Creativity, Persistence, and Hope: Reclaiming Our Stories through the Organized Blind Movement

Mark A. Riccobono’s 2025 National Federation of the Blind banquet address, Creativity, Persistence, and Hope: Reclaiming Our Stories through the Organized Blind Movement, is a powerful reflection on how Blind People have reshaped the narrative about blindness through collective action, critical thinking, and storytelling. By examining the history and reappropriation of the parable of the blind men and the elephant, Riccobono demonstrates how Blind People, through shared truth and determination, are reclaiming their role as creators of knowledge—not passive subjects in someone else's tale. This address is a vital reminder that the power of our movement lies in our unity, persistence, and commitment to truth.

This reflection is not simply a history lesson; it is a roadmap for community building. It calls on each of us to examine the truth we’ve internalized and actively participate in shaping a shared truth grounded in the lived experiences and collective wisdom of Blind People. Through the organized blind movement, we have removed barriers built on outdated, vision-centered myths, and replaced them with tools that empower Blind People to thrive. These efforts are part of our broader commitment to Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!

Riccobono emphasizes that the power of the National Federation of the Blind rests not in perfection, but in persistence. Our progress has never come from waiting; it has come from action, reflection, and the deep trust built within a movement led by and for Blind People. This truth has been tested and grown through generations of learning, leading, and resisting the narratives imposed on us by the vision industrial complex. We are reminded that history will repeat itself if we do not continue to reclaim our truth and challenge the systemic ableism that has long defined the public narrative about blindness. Learn more about ableism.

Now more than ever, Blind People must choose to participate in reclaiming and shaping our stories. This address is a call to those who have not yet found their place in the movement to step forward, explore their truth, and share it boldly. The future of accessibility and inclusion depends on us embracing the collective spirit of discovery and storytelling. Let us move forward together, knowing that our organized movement is essential to the future we are building—a future where our truth, and not someone else’s narrative, defines who we are.

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by: Mark A. Riccobono