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."
Recent Presidential Releases
June 2019
President Riccobono discusses the World Blind Union meeting in Trinidad, NFB summer programs, a special blind parents division seminar in Colorado, new member programs, and the national convention. Executive Director and Convention Chairman John Berggren joins the President to talk about convention logistics. The President also provides updates from our PAC program and Dream Makers Circle.
May 2019
President Riccobono reminds us that we are two months away from our national convention. He also discusses the blindness experience teaching internship, continued calls for advocacy, an NFB investigation of the IRS, and updates from our PAC program and Dream Makers Circle.
- Presidential Release #483, May 2019 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #483, May 2019 (English Transcript)
April 2019
President Riccobono recaps our protest (#LetUsPlayUs) of In the Dark, a new show on The CW, and also discusses the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship for first timers, the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award, the new blindness experience teaching internship, our membership efforts, and more.
- Presidential Release #482, April 2019 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #482, April 2019 (English Transcript)
March 2019
President Riccobono announces that preregistration for the 2019 National Convention is now open. He also discusses the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards, the Marrakesh Treaty, a new series of blind parent podcasts, our latest policy statements, NFB summer programs, the national scholarship program, the Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, and the Dream Makers Circle.
- Presidential Release #481, March 2019 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #481, March 2019 (English Transcript)
February 2019
President Riccobono shares breaking news from this year's Washington Seminar and talks about our new website, NFB summer programs, the launch of pilot testing for the HathiTrust access program, and the Dream Makers Circle. He also reminds us that reservations for the 2019 National Convention can be made by calling 877-632-9001.
- Presidential Release #480, February 2019 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #480, February 2019 (English Transcript)
January 2019
President Riccobono wishes everyone a happy New Year and a happy World Braille Day, and provides updates on room reservations for the 2019 National Convention, the new strategic plan, two new Aira plans for NFB members, and the Dream Makers Circle. Special guest John Paré also provides an update on the 2019 Washington Seminar.
- Presidential Release #479, January 2019 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #479, January 2019 (English Transcript)
December 2018
President Riccobono talks about the holidays and thanks the record number of blind voters who completed our blind voter survey. He also discusses his op-ed in The Hill about 14(c) certificates, Washington Seminar, and the exciting news that NFB-NEWSLINE® is now available on the Amazon Echo.
- Presidential Release #478, December 2018 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #478, December 2018 (English Transcript)
November 2018
President Riccobono discusses blind voting including the need to capture data from the 2018 midterm elections and what's happening in Alameda County, California. He also discusses Walmart and the inaccessibility of self-service check-out kiosks. He also mentions letters in Braille from Santa and creating Facebook fundraisers.
- Presidential Release #477, November 2018 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #477, November 2018 (English Transcript)
October 2018
President Riccobono celebrates Meet the Blind Month and White Cane Awareness Day. He also provides an update on the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act, AbilityOne, the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, and our partnership with the Baltimore Orioles. Listen to the President throw the first pitch at the Orioles game.
- Presidential Release #476, October 2018 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #476, October 2018 (English Transcript)
September 2018
President Riccobono announces that the American Action Fund's Braille calendars are now available. He also provides a detailed update on our work related to Lyft and Uber. He also discusses our pre-authorized contribution program and the upcoming Meet the Blind Month and White Cane Awareness Day.
- Presidential Release #475, September 2018 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #475, September 2018 (English Transcript)
August 2018
President Riccobono talks about this summer's NFB EQ and the NFB BELL Academies. He also discusses the recent AER strike in Reno, Nevada, AbilityOne, career opportunities here in Baltimore, and our recent partnership with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats® to create Braille and audio "Love Notes."
- Presidential Release #474, August 2018 (English Audio)
- Presidential Release #474, August 2018 (Spanish Audio)
- Presidential Release #474, August 2018 (English Transcript)
- Presidential Release #474, August 2018 (Spanish Transcript)
Previous Presidential Releases
To listen to previous presidential releases, please visit the presidential release archive.