[4Alabama] Celebrate Blind Equality Month

[Jennifer Reeves]

*Celebrate Blind Equality Achievement Month with Our Blind Students:*

Use the registration form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecmriDvTsPgduC3xCXQ6vmP58gtlCDnAOYeL4tBKdl7OMLvQ/viewform>
to sign up to join the National Association of Blind Students (NABS) on
Saturday, October 16, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, for our virtual Blind Equality
Achievement Month Trivia Fundraiser! The event will be a great night of
friendly Federation competition and a celebration of the movement of the
organized blind. Registration is a $5 donation to NABS. We will be giving a
portion of the proceeds to the student division of the winning state.



*Access Technology Affordability Act:*

We continue to make progress on the Access Technology Affordability Act on
several fronts. H.R. 431 is now up to 114 cosponsors. The most recent House
cosponsors are from Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, and New York, so
special thanks to those affiliates. On the Senate side, S. 212 is up to 27
cosponsors, with the two most recent being Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN), the
Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Senator
Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), who is a member of the Senate Finance
Committee. Finally, the text of the Access Technology Affordability Act has
been included in the reconciliation package currently moving through
Congress, in Section 138519, starting on page 2339. Please keep up the good
work and continue to build cosponsor support for the ATAA.



*October Presidential Release Available:*

The audio and streaming versions of the October Presidential Release are
available now at
https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases.



*Blind Equality Achievement Month: Send in Your Events:*

Remember history. Advance equality. Celebrate accomplishments. The National
Federation of the Blind celebrates the organized blind movement during the
month of October. Chapters across the country organize local outreach
events and many White Cane Awareness Day
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-equality-achievement-month/white-cane-awareness-day>
Proclamations. Submit your events, activities, and celebrations to
web at nfb.org so they can be posted on nfb.org/blind-month.



*Where the Blind Work Webinar:*

This webinar is a panel discussion celebrating the work and workplace
accomplishments of blind and low-vision people. On Thursday, October 14, at
8:00 p.m., eastern, hear about what a typical day looks like, discover
elements that prepare for career success, learn about alternative
techniques and strategies used to do these jobs, as well as how to advocate
for accommodations on the job. Register for the webinar today
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=23101&qid=>.



*Upcoming Accessibility Seminar: iOS 15 and Android 12 Releases:*

Both iOS and Android have exciting new features, and the National
Federation of the Blind Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration>
is covering them in an upcoming seminar. Come join us on October 13 from
1:00-5:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom to learn about all the new features
coming to iOS 15 and Android 12. Register today
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration>
*.*



*Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research**:*

Volume 11 number 2
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/jbir/jbir21/jbir1102tc.html> of
our *Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research* is now available.
Articles included in this issue describe how sculpture can be used to teach
concepts in the visual arts education of blind students, inexpensive and
easily employed methods to make geographic instructional materials
accessible, the perspectives of blind patients on their interactions with
healthcare providers, and the perceptions of blind students in
post-graduate distance learning in STEM fields.



*New Blog—On Blindness, Equality, and Achievement: Who Defines Us:*

Read the first blog of defining Blind Equality Achievement Month in the *Voice
of the Nation’s Blind Blog*, “On Blindness, Equality, and Achievement: Who
Defines Us
<https://nfb.org/blog/blindness-equality-and-achievement-who-defines-us>,”
by President Mark Riccobono. New blog posts are published each Monday.



*October Braille Monitor Available:*

The latest issue of the National Federation of the Blind flagship
publication is now available. Read more 2021 National Convention speeches,
articles about raising expectations, and stories from members. Access
the *Braille
Monitor* now.
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm21/bm2109/bm2109tc.htm>



*Independence Market Highlighted Items for October:*

Products of the Month:

   - Talking All-Purpose Thermometer - $35.00 – Digital talking thermometer
   that can be used for cooking, candy making, gardening, and other hobbies.
   - Pot Clip for Talking Thermometer - $4.50 – To be used in conjunction
   with the Talking All-Purpose Thermometer mentioned above. Handy for
   monitoring the temperature of liquids. Thermometer sold separately.
   - Braille Measuring Spoons (set of four) - $6.00 – Plastic measuring
   spoons labeled in print and Braille; includes sizes of 1 tablespoon, 1
   teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, and ¼ teaspoon.

Braille Measuring Cups (set of four) - $9.00 – Plastic measuring cups
labeled in print and Braille; includes sizes of 1 cup, ½ cup, 1/3 cup, and
¼ cup.