[IL-Talk] Meet our 2026 state convention national representative!

[president at nfbofillinois.org]

Good morning federationists and friends,

 

I am excited to announce that Jesse Shirek, Director of Advocacy and Policy
at the National Federation of the Blind will be President Riccobono's
representative at our state convention. Please read Jesse's bio below. He is
excited to join us at this year's state convention:

 

Jesse Shirek serves as Director of Advocacy for the National Federation of
the Blind, where he coordinates national legislative and public policy
advocacy and helps Federation members and affiliates turn shared priorities
into action. His work includes congressional and regulatory advocacy, state
and local policy support, member training, coalition engagement, and
relationship building with policymakers and industry leaders. His policy
areas include autonomous vehicles, Social Security, vocational
rehabilitation, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print
Disabled, AbilityOne, Randolph-Sheppard, and other issues affecting blind
Americans. In April 2025, Jesse testified before the U.S. House
Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch about the importance
of continued federal support for the National Library Service.

 

Jesse joined the Federation staff in November 2021 after building a career
in blindness rehabilitation and access technology. He studied art and
psychology at the University of Minnesota, completed graduate-level study in
vision rehabilitation at Mississippi State University, worked for six years
as a vision rehabilitation specialist at the North Dakota School for the
Blind, provided assistive technology services as a contractor, and later led
the assistive technology unit at the New Mexico Commission for the Blind.

 

Jesse's involvement in the organized blind movement grew through the
National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota, where he was elected
affiliate president in 2019. That experience shaped his approach to
advocacy: organized people, united by a common purpose, can create
meaningful change when they communicate effectively, act collectively, learn
from proven strategies, and adapt those lessons to new challenges.

 

These lessons continue to guide Jesse's national advocacy work. He believes
successful advocacy requires identifying those with the power to make
change, preparing Federation members to communicate persuasively,
coordinating action, and following through with determination. He especially
values helping members build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become
stronger advocates and leaders.

 

Jesse and his wife, Sherry, live in Baltimore, Maryland. Outside of
advocacy, he enjoys playing guitar and developing new skills. He is honored
to serve as the national representative to the National Federation of the
Blind of Illinois and looks forward to supporting the work of Illinois
Federationists.

 

 

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 

312-343-8396

 <mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> president at nfbofillinois.org

 <http://www.nfbofillinois.org> www.nfbofillinois.org

Live the life you want!

 

The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.