[Iabs-talk] Fwd: [State-affiliate-leadership-list] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 03/21/2016

Fri Mar 25 00:55:36 UTC 2016

Denise R. Avant
President, National Federation Of The Blind Of Illinois
Live the life you want

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: "President, National Federation of the Blind via State-affiliate-leadership-list" <state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [State-affiliate-leadership-list] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 03/21/2016
> Date: March 21, 2016 at 2:19:51 PM CDT
> To: "'state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org'" <state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "President, National Federation of the Blind" <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>, "'john.alahouzos at marketdevelopment.org'" <john.alahouzos at marketdevelopment.org>, "Braun, Beth" <Bbraun at nfb.org>, "'gpaul at cpprov.org'" <gpaul at cpprov.org>
> Reply-To: State Affiliate Leadership List <state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
> 
> President’s Notebook
> National Federation of the Blind
> Mark A. Riccobono
> officeofthepresident at nfb.org <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
> (410) 659-9314
>  
> Dear Fellow Federationists,
>  
> The continuity of leadership in our organization is a key component of our success, and the individuals that serve in these roles reflect the values that we work to promote. While the organization is bigger than any one of us, it is always a blow to our collective spirit when we lose one of our own. Rick Reed, our president in Wyoming, passed away unexpectedly a week ago Sunday. Rick brought energy and enthusiasm to the organization and he was working on building our local affiliate in a new way. As we tackle our work this week, let's remember members of our family like Rick who have made a great difference in our movement. Thank you for your time, energy, and commitment.
>  
> Critical Actions This Week:
> Beginning today, March 21, the Senate is in recess for the next two weeks. This is a great opportunity to meet with your senators while they are in their home states and ask them to cosponsor S. 2596, our space available legislation in the Senate and to ask that its language be included in the base National Defense Authorization Act. This is to say that we don't want to rely on the amendment process later. We want the language included in the base bill. The phone number for the Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121. You can also call them directly in their state offices.
>  
> News:
> Progress on Elimination of 14(c):
> The National Federation of the Blind continues to make progress in our advocacy to phase out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities and eliminate Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. On Friday, March 18, the AbilityOne Commission issued a statement supporting the payment of at least the minimum wage, and ultimately the prevailing wage, to all workers with disabilities. In particular, the statement reads "Our call to action is for all qualified nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program to commit to, and begin (if not maintain), paying at least the federal minimum wage, or state minimum wage if higher, to all employees who are blind or have significant disabilities working on AbilityOne contracts. Our ultimate goal is to foster the development and implementation of training and employment best practices that allow employees with disabilities to be compensated at the prevailing wage paid to all other employees working on AbilityOne contracts."
> Spanish Version of the Presidential Release:
> The Spanish version of the March Presidential Release is available at https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/spanish/pr448_spanish.mp3 <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/spanish/pr448_spanish.mp3>.
>  
> NFB EQ (Embrace Your Engineering Quotient) Summer Program - Teacher Cohort:
> Attention teachers! Are you interested in learning more about how to support your blind and low-vision students in STEM subjects? Join the National Federation of the Blind for the 2016 NFB EQ Teacher Seminar: a three-day, STEM-focused professional development opportunity for teachers who work with blind and low-vision high school students in STEM subjects. At this program you will learn about various tools and techniques that blind and low-vision students can use in the STEM classroom. Those invited to apply include teachers of the blind/visually impaired, STEM teachers working with blind students, or students enrolled in teacher preparation programs for teachers of the blind/visually impaired. To learn more and to apply, please visit http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-eq-teacher-seminar <http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-eq-teacher-seminar>. Applications are due June 7.
>  
> Security Incident at Rosen Hotels:
> As you might have heard, there was a security breach recently at Rosen Hotels that might have affected credit cards used at their properties between September 2, 2014, and February 18, 2016. New security measures have been implemented which, we believe, will ensure that those making reservations for our upcoming 2016 NFB Convention at the Rosen Shingle Creek will not be affected. If you have any questions about the incident, additional information can be found on the Rosen Hotels & Resorts website atwww.rosenhotels.com/protectingourguests <http://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4755&qid=1197387> or by calling (855) 907-3214, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. eastern.
>  
> PARCC and Smarter Balanced Survey:
> As students participate in PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments this spring, we ask that parents, students, and teachers take time to complete the NFB’s Common Core assessment online survey <http://nfb.org/CommonCoreAssessmentSurvey>. In particular, we want to know when and where accessibility and accommodation failures happen so that we can help ensure any problems are fixed. Please take time to complete this important survey, or alternatively, contact Valerie Yingling, paralegal, at vyingling at nfb.org <mailto:vyingling at nfb.org> or (410) 659-9314, extension 2440.
>  
> Supreme Court Vacancy:
> Last week I wrote a blog addressing the need for President Obama to appoint someone with a background and knowledge of disability rights to the vacant position on the Supreme Court. The piece was posted on the Huffington Post <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-riccobono/appoint-a-justice-who-und_b_9457920.html>. 
>  
>  
> Dates to Keep in Mind:
> ·        March 31: NFB Scholarship Program application deadline, https://nfb.org/scholarships <https://nfb.org/scholarships>
> ·        March 31-April 1: 2016 Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium <https://nfb.org/law-symposium>; “Diversity in the Disability Rights Movement: Working Together to Achieve the Right to Live in the World”
> ·        April 15: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Program nomination deadline, https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main <https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main>
> ·        April 15: Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund deadline, https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1603/bm160310.htm <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1603/bm160310.htm>
> ·        April 25: NFB EQ student application deadline, https://nfb.org/nfb-eq-form <https://nfb.org/nfb-eq-form>
> ·        May 1: Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award application deadline
> ·        May 17-20: BLAST, Chicago
> ·        May 19-21: NFB STEM2U Minneapolis
> ·        May 21-26: International Council on English Braille 6th General Assembly
> ·        June 19-25: NFB EQ (first iteration)
> ·        June 30-July 5: National Federation of the Blind Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida
> ·        July 31-August 6: NFB EQ (second iteration)
> ·        August 18-25: WBU and ICEVI General Assembly, Rosen Centre, Orlando, Florida, www.wbu-icevi2016.org <http://www.wbu-icevi2016.org/>
>  
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>  
>  
> Mark A. Riccobono, President
> National Federation of the Blind
> 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
> Baltimore, Maryland 21230
> Phone: (410) 659-9314
> Fax: (410) 659-5129
> Email: officeofthepresident at nfb.org <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
> Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice
> Web: www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org/>
>  
>  
>  
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