NIB Connection

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

It was only a few short months ago that we were in the midst of the 2024 NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo. Held October 14-18 in Arlington, VA, more than 900 registrants from across the country attended the four-day event. If you weren’t able to be there, or want to relive some of its outstanding […]