2025 Fall NCSAB Conference
November 5–7, 2025
Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA
Theme: Waves of Change — Advancing Public Policy for the Blind
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
All times Pacific
8:00 am
NCSAB Exhibit Hall & Registration Opens
11:00 am
CSAVR / NCSAB Concurrent Session
Noon
CSAVR Closing Session
12:30 pm
Lunch (On Your Own).
NCSAB Executive Committee Lunch with RSA (Invited).
Committee Members Only.
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Opening, Welcome & Introductions
Facilitator: Dorothy Young
Presenter: Dorothy Young, Director, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind, Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and NCSAB President
2:00 pm – 2:25 pm
California Success Story
Facilitator: Dorothy Young
Presenter: Susan Pelbath, MS, Deputy Director Specialized Services Division, Department of Rehabilitation
2:25 pm – 2:45 pm
General Session #1: Active Participation
Facilitator: Dorothy Young
Presenter: Andrew Shumacher
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Networking Break — Visit exhibits and connect with peers.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
General Session #2: NCSAB Policy Update
Facilitator: Dorothy Young
Presenter: Catriona Macdonald, NCSAB Policy Analyst and President of Linchpin Strategies
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
General Session #3: Update on Department of War & Randolph-Sheppard Act Arbitration
Facilitator: Greg Trapp
Presenters: Terry Smith, Nicholas Gacos, and Catriona Macdonald
4:45 pm
Networking Break — Visit exhibits and connect with peers.
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Welcome Reception & Exhibitor Showcase
Kick off your NCSAB conference experience with a reception featuring exhibitors and networking opportunities.
Thursday, November 6, 2025
8:00 am
NCSAB Registration & Exhibit Hall Opens
9:00 am – 10:00 am
General Session #4: A Decade of Reflection — Observations and Recommendations for Older Blind Services
Facilitator: Cynthia Speight
Presenters: Kendra Farrow and Stephanie Welch-Grenier
10:00 am – 10:15 am
Networking Break
10:15 am – 11:30 am
General Session #5: Wearable Technologies and Resources — The Coming Revolution Has Arrived
Facilitator: Shirley Robinson
Presenters: Troy Otillio, David DeNotaris, Fan Zhang
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Networking Break
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Working Lunch Facilitated by Dr. Cassondra Williams-Stokes
My Rehabilitation Journey — Presenter: Susan Pelbath
Keynote: Empowering the Blind Through STEM — Dr. Cary A. Supalo
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
General Session #6: Managing Programs in Challenging Times
Facilitator: Dr. Bernice Davis
Presenters: Dorothy Young, Greg Trapp, Natasha Jerde, Dacia Johnson, Robert Doyle III, Ashley Townsen
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Break
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Committee Breakout Sessions
• Employment — Facilitated by Darline Graham
• Independent Living/Training/OIB and Technology — Facilitated by Cynthia Speight
• Randolph-Sheppard Act — Facilitated by Ashley Townsend & Rachel Hollen
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm
Networking Break
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
General Session #7: How Self-Service Technologies Are Reshaping Employment and Business Opportunities for People Who Are Blind or Low Vision
Facilitator: Greg Trapp
Presenter: Matt Ater
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
General Session #8: From Assessment to Launch — A Customizable Approach to Preparing Aspiring Blind Entrepreneurs for Success
Facilitator: Darline Graham
Presenters: Jonathan Lucus and Marianne Haegeli
5:00 pm
Adjourn for the Day
Friday, November 7, 2025
8:00 am
Executive Committee Meeting (Committee Members Only)
NCSAB Registration & Exhibit Hall Opens
9:00 am – 9:30 am
Business Meeting, Committee Reports & Election
9:30 am – 10:00 am
General Session #9: A Client-Centered O&M Model in Action
Facilitator: Carlos Serván
Presenter: Leslie Hoskins
10:00 am – 10:30 am
General Session #10: Partnering for Possibility — Helen Keller National Center’s Role in Empowering the DeafBlind Community
Facilitator: Natasha Jerde
Presenters: John Filek and Ryan Odland
10:30 am – 10:45 am
Networking Break
10:45 am – 11:30 am
General Session #11: Why Certification Matters — Success Through Structured Discovery Apprenticeship
Facilitator: Juanita Barker
Presenters: Amy Porterfield and Edward Bell
11:30 am – Noon
Closing Session
Dorothy Young, NCSAB President and Director, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind, Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services
Noon
Conference Adjourns