[IABS-Talk] FW: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 03/17/2020

Tue Mar 17 17:15:52 UTC 2020

Hello everyone,

I want to share President Riccobono’ s entire notebook with all of you. I think it will lift the spirits of all at this time.

Denise R. Avant, Esq.

President,

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

773-991-8050

Live the life you want.

For more information about NFBI,

Go to www.nfbofillinois.org

From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 9:09 AM
To: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 03/17/2020

President’s Notebook

National Federation of the Blind

Mark A. Riccobono

 <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org> officeofthepresident at nfb.org

410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

A leadership quote I like goes something like, “You can’t relate to a superhero, but you can identify with a real person who in times of crisis draws forth some extraordinary quality from within and triumphs but only after a struggle.” These are times not just for superheroes but for each of us to come together and support each other. In the last week I have read some of the most beautiful posts and had some of the deepest conversations with people in this leadership group. It demonstrates to me the strength that each of you has and the power and love that we gain from bonding together. I am so grateful to have this leadership group in these uncertain times.

You already know about the action of the board of directors to shut down all public meetings through Easter. Our training centers are closely monitoring the situation. The Colorado Center has already altered its operation based on local circumstances, and I expect our other centers will make similar modifications at some point. Our national office remains open at the moment, although we have shifted at-risk staff to remote work and reduced walk-in traffic and meetings at the building to minimize the risks. We have also increased our already-detailed cleaning procedures. I do not know about you, but I think the bones in my hands are starting to absorb hand sanitizer. 

Many of you have asked about the national convention. It is just too far away for us to make a realistic decision about our annual family reunion. We are putting plans in place for the convention and for an alternative plan, but it is too early to know anything. As you know, on an unrelated note, our convention registration system experienced some issues in the first couple days of implementation. That system is now being retested. We hope that it will be back online soon.

There are a number of things that our chapters and affiliates can be doing to support and connect blind people. There are resources below that you should be aware of and share. For example, some affiliates have been nervous about jumping into the Zoom platform. Check out the great resource being made available from Jonathan Mosen. If you find it of value, drop Jonathan a note and thank him.

If you find other ways the Federation can help make a difference, or if your affiliate is undertaking an interesting new project in light of the situation, please let me know or share it on the leadership listserv.

Stay safe, healthy, and strong. I am here for you if you need anything.

Critical Actions:

Coronavirus COVID-19 Public Event Policy:
The public event policy that was updated late last week is available on our website at  <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-covid-19-policy-relating-public-events> https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-covid-19-policy-relating-public-events. We are continuing to monitor best practices from the CDC and will update you all as the situation changes with respect to the National Federation of the Blind. 

News:

Legislative Update:
As the excitement of Washington Seminar fades into the distance, our legislative priorities are still experiencing a tremendous amount of momentum from our time on Capitol Hill. The Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) now has 83 cosponsors in the House (H.R. 2086) and 22 cosponsors in the Senate (S. 815). That's nearly one quarter of each chamber. Just last week we gained seven new cosponsors in the House: David Schweikert (AZ), John Rutherford (FL), Lance Gooden (TX), Dwight Evans (PA), Ann Kuster (NH), Madeleine Dean (PA), and Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO). Special thanks to Arizona, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Missouri. It may not seem like much, but those numbers are actually quite impressive and show significant support for our legislation. 

This legislation may be more relevant now than ever. With the tragic outbreak of the coronavirus, we may see job loss in the very near future, and the ATAA would significantly improve employment opportunities for blind people when companies begin hiring again. Call or email your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 2086/S. 815). A legislative alert on this topic will follow soon. 

Virtual Instruction for Students During COVID-19 School Closures - #AccessibleNOW: 

The threat of COVID-19 has prompted many schools to close their physical locations and shift to virtual instruction. This sudden transition raises concern about the accessibility of web-based educational technology. The NFB has issued a blog that highlights how, regardless of COVID-19-driven closures, schools must continue to provide equal access for blind students to programs, benefits, and services. There are steps you can take now to help your school prevent access barriers for blind students and to help the NFB monitor barriers that do occur:

*       Share the NFB’s  <https://www.nfb.org/blog> blog and listed resources

*       Complete the NFB’s  <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/education-technology-survey> education technology survey

*       Connect with us in our #AccessibleNOW #InEducation Twitter chat on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. eastern.

Furthermore, if you or your child or student has been discriminated against by their school, we urge you to file a  <https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html> complaint with the US Department of Education through the Office for Civil Rights. If you have questions or concerns, please email  <mailto:AccessibleNow at nfb.org> AccessibleNow at nfb.org. 

Parental Rights Foundation Podcast:
Recently I recorded a podcast with the Parental Rights Foundation. You can listen to the recording on their website at  <https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/podcast/> https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/podcast/. 

Hit Submit: Complete Scholarship Applications Today!:
Hundreds of applications get started for the National Federation of the Blind scholarship program, and many lose the opportunity to be a winner simply by not completely submitting the application. This annual scholarship program is an investment in the future of blind people who demonstrate scholastic aptitude, leadership, and service. Encourage every blind college student to apply. Share  <https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm20/bm2002/bm200205.htm> the secret to winning with blind students and urge them to  <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program> complete their applications. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2020. 

Time to Be Counted - Census 2020:
The 2020 Census is making its way into all mailboxes between now and the end of March in order to be completed April 1. Rather than filling out the paper questionnaire that will be sent to every home, we can, for the first time, fill it out online or over the telephone. Learn about the importance, the accessibility, and how to participate in  <https://www.nfb.org/blog/time-be-counted> the recent Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog article. 

National Federation of the Blind Engineering Quotient (NFB EQ) Program - June 21-27 - Science Museum of Minnesota: 
While there is uncertainty as to what the summer holds this year, it is worth considering the options. NFB EQ is a weeklong adventure into engineering and problem-solving. No specific level of engineering experience required. Engage in activities designed to strengthen knowledge and grow interests. Connect with the twenty-nine other high school teen participants. Enriched experiences. New friendships. More independence. The deadline to apply is March 29. Apply now at  <http://www.nfb.org/eq> www.nfb.org/eq. 

Free Audiobook Resource for Learning the Zoom Platform:
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Jonathan Mosen has made his audiobook Meet Me in the Cloud freely available. This tutorial, which takes approximately three hours, walks through all aspects of the popular conferencing platform, from joining your first meeting, to hosting a meeting, to the differences between Basic and Pro accounts. Mosen’s book is thorough and accessible to all, regardless of technical background or proficiency. Note that at the time these recordings were made, several instances of accessibility glitches needed to be pointed out, however with current operating systems, and the latest versions of the Zoom conferencing software, most bugs have been resolved. In addition, Zoom has kept the labeling of commands and options, as well as their keyboard conventions consistent, meaning that none of the substance has altered from the time these recordings were produced. We believe this will be a useful resource, especially in this time of social distancing and greater adoption of teleconferencing. The book can be obtained free of charge at  <https://mosen.org/zoom/> https://mosen.org/zoom/.

SSA: 
The National Federation of the Blind and two blind individuals, Lisa Irving and Amy Bonano, have resolved their 2017 lawsuit against the Social Security Administration and entered into a settlement agreement designed to ensure that SSA’s visitor-intake-processing kiosks are accessible to blind users by December 31, 2021. Per the agreement, SSA will work with a third-party, kiosk-accessibility expert to redesign the agency’s kiosks so that blind users can enter required intake information, including their Social Security number, privately and independently. Read the  <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-americans-settle-lawsuit-against-social-security-administration> press release. 

Dates to Keep in Mind:

*	Spring Conventions <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates/state-conventions>  (including new dates for postponed conventions)
*	March 31: Deadline for scholarship applications <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program> 

*      April 15:  <https://www.nfb.org/bolotin> Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award application deadline 

*	May 1: Distinguished Educator Award <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>  nomination deadline
*	June 21-27: NFB EQ <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq> ; St. Paul, Minnesota 
*	July 14-19: NFB National Convention <https://www.nfb.org/convention> , Houston, Texas

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

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org <mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>  

 <https://nfb.org/> 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>      <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>      <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. 