Most of the following local contacts are parents of blind children, but a few of them are dedicated blind members of the NFB who care deeply about blind children. Some of the parent contacts are elected leaders in their state NOPBC division, while others are working toward establishing a parent group in their state. All of them, however, have two things in common: they are volunteers and they are committed to the mission of the NOPBC and the philosophy of the NFB.
In spite of busy schedules, these mothers and fathers donate their time so that they can give back to others some of the hope, inspiration, and knowledge that they have gained from the NOPBC and the NFB.
None of us has all the answers to all the questions about blindness, nor can we solve all the problems faced by blind students and their families; however, we can support each other, encourage each other, and work to find solutions together. When you send an e-mail or pick up the phone to call the contact in your state, be sure to ask how you can join the NOPBC division and/or the NFB chapter in your area.
Your membership does matter. Through our united, volunteer efforts, we are making a difference for our blind children.
Alabama
Joy Orton, President of the Alabama Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (256) 483-5727
Email: Ortonjoyteach@gmail.com
Alaska
Pam Gebert, President of the Alaska Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (907) 522-1590
Email: pamelagebert907@gmail.com
Arkansas
Nena Chadwick, Parent Contact
Phone: 479-435-8348
Email: nchadwick@nfbar.org
Arizona
Ashleigh Moon, President of the Arizona Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (480) 338-1419
Email: amoon@saavi.us or ashleighnmoon@gmail.com
California
Jeanette Jones, President of the California Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (209) 589-6058
Email: blindwise.jj@gmail.com
Colorado
Amira Assad-Lucas, President of the Colorado Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (970) 222-0400
Email: amira_a@msn.com
Connecticut
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Delaware
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
District of Columbia
Shawn Callaway, President of the National Federation of the Blind of the District of Columbia
Phone: (202) 352-1511
Email: callaway.shawn@gmail.com
Florida
Cherice Fleming Togun, President of the Florida Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (407) 257-7637
Email: chericeflemingtogun@hotmail.com
Georgia
Hayley Alli, President of the Georgia Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (404) 789-8535
Email: halli@nfbga.org
Hawaii
Tabby Mitchell, Parent contact
Phone: (703) 586-5733
Email: tabbymitchell@gmail.com
Idaho
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (215) 840-2926
Email: President@NOPBC.org
Illinois
Eliza Ellett, Parent Contact
Phone: 847-530-9809
Email: elizaellett@yahoo.com
Indiana
Abby Fleenor, President of the Indiana Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (812) 560-3510
Email: awesome.abby@comcast.net
Iowa
Scott Van Gorp, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Phone: (515) 720-5282
Email: svangorp@nfbi.org
Kansas
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Kentucky
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Louisiana
Alison Tarver, President of Louisiana Parents of Blind Children
Phone (cell): (318) 730-2535
Email: parent@lcb-ruston.com
Website: http://www.nfbla.org/parents-of-blind-children/
Maine
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Maryland
Garret Mooney, President of the Maryland Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (480) 433-8003
Email: james.garret.mooney@gmail.com
Massachusetts
Stephanie Valdez, President of the Massachusetts Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 781-839-0628
Email: stephanie.valdes001@umb.edu
Michigan
Katie Hurst, Parent Contact
Phone: (215) 527-5149
Email: president@nfbmi.org
Minnesota
Briley O'Connor, Parent Contact
Phone: (703) 380-8876
Email: brileyoc@gmail.com
Mississippi
Sara West, President of the Mississippi Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (662) 574-3942
Email: sarawest2009@hotmail.com
Missouri
Linda Coccovizzo, President of the Missouri Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (816) 352-3386
Email: linda@coccovizzo.com
Montana
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Nebraska
Merry-Noel Chamberlain, Parent Contact
Phone: (402) 614-2133
Email: owinm@yahoo.com
Nevada
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
New Hampshire
Penny Duffy, President of the New Hampshire Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (603) 892-6355
Email: pennyduffy@gmail.com
New Jersey
Carol Castellano, Coordinator of the New Jersey Parents of Blind Children Group
Phone: (973) 377-0976
Email: blindchildren@verizon.net
Website: www.blindchildren.org
New Mexico
Lucy Hallahan, President of the New Mexico Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (615) 971-0999
Email: nfbnm.pobc@gmail.com
New York
Maura Kutnyak, President of the New York Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (716) 563-9882
Email: maurakut@buffalo.edu
Website: www.nypobc.org
North Carolina
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
North Dakota
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Ohio
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Oklahoma
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Oregon
Tracy Boyd, President of the Parents of Blind Children of Oregon
Phone: (503) 780-8089
Email: NFBOparentsdivision@gmail.com
Pennsylvania
Emily Gindlesperger, President of the Pennsylvania Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (724) 216-7023
Email: skewbdobdo@verizon.net
Puerto Rico
Gladys Franco, Parent Contact
Phone: (787) 967-7308
Rhode Island
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
South Carolina
Jennifer Duffell-Hoffman, President of the South Carolina Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (803) 287-53914
Email: jaduffell@yahoo.com
South Dakota
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Tennessee
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Texas
Emily Gibbs, President of the Texas Parent of Blind Children
Phone: (281) 968-7347
Email: Egibbs@nfbtx.org
Website: http://www.tpobc.org
Utah
Sarah Erb, President of the Utah Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (801) 556-6649
Email: slcerb@gmail.com
Vermont
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Virginia
Beth Sellers, President of the Virginia Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (540) 746-1784
Email: sellers31@gmail.com
Washington
Jennifer Gandarias, President, of the Washington Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (425) 870-9958
Email: gandarias1217@gmail.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/waparentsofblindchildren/home
West Virginia
Carla Keirns, President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Phone: 816-787-0140
Email: PresidentofNOPBC@gmail.com
Wisconsin
Debi Meng, President, of the Wisconsin Parents of Blind Children
Phone: (608) 558-1589
Email: debi_meng@yahoo.com
Wyoming
Brad Weatherd, Parent Contact
Phone: (307) 329-9672
Email: bweatherd@gmail.com
Jill Weatherd, Parent Contact
Phone: (307) 710-7161
Email: jillweatherd@gmail.com