After more than 15 years, the New Jersey Council of the Blind is proud to bring back its state convention—this time as a fully virtual event accessible to everyone. On Saturday, September 27, 2025, members and allies will gather online for a day of learning, inspiration, and community. With dynamic speakers and powerful topics, this year’s theme emphasizes grassroots transformation and forward momentum.
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Location: Online via Zoom
Registration: Free and required - click Convention Regsistration Form Below
Convention Registration Form Convention Timetable
Dr. Bernice Davis
Executive Director, NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)
Dr. Davis brings over 25 years of experience to her role and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She will discuss recent CBVI initiatives focused on education, outreach, and compliance, highlighting how the agency continues to support independence for blind and low vision individuals across New Jersey.
Debra Erickson
Executive Chef & Founder, The Blind Kitchen
Debra, who is blind and the only blind graduate from her culinary school, will showcase adaptive tools and techniques that empower individuals to cook safely and independently. Her session, “Cooking with Vision Loss,” emphasizes practical strategies and renewed confidence in the kitchen.
Maggie Felton, FNP-C
Clinical Nurse Educator, Vanda Pharmaceuticals
Maggie will present on Non-24-Hour
Circadian Rhythm Disorder, a sleep disorder that affects many in the blind community. She will explain its impact, treatments, and how Vanda Pharmaceuticals partners with advocacy groups to raise awareness and support.
Patrick Long
Co-Founder, InnoSearch AI
Patrick created InnoSearch AI to make the internet more accessible to screen reader users. He will give an overview of the platform’s functionality, upcoming features, and how it enables more inclusive web navigation.
Special Offer: First-time users can receive $5 off with promo code NJCB (all caps), valid through July 31, for an introduction to the site at innosearch.ai.
Erica Saganowski
Deputy Director, Mercer County Human Services & Director, Office on Aging/ADRC
Erica will provide an overview of local aging and disability services, including transportation, nutrition programs, and referral systems. Her focus will be on supporting independence and care coordination for older adults and people with disabilities in Mercer County.
Ardis Bazyn
Motivational Speaker, Business Coach & ACB Membership Chair
Blinded in early adulthood, Ardis has dedicated her life to mentoring others and building leadership. She currently serves as the ACB Membership Chair and holds leadership roles in several national organizations. Her talk will focus on empowerment through self-advocacy and business development.
Ardis will also highlight benefits of ACB membership, including:
Salvador “Sal” Lopez Lorenzo
Home Instructor, NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Sal’s work centers around teaching independence and confidence to those with recent or long-term vision loss. With a background in business and a deep knowledge of assistive tech, he’ll present on modern solutions for modern low vision challenges, including individualized action planning and the latest tools.
Dave Schleppenbach
Founder & CEO, Tactile Engineering
Dave is the creator of the Cadence tablet, a game-changing full-page refreshable braille and tactile display. He demonstrate its capabilities and explain how it’s transforming access to digital content for blind users in education and daily life.
Convention Timetable (revised August 11, 2025)
| Time | Presenter | Title / Role |
| 12:00 PM – 12:05 PM | Wanda Williford | Opening Remarks |
| 12:05 PM – 12:10 PM | Sabastian Warren | President's Message – NJCB President |
| 12:10 PM – 12:15 PM | Jeff Thom | ACB Liaison Remarks |
| 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM | Dr. Bernice Davis | Exec. Dir., NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired |
| 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM | Erica Saganowski | Deputy Director, Mercer County Human Services & Exec. Dir., Office on Aging |
| 1:45 PM – 2:25 PM | Patrick Long | Co-Founder, InnoSearch AI |
| 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Break | |
| 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM | Debra Erickson | Exec. Chef & Founder, The Blind Kitchen |
| 3:45 PM – 4:30 PM | Ardis Bazyn | ACB Membership Chair |
| 4:30 PM – 5:10 PM | Dave Schleppenbach | Brown Cadence Braille Tablet |
| 5:10 PM – 5:40 PM | Maggie Felton, FNP-C | Clinical Nurse Educator, Vanda Pharmaceuticals |
| 5:40 PM – 6:00 PM | Sabastian Warren | Final Announcements & Closing Remarks – NJCB President |
Send an e-mail to the New Jersey Council of the Blind at njcounciloftheblind@gmail.com, or phone 609-672-7059 if you have questions.
Send an email to the NJCB Webmaster at njcbweb@gmail.com, if you have questions about this website.