<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Best Regards,<div>Sheri Albers</div><div>513-886-8697</div><div><a href="mailto:Sheri.albers87@gmail.com">Sheri.albers87@gmail.com</a></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Richard Payne via Ohio-Talk <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk@nfbnet.org">ohio-talk@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> February 10, 2019 at 10:08:58 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> "'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'" <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk@nfbnet.org">ohio-talk@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Richard Payne <<a href="mailto:rchpay7@gmail.com">rchpay7@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[Ohio-talk] Updates and information</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk@nfbnet.org">ohio-talk@nfbnet.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><div dir="ltr"><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span>Greetings Ohio,</span><br><span>Today is a great reminder for me that I am not from Ohio, even though people</span><br><span>will say that I have been here forever. So, I should be use to the cold</span><br><span>weather. The older that I get I can remember my grandfather and grandmother</span><br><span>standing by the wood fire and wondering how they could be so close to it</span><br><span>without burning up. We can hope that after this ever-changing weather that</span><br><span>spring time will come very soon.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Several of us attended the Washington seminar and in the body of this</span><br><span>message you will find information about the legislative issues, Disability</span><br><span>Employment Act (DEA), Greater Accessibility and Independence through</span><br><span>Nonvisual Access Act (GAIN) and Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA).</span><br><span>I would like to take this opportunity and thank Mike and Sheri for their</span><br><span>work for keeping the five teams on tract. Those members who were able to</span><br><span>attend, especially those who were new, Andrea and Ali; I am equally pleased</span><br><span>with your commitment and work.</span><br><span></span><br><span>We had a very good informational call on February 4th, and I hope members</span><br><span>who attended found it to be productive. We talked about the braille literacy</span><br><span>classes and if you wish to become a student, you should apply by February</span><br><span>22nd. This is a great opportunity for people to start learning Braille in a</span><br><span>wonderful setting. The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio promotes</span><br><span>the belief that Braille is not obsolete. You can find more information about</span><br><span>the Ohio Braille Literacy Classes, at the bottom of this email.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Eric Duffy will be coordinating the Braille Enrichment for Literacy and</span><br><span>Learning (BELL) training and he is still taking names for volunteers. This</span><br><span>training will be held on April 5th and 6th. Please reach out to him if you</span><br><span>have questions and wish to volunteer. The BELL Academy is very important,</span><br><span>and I know you will do your part to ensure that our blind youth learn and</span><br><span>use Braille. </span><br><span></span><br><span>The Board of Directors have agreed to a weekend of training, which will</span><br><span>include, extra training for the Columbus Seminar. In addition, the Board of</span><br><span>Directors meeting will be on Sunday, April 7th starting at 10:00 AM. After</span><br><span>that we will have training for current leaders and those who we can identify</span><br><span>as members who will grow from attending this lucrative training. Calling all</span><br><span>Chapter Presidents, we are counting on you to be present! However, if you</span><br><span>cannot then let me know why you will not be able to do so. . That Monday</span><br><span>morning, February 8th and the 9th and throughout the day; Mike and Sheri who</span><br><span>are the co-chairs of the Legislative Committee will create an agenda. This</span><br><span>will acclimate you to the seminar along with introducing you to Ohio State</span><br><span>Reps who will come and fellowship with us. The Co-Chairs will start</span><br><span>sending out more information about that very soon and Tuesday morning we</span><br><span>will visit the 99 Ohio State Reps in Columbus. We need to know if you will</span><br><span>be able to attend and how can we assist you to assure that happens. Please</span><br><span>reach out to us very soon.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The Ohio State Convention is one of the most important events that we do</span><br><span>during the year. The 2019 State of Ohio Convention will be held November 1st</span><br><span>to November 3rd, at the DoubleTree Columbus/Worthington Hotel.</span><br><span>Incidentally, this is the same location for all activities and trainings in</span><br><span>April. The address is 175 Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43235</span><br><span><a href="http://ColumbusWorthington.DoubleTree.com">ColumbusWorthington.DoubleTree.com</a> .</span><br><span></span><br><span>Ohio, this week the NFBOH has several meetings to attend. We will be</span><br><span>attending a meeting with Disability Rights of Ohio (DRO) working on issues</span><br><span>of similar concerns. Also, The chairs of the legislative committee have</span><br><span>meetings arranged Tuesday morning and others on Wednesday to visit the Ohio</span><br><span>State House in preparation for our Columbus seminar. Finally, we will also</span><br><span>meet with director Miller on this Tuesday to talk about issues and projects</span><br><span>that we can work on together, for example, the Braille Literacy Program. </span><br><span></span><br><span>2019 Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans: Priorities for the 116th</span><br><span>Congress, First Session</span><br><span>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends</span><br><span>who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work</span><br><span>together to help blind people live the lives we want.</span><br><span>The Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA)</span><br><span>The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most</span><br><span>blind Americans. By providing a refundable tax credit for qualifying</span><br><span>purchases, Congress will stimulate individual procurement of this technology</span><br><span>and promote affordability of these tools.</span><br><span>Read the 2019 ATAA fact sheet</span><br><span><<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/access-te">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/access-te</a></span><br><span>chnology-affordability-act> .</span><br><span></span><br><span>Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology</span><br><span>(GAIN) Act</span><br><span>Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals</span><br><span>from independently operating essential devices that enhance quality of life.</span><br><span>Congress must end the digital divide that threatens the independence of</span><br><span>blind Americans by developing minimum accessibility requirements for such</span><br><span>devices.</span><br><span>Read the 2019 GAIN fact sheet</span><br><span><<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/greater-a">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/greater-a</a></span><br><span>ccessibility-and-independence-through> .</span><br><span></span><br><span>The Disability Employment Act (DEA)</span><br><span>An outdated approach to employment fails to adequately equip workers with</span><br><span>disabilities for the challenges of the twenty-first century. The Disability</span><br><span>Employment Act will spur innovation that will increase and enhance modern</span><br><span>employment opportunities for people with disabilities.</span><br><span>Read the 2019 DEA fact sheet</span><br><span><<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/disabilit">https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/disabilit</a></span><br><span>y-employment-act> .</span><br><span>These priorities will remove obstacles to education, employment, and</span><br><span>independent living. We</span><br><span></span><br><span>You should consider Applying for the 2019 Ohio Beginning Braille Program</span><br><span>Interested in learning Braille? The application for the 2019 Ohio Beginning</span><br><span>Braille program is now available via the link below. After filling out the</span><br><span>application, please submit it to Marianne Denning at <a href="mailto:Marianne@denningweb.com">Marianne@denningweb.com</a></span><br><span><<a href="mailto:Marianne@denningweb.com">mailto:Marianne@denningweb.com</a>> or Debra Baker at <a href="mailto:dgventure915@gmail.com">dgventure915@gmail.com</a></span><br><span><<a href="mailto:dgventure915@gmail.com">mailto:dgventure915@gmail.com</a>> . You may also contact them with any</span><br><span>questions. You must be a resident of Ohio and at least 14 years of age in</span><br><span>order to participate.</span><br><span>2019 Ohio Beginning Braille Application</span><br><span><<a href="http://nfbohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Ohio-Student-Application-for-">http://nfbohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Ohio-Student-Application-for-</a></span><br><span>Beginning-Braille-for-2019.docx> </span><br><span></span><br><span> For the first time in our history, the largest annual gathering of</span><br><span>the organized blind will be in Las Vegas, Nevada. We are excited to be</span><br><span>hosting our convention at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (3950</span><br><span>S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119). </span><br><span> * The room rate is 99 per night applies to singles and doubles as</span><br><span>well as triples and quads.</span><br><span> * Hotel and sales taxes are 13.38 percent and 8.25 percent,</span><br><span>respectively. The resort fee (normally $37 a night) will be waived for NFB</span><br><span>convention attendees. However, fees for internet access, local and toll-free</span><br><span>calls, and fitness center access may apply.</span><br><span> * To make reservations for the 2019 convention, you can call the</span><br><span>hotel at 877-632-7800. The hotel will take a deposit of the first night's</span><br><span>room rate for each room and will require a credit card or a personal check.</span><br><span>If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card</span><br><span>immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Friday, June 1, 2019, half</span><br><span>of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.</span><br><span> * The 2019 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will</span><br><span>be a truly exciting and memorable event, with an unparalleled program and</span><br><span>rededication to the goals and work of our movement. Make plans now to be a</span><br><span>part of it. Preconvention seminars for parents of blind children and other</span><br><span>groups and set-up of the exhibit hall will take place on Sunday, July 7, and</span><br><span>adjournment will be Friday, July 12, following the banquet. Convention</span><br><span>registration and registration packet pick-up will begin on Monday, July 8,</span><br><span>and both Monday and Tuesday will be filled with meetings of divisions and</span><br><span>committees, including the Tuesday morning's annual meeting, open to all, of</span><br><span>the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind. </span><br><span>General convention sessions will begin on Wednesday, July 10, and continue</span><br><span>through the banquet on Friday, July 12.</span><br><span></span><br><span>A DELICIOUS WAY TO SUPPORT the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio</span><br><span>Purchase gift cards from Honey Baked Ham. Your purchase will help support</span><br><span>the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio as we help blind Ohioans. We</span><br><span>are a diverse group of people dedicated to changing what it means to be</span><br><span>blind. Our members work tirelessly to break down the legal, social, and</span><br><span>personal barriers to living the lives we want. We also have a scholarship</span><br><span>program for exceptional blind students. The order page can be found at the</span><br><span>following link: Honey Baked Ham Fundraiser</span><br><span><<a href="https://honeybakedfundraising.com/fundraisers/nfb_of_ohio_fundraiser">https://honeybakedfundraising.com/fundraisers/nfb_of_ohio_fundraiser</a>> .</span><br><span></span><br><span>You should feel free to contact me at any time. While my phone and email are</span><br><span>always busy, we can talk. We are all volunteers and many of us volunteer our</span><br><span>talents and give tirelessly; so the plan has always been and will continue</span><br><span>to be that by working together we will help blind Ohioans to live the life</span><br><span>they want. </span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>Richard Payne, President</span><br><span>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio</span><br><span>937-396-5573or 937/829/3368</span><br><span><a href="mailto:Rchpay7@gmail.com">Rchpay7@gmail.com</a></span><br><span>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the</span><br><span>characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the</span><br><span>expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles</span><br><span>between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;</span><br><span>blindness is not what holds you back</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"></div></blockquote></body></html>