Presidential Releases

The presidential release is a monthly audio message from President Mark A. Riccobono that highlights the current activities of the National Federation of the Blind. It is shared with every chapter of the organization.

NFB President Mark A. Riccobono sits on a couch and reads from a Braille book.The presidential release is typically available in English, Spanish, and as a text transcript in both languages. You can subscribe to the English and Spanish versions of the presidential release via your podcast client by searching for "National Federation of the Blind."

Recent Presidential Releases

September 2019

President Riccobono recaps the 2019 NFB BELL Academies and talks about National Guide Dog Month, the Braille Readers are Leaders contest for blind children and adults, Meet the Blind Month, our September open house gathering, and White Cane Awareness Day. The President also provides updates from our Dream Makers Circle.

August 2019

President Riccobono discusses the 2019 National Convention (#NFB19), including the 2019 resolutions, and talks about plans for 2020. He also discusses the introduction of the GAIN Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, Meet the Blind Month, Braille calendars, and Pedro and the Octopus. The President also provides updates from our PAC program and Dream Makers Circle.

June 2019

President Riccobono discusses the World Blind Union meeting in Trinidad, NFB summer programs, a special blind parents division seminar in Colorado, new member programs, and the national convention. Executive Director and Convention Chairman John Berggren joins the President to talk about convention logistics. The President also provides updates from our PAC program and Dream Makers Circle.

May 2019

President Riccobono reminds us that we are two months away from our national convention. He also discusses the blindness experience teaching internship, continued calls for advocacy, an NFB investigation of the IRS, and updates from our PAC program and Dream Makers Circle.

April 2019

President Riccobono recaps our protest (#LetUsPlayUs) of In the Dark, a new show on The CW, and also discusses the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship for first timers, the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award, the new blindness experience teaching internship, our membership efforts, and more. 

March 2019

President Riccobono announces that preregistration for the 2019 National Convention is now open. He also discusses the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards, the Marrakesh Treaty, a new series of blind parent podcasts, our latest policy statements, NFB summer programs, the national scholarship program, the Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, and the Dream Makers Circle.

February 2019

President Riccobono shares breaking news from this year's Washington Seminar and talks about our new website, NFB summer programs, the launch of pilot testing for the HathiTrust access program, and the Dream Makers Circle. He also reminds us that reservations for the 2019 National Convention can be made by calling 877-632-9001.

January 2019

President Riccobono wishes everyone a happy New Year and a happy World Braille Day, and provides updates on room reservations for the 2019 National Convention, the new strategic plan, two new Aira plans for NFB members, and the Dream Makers Circle. Special guest John Paré also provides an update on the 2019 Washington Seminar.

December 2018

President Riccobono talks about the holidays and thanks the record number of blind voters who completed our blind voter survey. He also discusses his op-ed in The Hill about 14(c) certificates, Washington Seminar, and the exciting news that NFB-NEWSLINE® is now available on the Amazon Echo.

November 2018

President Riccobono discusses blind voting including the need to capture data from the 2018 midterm elections and what's happening in Alameda County, California. He also discusses Walmart and the inaccessibility of self-service check-out kiosks. He also mentions letters in Braille from Santa and creating Facebook fundraisers.

October 2018

President Riccobono celebrates Meet the Blind Month and White Cane Awareness Day. He also provides an update on the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, AbilityOne, the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, and our partnership with the Baltimore Orioles. Listen to the President throw the first pitch at the Orioles game.

September 2018

President Riccobono announces that the American Action Fund's Braille calendars are now available. He also provides a detailed update on our work related to Lyft and Uber. He also discusses our pre-authorized contribution program and the upcoming Meet the Blind Month and White Cane Awareness Day.

August 2018

President Riccobono talks about this summer's NFB EQ and the NFB BELL Academies. He also discusses the recent AER strike in Reno, Nevada, AbilityOne, career opportunities here in Baltimore, and our recent partnership with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats® to create Braille and audio "Love Notes."

Previous Presidential Releases

To listen to previous presidential releases, please visit the presidential release archive.