NOPBC
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

JULY 8 – 13, 2025
NEW ORLEANS, LA

Adult with cane, adult without cane, child with cane



EDUCATE
Educate * Dream * Unite * Captivate Advocate * Transform * Empower

The 2025 NATIONAL SEMINAR for Parents and Teachers

THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN IS A PROUD DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

WELCOME TO THE 2025 NOPBC SEMINAR!

* Insider Information *

The NFB National Convention is a complicated week of events, so we’ve prepared these tips to help you stay organized & make the most of your convention experience.

ANNOUNCEMENTS—NOPBC GROUPME

Join the NOPBC Announcements GroupMe for up-to-date announcements on Convention workshops, meetings, and events, and “be sure not to miss” presentations in the NFB General Sessions, all right on your phone. After convention stay connected to receive information on future NOPBC webinars, NFB programs, legislative actions, and so much more!

For more information and instructions on joining visit http://www.nopbc.org/GroupMe

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

The NOPBC Seminar, NFB Convention, & NFB Child Care each have separate registration and fees. For our special hotel rate, be sure to register for the NFB Convention in addition to registering for the NOPBC Seminar.

>NOPBC Seminar Online Registration: https://nopbc.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=4 Online NOPBC registration will remain open throughout Convention week. Please register both adults and children (FREE for children 18 and under).
NOPBC Onsite Registration: Tuesday, July 8, 7:30 – 8:45 AM, outside Studio 2, Marriott New Orleans.

Youth Track Online Registration: https://nopbc.org/youth-track-registration (ages 11 -18)
Youth Track Onsite Registration: Tuesday, July 8, 7:30 – 8:45 AM, outside the NOPBC Seminar, Studio 2, & in the Youth Track room throughout the week. Pick up a Youth Track agenda for times, places, and details of the week’s activities. Pick up your teen promptly at the end of Youth Track sessions or plan to meet elsewhere. In addition to Youth Track, children and youth might enjoy the Cane Walk and activities of the National Association of Blind Students (NABS). Schedules appear toward the end of this agenda.

NFB Online Convention Registration: Now closed
NFB Onsite Convention Registration & Packet Pick-Up: Tues., July 8 - Wed., July 9, 9 AM – 5 PM Salons A, B, C, and at other times during the week. See the NFB agenda for further details.

NFB Child Care Registration (aka NFB Camp):
NFB Child Care (ages 6 wks. – 12 yrs.) requires preregistration, but you can see if space is still available by visiting the NFB Camp Child Care room, Balcony K. Schedule appears toward end of this agenda. Questions—email at nfbcamp@nfb.org.

INFORMAL FAMILY GATHERING—MONDAY, JULY 7, 6 PM at the Pool

We will meet by the pool for an informal family get-together at 6 PM on Monday, July 7, the day before the Seminar. We welcome you to join us!

SEMINAR DAY INFORMATION—TUESDAY, JULY 8, 9:00 AM

On Seminar Day, Tuesday, July 8, drop your child off at Child Care and get to Seminar registration early! There is usually a line and we like to get started on time. Register & pick up your agenda. We begin at 9 AM.

We start the day with a special greeting from NFB Pres. Mark Riccobono. If you’d like your child to meet the president and ask him a question, you can bring your child to the session and then drop him/her off at child care when the session is over.

After the opening session comes Workshop Group A.

After Workshop Group A comes Lunch. Pick up your child from child care and meet up with your teen for lunch on your own.

After lunch, drop kids off at Child Care & Youth Track. Attend Workshop Groups B & C.

SPECIAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ALL WEEK LONG

Details for certain special NOPBC activities for parents, children, and youth are listed only in this agenda, so keep this agenda throughout the week. Other activities that you & your child might enjoy are listed in the NFB Convention agenda (this is a separate document). Pick it up at Convention registration or in advance at https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/2025-national-convention-agenda. Read both agendas to be aware of all events!

A SAMPLING OF THE WEEK’S ACTIVITIES:

  • NOPBC parent & teacher events in this agenda, including the Seminar, Cane Walks, and IEP Sessions
  • NFB Convention sessions: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 11 – 13
  • Tactile art, talent show, accessible movie, tech demos & access, digital maps & apps, AI, training center info, programs for kids & youth, personal finances, cooking, career fair, Braille, legislation & advocacy updates, mock trial, social security info, inclusive sports & rec, state caucuses, & more!
  • NFB Division, Group, & Committee activities: Blind Students, Deaf-Blind, Blind Parents, Braille, Sports and Rec, Crafts, Performing Arts, NFB in the Kitchen, Guide Dog Users, Employment, Educators, Lawyers, Journalists, Scientists, Engineers, Technology, Computer Scientists, AT Trainers, Writers, culture & religious groups, and more. Open to all!
  • The Independence Market & our incomparable Exhibit Hall: the latest technology & more!
  • The Banquet and scholarship presentations Sunday evening, July 13; ask your state NFB president about the ticket exchange

EXPRESSING OUR APPRECIATION

The NOPBC extends a special thank you to Amy Porterfield, Director of SAAVI Services for the Blind, for providing fun and creative activities for our youth at this year’s convention.

Of course, the NOPBC Seminar would not be possible without the collective power of the NOPBC Board! These volunteers—Cassandra McKinney, Casey West Robertson, Melissa Riccobono, Carol Castellano, Sandra Oliver, Cynthia Baker, Andrea Benoit, Kate Garcia, Amber Guilbeau, Mayra Gonzalez, Liz Meraz-Valdez, and Tabby Mitchell—have spent hundreds of hours planning this seminar, all while still caring for their families and working at their jobs. They truly live their commitment to helping other families, changing what it means to be blind, and enabling our children to live the lives they want!

A Note on Terminology

To those new to our movement and Federation family or new to blindness: The National Federation of the Blind and our division, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, use the word “blind” to mean a person who uses alternative skills and tools in place of or in addition to limited eyesight to gain information or perform tasks. We believe that the whole range of blind people deserve access to these skills and tools which can enable full, independent, productive participation in society. The unity that comes with the use of this singular term promotes common values, understanding, and connection among our members as we work to improve the lives of blind people of all ages across our nation.