Thank You to Our Federal Partners

Thank You to Our Federal Partners

NCSAB extends our sincere thanks to Diana Diaz, Acting OSERS Assistant Secretary Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and Christopher Pope, Acting RSA Commissioner, for joining the NCSAB Executive Strategic Planning Meeting. The Executive Team opened the planning meeting by hearing from our federal partners!

We are grateful for their continued leadership, collaboration, and vision in advancing the mission of vocational rehabilitation, especially for individuals who are blind and visually impaired.

Together, we are moving forward with shared priorities:

1. Celebrating and sharing success stories of clients, including those with co-occurring disabilities, who achieve competitive integrated employment.
2. Advancing employment choice of our clients to pursue career paths through informed decision making, supportive environments, and continuous access to VR’s comprehensive services.
3. Expanding meaningful self-employment pathways that reflect the talent and potential of our clients.

We are energized by the momentum and look forward to all that lies ahead—more great things to come!





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