Fellow Federationists:
We continue to do the important work of the blind people’s movement in the National Federation of the Blind. In March, we held a very successful Basket and Bag Bingo, held an affiliate Board Meeting and Retreat, and reinstituted our monthly Presidents Meeting. Our students also held a day-long planning seminar and retreat. Meanwhile, we continued to engage in legislative advocacy both at the state and federal level. Read on for information about what is happening in the NFB of Maryland.
NFBMD Blind Cruising 2026
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will be cruising to Bermuda in 2026. Join us for this five-night cruise on the beautiful Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas, which departs the Port of Baltimore on Saturday, September 5, 2026. We will have two full days in Bermuda. Balcony cabins cost $1520.84 per person assuming double occupancy, including port charges and tax. Ocean view and inside cabins are also available at the prevailing rate. A $250 deposit is required to book the cabin, and final payment is due May 15, 2026.
Supply is limited, so please make your reservations as soon as possible.
To make your deposit for a balcony cabin, or to request pricing for ocean view and inside cabins, please contact our travel agent, Cindy Kiper, at ckiper@dreamvacations.com or at 813-418-0647.
Basket and Bag Bingo Success!
We want to thank everyone who attended NFB Basket and Bag Bingo on March 13, 2026. Special thanks to all those who made donations for bags and baskets. We are particularly grateful to our Central Maryland Chapter for its incredible work coordinating and hosting this event. We also want to recognize Matt and Jennifer Yannuzzi for their incredible leadership of this event.
Annapolis Advocacy Continues!
We continue to advocate for our legislative priorities at the Maryland General Assembly. We attended five hearings where our members testified before the General Assembly about our primary legislative priorities. We have also testified orally on another 26 bills so far this legislative session. We have also provided written testimony to another more than 140 bills and signed on with the Maryland Cross Disability Coalition and the Maryland Education Advocacy Coalition to provide our support or opposition to another roughly 70 bills. These cover areas including access to information, education, housing, transportation, health care, voting, commerce, and employment.
On March 4 and 5, 2026, we testified on SB0909 and HB1295, which will permit autonomous vehicles to come to Maryland so that we can have the opportunity to move about our communities independently and without suffering the constant discrimination many of us experience at the hands of rideshare services due to our blindness.
We have also testified about library funding, the need to ensure AI tools are accessible in schools, preserving privacy and dignity for students who need mobile devices in schools due to their disabilities, protecting blind voters from ID and signature requirements that will disproportionately impact the blind and disabled, ensuring schools inform parents when special education services are missed, protecting the blind when it comes to bicycle lanes, Paratransit and MTA fixed bus routes, deaf-blind services, implementing privacy and chain of custody requirements for curbside voting, pedestrian protection, prohibiting ads from being louder than programming for streaming services, bus stop violation enforcement, paying para-educators appropriately, ensuring special education para-educators and other support personnel are appropriately background checked, protecting blind merchant priority in the state’s business enterprise programs, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can access recreational, boating, and other opportunities free from discrimination, and many more.
As we hurtle through the last few weeks of the 2026 legislative session, we are working to try to move at least some of our primary priorities. Unfortunately it appears our telephone voting bill and likely our mobile voting bills will not pass this year. The General Assembly does not appear to have an appetite to pass legislation that would change elections in an election year and in light of the noise around elections right now. This is unfortunate, because it signals once again that we are being told to wait – no other community is told to wait to be able to vote privately and independently. But we will continue to work on this issue until every Marylander who is blind, low vision, deaf-blind, or print disabled has the ability to vote privately and independently in federal, state, and municipal elections using every method of voting that is available to every other voter.
We continue to work on our autonomous vehicle bill, and you are encouraged to keep a lookout for legislative alerts and action requests.
We are currently trying to ensure that a bill that is making its way through the General Assembly related to the use of artificial intelligence in k-12 schools includes safeguards and protections for students with disabilities. The AI tools need to be accessible, and the inherent anti-disability bias that AI contains needs to be eliminated.
We are also working to protect the rights of blind students due to a very harmful bill that would prohibit the use of cell phones and other technology in k-12 schools unless that technology is explicitly included as part of an IEP or 504 plan. Blind, low vision, deaf-blind, and other disabled students use their phones and other technology for access to the curriculum, but they also use it for a myriad of incidental but necessary tasks each day. This includes checking the time, indoor wayfinding, identifying classrooms and items within them, entering locker combinations, reading the cafeteria menu, and so much more. The IEP / 504 process is already slow, burdensome, and clunky, and requiring students with disabilities to have to incorporate every single need for their technology into an IEP is unconscionable and going to set them up for failure. Moreover, students have a right to privacy when it comes to their disabilities and accommodations. This bill forces students with disabilities to disclose those disabilities and accommodations to other students and staff. Finally, this bill makes students with disabilities who use their phones and other technology susceptible to bullying – history tells us that children can be cruel on a typical day, but when you take away from them something but let others keep it, that will not go well.
While classroom management and minimizing distractions is a laudable goal, it should not be done on the backs of students with disabilities, and it should not be done with the effect of outing those with disabilities and their accommodations.
Get ready for Austin in 2026!
The NFB 2026 National Convention will take place from July 3 – 8, 2026 in Austin, Texas. The JW Marriott Austin Hotel will be the primary location and host all convention meetings and seminars, while the Austin Marriott Downtown will serve as our overflow hotel. Both hotels will offer a nightly convention rate of $139 per night for singles and doubles and $155 for triples and quads, plus a tourism fee and taxes of 19%. Reservations opened on January 1, 2026 and close of May 31, 2026. The JW Marriott Austin has reported that many nights are full. Please make your reservations at an overflow hotel as soon as you can. It is unlikely that many rooms will become available at the JW Marriott.
Convention pre-registration opened March 1 and will close May 31, 2026.
First time national convention attendees may apply for the Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship, which is a grant the NFB provides to people who have not attended a national convention in person previously. The deadline is April 15, 2026. Visit this link for more information on how to apply. https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-convention-scholarship
We hope to see you in Austin!
NFB STEM2U: Solve the Mystery! Science Experience for Blind and Low Vision Maryland Students
Join the NFB of Maryland for an exciting day of investigation and discovery on April 18 at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore. This year, blind and low-vision students will become forensic scientists.
Using accessible, nonvisual tools and techniques, participants will analyze clues, solve challenges, and uncover the truth through hands-on forensic experiments. Every activity builds confidence and shows how science can be accessible, engaging, and exciting for everyone. This opportunity offers your child blind role models, accessible experiments and hands-on nonvisual skills instruction.
Register for NFB STEM2U.
This program will be held from 8 am to 3 pm and is free to all registered blind and low-vision youth (K-12). Lunch and snacks will be provided and a concurrent parent seminar will take place for parents to attend. Contact Erin Zobell at 760-382-9466 or by email at erin.zobell@gmail.com for more information.
Join Us at the NFBMD Job Club
EDITOR’s NOTE: This event was rescheduled after publication.
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Employment Committee invites all blind and low vision job seekers, those wanting career growth and those who support the blind employment process to our job club call via zoom on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 77:00 pm. EST.
Jonathan Mosen is presenting “Your Next Job Starts Now – skills before day one”. Mr. Mosen is the NFB Executive Director for Accessibility excellence, a podcast host, and a winner of the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award. Join us to learn about and see demonstrations of free screen reader tools. Attendees will receive the links to the free resources discussed.
Note: The presentation by guests will be recorded but the Q&A at the end will not, so come ready with questions for our presenter.
Registration is required. To attend this seminar, please send an e-mail with your name to Judy Rasmussen at judyras@sprynet.com by Sunday, April 19 then the zoom link will be emailed to you, which confirms your registration. Judy’s mobile number is 240-380-8663.
We look forward to you joining us and learning useful tips.
The BELLs Toll Once Again in Maryland!
The NFB BELL Academy provides children with Braille and nonvisual skills instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. The NFB BELL Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning®—is a nationwide summer program that prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and independent blind people who live the lives they want. Activities at NFB Maryland BELL are provided in a day program. In addition to Braille crafts, games, and other engaging projects, children learn vital independent living skills, interact with blind adult mentors, and enjoy field trips to sites related to the NFB BELL Academy curriculum. Through these activities and interactions, the children learn that blindness or low vision does not define them or their future.
The NFB BELL Academy is appropriate for blind and low vision children ages four through twelve who:
- Do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in school
- Could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer
- Would enjoy connecting with blind role models
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is offering four in-person sessions, including:
- A one-week NFB BELL Academy session in Southern Maryland from June 22 – 26, 2026;
- a two-week in person NFB BELL Academy session in Baltimore, Maryland, From July 20 – 31, 2026;
- a two-week in person NFB BELL Academy session in Rockville, Maryland, From July 27 – August 7, 2026;
- a one-week in person NFB BELL Academy session in Salisbury, Maryland, in partnership with Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, From August 3 – 7, 2026.
To register for the NFB BELL Academy, visit: https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy. For questions, contact NFB of Maryland BELL Academy Coordinator Erin Zobell at Bell@nfbmd.org.
Give A Hoot Comedy Night Fundraiser!
Featuring Comedian Johnny Watson
Location: 16143 Shady Grove Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Date: August 22, 2026
Time: 8PM (Doors open at 7PM)
Come out for a night of laughs and support the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland! Give A Hoot Comedy Club generously gives its proceeds to deserving nonprofits doing work in the local community. Please plan to support the important work of the oldest organization of and for blind and low vision Marylanders while enjoying an award-winning comedian at the same time.
Admission is $22.50 per person including fees. Tickets should be purchased in advance. Parking is free.
Full La Mexicana Restaurant menu available in club (food and drinks not included in admission price)
To purchase your tickets, please click on the link below.
NFBMD Night at Give A Hoot Comedy Club Tickets
Those interested in affiliate transportation from Baltimore should contact Ellen Ringlein. For more information, contact Debbie Brown.
Pay Your 2026 Dues!
NFBMD maintains an online portal for individuals to pay their chapter and division dues. We are asking members to pay their 2026 dues by December 31, 2025 so we can ensure that our rolls are accurate for State Convention voting.
Individuals may use NFBMD’s Dues Portal to pay their 2026 annual dues and/or lifetime membership dues for those chapters that have lifetime membership. The portal lists all NFBMD chapters and divisions and their dues amounts. Individuals may pay for as many chapters and divisions as they wish. The portal is located at http://nfbmd.org/dues. Alternatively, individuals may mail a check to their chapter or division treasurer.
Individuals may also pay their chapter dues at the Membership Table at the State Convention, but we strongly encourage individuals to pay dues prior to convention.
Please note that those paying via the online portal will incur a small processing fee.
do You Feel Lucky?
The NFBMD spring raffle is beginning. During the month of May, you have the opportunity to win $50 Sunday through Friday, or $100 on Saturday. Purchase a 3-digit number raffle ticket for $5. You will be the only one who has this number. Tickets are available from chapter presidents and affiliate Board Members. Help us sell all 1,000 tickets!
Important Upcoming Dates
- April 18, 2026 – NFBMD STEM2U, Baltimore, Maryland
- May 15, 2026 – Deadline to pay for Blind Cruising 2026
- May 31, 2026 – Deadline to Preregister for NFB Annual Convention, Austin, Texas
- June 22 - 26, 2026 – Southern Maryland NFB BELL Academy, Southern Maryland, Maryland
- July 3 – 8, 2026 – NFB National Convention, Austin, Texas
- July 20 - 31, 2026 – Baltimore NFB BELL Academy, Baltimore, Maryland
- July 27 – August 7, 2026 – Rockville NFB BELL Academy, Rockville, Maryland
- August 3 - 7, 2026 – Eastern Shore NFB BELL Academy, Salisbury, Maryland
- August 22, 2026 – Give-A-Hoot Comedy Night Fundraiser, Gaithersburg, Maryland
- September 5 – 10, 2026 – NFBMD Cruise to Bermuda, Baltimore, Maryland
- September 18, 2026 – NFBMD Crab Feast, Rosedale, Maryland
- October 1 – 31, 2026 – Blind Equality Achievement Month
- October 15, 2026 – White Cane Awareness Day
- November 14, 2026 – NFBMD Scholarship Dinner and Auction, College Park, Maryland
- November 15, 2026 – NFBMD Winter Market, Baltimore, Maryland
- January 21, 2027 – NFBMD Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
- February 1, 2027 – Washington Seminar Great Gathering In, Washington, DC
- February 2, 2027 – NFB of Maryland Day on the Hill, Washington, DC
- February 11 – 14, 2027 – NFBMD 2027 Convention, Pikesville, Maryland