Who Are We?

The Middle Tennessee chapter of the NFB is a group of blind and sighted people who are committed to the ideals of security, equality and opportunity for blind people and who seek to achieve these ideals through changing what it means to be blind, both for society in general and for individual blind people specifically. The chapter is organized and maintained by blind people and is part of the Tennessee State affiliate which is part of the national organization – The National Federation of the Blind. Our membership is diverse, as blindness effects people from all walks of life, of all ages and from all professions. Although the chapter is less than 50 members strong, membership already includes parents, grand-parents, high school and college students, business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, homemakers, musicians, politicians, retirees, professionals of many types, and the list continues to grow. We have members hailing from as close as Nashville, Tennessee, to as far away as Brisbane, Australia. In short, our chapter is representative of society in general. Read the biographical information on the officers and board members of this chapter here.

Who Can Join?

All are welcome to join irrespective of gender, race, age, religion, political persuasion, amount of sight and choice of mobility aids. No special qualifications or talents necessary. If you would like to contribute positively to your community and to make a difference in our world through touching lives with the truth about blindness, then come and join us, because that’s what this chapter is all about and we need people like you to join.

What We Do.

The activities of this chapter include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Monthly meetings of the chapter membership.
• Advice and active support for members of the community dealing with blindness personally or in the family.
• Providing informed advocates for blind people seeking appropriate services.
• Proactive community outreach to find and inform blind people, teachers and parents of blind children.
• Collective representation to the legislature on issues, such as education funding, rehabilitation services and text-book availability, that directly effect the lives of blind people.
• Public education about the competence of blind people through:
  • Providing speakers to schools, clubs, conferences/conventions, churches, etc.
  • Acting as role models and mentors for blind children, teens and newly blinded adults.
  • Holding interactive displays, at public libraries, shopping malls etc., of the equipment and techniques, such as braille and talking computers, used by blind people in daily life.
  • Providing printed material to ophthalmologists, optometrists and doctors on the truth about blindness and the opportunities for training and rehabilitation available to blind people through the NFB.
  • Maintaining a web site which provides information and contact details. Please contact us if you would like more information, would like to attend a meeting, or if we can be of assistance as outlined above.

Board Members and Chapter Officers

• Sharon Paris-Treadway, President
• Brian Wooten, Vice President
• Ryan Smith, Treasurer
• Briley Pollard, Recording Secretary
• Venus Wooten, Board Member
• Roxie Chamberlain, Board Member