25 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Subscribe to Access On wherever you get podcasts, or download the audio:

08/19/2026

Joint Statement Regarding Louisiana Center for the Blind Student: The National Federation of the Blind and the Louisiana Center for the Blind are deeply saddened by the recent incident involving an adult student who was struck by a train on Friday, August 14, 2026. The student is receiving medical care and focusing on recovery. Our priority has been and continues to be providing support to the student and those directly affected.

Out of respect for the student’s privacy, we will not share additional details at this time. We are grateful for the compassion and support in our local and national community, and we ask that this moment be met with love and care for the student, the center staff, and the students who continue to learn and live in community at the Louisiana Center for the Blind.

We will continue to monitor public questions and media interest and will provide updates only if appropriate and respectful of the student. If you have questions about the lives of blind people and our training, we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you at a later time. To help protect the student's privacy and out of respect for everyone affected, comments on this post have been turned off.

08/14/2026

"Don't make a decision about a whole organization based on
one person. Or even a small group of people because... I guarantee you there are other people within the Federation that also resonate with you where you are and how you feel and your perspective as well." - Anil Lewis

Listen to "The Myth of the SuperBlind:" https://buff.ly/AJ0Jz58

08/13/2026

Episode 88 of Access On, is on.

We bring you more from our recent AI seminar, continuing the discussion of how artificial intelligence can help blind people work, learn, create, and solve access barriers more effectively.

We explore practical ways AI tools can support productivity, including working with documents and presentations, summarizing information, improving access to otherwise difficult content, and using AI thoughtfully as one more tool in the nonvisual access toolbox.

Subscribe to Access On wherever you get podcasts, or download the MP3 of this week’s episode:

08/12/2026

Have you ever experienced delay or difficulty in completing a class or graduating because of inaccessibility?

Listen to "Enough is Enough: The Adverse Impact of the Delay of ADA Title II:" https://buff.ly/zb31mDL

08/12/2026

"Blindness is not best understood by closing one’s eyes and trying to cross a room," Gary Wunder wrote.

"It is understood by listening to people who live with blindness every day. It is understood by learning from blind people who work, raise families, travel, read, cook, teach, lead, worship, vote, love, argue, build, and contribute. It is understood by recognizing that we are not symbols of tragedy, courage, helplessness, or inspiration. We are human beings."

Read more of "The Golden Rule, the Platinum Rule, and the Right to Speak for Ourselves," in the Braille Monitor: https://buff.ly/ApyvLAn

08/11/2026

Back-to-school season is here! What advice do you have for parents of blind students when developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) with their school?

Listen to learn more about our IEP advocacy: https://buff.ly/E1FyWoE

08/11/2026

August is Make-A-Will Month. Create or update your will using our free, accessible FreeWill resource.

You can also make a lasting impact by naming the National Federation of the Blind as a beneficiary of your will, IRA, retirement account, or life insurance policy.

Visit

FreeWill lets you make your last will and testament quick, easy, and completely free. It is a simple online legal will maker that helps you compile will forms to print and sign, or to take as a basic will template to an estate planning lawyer. FreeWill is built alongside will making experts.

08/10/2026

Are you an education or rehabilitation professional? Attend our Dare to Be Remarkable conference on November 18-20. This conference is a specialized, multi-day training event grounded in Structured Discovery and high expectations: https://buff.ly/19JaPoo

Designed for professionals working with blind and low-vision adults and transition-aged youth, Dare to Be Remarkable will feature expert-led workshops, empowering keynote presentations, practical, hands-on learning experiences and opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the country.

Register today: https://buff.ly/19JaPoo

A training conference for education and rehabilitation professionals who work with blind and low vision transition-age