The presidential release is a monthly audio message from President Mark A. Riccobono that highlights the current activities of the National Federation of the Blind. It is shared with every chapter of the organization.
The presidential release is typically available in English, Spanish, and as a text transcript in both languages. You can subscribe to the English and Spanish versions of the presidential release via your podcast client by searching for "National Federation of the Blind."
Upcoming Live Events
Join President Mark Riccobono each month as he delivers the presidential release of the National Federation of the Blind. Members of the Federation are encouraged to attend and non-members are warmly welcomed. Closed captions will be provided on the Zoom platform, and you may also access the closed captions/transcript through 1CapApp.
Upcoming Presidential Release Dates
- Tuesday, March 1, at 8:00 p.m. eastern
February 2022
President Mark Riccobono delivers presidential release #513 before a live virtual audience. He provides perspective and updates regarding the upcoming Washington Seminar, important details on at-home COVID-19 tests, the Blind Driver Challenge, Lyft denials to service animals, and requesting feedback for the planning of our state-of-the-art civil rights museum.
- Presidential Release 513, February 2022 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release 513, February 2022 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release 513, February 2022 (English Transcript)
January 2022
President Mark Riccobono delivers presidential release #512 before a live virtual audience. Bringing in the new year and celebrating World Braille Day, he provides perspective and updates regarding the upcoming National Convention, exciting changes to our scholarship program, and KNFB-Reader transition. He also shares details regarding Washington Seminar, the Code of Conduct, and Federation Family news.
- Presidential Release 512, January 2022 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release 512, January 2022 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release 512, January 2022 (English Transcript)
December 2021
President Mark Riccobono delivers presidential release #511 before a live virtual and in-person audience. He provides perspective on the eighty-first anniversary of the Federation and our mantra this year, Forward. He discusses NFB-NEWSLINE services, Washington Seminar, advocacy efforts for the Access Technology Affordability Act and the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, and updates on the Federation Family.
- Presidential Release 511, December 2021 (English Audio) for Chapter Meetings
- Presidential Release 511, December 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release 511, December 2021 (English Transcript)
November 2021
President Mark Riccobono delivers presidential release #510 before a live virtual audience. He provides perspective regarding the 2022 Washington Seminar, eliminating subminimum wage, our work on accessible kiosks, revisions on our code of conduct, and introduction of our new Blind Survivors Group.
- Presidential Release #510, November 2021 (English Audio) for Chapter Meetings
- Presidential Release #510, November 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #510, November 2021 (English Transcript)
October 2021
President Mark Riccobono delivers presidential release #509 before a live virtual audience. He provides perspective regarding Blind Equality Achievement Month, expectations on employment, and what to expect for the month of October.
- Presidential Release #509, October 2021 (English Audio) for Chapter Meetings
- Presidential Release #509, October 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #509, October 2021 (English Transcript)
September 2021
President Mark Riccobono delivers presidential release #508 before a live virtual audience. He provides perspective regarding Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and announces the rebrand for our important October campaign formally known as Meet the Blind Month. We are excited to celebrate Blind Equality Achievement Month this October.
- Presidential Release #508, September 2021 (English Audio) for Chapter Meetings
- Presidential Release #508, September 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #508, September 2021 (English Transcript)
August 2021
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He provides details regarding the national convention, Meet the Blind Month, American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Braille calendars, advocacy updates, and more.
- Presidential Release #507, August 2021 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #507, August 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
July 2021
There is no presidential release for July. Please check out the NFB21 convention highlights for the latest updates at the time.
June 2021
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He provides details regarding the national convention, celebrates our LGBTQIA+ community for Pride, reviews legal and advocacy updates, and more.
- Presidential Release #506, June 2021 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #506, June 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
May 2021
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He provides updates regarding COVID-19, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, national convention, and more. This release also includes an update from the Survivor Task Force.
- Presidential Release #505, May 2021 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #505, May 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #505, May 2021 (English Transcript)
April 2021
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He provides updates regarding our advocacy efforts, recent letters written to Congress, national convention with a special contest from NFB of Maryland and the door prize team, a Blind Driver Challenge update, and more.
- Presidential Release #504, April 2021 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #504, April 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #504, April 2021 (English Transcript)
March 2021
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He provides updates regarding our advocacy efforts, recent letters written to Congress, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, national convention, Independence Market specials, 2021 NFB BELL Academy In Home Edition, and more.
- Presidential Release #503, March 2021 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #503, March 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #503, March 2021 (English Transcript)
February 2021
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He discusses many celebrations to include Black History Month, the Blind Driver Challenge, and the Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research. President Riccobono also provides updates on the NFB Survivor Task Force, RAINN training, Diversity and Inclusion Committee initiatives, Washington Seminar, and more.
- Presidential Release #502, February 2021 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #502, February 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #502, February 2021 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #502, February 2021 (Spanish Transcript)
January 2021
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience.
- Presidential Release #501, January (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #501, January 2021 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #501, January 2021 (English Transcript)
December 2020
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He discusses our education initiatives, independence market, the Smart Cities Summit, other CENA events, and more. The live event included a special conversation and celebration with Dr. Marc Maurer and Mrs. Mary Ellen Jernigan on the history of the presidential releases and the first presidential release by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. This conversation and Q&A section are available as supplemental audio.
- Presidential Release #500, December 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #500, December 2020 Conversation with Dr. Marc Maurer and Mrs. Mary Ellen Jernigan, moderated by Pam Allen (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #500, December 2020 (YouTube) - Full Live Recording
- Presidential Release #500, December 2020 (English Transcript)
November 2020
President Riccobono delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He discusses our eightieth anniversary, Washington Seminar, voting resources, the Teachers of Tomorrow training program, the Smart Cities Summit, our scholarship program, an update on the PAC plan, and more.
- Presidential Release #499, November 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #499, November 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #499, November 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
October 2020
President Riccobono presents the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He discusses the importance of voting, this year's Meet the Blind Month with an important gift match campaign with Vispero, an update on the PAC, and more.
- Presidential Release #498, October 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #498, October 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #498, October 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
September 2020
President Riccobono presents the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He discusses the importance of voting, our advocacy and legal efforts, the education technology survey, a new theme for this year's Meet the Blind Month, the upcoming virtual seniors' retreat, and more.
- Presidential Release #497, September 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #497, September 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #497, September 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
August 2020
This month, President Riccobono recaps the 2020 National Convention, welcomes new members, and discusses our August 9 open house. He also looks ahead to the fall, mentions important research around Walmart and unemployment benefits, and provides updates regarding the Dream Makers Circle and our monthly giving program.
- Presidential Release #496, August 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #496, August 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #496, August 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
June 2020
President Riccobono again presents the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He delivers the NFB's public statement on racial injustice, and discusses the great work being done during COVID-19 as well as preparations for our national convention. The release includes a live Q&A session.
- Presidential Release #495, June 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #495, June 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #495, June 2020 (Spanish Transcript) coming soon
May 2020
President Riccobono again delivers the presidential release before a live virtual audience. He discusses the national convention, advocacy efforts, legal efforts, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the Braille Monitor, the NFB BELL® Academy, and Giving Tuesday Now—all of which was followed by a live Q&A session. More than 900 people attended.
- Presidential Release #494, May 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #494, May 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #494, May 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
April 2020
President Riccobono delivers this month's presidential release before a live online audience for the first time. He discusses COVID-19 resources, advocacy efforts, virtual events, the national convention, and more. More than 800 members and friends listened in and many asked questions in the Q&A portion of the release, which was moderated by NFB's first vice president, Pam Allen.
- Presidential Release #493, April 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #493, April 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #493, April 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
March 2020 (2 of 2)
This is a special message from NFB President Mark A. Riccobono regarding the evolving coronavirus situation and public events.
- Presidential Release #492.5, March 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #492.5, March 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #492.5, March 2020 (Spanish Transcript) coming soon
March 2020 (1 of 2)
President Riccobono delivers breaking news from Washington Seminar, announces that registration for the 2020 National Convention is now open, and reminds everyone to complete the Braille Monitor survey. The President also provides updates from our Dream Makers Circle.
- Presidential Release #492, March 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #492, March 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #492, March 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
February 2020
As we dive into February, President Riccobono reviews the important legislative issues we'll address at this year's Washington Seminar. He also discusses upcoming summer programs, the 2020 National Convention, our Braille Monitor survey, and the PAC program.
- Presidential Release #491, February 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #491, February 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #491, February 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
January 2020
President Riccobono wishes everyone a Happy New Year and discusses World Braille Day, the 2020 Washington Seminar, the 2020 National Convention in Houston, including important details regarding hotel reservations, and our goals and priorities for 2020. The President also provides updates from our Dream Makers Circle.
- Presidential Release #490, January 2020 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #490, January 2020 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #490, January 2020 (Spanish Transcript)
Previous Presidential Releases
To listen to previous presidential releases, please visit the presidential release archive.