[nfbmi-talk] Convention Agenda

Fred Wurtzel f.wurtzel at att.net
Thu Jul 2 16:39:27 UTC 2015


Hello,

 

For your convenience and for those who don’t do downloading or attachments, here is the 2015 convention agenda.  Email may change the formatting a bit.  I have tried to keep it readable.  Remember, the convention will be streamed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, including the Banquet Friday evening.  Here is the link to streaming information.

 

https://nfb.org/convention-streaming-schedule 

 

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Fred

 

 

2015 ANNUAL CONVENTION

 

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

 

JULY 5 to JULY 10

 

 




 




 

 

THE MEMBERS OF THE

75TH ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION HOST COMMITTEE

WELCOME YOU TO THE

75th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

 

Mark Riccobono, President

National Federation of the Blind

 

John Berggren, Chairman

Convention Organization and Activities

 




 

Patti Gregory Chang, Board Member

National Federation of the Blind 
Board of Directors

 

Ever Lee Hairston, Board Member 

National Federation of the Blind 
Board of Directors

 

James Antonacci, President

National Federation of the Blind 

of Pennsylvania

 

Denise Avant, President

National Federation of the Blind 

of Illinois

 

Eric Duffy, President

National Federation of the Blind 

of Ohio

 




Jennifer Dunnam, President

National Federation of the Blind 

of Minnesota

 

John Fritz, President

National Federation of the Blind

of Wisconsin

Board Member

National Federation of the Blind

Board of Directors

 

Mary Willows, President

National Federation of the Blind

of California

 

Gary Wunder, President

National Federation of the Blind 

of Missouri




 

Rosen Centre Hotel

9840 International Drive

Orlando, Florida 32819

(407) 996-9840




 




 

WELCOME!

Welcome to the 75th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind being held in Orlando at the Rosen Centre Hotel and the Orange County Convention Center. A detailed description of the layout of the hotel can be found immediately after the “Convention Notes,” which are at the end of the program listings. Check the “Convention Notes” for further information about a variety of convention topics. When you check in to the hotel, you will be asked to confirm your departure date. If you decide to leave earlier than the departure date you confirm when you check in, there may be a change fee.

 

ROOKIE ROUNDUP 

Title: logo - Description: Rookie Roundup logoAll first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a reception from 8:00 to 9:30 pm on Sunday in Ballroom Junior G. President Riccobono and other Federation leaders will be on hand to welcome you to the convention and preview the week’s activities. Veteran conventioneers should urge all first-timers to attend this special event.  

 

PREREGISTRATION AND ON-SITE REGISTRATION

All convention registration begins at 9:00 am on Monday, at 8:30 am on Tuesday, and at other times as listed throughout the week, in the Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1. All convention attendees (both local and out‑of‑town people) are asked to register. Those who preregistered for convention may pick up their registration packets in the area designated “Preregistration.” Those who did not preregister may go to the area designated “Registration.” Please have your check or cash ready to pay the registration fee of $30 per person; we cannot accept credit cards at registration. Convention registration is a requirement for door prize eligibility and a number of other convention activities. We condition rates for hotel rooms on proof of registration, including the showing of an NFB registration badge, if requested.  

 

EXHIBIT HALL AND INDEPENDENCE MARKET 

Exhibit Hall and the NFB Independence Market are located in the Convention Center, West Hall Section WA2, level 2. There is a special sponsor-level exhibitors preview for convention attendees on Monday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 am. 




 

Exhibit Hall hours of operation are: 

Monday                9:00 to 11:00 am (sponsors only)

Monday                11:00 am to 5:00 pm  

Tuesday              8:30 am to 5:00 pm 

Wednesday        Noon to 1:45 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm 

Thursday             Noon to 1:45 pm (final opportunity to visit the Exhibit Hall)

 

Independence Market hours of operation are:

Monday                9:00 am to 5:00 pm  

Tuesday               8:30 am to 5:00 pm 

Wednesday        Noon to 1:45 pm 

Thursday             Noon to 1:45 pm (final opportunity to visit the Market)

 

THE MOBILE DEVICE THAT READS PRINT

With the power of digital photography and a specially designed iOS or Android app, reading print on the go wherever you are is now better than ever for blind people. Come and learn about this fabulous, life-changing technology at demonstration and training sessions on Sunday and Monday from 1:30 to 4:15 pm and on Thursday from 7:00 to 9:45 pm. All sessions are held in Salon 15. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 




♦ SPECIAL ATTENTION ITEMS ♦

♦ The Presidential Suite (2455); Dr. Maurer’s Suite (2456); John Berggren’s 
Suite (1056), Chairman of Convention Organization and Activities; and the 75th Anniversary Hosting Affiliate Suite (1656) are all open during much of the convention. All are welcome to come to these suites to visit. Appointments to meet with President Riccobono may be made at the Presidential Suite. 

 

♦ Banquet tickets ($60) may be purchased at the on-site registration area in the Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1. No tickets will be available after 2:00 pm on Wednesday. At the Banquet Exchange Table you may make arrangements to reserve a specific seat for yourself or for a group of up to ten people. On the evening of the banquet, tickets will be required to enter the ballroom and will be collected at the tables. Tickets may be exchanged for vegetarian or kosher meals at the Banquet Exchange Table if done so by 2:00 pm on Wednesday.

 

♦ General Sessions will be held in the Grand Ballroom, level 1.

 

♦ Individuals needing to conduct business with the NFB Treasurer may do so by going to Hospitality Suite 240, level 2 on Wednesday between 5:30 and 7:30 pm, or on Thursday between noon and 2:00 pm.

♦ CONVENTION AGENDA ♦

 

Icon of the NFB SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015

 

7:30 - 8:45 am—AMATEUR RADIO DIVISION EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 

Salon 15, level 2 
Discuss convention frequencies, hotel architectural features, and distribution of special FM receivers for the hearing-impaired and Spanish-speaking attendees. Tony Olivero (AD9O), President

 

7:30 am - 4:45 pm—CRAFTING YOUR DIAMOND: THE 4Cs OF BRINGING UP BLIND CHILDREN

Conference for Families and Teachers of Blind/Visually Impaired Children Registration: Adults $40; 2 or more adults $70; Children (to 18) FREE. Sponsored by NFB’s National Organization of Parents of Blind Children Division (NOPBC); Carlton Walker, President

Junior Ballroom G, level 1
7:30 - 8:45 am—Registration; 9:00 - 10:45 am—Conference

11:00 am - 12:15 pm—NOPBC Concurrent Workshops Session I

Learn to Play & Play to Learn: Salon 5, level 2

The ABCs of Braille: Salon 6, level 2

The National Reading Media Assessment (NRMA) & the National O&M Assessment: Salon 7, level 2

Using Readers: Salon 8, level 2

Teacher-Made Tactile Graphics Using Readily Available Materials (PIBE): Salon 13, level 2

2:00 - 3:15 pm—NOPBC Concurrent Workshops Session II

Ages & Stages: Salon 5, level 2

Standardized Tests & Test Accommodations: Salon 6, level 2

Independence Skills for Real Life: Salon 7, level 2

Technology: Home & School: Salon 8, level 2

2:00 - 4:45 pm—Unified English Braille: An Overview (PIBE): Salon 13, level 2

3:00 - 4:45 pm—NOPBC Concurrent Workshops Session III

Independent Movement & Travel for Very Young Children and Children with Additional Disabilities: Salon 5, level 2

Make-&-Take Graphics: Salon 6, level 2

Independent Living Skills & Independent Movement & Travel for the School-Age Child: Salon 7, level 2
Using College Disability Support Services: Salon 8, level 2




Icon of the NFB SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued  

 

7:30 am - 5:00 pm—CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND—FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REHABILITATION AND ORIENTATION & MOBILITY CONFERENCE 

CC-W202C, level 2 

7:30 - 8:30 am—Registration; 8:30 am—Conference begins

Registration Fees: Students $75; Professionals $85 before June 15; $100 after that date applies.

Sponsors: National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB); and the Professional Development & Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB) at the Louisiana Tech University. Chairperson: Dr. Edward Bell

 

8:30 am—CHILD-CARE SERVICES (Preregistration by June 15 was required)

Salons 21, 22, 23, and 24, level 2 
Please see “Convention Note 6” for further information.  

 

8:30 - 11:30 am—JAWS 16 FEATURES AND AN INTRODUCTION TO WINDOWS 10 WITH FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC

Salon 10, level 2

Join Eric Damery, JAWS Product Manager and Ryan Jones, Trainer, as we discuss and demonstrate the recent JAWS 16 release—including new features such as MathML, changes for Facebook, and more.  We’ll also preview JAWS on Windows 10; and wrap up the morning with a demonstration of new third-party products for JAWS, called Leasey and J-Dictate, from Hartgen Consultancy, makers of J-Say.

 

8:30 am - Noon—JOB SEEKER SEMINAR 

Salons 3, level 2

Experts from NFB training centers, state and private agencies, and employers teach you the skills, both low-tech and high-tech, needed to get a job. Plenty of networking opportunities. Breakout sessions will hone your skills for Job Fair. Dick Davis, Chairperson, Employment Committee 

 

8:30 am - 5:00 pm—JERNIGAN INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY SEMINARS 

W202B, Convention Center, level 2

8:30 - 10:30 am—Accessible Gaming

11:00 am - 12:00 pm—Mobile Productivity

1:30 - 3:30 pm—Emerging Connected Devices Panel

4:00 - 5:00 pm—Training Resources




Icon of the NFB SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued  

 

9:00 am - 9:00 pm—SPORTS & RECREATION DIVISION WORKSHOPS

Executive Ballroom I, level 1 

All classes are $10 per session; preregistration for Brazilian Jujitsu preferred, contact Jim Turk at  <mailto:fightbackllc at gmail.com> fightbackllc at gmail.com. 

9:00 - 10:30 am, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, and 3:00 - 5:00 pm—Brazilian Jujitsu 1, 2, 3, and 4.

5:00 - 6:45 pm, 7:00 - 9:00 pm—1Touch Self-Defense Class. 

Sponsored by the Sports & Recreation Division; Lisamaria Martinez, President

 

11:00 am - 12:15 pm—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK SESSIONS (ages 11-18)

Salon 11, level 2

Ice Breakers; A Dog in My Life

 

Noon - 6:00 pm—CRAFT SHOW & DEMONSTRATIONS

W202A, Convention Center, level 2

If you are interested in crafts and appreciate hand-made items, this is the place to be! Come and meet some very talented Federation crafters and purchase their beautiful items for sale. Joyce Kane, President, NFB Krafters Division

 

1:00 - 3:00 pm—EXPERIENCE MAGic® 13 AND LEARN ALL ABOUT THE ABISEE ADDITIONS AT FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC
Salon 10, level 2

Join Eric Damery and other Freedom Scientific staff for an in-depth look at the features of the all-new MAGic 13 release for Windows 8 and 10. We will also take a hands-on look at the new line of ABiSee products recently added to the Freedom Scientific solutions.

 

1:00 - 4:00 pm—SENIORS IN CHARGE: LIVING WILLS AND HIPPA 

Salon 20, level 2 

Get answers to questions about creating living wills; become informed about choices you have in interacting with medical professionals concerning problems that may arise from HIPPA compliance. Learn how you can make documentation that best suits your needs. Seminar Fee: $5. Ruth Sager, President

 




Icon of the NFB SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued  

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—HUMANWARE PRODUCT SHOWCASE AND USER GROUPS

Salon 4, level 2 

1:00 - 2:00 pm—Optimize your Mobile Device Experience with Braille 

2:00 - 3:00 pm—BrailleNote: Learn about recent KeySoft updates; give us feedback

3:00 - 4:00 pm—Victor Reader Stream – Small, smart, and wireless  

4:00 - 5:00 pm—Innovations of the future, an open forum for you to provide your needs directly to HumanWare

 

1:30 - 4:15 pm—KNFB READER DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING
Salon 15, level 2 

1:30 - 2:45 pm—Session 1; 3:00 - 4:15 pm—Session 2

Use your iOS or Android device to read print—it’s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! James Gashel, Presenter

 

2:00 - 4:00 pm—JOB FAIR 

Grand Ballroom A, level 1

Dress up, bring your résumé, and interview with employers who want to hire blind people; interview coaching available. We had twenty-three employers and over two hundred job seekers last year. Sponsored by the NFB Employment Committee; Dick Davis, Chairperson 

 

2:00 - 4:45 pm—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK SESSIONS (ages 11-18)

Fun & Games: Salon 11, level 2 (ages 14-18 begin here)

Magic of Science: Salon 12, level 2 (ages 11-14 begin here)

 

5:00 - 6:30 pm—NFB LIONS GROUP

Salon 14, level 2
Federationists who are members of Lions or potential members should come. Discuss activities of your club that help blind people locally or nationally. Learn about activities in other Lions Multiple Districts. Speaker is Milton Taylor, incoming District Governor. Ramona Walhof & Milton Ota, Co-Chairpersons

 

5:00 - 7:00 pm—HISPANIC SEMINAR

Salon 20, level 2 
Blindness is blindness, no matter what the language.  Meet new and old friends; learn about Federation philosophy and the truth about blindness—in Spanish.  Alpidio Rolón, Moderator 




Icon of the NFB SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued  

 

5:00 - 7:30 pm—MIX-AND-MINGLE RECEPTION FOR REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS 

Salon 9, level 2

 

5:30 - 7:00 pm—NOPBC FAMILY HOSPITALITY

Grand Ballroom B, level 1           

Relax, snack, chat, meet new families and teachers, and connect with old friends. Veteran attendees will be on hand to welcome you and provide information. Free admission with 2015 NOPBC Conference name badge; $15/adult and $5/child without badge. Pizza and lemonade will be served. Cosponsored by the Professionals in Blindness Education Division

 

6:00 - 8:30 pm—PROMOTION, EVALUATION, AND ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY 
Salon 8, level 2

Hear exhibitors explain briefly what they are exhibiting and where they are located in the Exhibit Hall; evaluate the effectiveness of what our committee is doing now and consider programs for the coming year. Mark Jones, Chairperson

 

6:00 - 9:30 pm—TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION  

Salon 17, level 2 

6:00 pm—Registration

Discuss travel with blind consumers and blind travel professionals; panel discussions with guests; elections; dues $10. Cheryl Echevarria, President

 

6:00 - 10:00 pm—NAT’L ASSOC. OF GUIDE DOG USERS BUSINESS MTG 

Salon 3, level 2 
6:00 - 6:45 pm—Registration; 7:00 pm—Meeting

NAGDU Advocacy Report, get update on zoo initiative; learn about the work and development of affiliate divisions and celebrate the successes of NAGDU. Marion Gwizdala, President

 

6:30 - 10:00 pm—NAT’L ASSOC. OF BLIND OFFICE PROFESSIONALS 

Salon 15, level 2 

6:30 pm—Registration

Learn about assistive technology in the workplace, training opportunities, and any job announcements available. Lisa Hall, President




Icon of the NFB SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued  

 

7:00 - 8:00 pm—NOPBC FAMILY NETWORKING 

Grand Ballroom B, level 1 
At this meeting we especially welcome our families whose children have disabilities in addition to blindness/visual impairment. Come meet, chat, and network.

 

7:00 - 8:30 pm—LIVING HISTORY GROUP

Salon 16, level 2
Dedicated to recording, preserving, and appreciating Federation history. Michael Freholm, Chairperson

 

8:00 - 9:00 pm—WHITE CANE AND AFFILIATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Salon 20, level 2
Are there new and ingenious ways to collect money and spread the word about the NFB? I’m sure there are. Come and share your ideas on how to fund our movement. Alpidio Rolón, Chairperson

 

8:00 - 9:30 pm—ROOKIE ROUNDUP 

Junior Ballroom G, level 1

First-time convention attendees—don’t miss this event! President Riccobono and former rookies will be on hand to welcome you and answer questions about the week’s activities. Pamela Allen, Director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind and President of the NFB of Louisiana, Coordinator

 

8:00 - 11:00 pm—NABS SOCIAL

Salon 11, level 2

Drop in to the NABS Social (National Association of Blind Students) to make some new friends or reconnect with old ones. Come chat with NABS members and leaders about our division or anything else that’s on your mind. We hope to see you there. Sean Whalen, President

 

8:00 pm - midnight—KARAOKE NIGHT♫♫ (Admission: $5)

Grand Ballroom A, level 1

Here’s your chance to sing like a rock star and help support BLIND, Inc. youth programs! Enjoy music, door prizes, and a cash bar as you learn about BLIND, Inc. Braille song lists are available. Hosted by BLIND, Incorporated. 




 

Icon of the NFB SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued  

 

8:30 - 10:00 pm—#NFB15 TWEET UP!

Signature 2, level 2

The NFB convention is the ultimate “social network.” Drop in to meet Federationists you only know from Twitter; learn how to use the power of online social media; get geared up to share your convention experience; and get to know others who are supporters of @NFB_Voice. Cash bar available. J. J. Meddaugh, Coordinator

 

9:00 - 10:00 pm—NFB AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING

Salon 4, level 2 
Dan Burke, Chairperson




Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, 2015  

 

9:00 am - 5:00 pm—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

9:00 am - 5:00 pm—REGISTRATION ($30) AND BANQUET TICKET SALES ($60)

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

9:00 am - 5:00 pm—INDEPENDENCE MARKET

WA2, Convention Center, level 2 

 

9:00 - 11:00 am—SPONSOR-LEVEL EXHIBITORS PREVIEW 

WA2, Convention Center, level 2

The Exhibit Hall opens its doors and is dedicated solely to sponsor-level exhibitors. Come to say “thank you” to our sponsors and enjoy their interesting offers and demonstrations. Our exhibiting convention sponsors are: 

 

Accessibility Champions: Google; Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Corporate Volunteerism: UPS

 

Platinum: Delta Air Lines, Target 

 

Gold: Uber

 

Silver: AT&T, Freedom Scientific, H&R Block, HumanWare, Pearson

 

Bronze: Chris Park Technology Designs

 

White Cane: 3D Photoworks LLC; Ai Squared; BAUM USA; En-Vision America; HIMS, Inc.; Learning Ally; Onix Networking; VitalSource Technologies

 

11:00 am - 5:00 pm—EXHIBIT HALL

WA2, Convention Center, level 2

 




Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued  

 

1:00 - 2:00 pm—FILING YOUR TAXES WITH H&R BLOCK 

Salon 14, level 2

Join H&R Block in a “Taxes 101” seminar and overview of H&R Block’s website and online tax preparation product.




1:00 - 2:00 pm—LEARN ABOUT NON-24-HOUR SLEEP-WAKE DISORDER, PRESENTED BY VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS

Salon 10, level 2

Attend a live event to learn about Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder and have your questions answered by a medical expert. The presentation will aim to educate everyone present about Non-24, its symptoms, its impact, and its prevalence in the blindness community. Following the event there will be an opportunity to sign up to receive additional information from Vanda regarding Non-24.




Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder, also known as Non-24, is a serious, chronic disorder that disrupts a person’s circadian rhythms. Non-24 affects up to 70 percent of people who are blind, whether they were born blind or became blind later in life.

 

1:00 - 3:00 pm—OPPORTUNITY AMBASSADORS MEETING 

Salon 3, level 2

We all know that personal connections, more than anything else, are what grow our movement. The next step beyond the 75 Days of Action begins with the development of the Opportunity Ambassadors. If you were invited to participate as an Opportunity Ambassador, please attend this meeting. We will discuss and further plan the growth of the National Federation of the Blind from the new individual member perspective. Jeannie Massay, Dan Burke, Anil Lewis

 

1:00 - 4:00 pm—BLIND MUSICIANS GROUP 

Salon 13, level 2 

Share ideas and tips and network with other blind musicians. Linda Mentink, Chairperson 




Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued  

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—Ai SQUARED SPECIAL SESSIONS

Salon 17, level 2

1:00 - 2:15 pm—Window-Eyes Offer for Users of Microsoft Office and the paid for version of Window-Eyes

2:30 - 3:30 pm—Spoiler Alert! ZoomText & Window-Eyes are Getting Married!

3:45 - 5:00 pm—ZoomText, ZoomText Mac, Image Reader, and CamReader

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—THE LATEST HAPPENINGS FROM HIMS: E-BOT, SMART BEETLE, BLAZE, U2 AND MORE….

Salon 8, level 2

1:00 - 2:00 pm—Braille is “Trending” HIMS: U2 with Macro Manager, Password protection, BookShare download, Nemeth and UEB support. HIMS Braille products, the personal Smart Beetle.

2:15 - 3:15 pm—E-bot: Tablets and Video Magnifiers and CANDY 5 HD II Wins Red Dot Design Award

3:30 - 4:30 pm—Blaze EZ and ET: All-in-One

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—MICROSOFT ACCESSIBILITY

Salon 5, level 2

Come meet with Microsoft engineers to learn about new releases, provide feedback on product experiences, and participate in focus groups. We will be holding a series of forty-five minute sessions throughout Monday and Tuesday. Sign-up for the sessions will be open on site at the conference beginning at noon outside the session room.

 

1:00 - 6:00 pm—NFB-NEWSLINE® DEMONSTRATION OPEN HOUSE

Hospitality Suite 235, level 2

Stop by to get expert advice from experienced NFB-NEWSLINE staff so you get the most from NFB-NEWSLINE. Find out about new publications and features. This is your opportunity to try out the varied access methods and decide which is for you. Not a subscriber? Sign up on the spot!

 

1:00 - 7:00 pm—SPORTS & RECREATION DIVISION ACTIVITIES

Executive Ballroom I, level 1

All classes are $10 per session.

1:00-2:45 pm, 3:00-4:45 pm, 5:00-7:00 pm—1Touch Self-Defense Class




Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued  

 

1:00 - 8:30 pm—INSPIRING ARTISTS, BEGINNERS TO PROS

W202A, Convention Center, level 2 

Experience tactile art as a creative way to gather and share information and ideas. This open art room offers free tools and materials for sculpting and tactile drawing. From 1-5 pm, drop-in activities; 5-7 pm, art exhibit; 7-8:30 pm, artist panel discussion. Debbie Kent Stein and Ann Cunningham, Coordinators

 

1:30 pm—RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE; Sharon Maneki, Chairperson

Junior Ballroom F, level 1  




1:30 - 4:00 pm—PROFESSIONALS IN BLINDNESS EDUCATION 

Salon 16, level 2 

1:30 pm—Registration

All professionals working with students from birth through age 21 are welcome and encouraged to join our informative and interactive meeting. Come network and collaborate—sharing and learning with colleagues and future educators. Eric Guillory, President

 

1:30 - 4:15 pm—KNFB READER DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING

Salon 15, level 2

1:30 - 2:45 pm—Session 1; 3:00 - 4:15 pm—Session 2

Use your iOS or Android device to read print—it’s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! James Gashel, Presenter

 

2:00 - 6:00 pm—TOYOTA PARTNER ROBOT GROUP

Salon 19, level 2

Toyota will provide an introduction to their Partner Robot Group. They will introduce the current robots in development and provide more detail on the technology behind the robots. Toyota will also introduce their corporate vision as “Mobility for All” and how it could potentially be applied to the blind and visually impaired community.

 

2:45 - 4:00 pm—NOPBC YOUTH STYLE SHOW 

W202C, Convention Center, level 2 

Our young blind models & NFB stars strut their stuff on the runway. We extend a special invitation to our kids with additional disabilities. Come enjoy the fashions and music and support NOPBC. $5 at the door. Kim Cunningham, Second Vice President, NOPBC, Coordinator

Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued  

 

3:00 - 6:00 pm—AUTO SHOW (CLASSICS, ANTIQUES, AND SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLES)

Rosen Centre Parking Garage, first level
Presented by the NFB CARS Division; Dave Hutchins, President

 

4:00 - 4:30 pm—KENNETH JERNIGAN FUND COMMITTEE MEETING

Salon 14, level 2

Allen Harris, Chairperson

 

4:15 - 5:45 pm—EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL MOCK TRIAL (Admission: $5.00) 

Junior Ballroom G, level 1
Federation lawyers oppose each other to enact a case addressing the civil rights of blind people and the audience serves as the jury. The subject matter is serious, but the courtroom portrayers are very entertaining. Scott LaBarre, President, National Assoc. of Blind Lawyers

 

5:00 - 10:00 pm—NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND VETERANS RECEPTION AND MEETING

Salon 1, level 2

5:00 - 7:00 pm—Veterans Reception; 7:00 - 10:00 pm—Annual Meeting. 

All veterans and interested parties are encouraged to attend. Veterans issues will be discussed, elections held, opening session Veterans Celebration assignments will be given including the Color Guard, and VA-issued equipment will be demonstrated. Dues may be paid. Dwight Sayer, President

 

5:45 - 6:15 pm—NOPBC BREAKING BARRIERS FUNATHON 

Pool Area (in case of rain: Salon 11, level 2)

Swim through shark-infested waters, race through an alligator-infested swamp, shoot down barriers to independence. Join us for this fun-filled family fundraiser. $5 to participate.

 

6:00 - 7:30 pm—KURZWEIL 1000 USER GROUP MEETING

Signature 2, level 2
Do you own a Kurzweil 1000? Join us at our user group meeting. A light dinner will be served. Participants must register, and space is limited. Registration instructions can be found at  <http://www.nfb.org/kurzweil1000> http://www.nfb.org/kurzweil1000. Hosted by Stephen Baum, VP of Engineering at Kurzweil Educational Systems.




Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued  

 

6:00 - 7:30 pm—NFB AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS AND TREASURERS SEMINAR

Salon 10, level 2

All state affiliate presidents and treasurers are asked to attend this session. Topics will include state financials, state, and federal filings, year-end preparations, and national fundraising programs. Participants can discuss state issues with facilitators Bridgid Burke and Nick Lambright.

 

6:00 - 8:00 pm—JOURNAL OF BLINDNESS INNOVATION AND RESEARCH— HOW TO WRITE A PROFESSIONAL ARTICLE FOR PUBLICATION IN JBIR

Salon 17, level 2

Learn how to write a professional practice article, and then work with Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research editors to prepare an outline for a professional practice article. Attendees should bring something to write with and a topic to outline.

 

6:00 - 10:00 pm—MICROSOFT ACCESSIBILITY

Salon 5, level 2

Come meet with Microsoft engineers to learn about new releases, provide feedback on product experiences, and participate in focus groups. We will be holding a series of 45 minute sessions throughout Monday and Tuesday. Sign-up for the sessions will be open on site at the conference beginning at noon outside the session room.

 

6:00 - 10:00 pm—NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND STUDENTS (NABS)  

Junior Ballroom F, level 1

6:00 pm—Registration ($5)

Students, young professionals, parents, teachers, and anyone interested in learning about issues affecting blind students are welcome to attend. Sean Whalen, President

 

6:00 - 10:00 pm—NAT'L ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BRAILLE

Salon 15, level 2

6:00 pm—Registration

Learn about Braille-related research, discuss current projects with vendors who produce Braille through hard copy and technology, UEB progress, and develop strategies for strengthening our division. Steve Booth, President




Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued  

 

6:30 - 9:30 pm—PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION SEMINAR

Salon 8, level 2

6:30 pm—Registration; 7:00 pm—Seminar 

Would you like to pursue a career as a music engineer or producer? Join the Performing Arts Division as we give you the information and tools to make this a reality. Cost is $10. Byron Harden, Program and Outreach Coordinator for I See Music, Presenter

 

7:00 - 8:30 pm—PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DIVISION

Hospitality Suite 239, level 2

Come learn about issues facing employees of federal, state and municipal government as well as public schools and public utility commissions.  Find out about government jobs and self-advocacy. Ivan Weich, President




7:00 - 9:00 pm—CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF NFB-NEWSLINE®  

Hospitality Suite 235, level 2           

NFB-NEWSLINE Is turning 20! Come join us to celebrate and meet other NFB-NEWSLINE users. Get an overview of NFB-NEWSLINE, share your ideas for expanding the service, and get information on the latest new features and publications, as well as a sneak peek at what’s coming up for the future.

 

7:00 - 9:00 pm—LEGISLATIVE MEET UP

Salon 3, level 2

A recap of Washington Seminar, a run-down of priorities, a reunion for legislative directors, and a lesson from special guest Brooke Lierman, Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly and attorney at Brown, Goldstein & Levy, about politics behind-the-scenes. Lauren McLarney, Rose Sloan, and Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Team

 

7:00 - 10:00 pm—BLIND AUTOMOBILE ENTHUSIASTS SEMINAR & MEETING

Salon 18, level 2

Come and hear speakers from automobile clubs talk about their activities and participate in the division business meeting. David Hutchins, President, National Association of Blind Automobile Enthusiasts

 




Icon of the NFB MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued  

 

7:30 - 9:00 pm—LIBRARY SERVICES COMMITTEE 

Salon 20, level 2 
Come and discuss what services there are and what they could be. Learn about new additions to the NLS and other accessible book programs. David Hyde, Chairperson

 

7:30 - 9:30 pm—BLIND PARENTS GROUP 

Salon 13, level 2 
Blind parents share their experiences around child-raising issues, such as learning infant care, coping with printed homework assignments, finding print/Braille books, dealing with the public’s misconceptions, and more. 

Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson

 

7:45 - 8:45 pm—JUDAISM MEETING 

Salon 19, level 2 
David Stayer, Chairperson, NFB in Judaism Group

 

7:45 - 9:00 pm—MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE SEMINAR 

Salon 10, level 2
Sharing energetic presentations on membership growth and combining the excitement of our Federation movement with new generation methods. You will want to take these solutions home with you. Jeannie Massay, Chairperson 

 

8:15 - 10:15 pm—FITNESS ENTHUSIASTS MEET UP

Salon 16, level 2 
Meet fitness enthusiasts from across the country in a relaxed and informal setting. Get ready to network and have fun. Sponsored by the Sports & Recreation Division; Lisamaria Martinez, President

 

9:00 - 10:00 pm—SPANISH TRANSLATION COMMITTEE

Salon 17, level 2 

We provide simultaneous translation into Spanish during the general sessions of the convention and other Spanish efforts for the Federation. Please join us if you would like to help with this effort. Conchita Hernandez, Chairperson

 




Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015  

 

8:30 am - 5:00 pm—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

8:30 am - 5:00 pm—REGISTRATION ($30) AND BANQUET TICKET SALES ($60) 

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1  

 

8:30 am - 5:00 pm—EXHIBIT HALL and INDEPENDENCE MARKET

WA2, Convention Center, level 2  

 

9:00 - 11:30 am—NFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (Open to all) 

Grand Ballroom, level 1  

 

10:00 - 11:45 am—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK SESSIONS (ages 11-18)

W202A, Convention Center, level 2 

UNLEASHING YOUR INNER MONSTER

10:00 - 10:45 am—Ages 11-14

11:00 - 11:45 am—Ages 14-18 

 

12:30 - 2:30 pm—I CAN'T HEAR THE WHISPERS! (SSP) WORKSHOP

Salon 3, level 2

Living with a combined hearing/vision loss creates unique challenges and demands unique solutions. Leaders in our community will share information on communication, guiding and SSP services. You’ll hear the WHISPERS! Sponsored by the NFB Deaf-Blind Division; Joe Naulty, President 

 

12:30 - 3:00 pm—SPORTS & RECREATION DIVISION MEETING 

Salon 8, level 2

12:30 pm—Registration

As always, the Sports & Recreation Division promises to be full of great tips on how to get up and move. At our meetings, we don’t just sit—we move! Lisamaria Martinez, President

 

12:30 - 5:00 pm—DIABETES ACTION NETWORK SEMINAR  

Salon 6, level 2

12:30 pm—Registration

Learn about new, accessible diabetes equipment coming to market and strategies for living well with diabetes. Elect division officers and board members. Mike Freeman, President




Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued  

 

12:30 - 5:00 pm—NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS 

Salon 19, level 2

12:30 pm—Registration 

Examine laws affecting blind people and others with disabilities; address ongoing struggles to gain equal access to websites, employment, legal texts, and exams; share practice tips for blind lawyers. Scott LaBarre, President

 

12:30 - 5:00 pm—NFB IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Salon 4, level 2

12:30 pm—Registration

Enhancing nonvisual access to information technology and improving the ability of blind IT professionals to compete in today’s world. Curtis Chong, President

 

12:30 - 5:00 pm—NAT’L ASSOC. OF THE BLIND IN COMMUNITIES OF FAITH 

Salon 18, level 2

12:30 pm—Registration

Speakers tell how their faith has helped them face and overcome challenges; also hear representatives from various faith-based libraries and publishing houses describe what their organizations do. Tom Anderson, President

 

1:00 - 3:00 pm—PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE SEMINAR

Salon 13, level 2

What does a successful media interview look and sound like? Learn from experts and share ideas and strategies on how to harness the power of the media! Chris Danielsen, Chairperson

 

1:00 - 4:00 pm—NAT’L ORG. OF PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN MEETING 

W202C, Convention Center, level 2 
Keynote address by the 2015 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children, special guest speakers on accessible science, cutting-edge products and services, summer programs for our kids, Parent Power, business meeting, elections, and much more! Carlton Walker, President

 

1:00 - 4:00 pm—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK SESSION (ages 11-18)

Salon 11, level 2

Student to Student—National Association of Blind Students (NABS)

 




Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued  

 

1:00 - 4:00 pm—PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION 

Salon 14, level 2 

Come learn about the Performing Arts Division and our function as a division of the NFB. Would you like to learn more about the fifteen-year history of the division and be a part of shaping our future? Do you want to develop a division in your state? This year our annual meeting will be the time for you to voice your ideas and engage with others. Jordy Stringer, President

 

1:00 - 4:30 pm—NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLIND EDUCATORS 

Salon 15, level 2 
Blind teachers discuss techniques they use in their classrooms; participants also meet in groups specific to grade level and content areas of interest to create a network of mentors. If you teach or are considering a career in teaching at any level, please join us. Cayte Mendez, President

 

1:00 - 4:30 pm—NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND MERCHANTS 

Salon 10, level 2

1:00 pm—Registration

Moving Forward; Making a Difference in and Around Randolph-Sheppard. Nicky Gacos, President

 

1:00 - 4:30 pm—SENIORS CELEBRATING NFB’S 75TH; SENIORS DIVISION

Salon 20, level 2
12:30 pm—Registration; 1:30 pm—Meeting. Join with seniors and find out what’s happening across the country. Meet friends, share ideas, reflect on why you are a Federationist and learn how you can lead others to our movement. Someone from ABiSee, Inc. will stop by. Silent auction—come bid! Ruth Sager, President

 

1:00 - 4:30 pm—WRITERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING 

Salon 16, level 2

We will be announcing the winners of the writers contest and the many upcoming activities, classes, and services. We will also conduct business and elections. Come get involved, share and hone your talent. Bring a short story or poem to read aloud. Eve Sanchez, Second Vice President and Chelsea Cook  

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—NAT’L ASSOC. OF BLIND REHAB PROFESSIONALS  

Salon 7, level 2

1:00 pm—Registration 

Network, share mutual interests, find placement strategies, and examine and discuss concerns and current issues. Melody Roane, President




Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued  

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—MICROSOFT ACCESSIBILITY

Salon 5, level 2

Come meet with Microsoft engineers to learn about new releases, provide feedback on product experiences, and participate in focus groups. We will be holding a series of 45 minute sessions throughout Monday and Tuesday. Sign-up for the sessions will be open on site at the conference beginning at noon outside the session room.

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—BLIND CANCER SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP

W202B, Convention Center, level 2

Join us for a meet and greet, a panel discussion, and personal stories of strength and courage. Our group's purpose is to help all cancer survivors get well and stay well, to offer preventive measures, and to create a platform for cohesive dialogue and information dissemination.

 

1:00 - 5:00 pm—HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION 

Salon 17, level 2

1:00 pm—Registration; 2:00 - 5:00 pm—Division Meeting 

At this meeting, learn effective ways of advocating for accessibility with electronic health records and practice/licensing examinations relevant to our professions. Interested in knowing how blind professionals do their jobs… here is your chance to ask questions of our panel. Merry Schoch, President

 

1:00 - 6:00 pm—NFB-NEWSLINE® DEMONSTRATION OPEN HOUSE

Hospitality Suite 235, level 2

Stop by to get expert advice from experienced NFB-NEWSLINE staff so you get the most from NFB-NEWSLINE. Find out about new publications and features. This is your opportunity to try out the varied access methods and decide which is for you. Not a subscriber? Sign up on the spot!

 

1:00 - 8:30 pm—INSPIRING ARTISTS, BEGINNERS TO PROS

W202A, Convention Center, level 2 

Experience tactile art as a creative way to gather and share information and ideas. This open art room offers free tools and materials. 1:00 - 5:00 pm—drop-in activities; 5:00 - 7:00 pm—art exhibit; 7:00 - 8:30 pm—hands-on workshop for parents and TVIs. Debbie Kent Stein and Ann Cunningham, Coordinators

 

 




Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued  

 

3:15 - 5:15 pm—ANATOMY OF A PIANO TUNER  

Salon 8, level 2
Join the Piano Technology Group in a discussion of piano tuners in blind society, and help us change what it means to be a blind piano tuner. Don Mitchell, Chairperson

 

4:00 - 10:00 pm—SPORTS & RECREATION DIVISION ACTIVITIES

Executive Ballroom I, level 1

All classes are $10 per session.

4:00 - 6:00 pm, 6:15 - 8:15 pm—1Touch Self-Defense Class

 

5:00 - 6:30 pm—NATIONAL ASSOC. OF BLIND LAWYERS RECEPTION 

Salon 9, level 2

For NABL Division members and seminar participants only; to promote networking and fellowship within our membership. Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar available. Scott LaBarre, President

 

5:00 - 7:00 pm—BRAILLE BOOK FAIR

Executive Ballroom H, level 1
To celebrate the NFB’s 75th anniversary, the American Action Fund has donated 750 print-Braille books to the Braille Book Fair! A book lover's dream! Browse tables of new and used Braille and print/ Braille books. Volunteers will box and deliver them to the post office for Free Matter shipment to your home. Books are free; donations are encouraged. Krystal Guillory, Coordinator

 

5:15 - 6:45 pm—NFB COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE  

Salon 16, level 2

Our chapters and affiliates run great programs guided by our positive philosophy. How can we reach more people in our community and inspire them to participate more actively? Come learn the tools, techniques, and examples you can use right away. Corbb O’Connor, Chairperson

 

6:00 - 8:00 pm—UNITED BLIND INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF AMERICA

Salon 17, level 2 
Join your Federation colleagues for a wide-ranging discussion about improving working conditions and wages for all blind workers, and developing strategies to ensure that all disabled workers are paid at least the minimum wage. Sandy Halverson, President 

 




Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued  

 

6:00 - 10:00 pm—MICROSOFT ACCESSIBILITY

Salon 5, level 2

Come meet with Microsoft engineers to learn about new releases, provide feedback on product experiences, and participate in focus groups. We will be holding a series of 45 minute sessions throughout Monday and Tuesday. Sign-up for the sessions will be open on site at the conference beginning at noon outside the session room.

 

6:00 - 10:00 pm—NAT’L ASSOC. OF GUIDE DOG USERS SEMINAR 

Salon 4, level 2

6:00 pm—Registration; 7:00 pm—Meeting 

Join us in celebrating thirty years of education and advocacy on behalf of guide dog users. Pros and cons of residential and community training. John Byfield, Freedom Guide Dogs, Panel discussion: ownership or custody? Elect our leaders. Also, test-drive a guide dog! Marion Gwizdala, President

 

6:15 - 10:00 pm—NFB COMMUNITY SERVICE DIVISION 
Salon 7, level 2

6:15 pm—Registration; 6:35 pm—Seminar; 9:00 pm—Business Meeting

Hear from speakers about their community service experiences; learn about how to get involved in your own community; and find out what the division has been up to in the past year. Let’s get involved! Darian Smith, President

 

6:30 - 9:45 pm—SCIENCE & ENGINEERING DIVISION  

Salon 18, level 2

6:30 pm—Registration; 7:00 pm—Meeting

Come hear from blind scientists and learn how to gain access to graphics and mathematical material, make raised-line drawings, and prepare scientific research for publication. John Miller, President

 

6:30 - 10:00 pm—ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINERS DIVISION

Salon 19, level 2 

6:30 pm—Registration 

$5.00 for resource CD & other benefits. Update on accessibility of Google Apps; learning NVDA; introduction to Windows 10; and strategies for teaching people with multiple disabilities. Sharing what works and getting help with challenges. Nancy Coffman, Coordinator

 




Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued  

 

6:30 - 10:00 pm—DEAF-BLIND DIVISION SEMINAR/BUSINESS MEETING

Salon 3, level 2

Professionals, educators, and deaf-blind consumers speak on SSP programs, technology, and iCanConnect. Please join us for this informative session. Deaf-Blind Division business meeting and election of officers. Joe Naulty, President

 

7:00 - 8:30 pm—“In Everything That Matters” (A radio drama written by Jerry Whittle; $5 admission fee; one performance only)

Junior Ballroom G, level 1

Come celebrate the NFB’s Diamond Anniversary by journeying back to remembrances of the golden age of radio. Listen as the voices of our leaders come alive in celebration of our accomplishments and embolden us to meet the challenges ahead. All proceeds benefit the summer children’s programs at the Louisiana Center for the Blind.

 

7:00 - 9:00 pm—EMPOWER UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS

Salon 15, level 2 

If you are feeling underserved, come and be heard! Get empowered to live the Life YOU WANT!! Ron Brown, Chairperson, Committee to Empower Underserved Populations

 

7:00 - 9:00 pm—NFB KRAFTERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING

Salon 20, level 2 

Join us to hear about our telephone conference classes taught by blind/visually impaired crafters and learn about our email classes; become a paid member and take as many classes as you would like from July to July. Joyce Kane, President

 

7:30 - 9:00 pm—BLIND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES COMMITTEE MEETING

Salon 13, level 2

Come learn about issues facing federal employees and applicants. Share your experiences with and your solutions to federal workplace challenges. Ronza Othman, Chairperson

 

7:30 - 9:00 pm—DADS’ NIGHT OUT

Contact Bill Cucco at (201) 602-6318 for location.

All dads, sighted and blind, are welcome. Sponsored by NOPBC.




 

Icon of the NFB TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued  

 

8:00 - 9:00 pm—FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING

Hospitality Suite 247, level 2
All convention delegates involved in or interested in twelve-step recovery programs are invited to attend. A second Friends of Recovery meeting will be on Thursday at 8:00 pm. Sheri Koch, Coordinator

 

8:00 - 9:30 pm—WEBMASTERS MEETING 

Salon 6, level 2
A meeting for all NFB affiliate and division webmasters to discuss the importance of an informative, accessible, and visually attractive website.

Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Webmasters Group 




Icon of the NFB WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015

 

7:00 am—GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

Rosen Centre Rear Parking Lot

We will be raising expectations of blind people by raising umbrellas to break the world record for the largest umbrella mosaic. Will you be one of the three thousand people in attendance at our world record attempt? All you have to do is hold up an umbrella that we will provide to help form the message which will be viewed from above.

 

8:00 - 8:45 am—DEVOTIONS

Salon 17, level 2

 

8:45 - 9:15 am—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

8:45 - 9:15 am—REGISTRATION ($30), AND BANQUET TICKET SALES ($60)

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

 

 

OPENING GENERAL SESSION

 

9:30 am     INVOCATION

 

9:35 am     WELCOMING CEREMONIES

The Original Seven State Affiliates of the Federation

 

10:00 am   CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM: VETERANS RECOGNIZED

Dwight Sayer, President, National Association of Blind Veterans, a Division of the National Federation of the Blind; Winter Garden, Florida

 

10:20 am   ROLL CALL OF STATES AND APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE

 

11:55 am   REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

 

12:00 pm   ADJOURN




Icon of the NFB WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued

 

Noon - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

Noon - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm—REGISTRATION ($30) AND FINAL BANQUET TICKET SALES ($60)

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

Noon - 1:45 pm—EXHIBIT HALL AND INDEPENDENCE MARKET

WA2, Convention Center, level 2

 

12:15 - 1:45 pm—LOUISIANA CENTER FOR THE BLIND ALUMNI RECEPTION 

Signature 2 Room, level 2

Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff from the past thirty years as they “live the lives they want.” All LCB alumni and those interested in learning more about how training at the Louisiana Center for the Blind will change your life are welcome. Pamela Allen, Director

 

 

                                                              

GENERAL SESSION

 

2:00 pm     CALL TO ORDER

 

2:05 pm     PRESIDENTIAL REPORT

Mark Riccobono

 

3:05 pm     PROTECTING THE BONDS OF LOVE: PROGRESS IN DEFENDING OUR RIGHT TO PARENT

Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP; Baltimore, Maryland

 

3:25 pm     SIXTY YEARS OF LIVING AND SINGING IN THE FEDERATION

Tom Bickford, Member of the Sligo Creek Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Silver Spring, Maryland

 




Icon of the NFB WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued

 

3:40 pm     THE IMPACT OF THE ORGANIZED BLIND MOVEMENT: PERSPECTIVES FROM A FRIEND AND CHAMPION IN THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE

The Honorable Brooke Lierman, Delegate, District 46, Maryland House of Delegates; Baltimore, Maryland

 

3:55 pm     ADJUSTING ATTITUDES: A LANDMARK VICTORY IN THE IOWA SUPREME COURT

Aaron Cannon, Software Accessibility Engineer, Instructure, Inc.; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

 

4:10 pm     WE WROTE THE BOOK: REFLECTIONS ON THE FEDERATION

Scott LaBarre, President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado; Denver, Colorado

 

Debbie Kent Stein, First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois; Chicago, Illinois

 

4:25 pm     BUILDING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE EMPLOYMENT: THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATION AT FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC

John Blake, President and CEO, Freedom Scientific, Inc.; St. Petersburg, Florida

 

4:40 pm     REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

 

5:00 pm     ADJOURN

 

 

 

5:30 - 6:30 pm—NOMINATING COMMITTEE 

Salon 17, level 2

 

6:00 - 7:30 pm—SELF-ADVOCACY IN HIGHER EDUCATION 

Salon 5, level 2

A workshop for current or soon-to-be college and graduate students to know your legal rights and learn effective strategies for self-advocacy in obtaining accommodations and accessing instructional materials and digital content. Mehgan Sidhu, NFB General Counsel, Coordinator




Icon of the NFB WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued

 

6:00 - 7:30 pm—AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND (AFB)

AFB cordially invites you to a complimentary evening reception, featuring welcome remarks from Carl Augusto, AFB’s President and CEO. We hope you will stop in, introduce yourself, and spend some time speaking with AFB staff and AccessWorld Magazine authors. Attendance is limited; please RSVP to Heidi Walters at  <mailto:hwalters at afb.net> hwalters at afb.net or (202) 469-6831 no later than June 30; receive a confirmation email with the hotel reception location.

 

6:30 - 9:00 pm—COLORADO CENTER FOR THE BLIND OPEN HOUSE

Salons 1 and 2, level 2

Come and visit us at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Even though we’re in Florida, it will feel like Colorado when you meet our staff and students, and discover how training will change your life. Find out what it’s like to go rock climbing and learn about structured discovery and how it applies in all areas of your life! Julie Deden, Director 

 

7:00 - 9:00 pm—EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

Salon 16, level 2

Learn about training and other resources that can help you with job search and employment. Looking for a job? Bring your résumé and talk about yourself. Looking for someone to hire? Bring your job postings. Network with others. What can we do to increase the employment of blind people? Bring your ideas. Dick Davis, Chairperson

 

7:00 - 9:00 pm—EXHIBIT HALL

WA2, Convention Center, level 2  

 

7:00 - 9:45 pm—NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS

7:00 - 8:15 pm—

IEP WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS OF BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS: Salon 13, level 2

ADOPTING A BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILD: Salon 14, level 2

8:30 - 9:45 pm—

STAYING CALM: Salon 13, level 2

          




Icon of the NFB WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued

 

7:00 - 10:00 pm—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK ACTIVITY (ages 11-18)

Salon 11, level 2

Deal Me In: Learning Poker & Other Card Games

 

8:00 - 9:30 pm—RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Salon 17, level 2

Technology is omnipresent in our lives. While it provides unprecedented advantages in education and employment, the blind are still excluded from many products. Hear about new advances; discuss ways we can influence developers to include accessibility in their hardware and software. Tony Olivero, Chairperson

 

8:00 - 11:30 pm—MONTE CARLO NIGHT 

Salon 9, level 2 

Try your luck at playing popular card games; bring friends along or make new ones—either way it’s sure to be great fun; cash bar. Sponsored by the National Association of Blind Students Division.

 

8:00 pm - midnight—DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY BALL

Executive Ballroom H, level 1

Join us in celebrating our 75th anniversary. Come dance with us in your 1940s attire (optional) and have fun living the life we want. Enjoy entertainment by the Z Street Band; cash bar. Admission $10; cash only. No checks or credit cards accepted.

 

 




Icon of the NFB THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015  

 

8:00 - 8:45 am—DEVOTIONS

Salon 17, level 2 

 

8:15 - 8:45 am—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

8:15 - 8:45 am—REGISTRATION ($30)

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

 

 

GENERAL SESSION

 

9:00 am     INVOCATION

 

9:05 am     FINANCIAL REPORT

 

10:00 am   ELECTIONS

 

10:45 am   SHARING THE SPIRIT OF OUR MOVEMENT AROUND THE WORLD: A FEDERATIONIST IN THE PEACE CORPS

Serena Olsen, Peace Corps Volunteer; Kyrgyz Republic

 

11:00 am   THE BLIND IN THE WORLD: SPREADING THE FEDERATION MESSAGE

Fred Schroeder, First Vice President, World Blind Union; Vienna, Virginia

 

11:20 am   CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN EBOOKS: A COMMITMENT TO EQUAL ACCESS

Rick Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, VitalSource, Inc.; Raleigh, North Carolina




Icon of the NFB THURSDAY, JULY 9, Continued  

 

11:40 am   REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

 

12:00 pm   ADJOURN

 

 

 

Noon - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

Noon - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm—REGISTRATION ($30)

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

Noon - 1:45 pm—EXHIBIT HALL AND INDEPENDENCE MARKET (final opportunity to visit the Independence Market and Exhibit Hall)

WA2, Convention Center, level 2

 

12:30 - 1:30 pm—CASH AND CARING NETWORK 

Salon 16, level 2

States and chapters learn of and build on experiences of other groups in raising funds for themselves and for the national treasury. We will give special attention to creating some short local and state publications for fundraising that use many pictures and very few words. Every affiliate should be represented on this network. Ramona Walhof, Chairperson

 

 

                                                              

GENERAL SESSION

 

2:00 pm     CALL TO ORDER

 

2:05 pm     WE CAN BANK ON IT: THE CARDTRONICS ACCESSIBILITY CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AND THE FUTURE

Randy Rice, Director, Cardtronics Accessibility Center of Excellence and Executive Vice President, Audit and Risk Management, Cardtronics; Houston, Texas 




Icon of the NFB THURSDAY, JULY 9, Continued

 

2:20 pm     LIVING THE LIVES WE WANT: OPPORTUNITIES AND STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Jeannie Massay, Member, Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind; President, National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma; Edmond, Oklahoma

 

2:35 pm     ADVOCACY AND POLICY REPORT

John G. Paré, Jr., Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

 

Rose Sloan, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

 

Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

 

Lauren McLarney, Manager of Government Affairs, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

 

3:15 pm     REPORTS, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER BUSINESS

 

5:00 pm     ADJOURN

 

 

 

6:00 - 7:30 pm—ADVOCACY SKILLS FOR BLIND PARENTS

Salon 5, level 2

A workshop on advocacy strategies for blind parents in the context of family law proceedings, interactions with the department of social services, and participation in K-12 public school systems. Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, Attorney at Brown, Goldstein & Levy, Coordinator

 

6:00 - 10:30 pm—TRIVIA NIGHT (Admission: $10) 

Salon 9, level 2

6:00 - 8:00 pm—75 Years In Music; 8:30 - 10:30 pm—75 Questions About The Federation. Are two heads better than one? Try eight! Test your NFB/music knowledge in this special 75th-year-themed, group-style trivia contest and win a cash prize! Proceeds benefit future programs and activities of the Community Service Division. 




Icon of the NFB THURSDAY, JULY 9, Continued  

 

7:00 - 9:00 pm—SOCIAL SECURITY AND SSI: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Salon 19, level 2

Social Security and SSI benefits, eligibility criteria, application process, reporting obligations, and information about working while receiving benefits. Also learn about the status of the Blind Persons Return to Work Act. Rose Sloan, Presenter

 

7:00 - 9:00 pm—BRAILLE PROOFREADING SEMINAR 

Salon 18, level 2

If you are a parent of a blind child, teacher of blind/visually impaired children, a rehabilitation teacher, or interested in learning what’s happening in the Braille field, join us to get hands-on experience. Presented by the National Association of Blind Office Professionals Division, Lisa Hall, President 

 

7:00 - 9:45 pm—KNFB READER DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING

Salon 15, level 2 

7:00 - 8:15 pm—Session 1; 8:30 - 9:45 pm—Session 2

Use your iOS or Android device to read print—it’s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! James Gashel, Presenter

 

8:00 - 9:00 pm—FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING

Hospitality Suite 247, level 2
All convention delegates involved in or interested in twelve-step recovery programs are invited to attend. Sheri Koch, Coordinator

 

8:00 - 10:30 pm—FIFTEENTH ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF TALENT 

Junior Ballroom G, level 1

Join us for a night of great performances. Whether you perform in the show or support your friends from the audience, it is an enjoyable evening of great entertainment. General admission is $5. We will award cash prizes to two acts. The cost to perform in this year’s show will be $10. Call (317) 643-1890 with any questions. Presented by the Performing Arts Division; Jordy Stringer, President

 

8:00 pm - midnight—SALSA NIGHT (Admission: $5) 

Signature 2, level 2

Dance the night away as you learn to dance to salsa music using the Braille cell. All levels of skill are welcome. A competition takes place at the end with great prizes; cash bar; proceeds benefit the Spanish Translation Committee. Conchita Hernandez, Chairperson 




Icon of the NFB FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015  

 

8:00 - 8:45 am—DEVOTIONS

Salon 17, level 2 

 

8:15 - 8:45 am—PREREGISTRATION PACKET PICKUP

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

8:15 - 8:45 am—REGISTRATION ($30)—Final opportunity to register

Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer, level 1

 

 

 

GENERAL SESSION

 

9:00 am     INVOCATION

 

9:05 am     THE RHYTHM OF THE MOVEMENT: THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY IN SONG

James Brown, Member, Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind; President, National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee; Antioch, Tennessee

 

Richie Flores, Project Consultant, Vocational Enrichment Project LLC; Houston, Texas

 

9:35 am     THE ART OF ILLUSION: DETERMINATION, IMAGINATION, AND SKILL WITH NO VISION REQUIRED

Chad Allen, Member, Magic Castle; Los Angeles, California

 

9:50 am     THE FEDERATION PHILOSOPHY AT WORK: TRANSFORMING DREAMS INTO REALITY THROUGH OUR JERNIGAN INSTITUTE

Anil Lewis, Executive Director for the Jernigan Institute, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

 

10:10 am   #NCBYS: MAKING THE CONNECTION AND EQUIPPING THE NEXT GENERATION

Angel Ayala, Apprentice, National Federation of the Blind STEM2U; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania




Icon of the NFB FRIDAY, JULY 10, Continued  

 

10:20 am   RAISING EXPECTATIONS: A COMMITMENT TO FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WORKFORCE

The Honorable Christopher P. Lu, Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Labor; Washington, District of Columbia

 

10:35 am   A GROWING PARTNERSHIP FOR ACCESSIBILITY: GOOGLE AND THE ORGANIZED BLIND MOVEMENT

Kannan Pashupathy, Director and Chief Operating Officer, Research, Google Inc.; Mountain View, California

 

10:50 am   PUSHING THE LIMITS: CHANGING THE WORLD THROUGH BIG IDEAS

Eileen Bartholomew, Senior Vice President, Prizes, XPRIZE Foundation; Culver City, California

 

11:05 am   INCREASING THE INVESTMENT IN ACCESSIBILITY: NONVISUAL ACCESS IN MICROSOFT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

John Jendrezak, Partner Director of Project Management, Microsoft Corporation; Redmond, Washington

 

11:20 am   THE LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: ACCELERATING AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO BOOKS

Karen Keninger, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Washington, District of Columbia

 

11:35 am   REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

 

12:00 pm   ADJOURN

 

 

 




Icon of the NFB FRIDAY, JULY 10, Continued  

 

Noon - 1:45 pm—AMATEUR RADIO DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING

Salon 14, level 2; Tony Olivero (AD9O), President

 

Noon - 1:45 pm—RAFFLES AND DRAWINGS 

Salon 10, level 2

 

12:15 - 1:45 pm—NLS QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION 

Salon 9, level 2 

A question-and-answer session with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress

 

 

 

GENERAL SESSION

 

2:00 pm     CALL TO ORDER

 

2:05 pm     THE NATURE OF BLINDNESS

Marc Maurer, Director of Legal Policy and Immediate Past President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland

 

2:35 pm     THE NEXT 75 YEARS OF BLINDNESS: PERSPECTIVES FROM AN INVENTOR AND PARTNER

Ray Kurzweil, Director of Engineering, Google, Inc.; Mountain View, California

 

3:00 pm     LEADERSHIP THROUGH LAW: PERSPECTIVES ON ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS FOR THE BLIND

The Honorable Maura Healey, Attorney General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston, Massachusetts

 

3:20 pm     INNOVATION AND ACCESSIBILITY: CREATING OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES AT TARGET

Alan Wizemann, Vice President of Product, Target.com & Mobile, Target Corporation; Minneapolis, Minnesota




Icon of the NFB FRIDAY, JULY 10, Continued  

 

3:35 pm     LEADERSHIP FROM A BLIND PERSON’S PERSPECTIVE: ACCESSIBILITY IN ACTION AT THE UNITED STATES ACCESS BOARD

Sachin Dev Pavithran, Chairman, United States Access Board; Legislative Director, National Federation of the Blind of Utah; Providence, Utah

 

3:50 pm     LEADERSHIP THROUGH EDUCATION: RAISING EXPECTATIONS, IMPROVING TRAINING, AND INNOVATING OPPORTUNITIES

Michael Yudin, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, United States Department of Education; Washington, District of Columbia

 

4:10 pm     DR. JACOB BOLOTIN AWARDS

James Gashel, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee; Secretary, National Federation of the Blind; Avon, Colorado

 

4:45 pm     REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS

 

5:00 pm     ADJOURN

 

 

 

7:00 pm—BANQUET

Grand Ballroom, level 1

INVOCATION

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Marc Maurer

INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

BANQUET ADDRESS: Mark Riccobono

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS




 

CONVENTION NOTES:

 

Note 1: A Federation information desk is in the registration area from Monday morning through Friday in case you have questions or need assistance. 

 

Note 2: The Rosen Centre Hotel room rates are: singles and doubles, $82; triples and quads, $89. In addition to the room rates, there is a 13.5 percent tax. There is no charge for children under seventeen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is required. Proof of convention registration is necessary, including the showing of an NFB registration badge, if requested. Otherwise, regular hotel rates must be paid. This is a non-smoking hotel; smoking is permitted only at specified areas outside.

 

Note 3: Guide Dog Relief Areas: 

1) Use the exterior door just before the escalators on the west wall of the Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer.

2) Use the exterior door on the north wall just before the entrance to the Spa and Fitness Center (located west of the main hotel entrance at the end of the east-west wing). 

 

Note 4: All requests for announcements by President Riccobono during General Sessions must be submitted in Braille.

 

Note 5: Raffle tickets will not be sold in the registration area, and no raffles or other such drawings will take place during convention sessions or at the banquet. The single exception will be that national divisions may (if they request it in advance) conduct drawings during the sessions or at the banquet. Groups or affiliates wishing to conduct their drawings (or any person wishing to know the winners) may go at noon on Friday to Salon 10, level 2.

 

Note 6: Child-care for children between the ages of six weeks and twelve years is available during convention sessions, most meetings, and the banquet.  Preregistration and payment by June 15 were required for child-care. Child-care is organized and supervised by Carla McQuillan, the executive director of Main Street Montessori Association. Alison McQuillan serves as the activities and staff coordinator. Please note that child-care services provides morning and afternoon snacks, but parents are required to provide lunch for their child(ren) every day. Times listed are the opening and closing times. A late fee of $10 per quarter-hour per child will be assessed for late pickups. Child-care services hours are: 




          Sunday, 7/5                  8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm 

          Monday, 7/6                  Closed

          Tuesday, 7/7                8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm 

          Wednesday, 7/8           9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm 

          Thursday, 7/9               8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm

          Friday, 7/10                  8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm and

          Banquet, 7/10               6:30 pm to 30 minutes after banquet ends 

 

Note 7: Divisions, Committees, and Groups: The Federation carries on its business through affiliated divisions, committees, and groups listed below:  

 

DIVISIONS: 

 

Agriculture and Equestrian: Fred Chambers, President 

Amateur Radio, NFB: Tony Olivero (AD9O), President

Assistive Technology Trainers: Michael Barber, President

Automobile Enthusiasts, National Assoc. of Blind: David Hutchins, President

Communities of Faith, National Assoc. of the Blind in: Tom Anderson, President

Computer Science, NFB in: Curtis Chong, President

Community Service, National Federation of the Blind: Darian Smith, President

Deaf-Blind: Joe Naulty, President

Diabetes Action Network for the Blind: Michael Freeman, President

Human Services: Merry Schoch, President

Educators, National Org. of Blind: Cayte Mendez, President

Entrepreneurs, National Assoc. of Blind: James R. Bonerbo, President

Guide Dog Users, National Assoc. of (NAGDU): Marion Gwizdala, President

Krafters, NFB: Joyce Kane, President

Lawyers, National Assoc. of Blind: Scott LaBarre, President

Merchants, National Assoc. of Blind: Nicky Gacos, President

National Assoc. to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB): Steve Booth, Pres.

Office Professionals, National Assoc. of Blind: Lisa Hall, President

Parents of Blind Children, National Org. of (NOPBC): Carlton Walker, President

Performing Arts: Jordy Stringer, President

Professionals in Blindness Education, National Org. of: Eric Guillory, President

Public Employees: Ivan Weich, President

Rehabilitation Professionals, National Assoc. of Blind: Melody Roane, President

Science and Engineering: John Miller, President

Seniors, NFB: Ruth Sager, President

Sports and Recreation: Lisamaria Martinez, President 

Students, National Assoc. of Blind: Sean Whalen, President

Travel and Tourism: Cheryl Echevarria, President

United Blind Industrial Workers of America: Sandy Halverson, President

Writers: Robert L. Newman, President

Veterans, National Assoc. of Blind: Dwight Sayer, President.

 

COMMITTEES: 

 

Ambassadors: Dan Burke, Chairperson

Automobile and Pedestrian Safety: Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson

Blind Educator of the Year Award: Edward Bell, Chairperson

Blind Federal Employees: Ronza Othman, Chairperson

Cash and Caring: Ramona Walhof, Chairperson

Communications: Corbb O'Connor, Chairperson

Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award: Cathy Jackson, Chairperson

Employment: Dick Davis, Chairperson

Empower Underserved Populations: Ron Brown, Chairperson

Genetic Education: Barbara Pierce, Chairperson 

Imagination Fund: Anil Lewis, Chairperson

Jacobus tenBroek Award: Dr. Marc Maurer, Chairperson

Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Fund: James Brown, Chairperson; Joy Harris,

          Co-Chairperson

Kenneth Jernigan Fund: Allen Harris, Chairperson

Library Services: David Hyde, Chairperson, Marci Carpenter; Co-Chairperson

Membership: Jeannie Massay, Chairperson

Newel Perry Award: Allen Harris, Chairperson 

PAC Plan: Scott LaBarre, Chairperson; Everette Bacon, Co-Chairperson 

Promotion, Evaluation, and Advancement of Technology: Mark Jones,

          Chairperson

Public Relations: Chris Danielsen, Chairperson 

Research and Development: Tony Olivero, Chairperson; Chancey Fleet, 
Co-Chairperson

Resolutions: Sharon Maneki, Chairperson

Scholarship: Patti Gregory Chang, Chairperson

Shares Unlimited in NFB (SUN): Sandy Halverson, Chairperson 

Spanish Translation: Conchita Hernandez, Chairperson 

White Cane and Affiliate Finance: Alpidio Rolón, Chairperson.

 

GROUPS: 

 

Blind Academics: Kyle Shachmut, Coordinator 

Blind Cancer Survivors Support Group: Isaiah Nelson, Chairperson

Blind Musicians: Linda Mentink, Chairperson

Blind Parents: Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson


Blind Professional Journalists: Elizabeth Campbell and Bryan Bashin, 

           Co-Chairpersons 

Living History: Michael Freholm, Chairperson

NFB in Judaism: David Stayer, Chairperson

NFB Lions: Ramona Walhof and Milton Ota, Co-Chairpersons 

Orientation and Mobility: Edward C. Bell, Chairperson

Piano Technology: Don Mitchell, Chairperson

Webmasters: Gary Wunder, Chairperson.

 




 

NAVIGATING THE HOTEL: 

 

Looking down from an airplane flying high above the Rosen Centre hotel you would see a long tall structure oriented in a mostly east-west direction. It would appear to be very slightly V-shaped. Extending from the point of the ‘V’ you would see a long low structure oriented in a mostly north-south direction. Toward the south end of the low structure you would see a covered bridge about the length of a football field extending toward the west and connecting into the West Building of the Orange County Convention Center, a second very large low structure with a mostly east-west orientation. Your pilot might quibble a bit with you about your notions of north-south and east-west. If so, just tell the pilot that they will do quite nicely for navigation from the hotel lobby to the Exhibit Hall, even though they might end you up on the wrong continent if you were flying across the Atlantic. So, put away your compass and enjoy the convention.

 

Back on the ground as you enter the hotel through the revolving doors at the main entrance you will be facing south. You will be at about the center of the 24-story east-west wing of the hotel. The main hotel elevators will be directly ahead of you in a U-shaped elevator lobby. Slightly to your right (west) of the opening into the elevator lobby is the entrance to the long two-story north-south wing of the hotel. Turning slightly to your left (east) takes you to the hotel check-in desk, which is located on the south wall of the east-west wing. Opposite the hotel check-in desk on the north wall of the east-west wing is the bell stand and the concierge desk. 

 

All of the sleeping rooms are located in the twenty-four-story east-west wing. The first three elevators on each side of the U-shaped elevator lobby serve floors 2 through 15. The last two elevators on each side serve floors 2 and 16 through 24. A short passageway on the west side of the elevator lobby between the third and fourth elevators serves as a shortcut between the elevator lobby and the north-south wing. It also serves as a convenient landmark to separate the low-floor elevators and the high-floor elevators. When you exit the elevator lobby on the sleeping room floors, the rooms ending in numbers 1 through 32 are east of the elevator lobby, and the sleeping rooms ending in numbers 33 through 64 are west of the elevator lobby. 

 

West of the main entrance along the north wall of the east-west wing is Smooth Java, a full service coffee bar featuring Starbucks coffee. Beyond the coffee bar across the end of the wing is the entrance to the Spa and Fitness Center. Just before the entrance to the Spa and Fitness Center is a door on the north wall to the outside. This door will be the most convenient way to reach one of the two dog relief areas at the hotel. The hotel gift shop is located on the south wall just before the Spa and Fitness Center.

 

All of the hotel meeting rooms, restaurants, and other food and beverage areas are located in the two-story north-south wing. (There are a few meetings which will take place in hotel hospitality suites, which are located on the second floor of the east-west wing.) 

 

As you enter the north-south wing from the north end and head south, Sam & Bubbe’s which serves “New York Deli noshes” as well as beverages is located on the west side. Beyond Sam and Bubbe’s are many doors leading to the outside deck, pool area, and the tropical Harry’s Poolside Bar and Grille. On the east side is the 98Forty Tapas and Tequila Bar featuring forty premium tequilas and Spanish and Mexican specialties. Just beyond 98Forty is the Banshoo sushi bar followed by Red’s Deli. This deli is open twenty-four hours a day and is a combination of convenience store and quick-service restaurant. The restaurant part of the operation opens at 6:30 am and continues until midnight, offering hot and cold deli-style sandwiches, salads, pizza, hot entrees, and desserts, either for dine-in or takeout to your room or the outside eating area near the pools. Continuing south beyond Red’s Deli you will find the hotel’s two full service restaurants—Café Gaugin (which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and Everglades (which is open for dinner only).  

 

Opposite the Everglades Restaurant you will find the grand staircase. Two separate curved flights merge into one on a landing and continue in a single flight to the second floor meeting rooms. When you enter the curved stairs from the lobby level you are heading west. The single flight from the landing reverses direction so that when you come off the stairway onto the second floor, you are facing east. 

 

Continuing south beyond the grand staircase the floor surface changes from terrazzo to carpet, and you enter the Ballroom Prefunction foyer. (NFB preregistration, registration, banquet ticket sales, and information desk will be located here.)   

 

Along the east side are seven sets of doors leading into the Grand Ballroom. Opposite the fifth set of doors are escalators and a staircase leading to the second floor meeting rooms and to the covered bridge walkway to the West Building of the Convention Center. The staircase is between the two escalators. The “up” escalator is on the west side of the staircase. The “down” escalator is on the east side of the staircase. Beyond the escalators and staircase is an elevator to the second floor. Just before the escalators on the west wall of the Grand Ballroom Prefunction foyer is an exterior door leading to another dog relief area.

 

Just beyond the Grand Ballroom are two additional, smaller ballrooms, one on each side of the Prefunction Foyer. Each of these ballrooms is split into two sections. The Junior Ballroom is located on the east side of the Prefunction foyer. There are two sets of doors into Section F of the Junior Ballroom followed by two sets of doors into Section G. The Executive Ballroom is opposite the Junior Ballroom on the west side of the Prefunction foyer. Similarly, there are two sets of doors into Section H followed by two sets of doors into Section I of the Executive Ballroom. The Prefunction foyer ends with doors to the outside just beyond the ballrooms.

 

The second floor meeting rooms consist of twenty-four salons numbered 1 through 24 and the Signature Two meeting room. Salons 1 through 12 are located along both sides of a U-shaped east-west corridor found immediately opposite the opening to the Grand Staircase. The numbering system begins with Salon 1 starting on the left (north) side of the corridor as you enter it continuing consecutively through Salon 6 on the north side, crossing over to Salon 7 on the south side and running back up the “U” through Salon 12 on the south side of the “U,” which is opposite Salon 1 at the entry point into the “U” on the north side. 

 

Leaving the “U” you are facing west. Turning left (south) the first salon on the east side of the north-south corridor is Salon 13. Salons 14 through 24 follow consecutively south along the east side of this corridor. If when leaving the “U” you turn right (north), you are headed toward the intersection of the north-south second floor meeting room corridor with the east-west corridor of the twenty-four-floor sleeping room wing. Turning left (west) at this intersection takes you to a number of hospitality suite parlors, where some meetings are scheduled. The numbering system of the hospitality suites follows the same pattern as the numbering for sleeping rooms. Turning right (east) at the intersection takes you to the elevator lobby serving the sleeping rooms. All ten elevators in the main bank of elevators serving the sleeping rooms have a stop on the second floor.   

 

Salons 13 through 24 are located directly above the Grand and Junior Ballrooms along the east side of a north-south corridor that is above the north-south Ballroom Prefunction foyer. The escalators and staircase originating in the Ballroom Prefunction foyer opposite the fifth set of Grand Ballroom doors terminate on this second floor corridor opposite Salon 19. Signature Two meeting room is located opposite Salon 17 west of the escalators and staircase. The entryway to the covered bridge to the Convention Center West Building is located west of these escalators. A Smooth Java Express coffee bar is located just before the beginning of the bridge.

 

The covered bridge walkway to the West Building of the Convention Center is 343 feet—slightly longer than the length of a football field. It connects to the second level of the West Building. You enter the West Building at the extreme east end of the West Concourse running from east to west. There will be food and beverages available for purchase from mobile concession stands located along the concourse. 

 

The doors to our Exhibit Hall and Independence Market are on the south side of the West Concourse in WA2, approximately 100 feet from the point where you enter the Convention Center, just past (to the right of) the space we used in 2013 and 2014. We are using meeting rooms W202 (which divides into three sections) on the north side of the concourse. 

 

The full length of the West Concourse from east to west is a few feet more than a half mile. The Rosen Plaza Hotel is located just beyond the west end of the concourse. The Exhibit Hall and meeting rooms we are using extend only about a fourth of the way along the concourse toward the termination at the west end. It is possible to leave the Rosen Plaza Hotel, walk the entire distance through the air-conditioned concourse to the covered bridge walkway to the Rosen Centre Hotel, and travel across the walkway to the meeting room level of the Rosen Centre Hotel. The exterior doors of the Convention Center at the Rosen Plaza end will be open for entry from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. The exterior doors of the Convention Center at the Rosen Centre end will be open for entry from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. Doors at both ends will be open for exit twenty-four hours daily. 




Thank You... 

 

The National Federation of the Blind acknowledges with gratitude our convention sponsors listed below. Their messages follow.

 

Accessibility Champions:

Google, Inc.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

Corporate Volunteerism: 

UPS

 

Platinum:

Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP

Delta Air Lines

Oracle

Target

 

Gold:

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Market Development Group, Inc.

Uber

 

Silver:

AT&T

Comcast

Freedom Scientific

H&R Block

HumanWare

Lyft

Pearson

 

Bronze:

Chris Park Technology Design

IBM

Microsoft

National Industries for the Blind

Sprint




White Cane:

3D Photoworks LLC

816 Productions

Ai Squared

BAUM USA

CTIA – The Wireless Association

En-Vision America

HIMS, Inc.

Learning Ally

Monster Worldwide, Inc.

Onix Networking

VitalSource Technologies

 

SPONSOR ADS:

 

3D Photoworks. 3D tactile photographic printing. Museums, science centers, cultural institutions.  <http://www.3dphotoworks.com> www.3dphotoworks.com 

 

816 PRODUCTIONS, LLC. Proud Sponsor of the NFB. Congratulations to the NFB for 75 Years of life changing work! Robert W. Hobson Barry R. Weiner

 

Ai Squared. We’ve got accessibility covered. ZoomText Window-Eyes sitecues. Stop by our table!

 

Empowering communities. What makes a strong community? Educational and professional opportunities, relief to those in need, and the responsible use of technology. Because empowering your community is what drives us, we proudly support the efforts of The National Federation of the Blind. We’re pleased to support The National Federation of the Blind 75th Anniversary, and we’re proud to connect people with their world. AT&T logo.

 

The only thing better than being at the annual NFB convention is being here with a VarioUltra, the smart braille display from BAUM. In recognition of this being the 75th anniversary of the NFB, every attendee who visits the BAUM booth this year will be entered into our free drawing for a chance to win the new VarioUltra braille display / braille notetaker. So don’t delay – visit the BAUM booth today!  <http://www.baumusa.com> www.baumusa.com (855) 620-7985

 

Brown, Goldstein & Levy congratulates the National Federation of the Blind on 75 remarkable years. Men lifting blocks to add to steps of building blocks.  Building blocks start with 1940 when the NFB was formed to improve the social, economic, and physical well-being of all blind people; next block up shows 1957 when the Braille Monitor was first issued; 3rd building block shows 1990 when the International Braille and Technology Center was created; 4th block shows 2015 - 75 Years!; 5th block shows "Live the Lives We Want".

 

The smart home for everyone. XFINITY® customers with disabilities who rely on services like video description, Voice Guidance and screen reader enabled web and mobile experiences can reach our Accessibility Customer Support Center between 7 AM and 12 AM (Eastern Times), seven days a week. Phone: 855-270-0379, e-mail:  <mailto:accessibility at comcast.com> accessibility at comcast.com, web: Comcast.com/accessibilitysupport.

 

CTIA: The Wireless Association congratulates the National Federation of the Blind on 75 years working with the technology and telecommunications industries to improve accessibility for all. Visit CTIA’s  <http://www.AccessWireless.org> www.AccessWireless.org for a one stop resource with the latest developments in accessible wireless services, products and features. Voice: (202) 736-2080 TTY: (202) 736-3880  <http://www.ctia.org> www.ctia.org  <mailto:ctiaextstateaff at ctia.org> ctiaextstateaff at ctia.org

 

Taking off 5,000 times a day. Taking on everything else. Proud supporter of the National Federation of the Blind 2015 National Convention. Keep Climbing. Delta.

 

ScripAbility Accessible Rx Labels. Experience accessible prescriptions: *ScripTalk audible labels *ScripView Large-Print booklet *Braille tape. Find a participating pharmacy at:  <http://www.EnvisionAmerica.com> www.EnvisionAmerica.com. En-Vision America 1-800-890-1180

 

Equidox: Accessible PDF Conversion. An automated process for converting and publishing PDF documents to WCAG 2.0 compliant HTML. Powered by Google, Equidox saves up to 60% of the time and cost involved with manual conversion of PDFs, for fast compatibility with screen readers. Ensure compliance with Section 508 and ADA standards. Call Onix at 800-664-9638, ext. 5730 or email pat at onixnet.com for a demo or pilot.

 

Congratulations to the National Federation of the Blind as they celebrate 75 years! Discover What’s New at Freedom Scientific! Join us in the exhibit hall for demonstrations, give-aways, and product specials. Eye-Pal® Ace Portable Scanning and Reading Solution. Accurately and Instantly Read and Magnify Text *Scan and read content aloud *Save scanned images *Set reminders with AudioMinder *Magnify small objects and find print * Compatible with Focus Braille Displays  <http://www.freedomscientific.com> www.freedomscientific.com

 

H&R Block, 800-HRBLOCK, HRBLOCK.COM, We’re here all year – at tax time, or anytime. We understand you don’t think about taxes all year, but we do. At H&R Block, we’re available year-round to discuss the tax implications of your life-changing events. Put our expertise to work for you. Available at participating offices.

 

Braille Sense U2 Notetakers. The ONLY Braille Notetakers w/Proper Nemeth Syntax and Real-world Applications for Excel, PowerPoint, Social Media and More! *Integrated apps for Word™, Excel™, PowerPoint™. *Best available Nemeth math syntax. *Built-in or optional add-on LCD lets others see text, or connect a monitor for full-page view. Dropbox™, Facebook™, Twitter™ and more. *Use as Braille display w/ PC, Mac, Android, iOS. *Built-in GPS, Compass and Google™ Maps. *UEB (Unified English Braille) support. Sign up for our webinars at hims-inc.com/webinars to learn more about how assistive technology products can boost success in school, at work and on the go! Call 888-520-4467.  <http://www.hims-inc.com> www.hims-inc.com. 

 

Trekker Breeze+. More Accurate for More Informed Travel *Significantly improved GPS acquisition time *Higher quality GPS signal *Improved GPS accuracy *Greatly improved performance in urban areas. The Trekker Breeze+ is the next generation of HumanWare’s popular Trekker Breeze navigation system. The Breeze+ uses the latest in GPS technology to provide you with the fastest, most accurate travel information when you need it. 1-800-722-3393,  <http://www.humanware.com> www.humanware.com

 

Delivering equal access for digital generations. IBM Accessibility helps commercial and government organizations manage accessibility compliance issues, improve the user experience, and create an inclusive workplace environment. Visit ibm.com/able.

 

A Commitment to Access & JP Morgan Chase & Co.  We proudly support the National Federation of the Blind in developing innovative education, technology and training programs that create pathways to independence and success for their constituents.

 

Learning Ally is proud to celebrate with the NFB their 75th convention. Since 1948, Learning Ally – previously Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic – has been a partner in NFB’s mission. We proudly announce the lunch of Learning Ally’s College Success Program to help students who are blind or visually impaired get the support they need to make the most of their college experience. Through this program students will have: *Access to mentors who know the challenges *Resources online, 24/7 *Tools to help you thrive in college. Find our more at LearningAlly.org/collegesuccess

 

Lyft is a proud sponsor of NFB’s 2015 Convention. Take Lyft for welcoming, affordable rides in minutes. Download the App. Lyft

 

Congratulations to the National Federation of the Blind for 75 years of dedicated service changing the misconceptions about blindness. Market Development Group, Inc. A full-service marketing company.  John Alahouzos, Executive Vice President. 1832 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA, 202-298-8030,  <http://www.mdginc.org> www.mdginc.org.

 

Thanks for showing us that we all see things a little differently. Monster is proud to support the National Federation of the Blind.

National Industries for the Blind ad: 75 years and counting… National Industries for the Blind is proud to partner with the National Federation of the Blind to achieve our shared goal of economic and personal independence for people who are blind. Congratulations on your diamond anniversary.

 

Hardware and Software Engineered to Work Together Oracle Delivers Accessibility *Transparent accessibility reporting; *International accessibility standards development; *Comprehensive accessibility implementation guidance; *The world's top governments, states, cities, and universities run Oracle.  "Oracle is committed to creating accessible technologies and products that enhance the overall workplace environment and contribute to the productivity of our employees, our customers, and our customers' customers."  Safra Catz President and CFO Oracle. For more information about Oracle's accessible products go to oracle.com/accessibility

 

Pearson, a global leader in education, is proud to be a sponsor of the National Federation of the Blind 75th National Convention. Pearson is committed to making education accessible for all. Please stop by our booth when you visit the Exhibit Hall. Accessibility.pearson.com/NFB2015

 

Sprint Accessibility Store. Available for blind and visually impaired customers. Buy now: sprint.com/accessnow. Sprint Support for Customers with Disabilities: 1-855-885-7568,  <mailto:sprintaccessibility at sprint.com> sprintaccessibility at sprint.com. CapTel® 880i sprintcapttel.com/880i. Ideal for people with low vision or who have difficulty reading the standard captions sizes. CapTel 880i allows users to customize the font sizes, styles and colors on an extremely large display.

 

Target for everyone. At Target, we’re passionate about creating an exceptional shopping experience for all of our guests. We believe everyone should be able to easily shop online at Target.com, use our smartphone apps, access our mobile and digital offerings, and browse comfortably in our stores. For more information about our commitment to accessibility, go to Target.com/accessibility or contact us directly at  <mailto:accessibility at Target.com> accessibility at Target.com.

 

Uber congratulates the National Federation of the Blind on 75 incredible years. Uber is proud to celebrate and support the independence of people who are blind and visually impaired.

 

Supporting great causes: a commitment that’s as much a part of UPS as our brown trucks. UPS is proud to support the National Federation of the Blind and the 2015 NFB National Convention. Ups.com

 

Vanda Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to raising awareness of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) and supporting the blindness community. Non-24 is a rare circadian rhythm disorder affecting up to 70% of people who are totally blind. People living with Non-24 experience excessive daytime sleepiness and nighttime sleeplessness, which leads to impaired social and occupational functioning. This is due to the misalignment between the internal master body clock and the 24-hour day. Come visit us at our booth to learn about Non-24 and sign up for additional information! Call a health educator toll-free at 1-855-856-2424. 24 hours a day, every day. Visit us online at  <http://www.non-24.com> www.non-24.com

 

 

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