[Iabs-talk] {Spam?} Fwd: ICBV Office Update March 22, 2016
Denise Avant
davant1958 at gmail.com
Wed Mar 23 12:59:54 UTC 2016
Denise R. Avant
President, National Federation Of The Blind Of Illinois
Live the life you want
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: ICBV Office Update March 22, 2016
> Date: March 22, 2016 at 10:03:42 PM CDT
> To: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
> Reply-To: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
>
> ICBV Office Update
> March 22, 2016
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>Note; I was on the road last week so no Office Update was published, and as we all know it was a busy last couple of weeks politically with the General Elections and all. The first 22 pages are all political. If you would like to be able to move around the Office Updates without reading all of the pages, open the attached Word document and use links to move from contents to content.
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>
> *1) Calendar of Events
> *2) IAMC Legislative Report March 11
> *3) Cullen & Associates Election Update March 16
> *4) IAMC Legislative Report March 18
> *5) NCD Applauds the Senate Commerce Committee for a Series of Hearings on Self-Driving Vehicles
> *6) Service, The Customer Service Startup, Launches its iOS App
> *7) An Introduction to Apple Watch
> *8) Vision Research – Repairing or Replacing the Optic Nerve: New Frontiers in Vision Technology Research
> *9) College Basketball Accessible NCAA Tournament Bracket
> *10) Hadley Institute for the Blind & Visually Impaired
> Bringing Non-Visual Access to a Social Network Playing Field
> *11) This Week on Eyes on Success
> Caataract Surgery in Developing Countries
> Blind Active Duty Police Officer – part 1
> *12) Service Animal, Therapy Dog, or Pet: How Can You Tell the Difference and What Can be Done?
> *13) Prime Opportunity to Make More Progress on Our Legislative Priorities
> *14) Broker News
> Burdette Beckman
> Saverino & Associates
> *15) RSA Buying Group Information
>
> **1 Calendar of Events
> April 12, 2016 1:00 pm
> The RSA Management Group will once again be conducting a Randolph-Sheppard training in conjunction with the NAMA Conference in Chicago. The training will begin at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 12th, and will take up the remainder of the afternoon. Details about the meeting room and agenda will be provided later. I hope to see a lot of blind vendors and SLA staff there. But if you can only make one trip to Chicago this year, we will see you at BLAST May 17-20. Be sure to check out our website at www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/> about BLAST.
>
> April 13, 2016 10:30 a.m.
> Equip for Equality will be hosting a meeting on Wednesday, April
> 13, 2016 to discuss legal issues impacting persons with vision impairments or blindness in Illinois. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit input from the blind community on what issues are important, in order to provide guidance to EFE on case acceptance and proactive initiatives. The meeting will take place from 10:30 a.m. until noon at EFE's offices at 20 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 300, Chicago, Illinois 60602. Barry Taylor and Amy Peterson will participate on behalf of Equip for Equality. This meeting is open to the public and all interested persons are encouraged to attend. Please call (312) 895-7346 (voice) or (800) 610-2779 (TTY) or write cecille at equipforequality.org <mailto:cecille at equipforequality.org> to reserve your space or request an accommodation. Accommodations should be requested two weeks in advance, if possible.
>
> May 17 -20, 2016
> From the National Association of Blind Merchants -
> Registration is open for the Windy City BLAST. Our training conference will be held May 17-20, 2016, at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. Exciting things are being planned and we hope you will plan on joining us for this premiere training opportunity. Visit www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/> to register now and book your hotel room.
>
> The most exciting thing is we have signed a deal with Disney to do a one-day pre-conference training. The training is entitled “The Disney Approach to Business Excellence” and will be held on Tuesday, May 17th from 8:00 – 4:00. This training is outstanding.
>
> To All Illinois Members and Trainees:
> Disney Training - ICBV will cover $50 of the $100.00 cost to attend for Illinois members and trainees. Your $50.00 deposit is due in the ICBV office by March 1, 2016. The check is to be made payable to ICBV and mailed to 53 West Jackson, Suite 502, Chicago, IL 60604. If a manager would like to bring a guest to the Disney Training, the full $100.00 for the guest is also due in the office by March 1st.
>
> So mark your calendar and (those in Illinois) please contact Letia Gossard at 217-558-2321 by February 11, 2016 to express your interest in attending "Windy City BLAST" as well as the Disney Training. It is imperative that we get a head count as soon as possible.
>
> Also please note that anyone bringing a guest to BLAST in order for your guest to attend general sessions and planned meals they will also have to be registered for BLAST at NABM at www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**2 IAMC Legislative Report on the 99th General Assembly March 11, 2016 Prepared by BP Consultants
> Introduction: The following Legislative Report includes Legislation from the 2016 Session of the 99th General Assembly. This report has been prepared by BP Consultants on behalf of IAMC.
>
> We have included bills that we believe may be of interest to your organization. Please review this report carefully to see if we have included all areas of interest. If we have included legislation that is not relevant or legislation that you do not wish to track, please let me know and they will be removed. If you would like for your organization’s positions on bills to be included in the report, please send that information to me at desiharris at msn.com and it will be incorporated.
>
> Only the Senate was in session this past week. After the Primary Election on Tuesday, March 15th, the Senate returns for two days of session on Wednesday, March 16th and the House is not scheduled to return until Monday, April 4th. Please note that the deadline to report substantive bills from committee is Friday, April 8th.
>
> The Senate has been focusing on appropriations committee hearings on the Governor’s FY17 budget proposal, even though there still is not an FY16 budget in place. On Thursday several of the state universities detailed the severe budget cuts anticipated for FY17 based on the Governor’s proposal (approximately 20% reduction). They have had to operate all of this fiscal year without any state funds, with most of them using up any reserves on hand to stay open. University leaders said that the failure to pass a budget is leading to layoffs and students deciding to go elsewhere for an education.
>
> During his FY17 Budget Address, the Governor outlined two paths to enact a budget – either implement his cost-savings proposals in exchange for a $36.3 billion budget with revenue increases, accompanied by business and government reforms, or pass a lean $32.8 billion budget at the estimated current revenue level and give him authority to unilaterally make $4 billion in cuts.
>
> This past week the Senate Executive Committee began hearings on the Governor’s Unbalanced Budget Response Act – part of the second budget pathway. Democrats raised concerns about several provisions in SB 2789 (Senator Radogno) , including allowing the Governor to cut higher education and other areas while holding the Road Fund and primary and secondary education funding safe. Republican Leader Christine Radogno said Republicans are willing to modify the measure, but something has to be done to find reforms and grow the economy. The bill was referred to the Senate floor by the Committee on Assignments and is on Second Reading.
>
> Governor Rauner also called for immediate passage of the preschool through high school education funding for FY17. In response, Senate President Cullerton said that he wants to see how individual school districts will fare under the proposal before voting on it. He said that last year Democrats approved a spending plan that increased funding by more than $250 million, “and still many of the schools serving impoverished students in this state lost millions of dollars in state funding.”
>
> Upcoming Important Dates and Deadlines:
> · March 15, 2016 – Primary Election
> · March 16, 2016 – Next Session Day for Senate
> · March 20 to April 3, 2016 – Spring Break for General Assembly
> · April 4, 2016 – Next Session Date for House
> · April 8, 2016 – Committee Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Chamber of Origin
> · April 22, 2016 – Third Reading Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Chamber of Origin
> · May 13, 2016 – Committee Deadline for Substantive Senate Bills in the House and Substantive
> House Bills in the Senate
> · May 27, 2016 – Third Reading Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Second Chamber
> · May 31, 2016 – Scheduled Adjournment
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**3 From Cullen & Associates - Election Update – March 16, 2016
> Illinois, home state to President Barack Obama, showed it will continue to be a traditional and reliable blue state this fall, as its March 15th primary revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the two political parties. Overall, in an election year filled with anger and surprises nationally, Illinois is staying with the status quo.
>
> For the Democrats, despite a late surge from Bernie Sanders, establishment presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the Illinois primary. She also won a sizable majority of the delegates from Illinois, and, coupled with her big wins in the south and in Ohio, is assured of the Democratic presidential nomination. Although the loss of the youth vote is a concern, she had in the primary and will continue to have in the General Election the support of the State's party organizations, labor, and the many minority communities in Illinois. Although Clinton will not generate the excitement or voter turnout that Obama did in Illinois in his two campaigns, the support of these groups, plus the fact that she is a native daughter of Illinois and will be the first female nominated for President by one of the two major political parties, will ensure her victory in this State. In the U.S. Senate primary, Representative Tammy Duckworth, a U. S. Army veteran severely wounded in Iraq, easily won her primary against two opponents. Like Clinton, she was strongly supported by the Democratic establishment and she received more than 60% of the vote in the three-way primary. These two women will be a formidable top of the ticket in Illinois and their coattails may be long.
>
> On the Republican side, the party never unified behind one candidate for President, with most of the establishment backing Jeb Bush, who never made it to Illinois, or John Kasich. Trump had only a limited organization in Illinois and had no big name supporters. However, with no organized opposition to him, he was able to easily tap in to voter anger, as he has elsewhere in the country, and win convincingly in the primary, with 40% of the vote. Some Republican leaders in Illinois have expressed concern with having Trump at the top of the ticket. The question in the fall, if he is the nominee, will be how far Illinois GOP leaders will embrace him, if at all.
>
> Traditionally in Illinois, state party organizations are controlled by the party leaders in the General Assembly. Governor Bruce Rauner, whose personal wealth and access to other campaign funds is unprecedented in Illinois history, however, has a strong hold over the Republican party in the State. Legislative Democratic leaders and Governor Rauner are locked in a bitter struggle over state policy (the State still does not have a Fiscal Year 2016 budget, for example), and this battle spilled over into the primary elections. The Governor’s allies heavily funded one Democrat House member from Chicago who supported the Governor in the Legislature. In an election that in total both sides spent more than $4 million, and in which even President Obama made an endorsement, the incumbent Democrat, Ken Dunkin, lost to the candidate supported by labor unions and Democrat leaders. Downstate, Governor Rauner sought to penalize incumbent Republican Senator Sam McCann for opposing him on a labor bill vote. In another expensive race, however, the Rauner-supported opponent to McCann lost, with McCann being helped by crossover Democratic votes.
>
> While the Dunkin and McCann races represent losses for Rauner and will be the headlines for tomorrow's newspapers, elsewhere within the Republican Party, Rauner did better. Avery Bourne and Sara Jimenez, two representatives recently appointed with the Governor's support, easily beat back primary challenges. Also in the central Illinois area, Rauner-supported candidate Brad Halbrook won an open seat, defeating two candidates, one of whom was endorsed by former governor Jim Edgar. All of these are safe Republican seats in the fall.
>
> In the Illinois Senate, two sitting Senate Democrats faced primary challengers, Senators Hastings and Van Pelt, and the incumbents were victorious. On the Republican side of the aisle, in addition to Senator McCann, Senator Dale Righter also faced a primary challenge that he successfully beat back.
>
> In the House, nine sitting House Democrats faced primary challengers, including Representatives Soto, Dunkin, Harper, Welch, D’Amico, Andrade, C. Mitchell, T. Jones, and Speaker Madigan, and four sitting House Republicans faced primary challengers, including Representatives Bourne, Wojcicki Jimenez, Reis and Phillips. All except Representative Dunkin won their primary races.
>
> Perhaps the real winner of this primary election cycle was big money. The 2016 legislative primaries were the most expensive in the State’s history, primarily due to the financial influence of independent expenditure committees and other traditional political action committees. Governor Rauner and his allies supported these independent expenditure committees, but his strong anti-union rhetoric and actions resulted in unions and other Democrat-affiliated organizations attempting to match these contributions. Illinois campaign law places caps on contributions to legislative races; however, those caps can be lifted if a candidate donates $100,000 of his/her personal money or if an independent expenditure committee, also known as a Super PAC, donates $100,000 for or against a legislative candidate. This primary election cycle, the contribution caps were shattered in 11 legislative races, 7 in the House and 4 in the Senate.
>
> Focus will now turn to the 2016 General Election. Democrats have super majorities in both Chambers of the Illinois General Assembly: 39-20 in the Senate and 71-47 in the House. In a year of discontent, and with the Governor's deep pockets at their disposal, Republicans could pick up some seats in the fall election. However, Clinton and Duckworth have the potential to have long coattails that could help Democratic legislative candidates. Those coattails, combined with a potential split in the Republican Party due to its presidential nominee and the state party's reliance on Governor Rauner for funding, could result in Democrat gains. In either event, Democrats are expected to retain control of both Chambers, which will likely mean two more years of battle between the Executive and the Legislative branches. Also in the fall, Republican Comptroller Leslie Muenger will face off against Democratic challenger Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza in a special election for state Comptroller.
>
> Below is a listing of Illinois’ state and federal primaries and results where available at the time of writing.
>
> Illinois Senate Races:
> Three Senate Democrats did not run for re-election, Senators Delgado and Noland, (contested seats) and Sullivan, and two Senate Republicans did not run for re-election, Senators Duffy and Leuchtefield, whose seats were contested.
>
> 2nd Senate District - Open Seat: Omar Acquino won this contest, and the contribution limits were lifted. This was a hotly-contested race for the Democratic nomination between Angelica Alfaro and Omar Acquino to replace retiring Democratic State Senator William Delgado. Angelica Alfaro, a charter school executive received significant independent expenditures from Illinois GO, Stand for Children, and Illinois Network of Charter Schools. Former Illinois House of Representatives aide Omar Acquino was backed significantly by organized labor.
>
> 5th Senate District: On the Democratic side, Incumbent Patricia Van Pelt easily defeated former Chicago Ward Alderman and Mayoral candidate Bob Fioretti. Van Pelt was strongly supported by the Senate Democratic organization and received outside help from independent expenditure committees Illinois GO and the Illinois Charter Schools Network. The contribution caps were lifted in this race.
>
> 19th Senate District: On the Democratic side, Incumbent Michael Hastings easily defeated challenger attorney Max Solomon.
>
> 22nd Senate District – Open Seat: On the Democratic side, Kane County Board member Cristina Castro defeated Illinois State Trooper Steve Caramelli to replace Democratic Senator Michael Noland, who vacated his seat to run for Congress.
>
> 26th Senate District – Open Seat: At the time of writing, McConchie is leading over his two opponents. This was a three -way race on the Republican side between Dan McConchie, the Vice-President of Americans United for Life; Casey Urlacher, the brother of Chicago Bears player Brian Urlacher; and Martin McLauglin, an investment advisor, to replace retiring Republican Senator Dan Duffy. The Liberty Principles PAC, an independent expenditure committee run by former Republican Gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft, was a big player in this race. Liberty Principles supported pro-life activist Dan McConchi, contributing over half a million dollars to his campaign efforts. While McLaughlin was underfunded, he managed to garner the endorsement of both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times. The contribution caps were lifted in this race.
>
> 50th Senate District: State Senator Sam McCann overcame an onslaught of negative ads to defeat opponent Bryce Benton in this bitter battle. McCann broke ranks with Republican colleagues when he twice supported union-backed legislation to send the AFSCME contract to binding arbitration. Benton was supported by Governor Rauner and Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles PAC. The contribution caps were lifted in this race.
>
> 55th Senate District: On the Republican side, incumbent State Senator Dale Righter easily defeated challenger Mike Parsons, a local farmer.
>
> 58th Senate District – Open Seat: On the Republican side, attorney Paul Schimpf defeated attorney Sharee Langenstein to replace retiring Senator Dave Luechtefeld. The winner will face Democratic candidate Shelia Simon, daughter of former US Senator Paul Simon, in the General Election.
>
> Illinois House Races:
> There were two House Democrats who did not seek re-election, Representatives Acevedo and Verschoore, whose seats were contested. Representative Reaves Harris and Jackson also did not seek re-election, and their seats did not have Democratic primary challenges. Melissa Conyears, in Reaves Harris’ district, and LaToya Greenwood in Jackson’s district, will be the Democratic nominees.
>
> Three House Republicans did not seek re-election; Representatives Tryon, Moffit, and Brown, whose seats were all contested. House Republicans had four primaries in seats currently held by House Democrats. Representatives Ed Sullivan and David Leitch also did not run for re-election, and their seats did not have Republican primary challenges. Nick Sauer, in Sullivan’s district, and Ryan Spain, in Leitch’s district, will be the Republican nominees.
>
> 2nd Representative District – Open Seat: On the Democratic side, in this bitter contest to replace retiring Representative Edward Acedvedo, educator Theresa Mah narrowly defeated Alex Acevedo, a nurse and son of retiring Representative Edward Acevedo.
>
> 4th Representative District: In this hotly-contested race on the Democratic side, incumbent Cynthia Soto easily defeated challenger and political newcomer Robert Zwolinski.
>
> 5th Representative District: This was a bitter race on the Democratic side between incumbent Ken Dunkin and challenger Juliana Stratton, with Stratton defeating Dunkin. This race is reported to be the most expensive legislative primary race in Illinois history. The contribution caps were off in this race.
>
> 6th Representative District: On the Democratic side, this was a four-way race. Appointed incumbent Representative Sonya Harper defeated challengers Darryl Smith, Kenyatta Vaughn, and Genita Robinson.
>
> 7th Representative District: On the Democratic side, incumbent Representative Chris Welch defeated challenger Chris Harris.
>
> 15th Representative District; On the Democratic side, incumbent Representative John D’Amico defeated challenger Jac Charlier.
>
> 22nd Representative District: On the Democratic side, incumbent House Speaker Michael Madigan easily defeated his three challengers Jason Gonzales, Joe Barboz, and Grasiela Rodriguez. The contribution caps were off in this race.
>
> 26th Representative District: On the Democratic side, this race was a rematch from two years ago. Incumbent Representative Christian Mitchell defeated challenger Jay Travis in another hard fought battle. Travis was heavily supported by the Chicago Teacher’s Union and the Illinois Federation for Teachers. Mitchell was supported by the Illinois Education Association and various groups that support charter schools. Mitchell benefited from independent expenditures from Illinois GO and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. The contribution caps were off in this race.
>
> 29th Representative District: On the Democratic side, incumbent Representative Thaddeus Jones defeated challengers Will Tillman and Kenny Williams.
>
> 40th Representative District: In this hotly-contested race on the Democratic side, incumbent Representative Jaime Andrade, Jr. defeated challenger Harish Patel.
>
> 63rd Representative District: On the Republican side, this race pitted Steven Reick against Jeffery Lichte. At the time of this writing, Reick holds a slight lead but there are still several precincts to be counted. The winner will face Incumbent Democratic Representative Jack Franks on November 8th.
>
> 66th Representative District – Open Seat: Allen Skillcorn is leading in this contest at the time of writing. The contribution caps were off in this race. On the Republican side, Dan Wilbrandt, Allen Skillicorn, an East Dundee trustee and vice chairman of the Kane County Republican Party, and Carolyn Schofield, a McHenry County Board member were vying to replace retiring Republican Representative Mike Tryon. Skillicorn benefited from financial assistance from the Dan Proft’s Independent Expenditure Committee Liberty Principles. Schofield was supported by the Illinois Education Association, Republican State Senator Pam Althoff, and Representative Tryon. The winner will face Democratic candidate Nancy Zettler in November.
>
> 72nd Representative District – Open Seat: On the Democratic side, Michael Halpin defeated Jeffery Jacobs, Kate Hotle, and Glen Evans to replace retiring Democratic Representative Pat Verschoore. On the Republican Side, Brandi McGuire who received significant funding from Dan Proft’s Liberty Principles Pac defeated Jordan Thomas. Halpin will face McGuire in November.
>
> 74th Representative District – Open Seat: On the Republican side, Daniel Swanson defeated Wayne Saline, and Michael DeSutter to replace retiring Republican Representative Don Moffitt. The winner will face Democratic candidate Bill Butts in the General Election.
>
> 76th Representative District: On the Republican side, Jerry Long defeated Jacob Bramel. Long will face appointed Representative Andy Skoog in November. Skogg was recently appointed to replace Representative Frank Mautino who resigned his seat after being appointed to the position of State Auditor General.
>
> 95th Representative District: On the Republican side, appointed Representative Avery Bourne defeated Dennis Scobbie and Christopher Hicks. Bourne was appointed to replace Representative Wayne Rosenthal who was appointed Director of the Department of Natural Resources. Bourne will face Mike Mathis in November.
>
> 96th Representative District: On the Republican side, Cindy Deadrick Wolfer defeated Gary Pierce. Wolfer will take on Incumbent Democratic Representative Sue Scherer in November.
>
> 99th Representative District: On the Republican side, appointed Representative Sara Wojcicki Jimenez defeated Kent Gray. Jimenz was appointed to replace Representative Raymond Poe who was recently appointed Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Representative Jimenez will face Democratic candidate Tony DeIgiorno in November.
>
> 102nd Representative District – Open Seat: On the Republican side, this race became a battle of gubernatorial endorsements between Governor Rauner and former Republican Governor Jim Edgar who has become increasingly critical of the current Governor. Former State Representative Brad Halbrook, supported by Governor Rauner, defeated Randy Peterson and James Acklin, who was supported by former governor Jim Edgar, to replace retiring Representative Adam Brown. The contribution caps were off in this race.
>
> 109th Representative District: On the Republican side, incumbent David Reis easily defeated challenger John Curtis.
>
> 110th Representative District: On the Republican side, incumbent Reggie Phillips defeated challenger Johnathan Kaye.
>
> US Senate Race:
> On the Democratic side, Congressman Tammy Duckworth defeated former prosecutor Andrea Zopp and State Senator Napoleon Harris. On the Republican side, Senator Mark Kirk defeated challenger James Marter. Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth will face Incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk in the General Election.
>
> Illinois Congressional Races:
> At the Congressional level, Raja Krishnamoorthi won a contested Democrat primary to replace Duckworth in the House. If elected in the fall he would become the first Indian-American elected to the U. S. House of Representatives from Illinois. He will face a stiff challenge from Republican Pete DiCianni but the suburban Chicago district leans Democrat, more so during presidential election years. Incumbent Democratic Congressman Bobby Rush of Chicago easily beat back what had been expected to be a strong challenge from a former supporter. Downstate, incumbent Republicans John Shimkus and Rodney Davis had no troubles defeating challengers. Of Illinois' 18 Congressional districts, only three look to be competitive this fall. These are the open 8th District, which features Krishnamoorthi against DiCianni, the 10th district in north suburban Chicago, and the 12th district in deep downstate Illinois. In these races incumbent Republicans Robert Dold and Freshman Mike Bost will have to worry about the coattail effect. Two-term incumbent Democrat Cheri Bustos of the 17th District (Quad Cities area) has had two difficult campaigns, but this is not the year to be running against an incumbent female Democrat.
>
> 1st Congressional District: On the Democratic Side, incumbent Bobby Rush defeated challengers Patrick Brutus and Howard Borrkins Jr. On the Republican side, August Deuser, defeated Jimme Tillman, II.
>
> 2nd Congressional District: On the Democratic side, incumbent Robin Kelly defeated challengers Marcus Lewis, Dorian Myrickes, Charles Rayburn, and John Morrow.
>
> 4th Congressional District: On the Democratic side, incumbent Luis Guitierrez defeated challenger Javier Slas.
>
> 5th Congressional District: On the Democratic side, incumbent Mike Quigley defeated challengers Rob Shermand and Girzz Grimsely.
>
> 6th Congressional District: On the Democratic side, Amanda Howland leads opponent Robert Marshall at the time of writing. On the Republican side, Incumbent Peter Roskam defeated challenger Jay Kinzler. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Roskam in November.
>
> 7th Congressional District: Incumbent Danny Davis defeated challenger Thomas Day.
>
> 8th Congressional District: Raja Krishnomoorthi defeated State Senator Michael Nolan and Deborah Bullwinkel to replace Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth who is seeking election to the US Senate. Krishnomoorthi will face Republican challenger Pete DiCianni in November.
>
> 10th Congressional District: On the Democratic side, incumbent Brad Schneider is leading against challenger Nancy Rotering at the time of this writing. Scnhieder will face incumbent Congressman Robert Dold in November, which will be the third time the two have faced off in a Congressional race.
>
> 11th Congressional District: On the Republican side, Tonia Khouri is currently leading over opponents Nick Stella and Herman White at the time of writing. The winner will face incumbent Congressman Bill Foster on November 8th.
>
> 13th Congressional District: On the Republican side, incumbent Congressman Rodney Davis defeated challenger Ethan Vandersand of Carrollton. Congressman Davis will face Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur in the General Election.
>
> 14th Congressional District: On the Democratic side, Jim Walz of Gurnee is leading over John Hosta of Spring Grove and Jesse Maggitt of Plainfield at the time of writing. The winner will face incumbent Republican Congressman Randy Hultgren in November.
>
> 15th Congressional District: On the Republican side, incumbent Congressman John Shimkus defeated a challenge from State Senator Kyle McCarter.
>
> 17th Congressional District: On the Republican side, Patrick Harlan of Galesburg defeated Jack Boccardossa of Milan. Harlan will take on Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Cherri Bustos on November 8th.
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**4 IAMC Legislative Report on the 99th General Assembly 2016 Spring Session March 18, 2016 Prepared by BP Consultants for IAMC
>
> The attached Legislative Report includes legislation from the 2016 Session of the 99th General Assembly. This report has been prepared by BP Consultants on behalf of IAMC.
>
> We have included bills that we believe may be of interest to your organization. Please review this report carefully to see if we have included all areas of interest. If we have included legislation that is not relevant or legislation that you do not wish to track, please let me know and they will be removed. If you would like for your organization’s positions on bills to be included in the report, please send that information to me at desiharris at msn.com and it will be incorporated.
>
> Only the Senate was in session this past week. Both chambers will now begin their spring break with the House returning on Monday, April 4th and the Senate returning on Tuesday, April 5th. Attached is the committee hearing schedule for this next week. Please note that the deadline to report substantive bills from committee is Friday, April 8th.
>
> This week the Senate passed a new version of a bill designed to get billions of dollars to universities, college students and a variety of human services programs. SB 2059 (President Cullerton and Speaker Madigan) appropriates more than $3.8 billion for FY16 for programs that aren’t covered by continuing appropriations, court orders or consent decrees, including $1.8 billion for university operations and grants to needy students under the Monetary Award Program, and another $472 million for various human services programs such as autism, sexual assault, addiction services, mental health and after school programs. Much of the bill is similar to HB 2990 (Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton) which was passed by the House a couple of weeks ago but remains in the Senate Committee on Assignment. However, SB 2059 includes additional appropriations for things like library grants, Amtrak service, soil and water conservation districts and the Lincoln Papers project that weren’t included in HB 2990. The bill was passed on a partisan roll call and now goes to the House for consideration. Governor Rauner said the bill will do nothing to actually put cash into the hands of those recipients because there isn’t enough to go around as it is.
>
> During testimony before a Senate appropriations committee on Thursday, Comptroller Munger said that the state’s total amount of overdue bills is even higher than previously reported and could hit $10 billion by summer. In addition to the projected $7.6 billion backlog of money owed due to court orders, there is another $1.25 billion not included in the total because that is money owed to vendors under contract for services that are not currently covered by appropriations, court orders or consent decrees. Munger said those additional bills are primarily for social services and higher education. For example, on Wednesday, Department of Human Services Secretary James Dimas testified that the agency owes $168 million in back payments to more than 800 contractors.
>
> Upcoming Important Dates and Deadlines:
> • March 20 to April 3, 2016 – Spring Break for General Assembly
> • April 4, 2016 – Next Session Date for House
> • April 5, 2016 – Next Session Day for Senate
> • April 8, 2016 – Committee Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Chamber of Origin
> • April 22, 2016 – Third Reading Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Chamber of Origin
> • May 13, 2016 – Committee Deadline for Substantive Senate Bills in the House and Substantive House Bills in the Senate
> • May 27, 2016 – Third Reading Deadline for Substantive Bills in the Second Chamber
> • May 31, 2016 – Scheduled Adjournment
>
> Thank you,
> Desi Harris
> desiharris at msn.com <mailto:desiharris at msn.com>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**5 From Lawrence Carter Long – National Council on Disability
> Posted: March 16, 2016 Link: https://t.co/vaNT4fk251 <https://t.co/vaNT4fk251>
> WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Council on Disability (NCD)—an independent federal agency that advises the President, Congress, and other federal agencies on disability policy—applauds the Senate Commerce Committee for a series of hearings on self-driving vehicles, which begin Tuesday, March 15 and featured a slate of industry witnesses to explore “advancements in autonomous vehicle technology and its anticipated benefits for Americans,” according to the Committee.
>
> "Self-driving cars are some of the most exciting innovations in transportation since the Model T first rolled off the assembly line in 1913,” said NCD Chairperson Clyde Terry. “Autonomous vehicles hold tremendous potential for people with disabilities and seniors who currently lack equal access to transportation. When the needs of those with a variety of disabilities, including blindness, are considered during the development of transportation innovations, everybody benefits. We’re grateful that industry is paving potential new roads of access with the creation of autonomous vehicles, and agree with Chris Urmson, Google’s Director of Self-Driving Cars, who testified at yesterday’s hearing about a blind stakeholder who told Google, ‘What this is really about is who gets to access travel and commerce and who doesn’t. Frankly, I’m tired of people with disabilities not being able to access cars."
>
> "NCD is proud to have been representing the disability community from the beginning of federal policy conversations on this new technology, since the publication of our autonomous vehicles report in 2015,” continued Terry. “We look forward to continuing to inform future discussions among industry leaders, policymakers, and disability advocates to optimize access to, and use of, this emerging technology going forward.”
>
> Why Self-Driving Cars Are Important to 57 Million Americans with Disabilities:
>
> -- Autonomous vehicles, or AVs, hold great potential to advance social inclusion by offering people with a variety of disabilities, including blindness, independent mobility to get to school, get jobs, and participate that other Americans take for granted each day. They offer the possibility of ending the isolation many people who are aging experience by keeping connections with others through common activities that are often lost when people lose the ability to drive.
>
> -- AV technology holds the key for independent use of vehicles by people who cannot hold a driver’s license. However, without explicit inclusion of accessibility in the development of AV technologies, the potential for independence decreases. For example, equal access to the internet for people who are blind, have low-vision or other disabilities was not considered by web developers, and many people with disabilities experienced unnecessary obstacles to information (e.g., text that is inaccessible to screen reader software, lack of captions on audio content, keyboard-only navigation). Untapped markets were neglected. This is a lesson for AV researchers and engineers—now is the time to commit to and ensure equal accessibility while at the same time amassing market share.
>
> -- Once level 4 AVs (i.e., fully self-driving cars) are available, there is no reason for an occupant to be licensed at all. In order for people with a variety of disabilities to benefit from the technology, licensing or operating requirements should be consistent across all 50 states. National guidelines developed by the United States Department of Transportation should help states develop licensing requirements that do not impose undue or unnecessary limits on people with disabilities.
>
> NCD’s report “Self-Driving Cars: Mapping Access to a Technology Revolution” can be read or downloaded from:
> http://www.ncd.gov/publications/2015/self-driving-cars-mapping-access-technology-revolution <http://www.ncd.gov/publications/2015/self-driving-cars-mapping-access-technology-revolution>
>
> To read or quote NCD’s testimony to the March 15 Senate Commerce Committee, go to:
> http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/2016/SenateCommerceAVWrittenTestimony <http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/2016/SenateCommerceAVWrittenTestimony>
>
> About the National Council on Disability (NCD): First established as an advisory Council within the Department of Education in 1978, NCD became an independent federal agency in 1984. In 1986, NCD recommended enactment of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and drafted the first version of the bill which was introduced in the House and Senate in 1988. Since enactment of the ADA in 1990, NCD has continued to play a leading role in crafting disability policy, and advising the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policies, programs, and practices.
>
> National Council on Disability
> 1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
> Washington, DC 20004
> 202-272-2004 Voice
> 202-272-2074 TTY
> 202-272-2022 Fax
> Website:
> http://www.ncd.gov/ <http://www.ncd.gov/>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**6 Shared by Joe Urbanek, SC
> Service, The Customer Service Startup, Launches Its iOS App
> Posted Dec 17, 2015 by Fitz Tepper (@fitztepper)
>
> Service, the LA-based customer service startup that recently closed a $3.1M seed round, just launched its iOS app.
>
> As a refresher, Service acts as an intermediary between disappointed customers and businesses. For example, instead of a customer having to fill out a generic complaint form for an airline or retailer they contact Service, who have dedicated support staff to contact the company and attempt to resolve their issue.
>
> Before today, cases were initiated via Service’s website, and customers could then either communicate with their personal problem solver via a web interface or email. Now, Service’s iOS app will allow customers to do this all from their mobile devices.
>
> Michael Schneider, founder and CEO of Service, explained that a native app will allow users to more easily upload photos and documentation of their cases, as well as subscribe to push notifications to stay up to date on the progress of their case.
>
> Schneider also hinted at using location services to eventually proactively offer help depending on a users location – I.E after an airport trip or hotel stay.
>
> Speaking of travel, Service’s top three categories for help requests are travel, telecommunications, and retail. The holiday season is a time when most of us frequently travel and shop, which is why the young startup rushed to released the app before the holidays.
>
> In terms of retention, the company says about 25 percent of users have come back and used Service more than once. When asked if this high retention rate suggests that Service is just making it easier for people to complain, Schneider said that the service is instead acting as an alternative to public feedback sites such as Yelp and Twitter. The result is that brands get to avoid the long-term brand damage of angry social media posts, while customers have a better chance at actually getting some resolve from the issue.
>
> Interestingly, the company is also starting to develop direct relationships with companies like Uber and GoDaddy, where they are directly plugged into a higher level support channel. This strategy seems to be working, as the company has saved its users over $250,000 in its first six months.
>
> Service is available for download now on the iOS App Store.
>
> Article found at: http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/17/service-the-customer-service-startup-launches-its-ios-app/ <http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/17/service-the-customer-service-startup-launches-its-ios-app/>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**7 Shared by Joe Urbanek, SC
> An Introduction to the Apple Watch - Janet Ingber
> Apple began selling the long-awaited Apple Watch in May 2015. As with other Apple products, the watch is very accessible for VoiceOver users and has some good options for users with low vision. You will need to be familiar with VoiceOver commands to use the Watch. The Watch app on the iPhone is used to perform many tasks including removing third-party apps and adjusting settings on Apple pre-installed apps.
>
> The Apple Watch is not an iPhone on your wrist. You can use the Watch to make and answer phone calls, but your iPhone must be in Bluetooth range to do so. This goes for many other features including texting and e-mail. The watch does not have a headphone jack. Therefore, unless you're using a Bluetooth earpiece, everyone around you can hear your phone calls and VoiceOver.
>
> Many of the standard iOS apps come preloaded onto the watch including Mail, Phone, Messages, Calendar, and Maps, all of which are not removable. Of course, there are accessible third-party apps. For example, I have TimeBuzz, Retail Me Not, Just Press Record, and Steps.
>
> Find the full article at: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170305 <http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170305>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**8 Shared by Joe Urbanek, SC
> Vision Research - Repairing or Replacing the Optic Nerve: New Frontiers in Vision Technology Research by:Bill Holton
>
> In the September 2013 issue of AccessWorld , we described four groundbreaking advances in low vision enhancement, including the Implantable Miniature Telescope from VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, and the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis from Second Sight. The first of these is a pea-size telescopic lens that increases the useable vision of individuals who have lost central vision due to end-stage age-related onset macular degeneration. The Argus II is aimed toward people with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The Argus II uses a wireless signal to stimulate the optic nerve directly via an implanted array of electrodes, bypassing the rods and cones damaged by RP.
>
> As remarkable as these solutions may be, they do have one stumbling block in common: they each assume the recipient possesses a functioning optic nerve that can adequately transmit visual signals to the brain for processing. But what if the optic nerve has been damaged by glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, or trauma? Might there be some way to mend these most complex and fragile of nerve fibers? Or even better, bypass them altogether?
>
> In this article we will describe two recent research breakthroughs--one that shows the potential to help regenerate damaged optic nerves, and the second, a system called Gennaris, that may produce vision without the optic nerve, or even the eye itself.
>
> Regenerating an Optic Nerve
> The optic nerve is one of the most important nerves in the body, second only to the spinal cord (the spinal cord includes thousands of nerve strands while the optic nerve has but one). So fifteen years ago when Zhigang He, Professor of neurology at the Boston Children's Hospital F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center set up a lab to investigate ways to regenerate nerve fibers in people with spinal cord injuries, he decided the best place to start would be to attempt neural regeneration in damaged optic nerves as a proxy.
>
> Others have tried optic nerve regeneration or repair. The first attempts spliced bits of the sciatic nerve to replace damaged optic nerve. Most axons didn't regrow. About eight years ago, Dr. He's group tried gene excision to delete or block tumor-suppressing genes. This prompted some optic nerve regeneration, but it also increased cancer risks. Their recent work with Dr. Joshua Sanes at Harvard found a gene therapy strategy to enhance growth factor activities, which could mimic the regeneration effects induced by tumor suppressor deletion. Nevertheless, the number of regenerated axons by these approaches was limited.
>
> He and his co-senior-researcher, Boston Children's Hospital Assistant Professor of neurology Michela Fagiolini, took gene therapy a step further. They used a gene therapy virus called AAV to deliver three factors to boost growth factor responses into the retina, which is part of the optic nerve system.
>
> "Over time we were able to regenerate increasingly longer nerve fibers in mice with damaged optic nerves," he reports. "Unfortunately, the new neural fibers did not transmit impulses, known as action potentials, all the way from the eye to the brain, so there was no new vision."
>
> He and Fagiolini traced the problem to the fact that the new nerve fibers were growing without the fatty sheath called Myelin. Myelin insulates nerve fibers and keeps neural signals on track, much as the insulation surrounding a copper wire directs electrical current to the lamp instead of into the wall studs and outlets.
>
> Turning to the medical literature, he and Fagiolini read about a potassium channel blocker called 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) which is known to improve message conduction in nerve fibers that lack sufficient Myelin. Indeed, 4-AP is marketed as AMPYRA to treat MS-related walking difficulties, which also involve a loss of myelin.
>
> "When we administered 4-TP the signals were able to go the distance," says Fagiolini. A separate lab, where they did not know which of the blind mice had been treated, confirmed that the treated mice responded to moving bars of light while the control group did not.
>
> "There is still considerable work to be done before this treatment is ready for human trials," He says. For example, the team used a gene therapy virus to deliver the growth factors that stimulated optic nerve regeneration, but He and Fagiolini believe they can produce an injectable "cocktail" of growth factor proteins that could be equally effective. "We're trying to better understand the mechanisms and how often the proteins would have to be injected," says He.
>
> Also yet to be solved are the potential side effects of using 4-AP to increase optic nerve signal transmission. The medication can cause seizures if given chronically, so He and Fagiolini have begun testing non-FDA approved 4-AP derivatives which would be safer for long-term use. Despite the remaining hurdles, He and Fagiolini remain optimistic. "At least now we have a paradigm we can use to move forward," He says.
>
> The Mind's Eye
> Regenerating the optic nerve could help millions, but what if we could bypass the optic nerve altogether and see without one, or even without physical eyes? That's the goal of Arthur Lowery, Professor of electrical and computer systems engineering at Australia's Monash University. Lowery and his team are currently working on Gennaris, a system that will stimulate the brain's visual cortex directly, sending a grid of electrical impulses that the brain can interpret as recognizable patterns of light and dark.
>
> Research into "brain" vision goes back to the 1960s. "At that time you needed a room full of equipment to get any results at all," observes Lowery. "Even as little as ten or fifteen years ago, producing a grid of three hundred points of light meant passing a bundle of 300 separate wires from the brain to a large, external video camera." Lowery and his team are building on this previous work, taking advantage of the considerable progress which has been made over the past decade in processing power, component miniaturization, wireless data transmission, and induction power transmission such as that now found on some cell phones which can be placed atop the charger instead of needing to be plugged in.
>
> In normal vision, light passes through the eye's pupil and lens and stimulates rods and cones, which are the photo-receptive cells covering the retina. These photochemical signals are transformed into neural impulses, which in turn are transmitted along the optic nerve to the visual cortex. There, the brain turns these impulses into recognizable shapes and images, otherwise known as vision.
>
> As it happens, the neurons in the visual cortex can also be stimulated by contact with tiny electrodes. "We know from previous research that we can produce flashes of light that appear in roughly the same spot whenever that same region of the visual cortex is stimulated," states Lowery. "If we can create a number of these flashes more or less simultaneously, we can create a rudimentary grid of light and dark the brain could interpret as an image." Imagine a square of sixteen light bulbs creating the letter O by switching on the twelve perimeter bulbs and leaving the four center lights turned off. Or a letter L created by braille dots 1, 2, and 3, with the rest of the cell left blank.
>
> The Gennaris team hopes to create just such a grid using tiny ceramic tiles embedded directly onto a test subject's visual cortex. "Each tile is approximately 9 millimeters square--about a third of an inch--with forty-three working electrodes on each tile," Lowery explains. "These electrodes will penetrate 1.5 to 2 millimeters into the visual cortex, reaching what is known as Layer Four, the brain region most directly stimulated by the optic nerve."
>
> A small video camera will transmit real-time imagery to a pocket-size processing unit. There, special algorithms will determine the most essential aspects of each image and break them down into a running series of grids of light and dark. The grids will be streamed wirelessly to a magnetic induction coil placed against the back of the patient's head nearest the visual cortex. The induction coil will be able to remotely spawn a tiny charge in each of the electrodes as appropriate, which will then stimulate the visual cortex much the same way as the optic nerve would normally do.
>
> "We will actually have an advantage over implanted retinal prosthetics," says Lowery. "Most of our sharpest vision takes place in a tiny portion of the retina rich in rods and cones known as the fovea. The fovea is only about a square millimeter in size, so intraocular prosthetics must also make use of retinal tissue more associated with peripheral vision. The brain area that actually processes central vision is twenty-five times larger than the retinal tissue it services, however, which gives us potentially twenty-five times the resolution of a retinal implant."
>
> Lowery and his team hope to initiate their first clinical trials by the end of 2016. "We plan to begin with four tiles, but eventually we hope to increase that number to eleven," he states. "We also hope to reach ten frames a second in transmission speed." According to Lowery, the resolution could also potentially be enhanced many times over by coating the electrodes with special hormones called brain-derived neurotropic factors. "Instead of poking the brain neurons with electrodes, these chemicals would actually encourage the neurons to reach out and make contact and new connections, as though the electrodes were other brain cells."
>
> Also according to Lowery, realistic depictions of the world around us are not the be all and end all of Gennaris's potential. "We already have facial recognition that does a great job of identifying people. Imagine a special icon representing your husband or wife, others for each of your children that could include emotional content, smiles, tears, and the like. Direction and distance markers for doors, elevators, and windows would also be possible. We could even generate runway-light-like guidance systems to help navigate a warren of unfamiliar corridors, pointing out obstacles along the way."
>
> Article found at: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170307 <http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170307>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**9 From Flying Blind, LLC
> For those who follow college basketball, here is a very accessible NCAA tournament bracket: http://terrillthompson.com/ncaa/ <http://terrillthompson.com/ncaa/>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**10 From Hadley Institute for the Blind
> Seminars at Hadley Presents: Bringing Non-Visual Access to a Social Network Playing Field
> Date: Monday, March 28, 2016
> Time: 2:00 PM CDT; 20:00 GMT
> Social networks have emerged as a way for individuals to interact and develop personal networks. Would you like to learn more about how to work social networking opportunities into your daily use of technology, and how to deal with challenges that could hold you back?
>
> Join Seminars at Hadley as Larry Lewis, president and founder of Flying Blind, LLC, discusses how to take advantage of what dynamic social networking experience have to offer. Larry Muffett, a member of Hadley’s seminars team, will moderate this 60-minute seminar. A question and answer session will be included as part of the seminar.
>
> This seminar is an audio-only seminar. Space in this seminar is limited. Please only register if you are available to attend so that others are not closed out. Register Now for <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=803103&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D309>Social Networks <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=803103&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu> on March 28. <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=803103&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D310>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**11 This week on Eyes On Success:
> 1611 Cataract Surgery in Developing Countries (Mar. 9, 2016)
> Untreated cataracts are by far the leading cause of blindness throughout the world. Yet this is a treatable condition. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jacob Mohan Thazhathu, President and CEO of Help Me See, about how this problem can be solved with a low-cost and high-quality solution aimed at restoring sight to millions of people.
>
> 1612 Blind Active Duty Police Officer - part 1 (Mar. 16, 2016)
> Marlon Parieaho was working as a policeman when he lost his vision. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about how he successfully navigated the transition, learned to accommodate to his new situation, and how it impacted his relationship with his colleagues. Next week we'll hear his thoughts about blindness and what being blind means to him.
>
> The audio and show notes can be found at: http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/ <http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**12 Shared by Marion Gwizdala via Nfbnet – March 10, 2016
> National Association of Guide dog Users Inc.
> National Federation of the blind
> (813) 626-2789 Info at NAGDU.ORG
> http://www.nagdu.org/ <http://www.nagdu.org/>
>
> Teleseminar - Service Animal, Therapy Dog, or Pet: How can you tell the difference and what can be done?
>
> There is a growing concern about what exactly is a service dog under state and federal law. Many people have a misunderstanding about what is a service dog while others simply attempt to take advantage of the law in order to bring their pet into places where pets are prohibited. Businesses are unsure of their rights and, fearing civil and criminal penalties, adopt an overly permissive attitude that might compromise the use of legitimate service dogs.
>
> The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind and the leading advocate for sound service dog policy and law, will host Service Animal, Therapy Dog, or Pet: How can you tell the difference and what can be done? The teleseminar will be held on Monday, March 28 at 7:00 pm EDT and repeated on Wednesday, march 30 at 1:00 pm EDT. These teleseminars are absolutely free; however, space is limited and is on a first come first served basis. Reservations are required.
>
> Who Should Attend?
> This teleseminar is designed for both service animal users and businesses. It will help service animal users initiate a conversation with businesses about service animals while helping owners and operators of public accommodations understand their rights and responsibilities under the law. The goal of this workshop is to encourage proactive solutions to the challenges faced by service animal users and places of public accommodation through effective education and accurate information. In order to reserve your space in this teleseminar, please send your name, whether you are a service dog user or what business you represent, your city & state, your email address, and which teleseminar you wish to attend by Thursday, March 24, 2016 to Info at NAGDU.ORG <mailto:Info at NAGDU.ORG>
>
> If you represent a business, we would like to know the industry in which your business falls. This information will help us better plan the content of the teleseminar. If more than one person will represent a business, each individual must register for the teleseminar in order to ensure adequate facilities. An email confirmation with the call-in number and access codes will be sent to each registrant. Those without email access or who would like more information may call 888-624-3841 and leave a message with this information.
>
> Please note: This conference will be recorded. Participation in the conference implies an agreement to and authorization for such recording in compliance with state and federal laws. The information provided during this teleseminar is intended as informal guidance only and should not be construed as legal advice. The call-in telephone number is not toll-free; the National Association of Guide Dog Users, the National Federation of the Blind, or any of its affiliates, divisions, or chapters will not be responsible for any telephone charges or fees that may be incurred as the result of participation in this seminar.
>
> The National Association of Guide Dog Users operates the NAGDU Information & Advocacy Hotline, a national toll-free telephone service that provides information about the rights and responsibilities of service dog users. Callers can choose to listen to general information about the federal regulations concerning service animals, as well as industry-specific guidance for restaurants, taxicabs, and health care facilities. Those needing immediate assistance can connect to an advocate who has been trained to resolve access issues. The NAGDU Information & Advocacy Hotline is available by calling 888-NAGDU411 (888-624-3841).
>
> The National Association of Guide dog Users also has a mobile app containing the implementing regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the complete texts of each state law, industry-specific guidance, and other features to assist service animal users and businesses learn more about the ADA. The NAGDU mobile app can be downloaded by searching AGDU in the app store. In the near future, we will be releasing an Android version of the mobile app, updating state laws, adding Canadian provincial laws, making the app available in the Canadian app store, and adding dynamic features that will enhance the app functionality.
>
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations for the blind because low expectations are the obstacles that stand between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back!
>
> For more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users, the National Federation of the Blind, or to locate a Chapter in your area, you may visit the following websites:
>
> National Association of Guide Dog Users http://nagdu.org/ <http://nagdu.org/>
> National Federation of the Blind http://nfb.org/ <http://nfb.org/>
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**13 Shared by Denise Avant, NFBI President
> Dear Affiliate Presidents and Legislative Directors:
> We need to follow up on the work we began on March 9 (see email below). Over the next two weeks, the Senate will be in recess and members will be in their home districts presenting a prime opportunity to make more progress on our legislative priorities. Please schedule meetings with your senators to encourage them to cosponsor S. 2596 (the Senate companion bill to HR 2264), and call for its language to be included in the base National Defense Authorization Act. Also please encourage your senators to support the swift ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty by agreeing to provide their consent as quickly as possible.
>
> We understand that not all affiliate members will be able to attend the in-person meetings, so please encourage those who cannot attend to call their Senators’ offices to make their voices heard. The Capitol Switchboard phone number is (202) 224-3121. Please circulate this message to your affiliate’s mailing list; we need everyone’s engagement to get these two things done during the second session of the 114th Congress.
>
> Thank you for all you do,
> Parnell Diggs, Esq.
> Director Government Affairs
> National Federation of the Blind
>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 5:22 PM
> Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] NFB Legislative Alert
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> There are two matters pending in the Senate that require our attention this week. First, we need to engage members of the Senate to make the Marrakesh Treaty a top priority in 2016. Please call your Senators and urge them to support the ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty and help make more published works available to blind people.
>
> Secondly, please urge your Senators to include the language of S. 2596 (our Space Available legislation in the Senate) in the base language of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
>
> I am so thankful for the excellent work you do because no organization moves a legislative agenda like the National Federation of the Blind. Please call both of your Senators today! The number to the Capitol Switchboard is (202) 224-3121.
>
> Thanks again for all you do to make sure blind Americans can live the lives we want.
>
> Parnell Diggs, Esq.
> Director of Government Affairs
> National Federation of the Blind
> 200 East Wells Street
> Baltimore, MD 21230
> Office: (410) 659-9314, extension 2222
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**14 Broker News:
> Berdette Beckman – Ray Salvador
> Snyder’s Lance 2nd QUARTER (APRIL, MAY, JUNE 2016) Off Invoice
> Item #107554, 60 ct, 2 oz. S’mores Pretzel Pieces $1.20/case
> Item #107574, 60 ct, 2 oz. Cheddar Cheese Mini Pretzel $1.20/case
> Item #107602, 120 ct, 1.72 oz. Lemon Nekot $1.20/case
> Item #107641, 88 ct, .92 oz. Wholegrain Mini Pretzel $.88/case
>
> Due to the popularity and preference for Lance Nekot, our Choc-O-Lunch and Van-O-Lunch cookies will be converting to Choc-O-Lunch NEKOT and Van-O-Lunch NEKOT cookie sandwiches. Nekot represents over 75% of Lance Cookie Sales and is out-pacing category growth by +5%1. The Nekot Cookie form is also preferred 2:1 over the Lunch Cookie form. The pricing will remain the same as the pricing on the current Choc-o-Lunch and Van-o-Lunch items.
> 107977 120 ct. Lance Van-O-Lunch Nekot (6/20ct caddy)
> 107978 120 ct. Lance Choc-O-Lunch Nekot (6/20ct caddy)
>
> Saverino & Associates – Mark Saverino
> Chattanooga Bakery off invoice promotions Q2 2016
> 10822 MoonPie Bites 1.75oz/48ct $2.40
> 54001 Double Decker Chocolate MoonPie 6/9ct $2.00
> 54002 Double Decker Vanilla MoonPie 6/9ct $2.00
> 54003 Double Decker Banana MoonPie 6/9ct $2.00
> 54008 Double Decker Salted Caramel MoonPie SPECIAL ORDER THRU DOT AT THIS TIME 6/9ct $2.00
>
> Biscomerica
> Any combination of above products delivered between April 1 and June 30, 2016 and written by a Biscomerica representative on this form will qualify for a rebate. Biscomerica will verify proof of delivery. Form must be submitted by July 31, 2016.
> 59961 Sweet Serenity Chocolate Chip Cookies 60/2oz $1.20
> 54809 Sweet Serenity Chocolate Chip Cookies 48/3oz $0.96
>
> THIS PROMOTION CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER REBATE OR PROMOTION. MINIMUM REBATE AMOUNT THAT WILL BE PAID IS $10.00 REBATE PROCESSING WILL BE HANDLED BY SAVERINO & ASSOCIATES, INC. ONCE PROMOTION HAS CONCLUDED AND PURCHASES CAN BE VERIFIED.
>
> Homefree Allergy Friendly Gluten Free Cookies Now Available With a $1.50 per case USG Rebate Prebook your order now and take advantage of the USG Rebate!
> LGFMCC30 Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies 30ct/1.1oz
> LGFMDC30 Gluten Free Double Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies 30ct/0.95oz
> LGFMVC30 Gluten Free Vanilla Mini Cookies 30ct/1.1oz
> LGFMLC30 Gluten Free Lemon Burst Mini Cookies 30ct/1oz
> LGFMMC30 Gluten Free Chocolate Mint Mini Cookies 30ct/0.95oz
>
> Vitner’s 1.5oz Chips Q2 2016 $1.08 Off Invoice Promotion
> Plain Chips, Sweet & Tangy BBQ Chips, Chicago Smokehouse Rib Ridgetts, Jalapeno, Sweet Southern Heat BBQ, Buffalo Wing & Blue Cheese, Sizzlin’ Hot Potato Chips
>
> For all Saverino & Associate promotions call Mark at 800-242-6036 to place your order.
>
> <applewebdata://62B29860-E069-4039-B099-83E007B2C5CA>**15 RSA Buying Group Information
> Mars
> New White Box Items 5000 Series is what you need to purchase to be compliant to the Mars Contract.
> •Snickers Singles #50240
> •M&M Peanut Singles #50215
> •M&M Milk Chocolate Singles #50652
> •Twix Carmel Singles #50238
>
> Pepsi
> Mt Dew KickStart & Doritos
> “Text to Win” Consumer Promotion
> Charge Your Game Basketball Activation
> March 21st – May 16th, 2016!
> Overview:
> • Mtn Dew Continues to pride itself a powerhouse brand. With the #1 soft drink innovation for the past 3 years, Mtn Dew continues to reign as the “go to” drink for the Millennials with the success of Mtn Dew KickStart!
> • It’s time to hoop it up! With college and pro Basketball playoffs in full swing March through May, it’s the perfect time to get fans charged up with Mtn Dew/KickStart/Doritos Promotion!
> • Basketball fans over index compared to the general population in consuming Dew (+18%)
> Consumer Promotion:
> • Leverage the excitement of both college and pro basketball playoffs with a Dew, KickStart, and Doritos text to win promotion!
> • Consumers text DUNK to short code 68339 for a chance to win $500 gift card to nbashop.com. Fans love to sport the latest gear from their favorite team!
> • One lucky winner each week!
> • Promotion in-market March 21st – May 16th (8 weeks)
> USG Member Incentive
> • During the Program Period, each participating location will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes for every twenty-five (25) cases of Mountain Dew, of which five (5) must be Mtn Dew KickStart products (any size, any flavor) that it orders.
> • Up to two (2) Grand Prizes will be awarded, each consisting of a five hundred dollar ($500) online retailer gift card. Actual Retail Value: $500.
> • Prize winners will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. Drawing will be held on or about June 15th, 2016.
>
> Let me know if you are interested in obtaining machine Clings
>
> Goetze’s - PurchasePower Deal!!
> Save up to $3.00 per case on Goetze’s Items on Purchase Power.
> Cow Tales, Caramel Creams, & Cow Tales Crispy Ready Pac!
> Save $.60 on NEW Elevate Salads & Ready Snax on PurchasePower.
> Order as you usually do through your approved Vend Distributor to earn your savings!!
>
>
> Thank you,
> Kathy Ungaro
> ICBV, Business Manager
> (630)234-4444
>
> Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors
> 53 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 502
> Chicago, IL 60604
> (312)663-3007
>
> This message (including attachments) is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it without further distribution and reply to the sender that you have received the message in error.
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