National Association of Blind Students | National Federation of the Blind

It is our hope that you will find the resources on this website useful and informative. If you have any questions or comments about the website or the work of NABS, please feel free to get in touch with us and let us know. And, if you like what you see and would like to get involved you can become a member of the National Association of Blind Students. And remember, to stay up to date with the latest happenings within NABS, you can friend NABS on Facebook or follow NABS on Twitter. Please also join the NABS email list. Fill out and submit the form, then you will receive a confirmation email.

To donate

The National Student Division of the National Federation of the Blind

Visit the National Federation of the Blind home page to learn more about the efforts at a national level, as well as the programs we sponsor throughout the year.



LATEST NABS NEWS

Register for the 4th Annual Walk-A-Thon

The National Association of Blind Students is proud to announce our 4th annual NABS Walk-A-Thon! If you support blind students, believe in the future of blind students, or benefit from our organization, please register by visiting: our Go Rally Up page. This fun and easy effort will focus on raising funds for our organization, which provides many resources for blind students, including mentorship, guidance on success in high school and higher education, sponsoring attendance at leadership seminars, sending national student leaders to events to empower our youth, and so much more.

Listen to The Latest Episode of the NABS Now Podcast

We are so excited to bring you the NABS Now Podcast, an initiative giving students a place to let their voice be heard! Check out our latest episode titled Suites and Savings and read the description below.

Whether searching for an internship, nailing a job interview, or advocating on Capitol Hill, dressing for success is the first step in ensuring that you make a great and lasting impression. In this episode, we explore the basics of dressing professionally; it’s not as complicated as you might think. Additionally, we share tips on how to shop smart and save money, so you can dress for success without breaking your college budget. Thank you to our special guests Alex Castillo and Mary Fernandez.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the creation and production of the NABS Now Podcast, reach out to Nina Marranca.

Get Involved with Our Efforts to Pass the Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act

In December of 2019, AIM High, H.R. 5312 and S. 3095, was introduced into the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. This bill works to create voluntary guidelines for accessibility in higher education to provide direction for educators, suggest practices for software developers, and most importantly, put students with print disabilities on equal playing ground with their classmates! Read more about our efforts and how you can get involved by visiting the Braille Monitorto see an important note from our President, Kathryn Webster, that was published earlier this month. If you are a student with an inaccessibility challenge that you have faced, we also want to hear from you! Fill out this Google form to share your story with Congress!



Web Master

The Web Master is in charge of all information available on the NABS website. If you have any questions, comments, or updates you would like to make regarding the NABS website, please contact Trisha Kulkarni

Google Drive Essentials for Windows and Mac

Submitted by kwebster on Sun, 03/29/2020 - 13:01

What is Google Drive?

Google Drive is a comprehensive virtual file management system that is employed by many schools and universities to collect and organize class materials. It is used in conjunction with Google editing platforms such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, as Drive itself is storage focused.

To access Google Drive, type drive.google.com into your browser’s address bar. Note that there is also a desktop and mobile application, but this document focuses on the online or web browser client.



Google Classroom Essentials for Windows

Submitted by kwebster on Sun, 03/29/2020 - 12:40

What is Google Classroom?

Google Classroom is an online learning management system created by Google to give Teachers and Educators the ability to post work, create discussions, and receive work from their Students. In order to use this platform, you must have a Google account registered through your school.



Canvas Essentials for Windows

Submitted by kwebster on Sun, 03/29/2020 - 12:16

What is Canvas?

Canvas is a learning management system that many universities utilize for online assignment submissions, quizzes, announcements, and discussions. If you've never used this platform before here are the 3 things you will need:

  • The web address of your institution's Canvas site
  • Your username
  • Your password

If you do not know the web address, you can find a link to the external website either on your institution’s homepage, or by asking your professor for assistance.



Zoom Essentials for Windows and Mac

Submitted by kwebster on Sun, 03/29/2020 - 11:44

What Is Zoom?

Zoom is a popular conferencing platform with support for video and audio calling. Given its high capacity for users, it is becoming the favorite choice for live online classes, discussions, and meetings. There are not too many accessibility barriers that we have encountered both on the mobile and computer applications, but this document will focus primarily on how to use Zoom on your computer.



Joining a Meeting

More often than not, you will be invited to a Zoom call and be asked to join. To do so, you have a few options:

Blackboard Essentials for Windows

Submitted by kwebster on Sat, 03/28/2020 - 23:41

What is Blackboard?

Blackboard is a learning management system that many universities utilize for online assignment submissions, quizzes, announcements, and discussions. If you've never used this platform before here are the 3 things you will need:

  • The web address of your institution's Blackboard Learn site
  • Your username
  • Your password

If you do not know the web address, you can find a link to the external website either on your institution’s homepage, or by asking your professor for assistance.



NABS Notes: March 2020

Submitted by kwebster on Wed, 03/25/2020 - 23:03

In these uncertain times, NABS is particularly excited to bring you this edition of NABS notes to keep you informed on the latest and greatest happenings across the country. In this edition, you can find:

Blog Post for March 2020: The Home Stretch, Kind Of… by Robert Parsons

Submitted by kwebster on Wed, 03/18/2020 - 03:44

From the Editor:

Blog Post for February 2020: Perspectives on the NFB National Scholarship Experience by Rashid Deme, Skye Dunfield, and Nina Marranca

Submitted by kwebster on Sat, 02/22/2020 - 16:20

From the editor:

As the March 31 deadline for the National scholarship program draws ever closer, this month’s blog post brings together the experiences and advice of three dynamic students from the 2019 scholarship class. We hope that their words of wisdom will help to guide you in the application process, and shed some light on the life-changing impact this program affords to blind students around the nation.

NABS NOTES | November/December 2019

Submitted by kwebster on Sun, 01/05/2020 - 21:48

In this edition, you will find:
· President’s Note
· Washington Seminar 2020
· Collecting Inaccessibility Testimonies
· AIM HIGH Dropped in House and Senate
· AIM HIGH Braille Monitor Article
· Education Technology Survey
· NABS Notes Game
· NABS Now Podcast
· November Blog Post
· Student Spotlight · NABS Committee Updates
· NABS Social Media

Blog Post for November 2019: Blind Students Belong on Capitol Hill— The Perspective of a Summer Intern in the United States Senate by Kenia Flores

Submitted by kwebster on Sat, 11/16/2019 - 13:25

From the Editor:

Kenia Flores is a senior at Furman University, majoring in politics and international affairs. She has spent the past few summers as an intern in the offices of senators, gaining valuable experiences that strengthen her pursuit of advocacy in all areas of her life. She also serves as 2nd Vice President of the National Association of Blind Students.

I attended my first Washington Seminar during my senior year of high school. My involvement with our advocacy efforts prompted my interest in law and public policy.