[4Alabama] COVID Tests

[Jennifer Reeves]

*COVID Tests:*

The White House announced recently that COVIDtests.gov is re-opening.
People are now again able to order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. Each
household may place one order; each order will contain twelve tests. Blind
people are able to order, by phone or online, the more accessible tests
manufactured by Ellume. To ensure that the accessible tests go to people
that need them, go to ACL.gov/AccessibleTests
<https://www.google.com/url?q=http://ACL.gov/AccessibleTests&source=gmail-imap&ust=1696352810000000&usg=AOvVaw38ucaDuO3OHQQymq6m7ysc>
to order online. To order by phone, call 1-800-232-0233. Select language by
pressing 1 for English, 2 for Spanish, 3 for other languages. Then select 8
for the accessible test (rather than 1 for the inaccessible test).


*National Federation of the Blind Responds to Department of Justice Title
II Website NPRM:*

On August 4, 2023, the United States Department of Justice published a
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding ADA Title II website and
mobile app accessibility regulations in the Federal Register. The proposed
rule was more than two hundred pages long and asked readers to answer over
sixty questions. Since we have been waiting for these regulations for
thirteen years and wanted to ensure a thorough and appropriate response, we
spent many weeks carefully reviewing the proposed rule and crafting our
comments. I am pleased to say that we submitted our comprehensive comments,
answering all relevant questions, on Tuesday, September 19. I encourage you
to read our full ADA Title II NPRM response
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/comments-ada-title-ii-website-and-mobile-app-notice&source=gmail-imap&ust=1696352810000000&usg=AOvVaw2YrhFzC2X5HImRvUBBmzZ0>
on the Policy Statements page of our website.


*NFBMD President, Ronza Othman, Testified Before Senate Aging Committee:*

On Thursday, September 21, Ronza Othman, the president of our Maryland
affiliate and the president of the National Association of Blind Government
Employees, testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging at a
hearing titled “Unlocking the Virtual Front Door: Ensuring Accessible
Government Technology for People with Disabilities, Older Adults, and
Veterans.” Ronza did a terrific job and her full testimony
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/ronza-othmans-testimony-senate-special-committee-aging&source=gmail-imap&ust=1696352810000000&usg=AOvVaw1iK1-wNak6yraC1As_5YhO>
can be found on our policy page.


*SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (H.R. 5408/S. 2767):*

We are working Capitol Hill to find champions for the Blind Americans
Return to Work Act in the House and Senate and hope to have news for you
within the coming months. In the meantime, a new bill has emerged that will
raise the resource limitations placed upon beneficiaries of Supplemental
Security Income (SSI). The bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act
has been introduced in the House and Senate as H.R. 5408 and S. 2767
respectively. Please reach out to your senators and representative and urge
them to cosponsor this important legislation. If you would like to know
whether your representative or senators are already cosponsors on the above
legislation, please contact Lindsey Walsh in our Advocacy and Policy
Department at lwalsh at nfb.org.


*National Disability Employment Awareness Month:*

October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month and to
celebrate, the Employment Committee of the National Federation of the Blind
will be hosting multiple events throughout the month to get interested
members “employment ready.” Two of the events are described below.


*Where the Blind Work** Webinar: *

On Wednesday, October 18, join the Employment Committee of the National
Federation of the Blind as we celebrate the work and accomplishments of
blind people with a panel discussion. This online seminar will take place
on Wednesday October 18, from 8:00–9:15 p.m., eastern. Unemployment and
under-employment persist as among the most stubborn factors affecting blind
people’s pursuit of cultural and economic equity in society. Below are our
panel participants:

·         Jennifer Wenzel, Human Resources Specialist, Wisconsin

·         Kris Colcock, Certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Washington

·         Rachel Kuntz, Community Relations Liaison, Arizona

Register at *Where the Blind Work*
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/where-the-blind-work-webinars-registration&source=gmail-imap&ust=1696352810000000&usg=AOvVaw0zWspHyA-DVR2QgwU0Kdca>
for Zoom details. We look forward to your participation!


*National Federation of the Blind Virtual Career Fair: *

Join the Employment Committee on Thursday, October 26, from 1:00 to 4:00
p.m., eastern, via Zoom for our fall virtual career fair. The National
Federation of the Blind career fairs are events for blind people seeking
jobs to connect with employers and are an opportunity for employers to seek
more talent for their teams. Registration is required by October 16, 2023.



·         Career Fair – Job Seeker
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nfb.org/form/career-fair-jobseeker-registration&source=gmail-imap&ust=1696352810000000&usg=AOvVaw1sJFfqzVl9JjmtdU1BSBeC>

·         Career Fair – Employer
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://nfb.org/form/career-fair-employer-registration&source=gmail-imap&ust=1696352810000000&usg=AOvVaw2oFSZJMZhxGHfw955Ioo-q>



To prepare job seekers, the Employment Committee will be hosting “Getting
the Most from Your Virtual Fair Experience,” an online seminar designed to
provide tips and techniques for creating the most positive experience while
attending the fair. Members will automatically be registered for the online
seminar once they have registered for the career fair. For more information
on the career fair or webinar, please contact Jennifer Wenzel , Employment
Committee chair, at jenwen319 at gmail.com, or Rachel Kuntz, employer liaison,
at rkuntz at saavi.us
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1x9qu3194t9sc/?%26cs%3Dwh%26v%3Db%26to%3Drkuntz@saavi.us&source=gmail-imap&ust=1696352810000000&usg=AOvVaw0K6n72Hey2kgq0ByLXJ2FV>
.



DATES  TO REMEMBER (All times eastern)



   - October 3, presidential Release
   - October: Blind Equality Achievement Month
   - October 18: *Where the Blind Work* Webinar, 8:00 p.m.
   - October 26: National Federation of the Blind Virtual Career Fair, 1:00
   p.m.
   - November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - December 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Planning the
   Year Ahead)

July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida