Meet Megan Sinks, the 2026 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year

Megan Sinks, an employee at NIB associated nonprofit agency Beyond Vision, is NIB’s 2026 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year. Nominees for the Peter J. Salmon Award are people who are blind and currently employed in a direct labor manufacturing or service operation in an NIB associated nonprofit agency. They are evaluated for the […]

Meet Michael Phillips, the 2026 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award Winner

Michael Phillips, of Travis Association for the Blind/Austin Lighthouse, has been selected as the 2026 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award Winner. Presented annually, the Samuelson Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates career advancement at an NIB associated nonprofit agency or in the private sector. While Michael, a mission services training supervisor, knew he had […]

Meet Antonio Rozier, the 2025 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award Winner

Antonio Rozier of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., has been selected as NIB’s 2025 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award winner. Presented annually, the Samuelson Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates career advancement at an NIB associated nonprofit agency or in the private sector. Antonio, 38, is the director of information technology (IT) systems […]

Meet Israel Bolivar, the Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award Winner for 2025

Israel Bolivar, an employee at NIB associated nonprofit agency Vibrant Works in San Antonio, Texas, is NIB’s 2025 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year. Nominees for the Peter J. Salmon Award are people who are blind and currently employed in a direct labor manufacturing or service operation in an NIB associated nonprofit agency. They […]

2025 Public Policy Forum Focuses on Two Advocacy Goals

The 2025 NIB/NAEPB Public Policy Forum (PPF) took place May 19-21. The event, which has taken place annually for more than 15 years, was held at the Westin Old Town Alexandria and, on its final day, the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This year’s advocacy goals include a continued effort […]

Mary Jane Surrago Honored with 2025 R.B. Irwin Award for 50 Years of Service to NIB

Mary Jane Surrago, assistantsecretary emeritus to the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Board of Directors, was presented with the 2025 R.B. Irwin Award during the NIB/NAEPB Public Policy Forum general session on May 20. Surrago retired on February 28 after 50 years with NIB. Current Board Chairman Zach Klipa said there was no more […]

Meet Dean Thompson, the New Host of Heard & Empowered

After a short hiatus, NIB’s Heard & Empowered podcast is back with a new host, Dean Thompson, who has an extensive background in television and radio. Thompson has been an interviewer and producer for the majority of his adult life. He moved to New York from Cincinnati after graduate school and has worked for ABC […]

Meet NIB’s 2025 Class of Advocates for Leadership and Employment 

NIB launched the Advocates for Leadership and Employment program in 2012 to help people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired represent their communities to their elected officials. Each spring, NIB’s public policy team welcomes a new class of Advocates from NIB associated agencies across the country who take part in a two-year training […]

NIB Selected As A VETS Indexes 3 Star Employer

National Industries for the Blind (NIB) has received the 3 Star Employer Award in the 2025 VETS Indexes Employer Awards program, based on its strong commitment to recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing, and supporting veterans and the military-connected community. “National Industries for the Blind has demonstrated outstanding support for veterans and the military-connected community, earning the […]