[IABS-Talk] President Riccobono’s Notebook for the Week of 10/26/2021

[Marilyn Green]

Critical Actions:
UPDATE: We Need Your Help!
Double Your Dollars—Matching Gift Opportunity:
So far we have $30,000 in general donations towards our $50,000
matching gift campaign. Please reach out to friends and family to help
reach our goal of $50,000.
Contributions will be matched if made during Blind Equality
Achievement Month. Double your dollars and help turn dreams into
reality with employment and beyond. Thank you for helping us continue
our important work to raise expectations.
Three ways to give:

  *   Donate online at nfb.org/donate<https://nfb.org/donate>.
  *   Mail a check to National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells
Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. Checks dated in October will count
towards the match even if received in November by mail.
  *   Contribute by phone using a credit card by calling 410-659-9314,
extension 2282.

News:
New Federation Group: Survivors Group:
Welcome to our newest National Federation of the Blind group, the
Survivors Group, chaired by Kathryn Webster and Danielle Montour. The
purpose of the Survivors Group is to create an intentional space for
blind survivors of sexual misconduct and other forms of trauma and/or
abuse, along with their allies, to share support and resources
leveraging the positive philosophy of the Federation. An announcement
regarding this group and upcoming activities will be send out this
week. Learn more about all of our Federation
groups<https://nfb.org/about-us/divisions-committees-and-groups/groups>.

Lawsuit Challenges Inaccessibility of the California Insurance Exam:
On October 12, TRE Legal Practice and Disability Rights Advocates
filed a disability rights lawsuit in California State Court against
the California Department of Insurance for its failure to ensure the
accessibility of its licensing exam for insurance agents to blind
applicants. The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative
civil rights and membership organization of blind Americans, is
supporting its members in the litigation. Read the press release and
the complaint to learn
more<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/lawsuit-challenges-inaccessibility-california-insurance-exam>.

Self-Advocacy in Employment Toolkit:
The National Federation of the Blind’s Self-Advocacy in Employment
Toolkit is now available at
https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/self-advocacy-employment-toolkit.
Please share this resource throughout your network.

Access Technology Affordability Act in the Build Back Better Act:
Through our determined advocacy, we were successful in getting the
Access Technology Affordability Act added as a provision of the Build
Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) as Section 138516. Last week we sent a
letter to Speaker
Pelosi<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-speaker-pelosi-regarding-ataa-build-back-better>
and a letter to Senate Majority Leader
Schumer<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-majority-leader-schumer-regarding-ataa-build>
to encourage them to keep this critical provision in the legislation
as it moves through Congress. You can read both of these letters, and
many others, on our Policy Statements
page<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-majority-leader-schumer-regarding-ataa-build>.

2022 NFB BELL® Academy Coordinator Information Needed:
Calling all NFB BELL Academy coordinators! The 2022 NFB BELL Academy
planning is underway. During the summer of 2022 we are encouraging
states to go back to in-person NFB BELL Academy where possible. We
also know that our NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition has made it
possible for us to reach families that would otherwise not be able to
participate in the NFB BELL Academy. For this reason, we are planning
to offer one three-week session of the NFB BELL Academy In-Home
Edition during the summer of 2022, July 18-August 5. Please send the
name and contact information of the individual who should receive
information for your state's NFB BELL Academy to
BELL at nfb.org<mailto:BELL at nfb.org>.

Senator Tammy Duckworth on The Daily Show Discussing Subminimum Wages:
On Thursday, October 21, Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) appeared in a
segment of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor
Noah<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT1zpABhq0U> where she and Trevor
discussed the issue of subminimum wages for people with disabilities.
As many of you may remember, Senator Duckworth was also a guest at our
2021 National Convention. In an interview for the
convention<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm21/bm2108/bm210815.htm>,
we discussed the topic of subminimum wages and the unfair treatment of
people with disabilities. We commend our friend Senator Duckworth for
continuing to stand with us on this issue and Trevor Noah and The
Daily Show for covering it.

A Conversation on Accessible Insulin Pumps on October 28:
As part of our nonvisual accessibility initiatives, the National
Federation of the Blind will be hosting a conversation on Thursday,
October 28, 2021, at 7:00 p.m., eastern with representatives from the
Insulet Corporation, the makers of Omnipod. We request feedback from
blind and low-vision individuals about the challenges they face, the
solutions they may have developed, and the features they would like to
see in the future. Email to Pat Miller,
pmiller at nfb.org<mailto:pmiller at nfb.org>, in order to receive the Zoom
information. Please let us know if you are blind, if you are a
diabetic, and which insulin pump you use, if any.



Upcoming Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest: Registration Opening in November:
It’s time, once again, for the Braille Readers Are Leaders (BRAL)
contest, sponsored by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and
Adults, in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. This
contest is for both children and adults. We are pleased to announce
exciting changes to the contest this year including using an online
platform called Beanstack. More details coming soon. Get ready to
share the registration as the contest kicks off December 1.

Read and Share Latest Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog:
As part of Blind Equality Achievement Month, read and share the
following blog posts:

  *   “On Blindness, Equality, and Achievement: Who Defines
Us<https://nfb.org/blog/blindness-equality-and-achievement-who-defines-us>”
  *   “Finding My Way to Equality: Coming ‘Home’ to the
Federation<https://nfb.org/blog/finding-my-way-equality-coming-home-federation>”
  *   “Celebrating Our Milestone
Achievements<https://nfb.org/blog/celebrating-our-milestone-achievements>”
  *   “The Magic of a Month and Should We be
Celebrating<https://nfb.org/blog/magic-month-and-should-we-be-celebrating>”

Independence Market–Highlighted Items for November:
Products of the Month:
Men/Ladies Three-button Polo Shirts – available in black, navy, or red - $24
Men/Ladies Lined Nylon Jackets – available in black, navy, or red - $30
Tumbler – Hot/cold 16 oz. tumbler in black with white NFB logo - $8
Talking kitchen scale – Weighs items up to 6.6 lbs. with 0.1 ounce
precision - $35
Talking kitchen and multipurpose scale – Weighs items up to 11 lbs.,
speaks four different languages - $40

Sale and Close-Out Products
Nine Men Morris Game - $10
Cube Clock - $5
Camera Bag - $1





Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)

  *   November 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
  *   November 18: NFB Training Centers Meeting, 8:00 p.m.
  *   December 1: NFB Scholarship
Program<https://nfb.org/scholarships> applications open
  *   December 1: BRAL contest starts
  *   December 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
  *   July 5-10, 2022: National Convention, New Orleans