This year’s theme is: “BOLDLY BRAILLE: Literacy, Paving the Path for Tomorrow.”   In honor of Louis Braille’s 200th birthday, many events will focus on Braille and Braille Literacy. 

The convention opens on Friday, October 9th with the NFBI Senior Fair from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM.  This event will provide a hands-on opportunity to learn about newspapers over the telephone, books on tape, magnification devices, talking computers, accessible voting machines, and more.  Members of the NFBI will be demonstrating alternative techniques to allow those losing sight to live independently.  Resources and information about services for seniors losing vision will be plentiful.

Friday night is capped with resolutions which determine the direction of NFBI in the year to come and “IABS-IDOL”, a fund raiser for the Illinois Association of Blind Students (IABS).

The general business session will convene on Saturday, October 10th at 9 AM.   Speakers will include Dr. Abraham Nemeth, the inventor of the Braille Math Code; a representative from the Illinois Human Rights Commission; attendees of the NFB Youth-Slam; and others.   A dramatic Braille reading promises to add fun. 

IABS will hold a business meeting on Saturday morning and sponsor a lunchtime event.  There will be a planning meeting for parents of blind children.  

Saturday evening will culminate with the convention banquet at 7 PM including presentation of several scholarships to outstanding blind students.  It will feature a keynote address by a distinguished member of the national organization.   

Beyond the formal sessions, the convention brings blind people together to share experiences, exchange know-how, and draw inspiration from one another's accomplishments.

For more information about this year’s convention, which will take place at the O’Hare Holiday Inn in Chicago, Illinois contact Patti Gregory-Chang at (773) 307-6440 or Dave Meyer at (708) 209-1767. For more information on the Senior Fair call Kelly Doty at (847) 390 1738.  To register for the Illinois convention and/or the senior fair, please visit www.Nfbofillinois.org.