National Federation of the Blind

08/28/2026

"Hey, just FYI, I am blind. If you are providing any documents in print, I would love it to receive an electronic copy. And that's all I'll need," Juhi said to an employer before her in-person interview after having virtual interviews with the company.

"Didn't say any other accommodations I would need. Didn't say any additional support because I wouldn't need any additional support, truly. And I got a call saying, 'Hey, I talked to HR and they can't provide those additional accommodations that you need, so we're going to have to go another way.' And I remember just being like, that's interesting because electronic documents is not a big ask. If you guys are all, print copies, you're going to go bankrupt real quick."

"My immediate thought was, dang, that sucks for them, but I'll just keep applying to other jobs that will not make that assumption about me... Sometimes there is a purpose of fighting and sometimes it's simply just saying, 'Okay, I'm going to let it go. It's not that big of a priority for me. I still have my own self-worth and I'm going to keep pushing for something I actually want.'"

Gain insight from blind professionals on our Where the Blind Work webinar: https://buff.ly/QDLIJOw

The transcript of the video is in the comment section.

08/27/2026

Episode 90 of Access On, is on.

This week, we’re continuing to bring you technology-related content from in Austin, Texas. We take a practical look at structured discovery as it applies to technology learning.

Rather than simply memorizing steps, structured discovery helps us understand concepts, explore unfamiliar interfaces, and stay in control when technology changes.

We discuss how this approach applies across screen readers, smartphones, apps, and mainstream tools, including examples from VoiceOver, Talkback, Microsoft Office, and the growing role of AI-powered description and screen exploration.

Subscribe to Access On wherever you get podcasts, or download the audio of this episode at:

08/27/2026

"Blind folks have inherited stories that weren't ours," Lachi said. "From Hollywood to corporate America, the stories that we have inherited have showcased blindness as a limitation, as dependency, as something that is to be feared. And because of that, we often over-perform to prove that those stories are incorrect.

We often might have internalized inferiority or internalized ableism... and it is all because of the stories we were inherited that we did not create. So what are we going to do about that?"

08/26/2026

"Have there been times when others underestimated your ability to lead because you are blind? And how did you respond?"

Gain insight from blind professionals on our Where the Blind Work webinar: https://buff.ly/QDLIJOw

The transcript of the video is in the comment section.

08/26/2026

Jack remembers listening while his mother turned pages of the day’s paper and sipped coffee. “Sometimes she laughed at a headline or a quote,” says Jack, born blind. “I would ask what she was reading, and she would share a bit, but I wanted to take part on my own,” he told us. “I wanted to talk about the news as an equal.”

What “changed the equation,” according to Jack? Here’s a hint: it’s NFB-NEWSLINE, our free audio and Braille service that is a source to a world of content.

What NFB-NEWSLINE publication or feature has made the biggest impact on your life? Comment with your answer!

08/25/2026

Planning for the future should be accessible to everyone.

Thanks to the advocacy and leadership of our Federation family, FreeWill is now accessible! This is a free online tool that allows you to create a legally valid will at no cost.

FreeWill works with screen readers and assistive technology, empowering blind people to plan their futures independently and with confidence.

Learn more and get started today at

FreeWill lets you make your last will and testament quick, easy, and completely free. It is a simple online legal will maker that helps you compile will forms to print and sign, or to take as a basic will template to an estate planning lawyer. FreeWill is built alongside will making experts.

08/25/2026

"When I was 8-years-old, my mom was told that I'm going to need a cane. And I remember she got me that cane.. I took it to the driveway, and I ran over it with my bike until it broke. And then I was like, oops... And as I continued to navigate through life, "sighted passing," I was really shooting myself in the foot because I needed a cane... I'm out here walking into glass doors when I'm trying to break down glass ceilings," Lachi said.

"And so I start using the cane, and I thought I'd start losing gigs. I thought people would stop hiring me if they saw me with a cane, but the opposite happened. I got better at my job, and so I got more jobs."

Watch more of Lachi's speech at our 2026 National Convention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ULbRia_ei8

The transcript of the video is in the comment section.

08/21/2026

The deadline to apply for our Student Seminar is today!

Are you a blind student seeking professional development, mentoring, and opportunities to connect with other blind students? Attend our Southwest Student Seminar called “The Power of Connection: Networking with Intention,” on September 18-20 in Tucson, Arizona: https://buff.ly/wIyj8ok

Designed for blind students at all stages of their educational journey, the seminar is hosted by our National Association of Blind Students (NABS) and will feature interactive workshops, engaging discussions, and opportunities to connect with blind peers and mentors from across the region.

Participants will explore topics ranging from accommodations and advocacy to identity, leadership, and building meaningful professional networks.

NABS is committed to ensuring that finances are not a barrier to participation and encourages interested students to learn more and register today: https://buff.ly/wIyj8ok

08/20/2026

Episode 89 of Access On, is on.

We conclude our 2026 national convention seminar on what’s new in artificial intelligence over the last year, including AI tools that can record meetings, generate notes, create tasks, and assist with visual interpretation.

We also begin serializing the 2026 technology vendor showcase from national convention, where you’ll hear directly from vendors demonstrating what’s new in access technology, Braille, tactile graphics, visual interpreting, and more.

Plus, we look ahead to our next Access On webinar, Design with Screen Readers in Mind, happening August 25 at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Subscribe to Access On wherever you get podcasts, or download the audio:

08/19/2026

Joint Statement Regarding Louisiana Center for the Blind Student: The National Federation of the Blind and the Louisiana Center for the Blind are deeply saddened by the recent incident involving an adult student who was struck by a train on Friday, August 14, 2026. The student is receiving medical care and focusing on recovery. Our priority has been and continues to be providing support to the student and those directly affected.

Out of respect for the student’s privacy, we will not share additional details at this time. We are grateful for the compassion and support in our local and national community, and we ask that this moment be met with love and care for the student, the center staff, and the students who continue to learn and live in community at the Louisiana Center for the Blind.

We will continue to monitor public questions and media interest and will provide updates only if appropriate and respectful of the student. If you have questions about the lives of blind people and our training, we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you at a later time. To help protect the student's privacy and out of respect for everyone affected, comments on this post have been turned off.