[IABS-Talk] NFBI Chicago Chapter Minutes, January 10, 2026

Sat Feb 7 18:47:41 UTC 2026

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER MINUTES

January 10, 2026

Exchequer Pub and Restaurant

226 S. Wabash, Chicago

CALL TO ORDER

Chicago Chapter Vice President Dustin Cather called the meeting to order at
1 p.m. Marilyn Green led the chapter in the NFB Pledge. Dustin thanked
Exchequer for hosting us again this month. 

Present in the room were Francisco Chang, Patti Chang, Ken Borst, Ken Schad,
Mary Grunwald, Paul Shepherdson, Chris Kalinowski, Halina Kalinowski, Luis
Sanchez, Nickie Nishijima, Jackie Cook, Adrianne Brooks, Elaine Gray Dixon,
Cloyues Miles, Shungiesla (Shawnee) Eichelberger, Steve Hastalis, Dan
Kukulka, Sara Luna, Marilyn Green, Jessie Poynter, Glenn Moore, Stephanie
Kantor, Michelle Ault, and Jemal Powell. On Zoom were Dave Meyer, Debbie
Stein, Bart Hickey, Bill Reif, Bob Widman, Pam Gillmore, Dan Tevelde, Ed
Birmingham, Eileen Truschke, Kira O'Bradovitch, Melissa Fuller, Robert
Hansen, and Bob Lee. 

PROGRAM

Stephanie Kantor spoke to the chapter about ABLE Savings and Investment
Accounts. ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience. ABLE Accounts
are designed to help people with disabilities save for retirement and for
many qualified expenses. They are self-directed private accounts. You can
save beyond the assets limit and still maintain federal benefits. Anyone can
contribute, and there are no restrictions on when the money can be used. 

With an ABLE account, a person with a disability can save up to $100,000
without losing SSI benefits. The eligible person with a disability is the
account owner and beneficiary. Contributions can come from any source. Money
is not taxed when it's pulled out if it is being used for a qualified
expense.  

Money in the ABLE Account must be invested. There are eight investment
options. Accounts must be opened through Illinois ABLE. There is an annual
maintenance fee of $31 if you get electronic delivery of statements. 

In order for a person to qualify for an ABLE account, onset of disability
must occur before age forty-six. Previously it was age twenty-six. 

You can open an account at illinois.able.com. If you have questions write to
able at illinoistreasurer.gov.

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

Presidential Release 556 was recorded on December 30, 2025. NFB President
Mark Riccobono wished everyone a happy Braille Month. He announced that he
will be going to India for a meeting of the World Blind Union. 

President Riccobono reminded chapters to send in their membership lists and
encouraged each member to check their member profile. 

President Riccobono encouraged members to write their stories for our
publications. Stories are an important way for us to contribute to the
movement. The ideas from our community of wisdom help us support one another
throughout the country. 

Many Federationists will travel to Washington for Washington Seminar in late
January. It is very important that we continue to show up, keeping our
issues top of mind for those in power. We also help prevent bad bills from
being passed. This year our first priority is protecting education and other
programs for blind people managed by the government.  

You can find information about this year's priorities at
nfb.org/washington-seminar. Our first priority is protecting programs of
education, rehabilitation, and independent living for blind people. Second
is the Access Technology Affordability Act, which has bipartisan support.
Finally, we support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, which eliminates
the earnings cliff that is a disincentive to many blind people. 

Social Security Commissioner Frank Bizignano visited our national office and
talked with President Riccobono about our concerns. This meeting was a
follow-up to his presentation at National Convention last summer.

President Riccobono urged members to stay informed by reading our
publications. Every member should connect with our current literature and
our historic literature. He encouraged all members to write for Braille
Monitor.

Since convention, several chapters have joined the PAC Plan. When we go to
potential donors, it really helps to show that our members are dedicated
contributors. 

After the report was played, Denise added that members can change or update
their member profile, which contains address, phone number, and other
information. NFB members can receive certain benefits such as Aira and
Bookshare discounts. Go to nfb.org and follow the Members link. Put in the
email address you used to sign up for membership. If you have forgotten your
password, there is an I Forgot My Password link. It's one member per email
address. If you don't have email, call the national office and talk to
Membership Coordinator Danielle McCann.

STATE REPORT

NFBI President Marilyn Green said that six Illinoisians will attend
Washington Seminar: Dustin Cather, Denise Avant, Michelle Ault, Jean
Johnson, Kaitlyn Ryan, and Olivia Cichowlas. You can listen online to the
Great Gathering In on January 27. Our six delegates have nineteen
appointments with legislators!

The NFB Midwest Student Seminar will take place the weekend of March 13 at
the Holiday Inn O'Hare Chicago. Please help spread the word! If a student
has a case open with Rehab Services, they should cover conference expenses.

Applications are now available for our NFB and NFB of Illinois Scholarships.
The national program is open to all legally blind postsecondary students in
the US, DC, and Puerto Rico. This year each award will be worth $10,000.
Applications are due by midnight on March 31. Learn more at
nfb.org/scholarships.

The application for our NFB of Illinois scholarships is available at
nfbofillinois.org/scholarships.   

You can submit most of the same documents for both programs. The deadline
for the Illinois scholarship application is April 15. We plan to give at
least one scholarship worth $5000.

This year's NFB National Convention will take place at the JW Marriott in
Austin, Texas. All of the convention information is in the Braille Monitor.
Singles and doubles are $139 per night, and tripples and quads are $155.
Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarships are available for first-time
attendees. 

Marilyn explained that she chairs the PAC Committee. PAC stands for
Preauthorized Contributions. Everyone is encouraged to sign up. 

FEDERAL LEGISLATION

Denise Avant said that the Access Technology Affordability Act is H.R. 1529
and S. 1918. So far it only has two cosponsors from Illinois, Mike Bost and
Darrin LaHood. Denise urged everyone to call and write their
representatives, encouraging them to sign on as cosponsors.

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175, has twenty-four
cosponsors. Not one of them is from Illinois. As yet there is no companion
bill in the Senate. 

At one time Illinois was a leading state in getting cosponsors on bills. Now
we need to get involved and urge our reps to sign on. Denise posted to
IL-Talk a sample letter or phone conversation. From time to time there also
may be postings on IL-Talk urging people to contact their reps about funding
for governmental programs. 

SECRETARY's MINUTES

Patti moved and Jemal seconded approval of the December 2025 Secretary's
Minutes. The minutes were approved.

FOURTH QUARTER TREASURER's REPORT

Chicago Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch reported that we had a total income of
$2864 and expenses of $2505.56 in the fourth quarter. At the end of the
third quarter our balance was $3813.76, and we ended the fourth quarter with
$4632.20. We had $30 from the fourth quarter that posted in the first
quarter of the new year. In the fourth quarter we received $10 in dues, and
we had $1000 in expenses that posted in the third quarter.

For income we had $155 in donations and $170 in membership dues. The
November chapter collection brought in $50. The auction and the Read-a-thon
drew in $2489: $440 from the Read-a-thon and $2049 from the auction. 

Expenses came to $2505, including Washington Seminar fellowships,
contributions to the state affiliate, and contributions to national funds.

Steve moved and Jemal seconded approval of the Fourth Quarter Treasurer's
Report. The report was approved.

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

Advocacy Committee Chair Kira O'Bradovitch reminded everyone that we can
vote accessibly in the Chicago primaries. Starting February 1 there will be
a penalty of $45 if you want to travel and don't have a Real ID.

As to CTA signage, there is now a small box on the pole at bus stops . There
is Braille on it, and it also will give an audible announcement of the buses
and their departure times. The Advocacy Committee will meet again on Monday,
January 27.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Dave Meyer reported that we will have another comedy club fundraiser this
year, on April 23. People can dine at 6, and the comedy begins at 7. It will
cost $25 on site or $30 over Zoom.

NEW BUSINESS

Dustin announced that Elaine Gray Dixon has paid her membership dues.
Marilyn moved and Dave seconded voting her in as a new member. She was voted
in with great enthusiasm. 

Denise announced that Exchequer will once again be our regular meeting
place! The announcement received a round of applause.    

Marilyn announced that our 2026 state convention will take place at the
Hyatt Lisle Hotel the weekend of October 23. She thanked Patti for her work
on the contract.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 3 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary