The Nation's Blind Podcast

Season’s greetings from all of us here on the Nation’s Blind Podcast! In this episode, we take a look at the impact we’ve had throughout 2017, share some favorite holiday traditions, and look ahead to 2018. In Talking about Our Federation, NFB Government Affairs Specialist Gabe Cazares speaks with two blind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to learn more about their experience as blind immigrants. We get an update on our hurricane relief efforts in the News. And finally, President Riccobono shares some reflections on our 2017 work, a look ahead at 2018, and his favorite holiday traditions. DACA Survey: https://nfb.org/daca Diversity Statement: https://nfb.org/diversity-statement Hurricane Relief: https://nfb.org/blog/article/3341 Become a Member: https://nfb.org/how-join 2017 Presidential Report: https://nfb.org/presidential-reports Braille Monitor: https://nfb.org/braille-monitor Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog: https://nfb.org/blog Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter and Instagram: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

We’re back with another bonus episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast! This time, we spoke to blind parents about some of the techniques they use for getting around with their children.   Babywearing International: https://babywearinginternational.org/ Blind Parents website: blindparents.org Blind Parents listserv: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org Twitter: @NFB_Voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Website: www.nfb.org Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or podcast@nfb.org

This month, we’re taking a look at our partnerships. Melissa gets a chance to talk to Beth Sellers, a mom in Virginia whose daughters attended the NFB BELL Academy, about how she partnered with her affiliate to start up a local NFB BELL Academy in her town. Next, Chris has some exciting news from KNFB Reader and Sprint in In the News. And finally, in the Presidential Privilege, President Riccobono speaks with Expedia’s Bhala Dalvi about our work together on accessibility.   NFB BELL Academy: https://nfb.org/bell-academy KNFB Reader: https://knfbreader.com/ Sprint: sprint.com/vision Expedia: https://www.expedia.com/ Bhala Dalvi’s 2017 Convention Speech: https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1710/bm171005.htm Strategic Nonvisual Access Partnership: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-strategic-nonvisual-access-partner-certification Santa Letters: https://nfb.org/santa-letters Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog: https://nfb.org/blog Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter and Instagram: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

Episode 19 – Meet the Blind Month This month on the Nation’s Blind Podcast, we’re highlighting the work of the Federation around Meet the Blind Month. There has been some discussion about the name “Meet the Blind Month,” which Anil and Melissa address to open our episode. In our Talking about Our Federation segment, Chris interviews a local Baltimore businessman, Craig Martin, about his experience working with blind customers. Anil and Chris cover a lot in this month’s In the News segment, talking about the AV START Act and speaking with local chapter and affiliate leaders about their Meet the Blind Month activities. Finally, Melissa has the privilege of interviewing President Riccobono about being a blind parent and getting out in the community.   Meet the Blind Month: https://nfb.org/meet-blind-month Do You Dream in Color?: http://www.doyoudreamincolor.com The QG: https://www.theqg.com/ American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-av-start-act National Federation of the Blind of Utah: http://www.nfbutah.org/ National Federation of the Blind of Missouri: http://nfbmo.org/ National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina: http://nfbofsc.org/ Blind Parents: http://blindparents.org/ Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter and Instagram: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

Episode 18 – We Are Family There’s a lot going on in this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast. Because it’s fall convention season, we highlight a conversation Anil recorded at the 2017 National Convention in Talking about Our Federation. He spoke with Diane McGeorge, better known as Door Prize Diane, about what door prizes add to the event. He also spoke with Sandy and John Halverson about the SUN Fund and our NFB scholarship program. For In the News this month, Chris and Melissa cover our lawsuit against the Social Security Administration, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act regulations, and our hurricane relief efforts. Finally, in this month’s Presidential Privilege, Anil speaks with President Riccobono about White Cane Awareness Day, Meet the Blind Month, and our efforts to better understand the impact of the repeal of the DACA program on blind immigrants. State Conventions: https://nfb.org/state-conventions Scholarships: https://nfb.org/scholarships Social Security Administration lawsuit: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-and-two-blind-individuals-file-lawsuit-against-ssa-lack-accessible-kiosks Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-applauds-implementation-quiet-car-regulations Hurricane Harvey relief: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-hurricane-harvey-relief-project Meet the Blind Month: https://nfb.org/meet-blind-month Do You Dream in Color? screenings: http://www.doyoudreamincolor.com/screenings DACA survey: https://nfb.org/daca American Action Fund Tactile Art Kit: https://actionfund.org/tactile-art-program Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter and Instagram: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

Episode title: Episode 17 – Molding the Minds of Tomorrow Show notes: Anil and Melissa talk about the work the NFB does to create opportunities for blind students to learn. Melissa shares some stories from the NFB of Maryland BELL Academy. Anil chats with Maureen Nietfeld, our top 2017 scholarship winner, to learn more about her and the scholarship program in Talking about Our Federation. Chris is joined for In the News by NFB Immediate Past President Dr. Marc Maurer and Patricia Maurer to discuss the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults’ new Tactile Art Program. Finally, in this month’s Presidential Privilege, Anil speaks with President Riccobono about why the NFB continues to create programs like the NFB Youth Slam and the impact these programs have.   Breaking Blind on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BreakingBlind/featured American Action Fund Tactile Art Kit: https://actionfund.org/tactile-art-program Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter and Instagram: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

In this fourth bonus episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono interviews Serena Harris, a first grade teacher at Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore. Serena speaks about the methods she uses to make sure parents who happen to be blind are able to access school information and participate fully in their child’s education. These methods include Class Dojo and Permission Click, both of which are useable for parents who are blind. We at the Nation’s Blind Podcast want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of this episode by calling (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or emailing podcast@nfb.org. Twitter: @NFB_Voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Website: www.nfb.org Are you a parent who happens to be blind? Looking for resources for blind parents in your life? Visit www.blindparents.org for resources, a parent mentoring program, and more. Subscribe to the blind parent listserv, where you can ask parenting related questions, share your parenting tips and tricks, and network with blind parents from all over the world.

Episode title: Episode 16 – It’s Convention Time Show notes: It’s June, which means national convention is just around the corner! Anil and Melissa talk about all the prep that goes into convention, and Melissa invites everyone to stop by the Presidential Suite during convention. In Talking About Our Federation, Anil and special guest Dick Davis talk about all the plans the NFB Employment Committee has scheduled for the convention, including the NFB National Job Fair. Dick also offers some advice for job seekers. Chris is joined by Shawn Calloway for our In the News segment. Shawn is the chair of our convention Host Committee, so he has some special insights for everyone attending the 2017 convention. Finally, Anil talks to President Riccobono about his hopes and dreams for the convention and the importance of the convention for the Federation and our work.   Convention information: https://nfb.org/convention Convention agenda: https://nfb.org/convention/agenda 2017 convention hashtag: #NFB17 Rhythm of the Movement: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhythmofthemovementfeder3 Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter and Instagram: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

Episode title: Episode 15 – Traveling Independently Show notes: In May, we discuss traveling independently as blind people and the tools that help us do so: canes, guide dogs, public transportation, autonomous vehicles, etc. Anil and Melissa kick things off by discussing our latest bonus episodes and introducing our rideshare testing program. In Talking About Our Federation, Melissa has a conversation with Tim Elder, a member of the legal team that helped negotiate the settlement agreements with Uber and Lyft around their service animal policies. Chris and Anil share some additional details about our rideshare testing program and talk about our scholarship program in our In the News segment. And in this month’s Presidential Privilege, Anil talks to President Riccobono about using the long white cane, as well as our involvement in the continued development of independent travel tools for the blind, like improving the white cane, autonomous vehicles, and more. Scholarship finalists press release: https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-announces-2017-scholarship-program-finalists Rideshare information: https://nfb.org/rideshare Rideshare testing page: https://nfb.org/rideshare-test NFB divisions and committees: https://nfb.org/divisions-and-committees Rhythm of the Movement: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhythmofthemovementfeder3 Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter and Instagram: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind  

In this third bonus episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono interviews Laura Koler, a pre-k teacher at Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore. Laura speaks about the methods she uses to make sure parents who happen to be blind are able to access school information and participate fully in their child’s education. We at the Nation’s Blind Podcast want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of this episode by calling (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or emailing podcast@nfb.org. Twitter: @NFB_Voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Website: www.nfb.org Are you a parent who happens to be blind? Looking for resources for blind parents in your life? Visit www.blindparents.org for resources, a parent mentoring program, and more. Subscribe to the blind parent listserv, where you can ask parenting related questions, share your parenting tips and tricks, and network with blind parents from all over the world.

In this third bonus episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono interviews Laura Koler, a pre-k teacher at Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore. Laura speaks about the methods she uses to make sure parents who happen to be blind are able to access school information and participate fully in their child’s education. We at the Nation’s Blind Podcast want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of this episode by calling (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or emailing podcast@nfb.org. Twitter: @NFB_Voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Website: www.nfb.org Are you a parent who happens to be blind? Looking for resources for blind parents in your life? Visit www.blindparents.org for resources, a parent mentoring program, and more. Subscribe to the blind parent listserv, where you can ask parenting related questions, share your parenting tips and tricks, and network with blind parents from all over the world.

Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

Feedback: (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or at podcast@nfb.org Twitter: @NFB_voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind

In this second bonus episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono interviews Serena Harris, a first grade teacher at Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore. Serena has had a blind student in her class for the first time this year. Serena shares her views on what it’s really like to teach a blind student—what she has found easier than expected, what things are still somewhat difficult, and, most of all, how having a blind student in the classroom has benefitted and enriched the entire class of students. We at the Nation’s Blind Podcast want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of this episode by calling (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or emailing podcast@nfb.org. Twitter: @NFB_Voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Website: www.nfb.org   These resources may be useful for teachers who are working with blind students: The Blind Child in the Regular Pre School Program The Blind Child in the Regular Elementary Classroom Future Reflections: a magazine for parents and teachers of blind students   If you have a student who is learning both braille and print, Integrating Print and Braille: A Recipe for Literacy may be a useful book. The NFB Independence Market sells products that can be used in the classroom and on the playground Tools for making science accessible to blind students can be found at blindscience.org Learn more about teaching blind students. The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children can connect you with families of blind children and provide tons of additional resources.  

In this first ever bonus episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono interviews Laura Koler, a pre-k teacher at Patterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore. Laura has had a blind student in her class for the first time this year. Melissa and Laura discuss what it’s really like to teach a blind student—from the initial fears and uncertainty to the pleasant surprises and advantages Laura has found along the way. We at the Nation’s Blind Podcast want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of this episode by calling (410) 659-9314, extension 2444, or emailing podcast@nfb.org. Twitter: @NFB_Voice Facebook: National Federation of the Blind Website: www.nfb.org These resources may be useful for teachers who are working with blind students: The Blind Child in the Regular Pre School Program The Blind Child in the Regular Elementary Classroom Future Reflections: a magazine for parents and teachers of blind students If you have a student who is learning both braille and print, Integrating Print and Braille: A Recipe for Literacy may be a useful book. The NFB Independence Market sells products that can be used in the classroom and on the playground Tools for making science accessible to blind students can be found at blindscience.org Learn more about teaching blind students. The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children can connect you with families of blind children and provide tons of additional resources.