[IABS-Talk] President Riccobonos ntotebook for the week of May 25

Tue May 27 20:02:01 UTC 2025

Independence Market Convention Schedule:

Independence Market telephone orders will close on Monday, June 30, at 5:00
p.m., Eastern, and reopen on Thursday, July 17, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern. This
is to ensure that orders can be processed and shipped before our market
employees travel to New Orleans for this year's national convention.
However, the ecommerce system will remain open and continue to accept and
process your orders during those days. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Scholarship Finalists:

The National Federation of the Blind announced the finalists for its annual
scholarship program, which provides financial assistance and connects
students with blind mentors and other resources.
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/celebrating-outstanding-blind-students>
Congratulations to the thirty outstanding finalists.

National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career Fair:

Join us for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career
Fair on July 9, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Central. Hosted by the National Employment
Committee, this event is an opportunity for blind and low-vision people
seeking jobs to connect with employers and is an opportunity for employers
to seek more talent for their teams. 

<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-fair-jobseeker-registra
tion> National Convention Jobseeker Registration 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&action=preview&id=621>
National Convention Employer Registration 

To prepare jobseekers and employers, the Employment Committee will be
hosting "Getting Career-Fair Ready: For Jobseekers and Employers," virtual
seminars designed to provide strategies for creating the most positive
experience while attending the fair. Individuals will automatically be
registered for these events once they have registered for the career fair.
For more information on the career fair or virtual seminars, please contact
Charles Bennett, jobseeker liaison, at  <mailto:cbennett at cocenter.org>
cbennett at cocenter.org, or Kris Colcock, employer liaison, at
<mailto:Kris at colcok.com> Kris at colcok.com.

Register and Book Hotel for National Convention:

Promote registration for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention> National Convention, July
8-13, in New Orleans. Let members know to register early because prices go
up if you register on site in New Orleans. Registration includes the biggest
event of the year, access to the event app, and communications on the latest
news and events. The hotel blocks are filling up-there is now limited space
at the Marriott. Reserve your room at the Sheraton New Orleans by calling
855-516-1090. Ask for the "National Federation of the Blind 2025 Convention"
block. Registration will be closing on May 31. Attendees can still register
on site at an increased cost. Promote registration now!

Critical:

Independence Market Now Available for Online Orders:

As announced during the May Presidential Release Live, the Independence
Market is now online, making it easier than ever to find and order reliable
blindness-related tools and resources you need.
<file:///C:/Users/LamkinSeth/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Conte
nt.Outlook/PXN5EKPU/catalog.nfb.org> Shop online now at catalog.nfb.org. 

Government Affairs Advocacy Update Call:

Our government affairs group will be hosting an advocacy update Zoom call
for affiliate presidents and legislative directors this Thursday, May 29, at
8:00 p.m., Eastern. The topics that will be discussed are some of our recent
bill introductions and any general questions you may have regarding
effective strategies to promote our legislation. The Zoom information to
join the call is: 

Join Zoom Meeting

 <https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/3477527259?pwd=Z0l1R1dYR1Rpam9Qc00wZVRWdkxBUT09>
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/3477527259?pwd=Z0l1R1dYR1Rpam9Qc00wZVRWdkxBUT09 

Meeting ID: 347 752 7259

Passcode: xR6mjY

News:

Presidential Release Chapter Recording June 1:

The June
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
Presidential Release chapter recording will be available by June 1. Please
share the chapter recording as part of your chapter meeting agenda and
discuss among members. There will not be a Presidential Release Live in June
or July. Tune into the Presidential Report during the NFB National
Convention on July 11, during the morning session.

New Partnership Announced: Innosearch AI:

As announced in the
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> May
Presidential Release Live, the National Federation of the Blind is proud to
announce a formal partnership with Innosearch AI, an innovative AI-powered
accessibility and shopping platform.
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/innosearch-ai-and-national-federation-b
lind-announce-strategic-partnership> Read the press release and access the
membership benefits in  <https://nfb.org/member_profile/login> your member
profile.

Legislative News: The Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act:

The National Federation of the Blind applauds the introduction of the
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, H.R. 3417, into the
House of Representatives by Representative Pete Sessions (Texas) and lead
cosponsor Representative Steny Hoyer (Maryland). This legislation seeks to
eliminate persistent digital accessibility barriers faced by blind and
disabled Americans.
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/disability-advocates-commend-introducti
on-websites-and-software-applications> Read the full joint press release.  

Two Recent Legislation Introductions:

The month of May has been great for our legislative advocacy. In the last
two weeks, we have gotten two of our legislative priorities reintroduced in
the 119th Congress. On May 14, Representative Pete Sessions (TX-17)
sponsored our Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the
House. He was joined by Representative Steny Hoyer (MD-05) as the lead
cosponsor. And on May 22, Senator John Boozman (AR) reintroduced our Access
Technology Affordability Act in the Senate with Senator Ben Ray Lujan (NM)
as the lead cosponsor. We want to ensure the Congress knows how important
both of these bills are to the blind of America, so please call or email
your members in the House and Senate today and urge them to cosponsor!

2026 Washington Seminar:

We know that we're still a month out from the national convention, but our
government affairs group is excited to announce that the 2026 Washington
Seminar will take place from Monday, January 26, through Thursday, January
29, 2026. Next year's Washington Seminar will be located at the Holiday Inn
Washington Capitol - National Mall at 550 C Street, SW Washington, DC. More
information about next year's event will be posted on our website in the
coming months. 

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	July 8-13: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana
*	June 8, 2025: Deadline to submit resolutions
<mailto:resolutions at nfb.org>  for the 2025 National Convention.
*	January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

*	Wednesday, August 6
*	Wednesday, November 5

Chapter Presidents Calls

*	Thursday, June 12 and Sunday, June 15
*	Thursday, September 11 and Sunday, September 14
*	Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

312-343-8396

 <mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> president at nfbofillinois.org

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

Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois advances the lives of its
members and all blind people in Illinois. We know 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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.