ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is hosting its 84th annual National Convention this weekend, bringing together visually impaired individuals from across the country. 

The event, which kicked off Wednesday, aims to provide resources, support and a sense of community for the more than half a million people living in Florida with a visual disability.

Alicia Crosson, 26, attended the convention to find support after losing her sight in 2019 due to glaucoma.

“It was frustrating; it was traumatizing to lose your sight, to lose your independence. Not being able to drive was definitely a lot to deal with, to say the least,” said Crosson.

She has since attended a training center to relearn tasks she once did with full vision and has recently acquired a refurbished computer from Computers for the Blind, an organization that provides accessible technology to the visually impaired. 

Chris Danielsen, the NFB’s public relations director, emphasized the importance of challenging societal misconceptions about blindness.

“Not everyone is like me; not everyone is born blind. When blind people start to first experience changes in their eyesight, that can be frightening and upsetting because society has a set of ideas about blind people that are not helpful. A big part of what we do is combat some of those low expectations,” said Danielsen.

The convention also features sessions with developers from tech giants such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google, who demonstrate how artificial intelligence can enhance the lives and independence of blind individuals.

Crosson expressed her gratitude for these advancements, saying, “It’s amazing, and even people who aren’t blind are innovative enough to help us. Before I went blind, I didn’t know a lot of things existed."