[IABS-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of June 21

[president at nfbofillinois.org]

News:

Accessing the National Convention Agenda on NFB-NEWSLINE:

The following are the instructions for accessing the national convention
agenda on NFB-NEWSLINE:

*	Using the telephone-access method, press 5 on the Main Menu for
Newspapers in Different State and then choose 5 again for National Meetings
of Interest to the Print-Disabled. From there, you can press 2 for the NFB
2021 Convention Agenda. If you want to email any of the articles to your
inbox, simply press Pound 9.
*	To read the agenda on WEB NEWS ON DEMAND, select PUBLICATIONS
ORGANIZED BY STATE, and then select the category NATIONAL MEETINGS OF
INTEREST TO THE PRINT-DISABLED and select the NFB 2021 Convention Agenda.
*	To read the agenda using NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile for iOS, open the app
and navigate to the INFORMATION SOURCES page. From there, select ALL
PUBLICATIONS, and search NFB 2021 Convention Agenda.

 

Box Office Open to Purchase Tickets for One Voice #NFB21 Concert:

The National Federation of the Blind and our Performing Arts Division are
hosting a fundraiser concert on July 6, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. during the 2021
National Convention. Tickets are $20 for a household and can be purchased
online or by calling the Independence Market at 410-659-9314, extension
2216. Purchase your tickets now
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fcivicrm%2Fevent%2Fregi
ster%3Freset%3D1%26id%3D460&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGqtkfKGwzNYresL4Ikcnh6qkYi
6Q> ! Get  <https://youtu.be/YzwjTGgMlag> a sneak peek at the performances.

 

#NFB21 Career Fair and Career Track Events-Pre-Registration Required:

If you are looking for a job, please consider attending the National
Federation of the Blind Career Fair and Career Track Events, hosted by the
Employment Committee. There are several opportunities to learn how to
prepare for an interview and a chance to meet with employers. Registration
will close at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 26. Sorry, no last-minute walk-ins!
Learn more about the
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fget-involved%2Fnationa
l-convention%2F2021-nfb-career-fair-and-career-track-events&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=
AFQjCNFJ7izOnOr1xF862b0mQQHmlikUzA> career fair and events.

 

2021 Braille Independence Market Catalogs Now Available!

The Braille and print catalogs for the Independence Market are available
today. You can request one by either calling the Independence Market or
sending an email to Independencemarket at nfb.org
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1ogtigq31o02h/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=Independenc
emarket at nfb.org> .

 

June Open-House Gathering Call for Non-Members:

The National Federation of the Blind invites blind people to learn more
about being a member and the benefits of membership on June 30, 2021, at
8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear from active
members and leaders on the myths and uncertainties of the Federation.
Register for the June Open-House Gathering Call.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fform%2Fopen-house-gath
ering-call-regist&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFKa8qBuiGlGqbetKwsL8G1h1_keA> 

 

Upcoming Event: Gaming for Everyone Boutique:  

On Tuesday, June 29, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. eastern, the National Federation
of the Blind, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Disabilities,
is hosting a boutique discussing the many games accessible to the blind.
Whether for PC, mobile phones, or gaming consoles, there are many games that
the blind can play. Register today at
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fce
nter-excellence-nonvisual-access%2Ftrainings%2Faccessibility-boutiques%2Facc
essibility-boutique-registration&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEG0UXThYihuDaPEDFex9K
Zpd4VoQ>
https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainin
gs/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration.

 

Access Technology Affordability Act:

Our advocacy continues to pay off! Last week we gained nine new cosponsors
in the House. They were:

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (New Jersey)

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (New Jersey)

Rep. C. Scott Franklin, (Florida)

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, (North Carolina)

Rep. Bill Huizenga, (Michigan)

Rep. Anthony G. Brown, (Maryland)

Rep. Bill Johnson, (Ohio)

Rep. Fred Keller, (Pennsylvania)

Rep. Andre Carson, (Indiana)

 

This puts our total House cosponsor count at ninety-five, meaning we are
within reach of our goal of having one quarter of the 117th Congress members
on the bill in the first six months of the legislative session. Your calls
and emails ARE making a big difference! Please keep calling and emailing
your senators and representative.

 

Education Technology Survey:

The NFB continues to gather information about accessible and inaccessible
education technology. We are specifically seeking feedback regarding Seesaw,
Zearn, Epic Books, and Prodigy software. If you or your student has had
recent experience with these technologies or any education technology,
please take time to complete the NFB's Education Technology Survey:
Education Technology Survey
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfb.org%2Fprograms-services%
2Flegal-program%2Feducation-technology-survey&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEw59E2TT
1TI2_waJxmNkc1odKI2Q> .

 

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	June 29: Rookie Roundup, 8:30 p.m.
*	July 5-30: NFB EQ Online
*	July 6-10: NFB National Convention, anywhere and everywhere
*	July 19-30: BELL Session 2
*	August 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
*	August 9-20: BELL Session 3
*	September 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
*	October 1: Presidential Release, 12:00 p.m.
*	November 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
*	December 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.

 

 

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

312-343-8396

www.nfbofillinois.org <http://www.nfbofillinois.org>