Sunday Edition with Anthony Corona. Convention Crossroads 2026. What Did We Learn. Where Do We Go From Here. Two national conventions. Two organizations. One community. This week on Sunday Edition, we brought together an honest, respectful, and thoughtful conversation reflecting on our experiences at the 2026 National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind conventions. Throughout the discussion, we celebrated the many strengths of both organizations. We explored the programs, traditions, advocacy efforts, educational opportunities, leadership, and sense of community that each convention brings to thousands of attendees every year. We also discussed areas where both organizations have opportunities to continue growing and evolving as they work to better serve an increasingly diverse blindness community. One of the most engaging conversations centered around the future. What if both organizations found ways to collaborate while maintaining their unique identities? We explored the possibility of hosting conventions in the same city during the same week, creating opportunities to share technology exhibit halls, vendor spaces, selected educational sessions, social events, and networking opportunities while preserving each organization's independent governance and culture. The conversation also examined what it truly means to create welcoming community spaces. We discussed the importance of fostering environments where people across the entire blindness spectrum feel respected, valued, heard, and included. From first time convention attendees to longtime members, from guide dog users to white cane travelers, from blind individuals to those with low vision, every voice deserves a place within our community. We spent time discussing the low vision experience and the importance of recognizing that blindness exists across a broad spectrum. Accessibility is not one size fits all, and meaningful inclusion requires understanding the different perspectives, needs, and experiences that people bring with them. Most importantly, this conversation was never about declaring winners or losers. It was about listening, learning, sharing ideas, and imagining how our community can become stronger by recognizing the strengths found throughout both organizations. This conversation is only the beginning. Based on the thoughtful feedback and ideas shared during the live event, we will be scheduling Part Two in the coming weeks to continue exploring these important topics and to welcome even more voices into the discussion. Thank you to everyone who joined us live, shared your experiences, challenged our thinking, and helped make this one of the most meaningful conversations of our convention season. For more conversations about accessibility, blindness, advocacy, technology, entertainment, and community, visit AnthonyCorona.comand follow the Sunday Edition family of podcast and digital media content services. Sunday Edition with Anthony Corona. Convention Crossroads 2026. What Did We Learn. Where Do We Go From Here. Two national conventions. Two organizations. One community. This week on Sunday Edition, we brought together an honest, respectful, and thoughtful conversation reflecting on our experiences at the 2026 National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind conventions. Throughout the discussion, we celebrated the many strengths of both organizations. We explored the programs, traditions, advocacy efforts, educational opportunities, leadership, and sense of community that each convention brings to thousands of attendees every year. We also discussed areas where both organizations have opportunities to continue growing and evolving as they work to better serve an increasingly diverse blindness community. One of the most engaging conversations centered around the future. What if both organizations found ways to collaborate while maintaining their unique identities? We explored the possibility of hosting conventions in the same city during the same week, creating opportunities to share technology exhibit halls, vendor spaces, selected educational sessions, social events, and networking opportunities while preserving each organization's independent governance and culture. The conversation also examined what it truly means to create welcoming community spaces. We discussed the importance of fostering environments where people across the entire blindness spectrum feel respected, valued, heard, and included. From first time convention attendees to longtime members, from guide dog users to white cane travelers, from blind individuals to those with low vision, every voice deserves a place within our community. We spent time discussing the low vision experience and the importance of recognizing that blindness exists across a broad spectrum. Accessibility is not one size fits all, and meaningful inclusion requires understanding the different perspectives, needs, and experiences that people bring with them. Most importantly, this conversation was never about declaring winners or losers. It was about listening, learning, sharing ideas, and imagining how our community can become stronger by recognizing the strengths found throughout both organizations. This conversation is only the beginning. Based on the thoughtful feedback and ideas shared during the live event, we will be scheduling Part Two in the coming weeks to continue exploring these important topics and to welcome even more voices into the discussion. Thank you to everyone who joined us live, shared your experiences, challenged our thinking, and helped make this one of the most meaningful conversations of our convention season. For more conversations about accessibility, blindness, advocacy, technology, entertainment, and community, visit AnthonyCorona.comand follow the Sunday Edition family of podcast and digital media content services. Sunday Edition with Anthony Corona. Convention Crossroads 2026. What Did We Learn. Where Do We Go From Here. Two national conventions. Two organizations. One community. This week on Sunday Edition, we brought together an honest, respectful, and thoughtful conversation reflecting on our experiences at the 2026 National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind conventions. Throughout the discussion, we celebrated the many strengths of both organizations. We explored the programs, traditions, advocacy efforts, educational opportunities, leadership, and sense of community that each convention brings to thousands of attendees every year. We also discussed areas where both organizations have opportunities to continue growing and evolving as they work to better serve an increasingly diverse blindness community. One of the most engaging conversations centered around the future. What if both organizations found ways to collaborate while maintaining their unique identities? We explored the possibility of hosting conventions in the same city during the same week, creating opportunities to share technology exhibit halls, vendor spaces, selected educational sessions, social events, and networking opportunities while preserving each organization's independent governance and culture. The conversation also examined what it truly means to create welcoming community spaces. We discussed the importance of fostering environments where people across the entire blindness spectrum feel respected, valued, heard, and included. From first time convention attendees to longtime members, from guide dog users to white cane travelers, from blind individuals to those with low vision, every voice deserves a place within our community. We spent time discussing the low vision experience and the importance of recognizing that blindness exists across a broad spectrum. Accessibility is not one size fits all, and meaningful inclusion requires understanding the different perspectives, needs, and experiences that people bring with them. Most importantly, this conversation was never about declaring winners or losers. It was about listening, learning, sharing ideas, and imagining how our community can become stronger by recognizing the strengths found throughout both organizations. This conversation is only the beginning. Based on the thoughtful feedback and ideas shared during the live event, we will be scheduling Part Two in the coming weeks to continue exploring these important topics and to welcome even more voices into the discussion. Thank you to everyone who joined us live, shared your experiences, challenged our thinking, and helped make this one of the most meaningful conversations of our convention season. For more conversations about accessibility, blindness, advocacy, technology, entertainment, and community, visit AnthonyCorona.comand follow the Sunday Edition family of podcast and digital media content services. pisode Notes Notes go here Support Sunday Edition with Anthony Corona by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/acb-sunday-edition Find out more at https://acb-sunday-edition.pinecast.co Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/acb-sunday-edition/cc62e691-5c05-4c27-a0fa-70860124e3ca This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
