Welcome to the World-Wide-Web Site of the
National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee

What's New!

This section will highlight information about up-coming affiliate events and important dates to remember. Please check this page often for the latest news about chapter and affiliate events and activities.

Blindness: The Other Half of Inertia
Posted Friday October 24, 2008

Another classic banquet address given by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan has been added to our Kennith Jernigan Archive entitled Blindness: The Other Half of Inertia. This address was given during the 1983 NFB Convention Banquet and is available in text or audio by selecting the appropriate link below:

Blindness: The Other Half of Inertia, (Text)

Blindness: The Other Half of Inertia (Audio) 57.8 MB

NFB Condemns and Deplores
the Movie Blindness
Posted Thursday October 2, 2008

The National Federation of the Blind has announced its strong objections to the forthcoming Miramax film release Blindness and announced that its members will protest at 75 cinemas across the nation when the movie opens on October 3. To learn more, read the official press release about the nationwide protest.

In Episode 20 of Straight Talk About Vision Loss, a video and audio series produced by the, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan InstituteMark Riccobono speaks with Chris Danielsen, public relations specialist of the NFB, about the NFB's objections to the novel and upcoming movie Blindness. Straight Talk About Vision Loss, Episode 20 (Video 57 MB)
Straight Talk About Vision Loss, Episode 20 (Audio 22 MB)

NFB Launches Largest-ever
White Cane Initiative
Posted Wednesday August 20, 2008

On August 19, the NFB announced an initiative to ensure that any blind person in the United States and Puerto Rico who needs a long white cane will have one, regardless of ability to pay. The NFB will provide a free cane to anyone in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico who is blind or has low vision and who uses or desires to use a white cane in order to travel independently. For more information, please read the official press release about this landmark program. To order a free cane, visit the Free Cane Program page.

NFB Braille Commemorative Coin-and Literacy Campaign

For decades, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the country’s oldest and largest organization of blind persons has been the leading champion of Braille literacy. With the passing of Public Law 109-247: The Louis Braille Bicentennial-Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress publicly recognize the critical role that both Braille and the NFB play in the independence, freedom, and success of the blind. The coin design unveiling occurred at the 2008 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Dallas, Texas. View the coin design! Note that this is a limited edition coin, and any coins not sold by the end of 2009 will be destroyed to retain their collectible value.

A blind boy reads Braille with the help of a blind adult. The launch of the NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin by the U.S. Mint in 2009 will present a great opportunity to bring exposure to the current Braille literacy crisis facing the blind in this country. Braille is vital to all blind individuals, yet the rate of Braille literacy among blind Americans is alarmingly low. Today in America only 10 percent of blind children are learning to read Braille in school. This continues despite the fact that studies have shown that 80 percent of all employed blind people read and write Braille fluently. These studies reinforce what the NFB has been advocating for years: Braille literacy is the key to employment and full participation in society.

With the upcoming 200^th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, creator of the Braille code, there is no more fitting time to recognize the importance of Braille literacy. Please join us in honoring the achievements and mission of the National Federation of the Blind as we work to end the Braille literacy crisis.

Whether it is through purchasing an NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin, providing matching funds for the Braille literacy campaign, or simply helping to raise awareness of this important issue, we need your help. Please be sure to check, http://www.braille.org regularly for new information. Together we can change what it means to be blind.

Welcome to the World-Wide Web Site of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee, an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest, and largest organization of blind consumers in the United States. The National Federation of the Blind has local chapters and state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It is the leading organization of blind consumers, and a strong voice in the affairs of the blind in Tennessee and the nation with a stated mission of full integration of the blind in to society on a basis of equality with the sighted.

About the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee

Founded in 1940 the National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee seek to fulfill this mission through numerous activities and campaigns and projects to better the lives of Tennessee's Blind and of the blind throughout the country and the World. You can learn how the NFB of Tennessee is working to achieve these goals in Tennessee and the nation by exploring our Web Site's many content areas each of which contains information about our different programs and activities. Begin by learning a little about our history by reading, About the National Federation of the Blind, it's founding, and the establishment of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee. Then explore the following informational areas to obtain further information about our philosophy, and programs, and learn how you can become involved in our work, or helping us find blind individuals in your community who need our help.

Kenneth Jernigan: Master-Teacher

Throughout its history the National Federation of the Blind has had three national presidents. Dr. Kenneth Jernigan is a native Tennessean, and served as the second National President of the National Federation of the Blind from 1968 until 1986 with a brief interruption in 1977 to 1978. Learn more about the life and work of this distinguished blind American by visiting our, Kenneth Jernigan Informational Area to obtain biographical information, read and/or listen to his many articles and banquet speeches as well as a book concerning his life's work, his passing in 1998, and the story of the conception, construction, and establishment of the National Research and Training Center that now bears his name; the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute.

National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

For too long the blind have been relegated to the status of second-class citizenship in Tennessee and in the World at Large. Through the years we have dreamed, we have planned, and we have built a movement that continues to change the lives of blind Tennesseans. With your help we will create a future full of opportunity for the Blind of Tennessee and the World. The blind of Tennessee have imagined a future full of opportunity. Through our activities at the local, state, and national levels we will create such a future for the blind of today and for those who come after us. The NFB Jernigan Institute will play a major role in creating that future. It is doing this through various projects to enhance the future for blind children, blind seeniors, developing new and innovative technology which will allow a blind person to have greater access to information, and to one day have their own source of transportation by developing and designing a car drivable by a blind person just to name a few. The NFB Jernigan Institute also hosts various conferences for parents of blind children, blind seenior citizens, and professionals in the field of work for the blind.

NFB of Tennessee Local Chapters and Divisions

Another way the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee is changing what it means to be blind is by connecting blind people with each other and with resources that enable them to live independently, hold a job, raise families, and do all of the things sighted people do, and teach both the blind and sighted alike that it is respectible to be blind. The National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee is organized in to, Local Chapters and State-wide Divisions.Chances are there is a local chapter in your area. Check our, Local Chapters page on this Web site for the name of the chapter in your community, its meeting dates and times, and contact information for the president should you need further information about the chapter and its activities. In addition we have several state-wide divisions for blind merchants and blind students which conduct area meetings and state-wide conferences and other activities during the annual state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee.

NFB National and State Conventions

One way to promote community among the blind and to give blind individuals encouragement and to introduce them to other blind people who are successful in their chosen career, course of study, or as a member of the family is through the National Federation of the Blind's national and state conventions. Information concerning NFB national and state conventions can be found by visiting our, National and State Conventions area of this Web site Here you can learn about our national and state conventions, listen to portions of past national conventions, and listen to the entire 2006 National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee State Convention. It is our hope that reviewing this information will inspire you to attend a future NFB of Tennessee State Convention, or an NFB National Convention. Those who have attended our national conventions always leave with their lives changed forever.

Voice of the Nation's Blind

A recent resource constructed to connect blind people with each other is an on-line magazine called, Voice of the Nation's Blind. The National Federation of the Blind, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of the blind, serves as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind. We have a number of publications, including our flagship magazine the Braille Monitor, which is published in print, in Braille, and on cassette. Many of our publications are available on the World Wide Web, but the Voice of the Nation’s Blind is the only Federation periodical published exclusively on the Internet. The staff of VNB strives to maximize the full potential of the Internet to provide timely content in many different types of media, and the VNB Web site is designed to make it easy for users to find content that most directly addresses their interests. Articles, audio and video clips, and reader correspondence are posted on a wide range of subjects of interest to the blind community, including laws and legislation, current projects of the NFB, the history of the organization, adaptive technology and access issues, and more. The latest Web technology is used to insure that users can always find our latest content relating to any area in which they have interest. Finally, we strive to incorporate readers' comments, suggestions, and questions into the VNB, making it the most interactive NFB publication.

NFB Net

In addition to its local chapter and division meetings, the state and national conventions, and The Voice of the Nation's Blind the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee works to connect blind people with each other in other ways. The advent of the computer age enables us to do this in ways never dreamed possible in years past. Numerous blindness-related discussion groups, and other viewable and downloadable information is available from, NFB Net. Discussion groups dealing with such topics as NFB Philosophy, access to computers and consumer electronics, concerns of blind entrepreneurs, blind parents, parents of blind children, blind rehabilitation professionals, blind students, blind vendors, guide dog users, blind teachers, blind lawyers, blind musicians, art education for the blind, and many more subjects are hosted by NFB Net. Past issues of NFB Magazines and newsletters, general blindness information, classic literature, and computer-related information and software can also be obtained from NFB Net.

NFB of Tennessee Discussion Group

The NFB of Tennessee Discussion Group was created out of the need to permit federationists from throught the state to connect with eachother to share their thoughts on NFB local, state, and national activities, and to provide a forum to discuss blindness concerns and to promote growth of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee. Additional information and subscription instructions can be found by visiting the: NFB of Tennessee Discussion Group page on this Web site.

NFB Link

One more way the NFB promotes community among the blind of Tennessee and the Nation is through its Mentoring Program called, NFB Link. Join our growing network and meet others like yourself. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

Legislation in Tennessee

Like other U.S. States a number of laws and other regulations exist in Tennessee to protect the rights of the state's blind in access to housing, employment, and public facilities. Further information concerning these regulations can be found by visiting our Laws and Legislation page:

Library Services for the Blind in Tennessee

A large amount of books and information is available in Braille, Large Print, and in recorded formats from a number of libraries in Tennessee and throughout the nation. For more information about library services for the blind visit our Library Services for the Blind in Tennessee page.

NFB Newsline

NFB-NEWSLINE^® for the Blind, the world's first free talking newspaper service, offers the blind the complete text of leading national and local newspapers with the use of only a touch-tone telephone.

Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader

Members attending the 2006 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will participate in the historic launch of the Kurzweil–National Federation of the Blind Reader. This is the most exciting new technology to become available for blind people in the past thirty years. Using the combined power of a small computer and a digital camera to create this handheld reader, the world of the printed word will be opened to the blind in a way it has never been before. Additional information can be found by visiting the KNFB Reader Web Site.

When you Meet a Blind Person

Meeting and greeting a blind person is really no different tyhan when you encounter a sighted person. Blind people are just like you. We're a cross section of society with the same life desires, dreams, and aspirations as others in society. Like you we enjoy making new friends, striking up conversations, and seek assistance when we feel it is needed. An encounter with a blind person need not be mysterious, or an unpleasant experience. We have provided several pages that provide hints and suggestions to keep in mind whenever you meet one of us. ?Above all remember that we're just like you. Following these helpful suggestions will enable you to meet and greet us in the same way you would do any other person. After all that's what we are. We are normal people who cannot see.

Questions From Kids About Blindness

The Courtesy Rules of Blindness

Blind Children in Tennessee

The National Federation of the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee are committed to insuring that blind children get a positive beginning in life, and that their future is bright with opportunity. We do this via the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children at the local, state, and national level. Further information on how we're achieving these objectives by visiting our Blind Children in Tennessee page.

If you would like more information about the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee, wish to obtain more information about blindness, or want to join a local NFB of Tennessee Chapter please contact our President Michael Seay. He can be reached at the following:

Mr. Michael Seay
President, National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee
1226 Goodman Circle
West Memphis, Tennessee 38111
Home Phone: (901) 452-6596
Work: (901) 388-1288
E-mail: Contact the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee

Welcome to the World-Wide-Web Site of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee