Nation’s Blind Podcast

Growing Pains in the Organized Blind Movement: Reacting to Student Leaders’ Perspectives

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Anil and Melissa are joined by board member Norma Crosby. They react to a very honest discussion about the experiences that student leaders have had within the organized blind movement.

Communicating with Blind People: What Sighted People Should Know

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa and Anil are joined by board members Marilyn Green and Tracy Soforenko. They share interesting and sometimes surprising social interactions that they’ve had with sighted people while traveling, hanging out with friends, and even while spending time with family members, especially during the holidays. They also discuss the best ways that sighted people should communicate with blind people.

Mental Health: Overcoming Stress and Anxiety

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa and Anil are joined by counselors LaKisha Holmes and James Boehm. They discuss mental health, share words of encouragement, and talk about ways to relieve stress and anxiety.

 

Important Links:

• Mental Health: Overcoming Stress and Anxiety Transcript
• Alliance Counseling - Depression, Anxiety, Therapy
• LaKisha Holmes, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, San Antonio, TX, 78229 | Psychology Today
• Blind Owned and Operated Marketplace | National Federation of the Blind
• STOP Acronym
• The Stars We Miss When We Rush
• Prayers for Ups and Downs
• Finding Your Center in the Storm: Why We Need Boundaries More Than Ever
• RELAX Acronym by James Boehm

 

We Need Advocacy

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa and Anil are joined by Legislative Director Leah Campbell and advocates Nathanael Wales and Lindsay Kerr. They discuss the mass layoffs within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, the expiration of Medicare telehealth benefits, and the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act. They also talk about why advocacy is important and how our members can advocate for policies that benefit us as blind Americans.

 

Important Link:

Advocacy | National Federation of the Blind

Empowering Blind Students Through IEP Advocacy

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa is joined by Individualized Education Program (IEP) advocates Katie Filaski, and Javier Diaz. They discuss their experiences supporting blind students and their families and share tips and insights on why IEP advocacy matters.

Important Links:

Individualized Education Plans | National Federation of the Blind

Home | National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

 

Increasing Accessibility in Higher Education

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono and Chris Danielsen are joined by students Harold Rogers and Miranda Lacy. They share their experiences pursuing higher education as blind students, as well as the challenges they faced with accessing educational materials, services and activities.

Important Link:

Self-Advocacy in Higher Education Toolkit | National Federation of the Blind

Just Keep Moving

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono and Anil Lewis are joined by Terri Rupp, an ultramarathon runner, Richie Flores, president of our Sports and Recreation Division, and Cassie McNabb, president of our National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC). They discuss all things movement, from running marathons to sports. Melissa and Cassie also share their experience participating in a 10k walk/run across the most thrilling bridge in America to raise funds to bridge the gap between blind people and our dreams.

Knowing and Promoting Our Truth as Blind People

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono and Anil Lewis are joined by Julie Deden, our 2025 Jacobus tenBroek award winner and executive director of the Colorado Center for the Blind. They are also joined by Wesley Hillman, a Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship winner who was a first-time attendee of the National Convention. They discuss President Riccobono’s banquet speech and the importance of collective action and knowing our truth and capabilities as blind people.

 

 

Guide Dogs: A Partner and Friend

In this episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast, our hosts are joined by Raul Gallegos, president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU) and Meghan Whalen, a guide dog trainer. They discuss their experiences and the benefits of having a guide dog. As well as how NAGDU supports guide dog owners and those who are considering getting a guide dog.

Time to Submit Your Resolution

If you haven’t already submitted a policy proposal for consideration at the national convention in the form of a resolution, or are just curious about the process, then this episode will tell you everything you need to know.

President Riccobono talks with Resolutions Committee Chair, Donald Porterfield, who also serves as president of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona and on our national Board of Directors, about how to submit a resolution, what happens once it’s submitted, and the importance of resolutions to the activity of our movement.