Any agenda changes made after Braille and print production can be accessed on the NFB26 app or at nfb.org/convention. Changes will be marked with an asterisk (*).
8:00–8:45 a.m. Devotions
Room 305
8:15–8:45 a.m. On-Site Registration (30 dollars) and Online Registration Packet Pickup
Room 402
8:15–8:45 a.m. Banquet Exchange
JW Grand Ballroom Foyer (level 4)
General Session III (9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)
JW Grand Ballroom (level 4)
1CapApp Event: ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
Call to Order and Invocation
President Riccobono gavels the session to order; religious member offers an invocation.
Financial Report
President Riccobono presents the annual financial report, including a discussion of the current financial circumstances.
Elections
Presentation of nominating committee report and elections for open board positions for the National Federation of the Blind.
Keep Building Connections: The Federation Employment Network by and for the Blind
Moderator: Lia Stone, Chair, NFB Employment Committee; New Brunswick, New Jersey
Panel:
Audrey T. Farnum, Senior Administrative Law Judge, Oklahoma Tax Commission; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jenn Han, Nurse Manager, Registered Nurse; Seattle, Washington
J.J. Meddaugh, Owner, A. T. Guys; Kalamazoo, Michigan
Reports and Resolutions
President Riccobono delivers important information and convention business as time allows.
12:00–1:45 p.m. Banquet Exchange
JW Grand Ballroom Foyer (level 4)
12:00–1:45 p.m. Independence Market and Federation Free Reads
Salon D, Lone Star Ballroom (level 3)
Final opportunity to visit the Independence Market.
12:00–1:00 p.m. What If the Screen Reader Never Had to Ask?
Salon F (level 3)
Since 1997, screen readers have all worked the same way: ask the app what’s on screen. We tried something different. Come hear how Amazon built a faster screen reader from scratch, now shipping on select Fire TV devices.
Marc Mulcahy, Principal Software Development Engineer, Amazon Trust Privacy and Accessibility
12:00–2:00 p.m. Ms. Blind Diva Annual Teatime & Queen Time!
Brazos (level 2)
Meet and greet with the title holders of the first pageant for women with vision loss, which started in New Jersey. Learn how you can win cash/door prizes and the ultimate crown. Receive autograph giveaways from our Queens who happen to be blind, low vision, and DeafBlind.
Krystle Allen, President, Eyes Like Mine Inc.
12:00–2:00 p.m. Accessibility Officer Charity Testathon
Room 401
Bring your laptops, see how you stack up against real accessibility testers, win cash prizes, and help a deserving charity get their website accessible at the two-hour AccessAbility Officer Charity Testathon! Who knows, maybe we’ll find our next digital accessibility tester?
AccessAbility Officer
12:15–1:45 p.m. College Board User Study
Room 311
College Board invites blind and low-vision students to join a study on the Bluebook exam app used for SAT and AP exams. Participants will complete sample test tasks using assistive technology and share feedback. Gift card (100 dollars) provided. Registration required: cb.org/NFBStudy.
12:15–1:45 p.m. National Organization of Parents of Blind Children Division Board of Directors Meeting
Room 302
Join the NOPBC Board of Directors as they recap the 2026 NOPBC Seminar and plan for the 2027 event.
Cassandra McKinney, President
12:15–1:45 p.m. NOPBC Youth Track Session (ages 11-18)
Room 306
Accessible Video Games. Refer to the Youth Track agenda for activity details.
1:00–2:00 p.m. Amazon Entertainment Takes It to 11
Salon C (level 3)
Explore Amazon’s latest innovations in entertainment accessibility, including adaptive display, dialogue boost, audio description, and advanced hearing aid connectivity on Fire TV. Learn how these features work together to create a more inclusive streaming experience.
Peter Korn, Director of Accessibility, Amazon Devices and Services
1:15–1:45 p.m. On-Site Registration (30 dollars) and Online Registration Packet Pickup
Room 402
General Session IV (2:00–5:00 p.m.)
JW Grand Ballroom (level 4)
1CapApp Event: ECS.1capapp.com/event/nfb
Call to Order
President Riccobono gavels the session to order.
Keep NLS Strong: Fulfilling America’s Promise to Knowledge and Equality
Jason Broughton, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled; Washington, District of Columbia
It’s Not Over Until the Blind Secure Equality: 2026 Advocacy Report
John G. Paré Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
Jesse Shirek, Director of Advocacy, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
Justin Young, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
Sanho Steele-Louchart, Legal Program Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland
Reports and Resolutions
The Resolutions Committee shares its report, and policy matters are considered.
5:00–8:00 p.m. Blind Unbound Story Collection
Room 404
We need your voice. Share your story with Blind Unbound. Refer to the "Start Here: Essentials for Your Schedule" section in the agenda for details.
5:15–6:45 p.m. College Board User Study
Room 311
College Board invites blind and low-vision students to join a study on the Bluebook exam app used for SAT and AP exams. Participants will complete sample test tasks using assistive technology and share feedback. Gift card (100 dollars) provided. Registration required: cb.org/NFBStudy.
6:00–7:00 p.m. Ray-Ban Meta: Going Further for BLV
Salon C (level 3)
Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been breaking down barriers for the blind and low-vision community since coming to market. We listened to users and improved features to make our technology more accessible. Come learn what we’ve built this year and get a sneak peek into the future.
Agustya Mehta, Director, Concept Engineering; Fan Zhang, Principal Engineer, Accessibility Innovation; and Jacklyn Doig-Keys, Reality Labs Policy Manager, Meta
6:00–8:00 p.m. Brailled It Documentary Screening
Rooms 203 and 204
Join us for a screening and discussion of the documentary film Brailled It. The film is captured almost entirely by blind and low-vision kids who take control of the cameras at the annual Braille Challenge—a weekend of high-pressure competition and raw coming-of-age moments.
Conchita Hernandez Legoretta, Impact Producer
6:00–8:00 p.m. DeafBlind Social
Room 201
Join the NFB DeafBlind Division for an informal social event to connect with new friends and colleagues or just to learn more about DeafBlindness.
Rocky Hart, President
6:00–9:00 p.m. Tiara Tuesday with Ms. Blind Diva Pageant
Brazos (level 2)
Attend a live Tiara Tuesday fireside chat with light bites, door prizes, a mini pageant,
and meet and greet with 2025 Better Together title holders. Learn how to win up to 1,500 dollars and go from applicant to contestant to title holder. Dress to impress! Email [email protected] to register.
Krystle Allen, President, Eyes Like Mine Inc
6:00–10:00 p.m. Adaptive Sports Unleashed: Blind Cricket
Salons G and H (level 3)
Blind cricket is here. Bowl, bat, field. Every muscle works. Sprint, dive, swing—cardio with purpose. Men’s & women’s national teams are forming. Your convention could be your starting line to compete internationally. Walk in curious. Leave as a cultured athlete.
Idahni Barerra, Member, NFB Sports & Recreation Division
6:30–8:00 p.m. Helping Professionals: What You Wish You Knew
Room 302
Join us for a discussion about mental health services from the perspective of the client. Representatives from NFB divisions share feedback on interactions with mental health professionals. Gain insight into how we can better serve members of our Federation community.
Sarah Patnaude, President, Human Services Division
7:00–8:00 p.m. Blind Professional Journalists Meeting
Room 304
What are the best ways to leverage our skills and knowledge of AI and other tools in a rapidly changing media landscape where print newspapers are no longer the norm. Also, we will have time for everyone to mingle and get acquainted.
Elizabeth Campbell, Chair
8:00–9:00 p.m. Friends of Recovery Meeting
Room 504
All convention attendees interested in getting or remaining clean and sober are welcome to our confidential meeting. For more information, call 318-548-7895.
8:00–11:00 p.m. Twenty-Fourth Annual Showcase of Talent
Salon E (level 3)
Join us for a night of great performances! Whether you take the stage or cheer from the audience, it's always an entertaining evening. Performers 15 dollars; early admission 5 dollars; day-of admission 10 dollars. Cash prizes awarded. Email [email protected] with questions or to sign up.
Katelyn MacIntyre, President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division
Agenda Navigation
Please use the links below to navigate the agenda pages.