Blog

San Francisco (July 25, 2019): Berkeley businesswoman Karen Rose, who is blind, was about to throw away what she thought was junk mail when a friend noticed that it was from the IRS. It turned out to be a second notice that she owed nearly $25,000 in additional taxes. When she contacted the agency, she […]

Hear portions of the 2019 National Convention via our live stream. The convention will be broadcast during the Board of Directors Meeting, General Sessions, and the Banquet. Find the feeds and sessions scheduled to be broadcast: 2019 Convention Live Stream Page Agenda and other convention documents available on NFB-NEWSLINE To read the agenda or the […]

The National Federation of the Blind is excited to announce that the updated NFB-NEWSLINE mobile app beta version is now available to download on your iPhones and iPads. Included in the app is the KNFB Reader Basic which provides the useful core features at no cost. Within the KNFB Reader section, just point and shoot […]

National Federation of the Blind Assisted Blind Inmates Challenging Disability Discrimination Annapolis, Maryland (June 5, 2019): Nine current and former Maryland prison inmates have settled their discrimination lawsuit, Brown v. Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, for $1.4 million in damages and attorneys fees. The Maryland Board of Public Works has just approved the […]

A new list called NFB-Conventions is a place where you can make convention-related announcements, find a roommate etc. Please read the description before you submit any message to know what is allowed, and what isn’t. This is an announce-only list, so messages will be checked before they are allowed on the list. It is also […]

The Mueller report which has been made available through some news outlets nationwide, is now on NFB-NEWSLINE for all subscribers. The Mueller report is a dense and lengthy document with numerous redactions and footnotes. Due to the length and format of the document, we would like our subscribers to be aware of a few items […]

For teachers To celebrate their 35th anniversary in 2019, Seedlings Braille Books for Children is offering all certified U.S. teachers of the visually impaired, four one-volume books of their choosing for FREE this year! Order online and use the code TVIP19 as your Purchase Order number so you won’t be asked to pay. In the […]

Due to your tremendous efforts we gained eight cosponsors across all of our bills. (Five on H.R. 2086: two on S. 815: and one on H.R. 873. This is a significant accomplishment, but we can’t celebrate too much because there is still much work left to do! Please call your representative and two senators and […]

Lego has unveiled a new project aimed at helping blind and visually impaired children learn Braille in a “playful and engaging way.” Lego Braille Bricks, a concept originally proposed to the toy company by two charities, will allow children to learn the touch writing system through play. The bricks, which will launch fully in 2020, […]

Some parents of students with disabilities are raising concerns about testing accommodations as the state rolls out its new standardized exam. The old test, ISTEP, included text-to-speech technology to read directions and some questions aloud to students with disabilities who have that type of accommodation laid out in their individualized education plan (IEP). But the […]

The NFB is investigating the accessibility of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms and written communication. If you have requested or would like to request alternative format documents from the IRS-such as Braille, large print, or audio, email Valerie Yingling, legal program coordinator. or call 410-659-9314, extension 2440.

Indiana has received the tickets for the Kenneth Jernigan fund! If your chapter sells the winning ticket, your chapter will win five hundred dollars. Tickets are $10 and you could win: Hotel accommodations for 2 Airfare for 2 for the 2020 convention Registration and banquet for 2 $1,000 in cash Email Jean Brown to purchase […]

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) at the Library of Congress provides free audio books and braille materials to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, reading disabled (e.g., dyslexia or traumatic brain injury), or physically disabled through a network of regional libraries. The NLS wants to understand how to […]

Kaiti Shelton is a remarkable young professional who believes in what she does. She has been the beneficiary of music therapy, has worked with a blind role model, has experienced the roadblocks put in her way by professors who didn’t think she could perform in the field, and has demonstrated that, when toughness and creativity […]

March 6, 2019 – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon introduced the Disability Voting Rights Act, a bill that would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to promote access to voter registration and voting for individuals with disabilities. “In the discussion of voting rights, individuals with disabilities are often overlooked, as are the barriers preventing […]

The National Association of Blind Merchants has issued a white paper that summarizes what it views as Randolph-Sheppard noncompliance issues by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). GSA is the second only to the U.S. Postal Service in terms of the number of Randolph-Shepaprd facilities on its property. However, there is a growing concern about […]

The National Federation of the Blind is seeking feedback from Uber and Lyft customers who have service animals, or who travel with individuals with service animals. Testers can be NFB members or non-members, and we welcome completed surveys on both positive and negative ride share experiences. Complete the Uber and Lyft survey as often as […]

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is looking for volunteer applicants for its State Advisory Committees, who serve as the Commission’s eyes and ears on the ground across the country, investigating and researching civil rights issues specific to their jurisdiction. The Commission is especially interested in appointing individuals who have a demonstrated interest in civil […]

At the February 9 Indy Chapter meeting; Attorney Emily Munson spoke about inaccessible materials being produce from Family Social Services, and Family Disability Services. If you want to tell your story; please let Valarie Yingling know at NFB National headquarters by February 28. Contact her by phone at 410-659-9314 ext. 2440 or vyingling@nfb.org

Geneva, Switzerland (February 8, 2019): Today, the United States government formalized its ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty by depositing the US instrument of ratification with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This action begins a ninety-day waiting period, after which the treaty will officially be in force as US policy, expanding literacy for the blind […]