Believe and Build: President Riccobono’s Message to Pennsylvania
Release Date: 12/10/2025
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White Canes Connect
In this episode of White Canes Connect, David Goldstein welcomes Rich Crawford for a wide-ranging conversation about blindness, independence, work, leadership, and the power of high expectations. Rich became legally blind at age 10 due to retinitis pigmentosa. Rather than lowering expectations, his parents encouraged him to try things, work hard, and figure out alternative ways to get the job done. That mindset carried him from public school to college, from community action work to a 41-year career in financial services. Rich also discusses his longtime involvement with the National...
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Judy’s League and the Battle to Save Section 504
White Canes Connect
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Raise Your Rackets: Sound of Tennis Comes to Philly!
White Canes Connect
For over a decade, blind and visually impaired people throughout New York City have had the opportunity to play the game of tennis. Launched in 2015 and presented by Court 16, Sound of Tennis offers once-per-week sessions, enabling blind and visually impaired people to learn, practice, and play full games of tennis through sound. Now, in 2026, Sound of Tennis partnered with a Court 16 location in Philadelphia, offering the same opportunity for Philadelphia residents as well! Join Simon Bonenfant, on this inaugural episode of his new series entitled Simon’s Studio, as he takes you...
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White Canes Connect
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Respect, Belief, and Action: David DeNotaris
White Canes Connect
In episode 148 of White Canes Connect, we share the powerful General Sessions remarks of David DeNotaris from the 2025 National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania State Convention in Harrisburg. Speaking from a lifetime of experience, David reflects on growing up with Braille, discovering the Federation, and the profound influence of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan on his understanding of blindness and self-respect. Through humor and deeply personal stories, he explores what it truly means to believe that it is respectable to be blind—and how that belief unlocks confidence in using Braille,...
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Believe and Build: President Riccobono’s Message to Pennsylvania
White Canes Connect
White Canes Connect episode 147 features a powerful address from National Federation of the Blind President Mark Riccobono, delivered to the NFB of Pennsylvania State Convention in Harrisburg. Reflecting on the eve of the organization’s 85th anniversary, President Riccobono shares his personal journey of discovering the Federation in 1996 and how the community transformed his understanding of blindness, leadership, and collective action. He highlights landmark achievements driven by blind-led advocacy—from advancing Braille literacy and accessible technology to expanding opportunity...
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White Canes Connect
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InnoSearch.ai: Redefining Accessible Online Shopping
White Canes Connect
In Episode 145 of White Canes Connect, Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein welcome Patrick Long and Bryan Vuong, co-founders of InnoSearch.ai, a groundbreaking platform making online shopping accessible for blind and low-vision users. They built InnoSearch to serve as an accessibility layer—streamlined, screen-reader friendly, and simple to use. Beyond shopping, InnoSearch now offers flight booking and is expanding into food and grocery delivery. Users can shop online or by calling 1-855-746-7478 (1-855-SHOP-GPT), making the service accessible even without internet. The founders also...
info_outlineWhite Canes Connect episode 147 features a powerful address from National Federation of the Blind President Mark Riccobono, delivered to the NFB of Pennsylvania State Convention in Harrisburg. Reflecting on the eve of the organization’s 85th anniversary, President Riccobono shares his personal journey of discovering the Federation in 1996 and how the community transformed his understanding of blindness, leadership, and collective action.
He highlights landmark achievements driven by blind-led advocacy—from advancing Braille literacy and accessible technology to expanding opportunity in education and employment—and reminds us that progress is only possible when blind people speak and act for themselves.
Looking ahead, he calls on members to lead in emerging areas like artificial intelligence, preserve our history through storytelling, and continue building a diverse, unified movement. His message is both a celebration of how far we’ve come and a challenge to invest in the future we are creating together.
Show notes at https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/147
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Like what you hear on White Canes Connect? Please support us and donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, visit http://www.supportpablind.org.
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