[IABS-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of March 30

Tue Mar 31 16:36:48 UTC 2026

Critical Actions:

Tomorrow: Scholarship Application Deadline:

All 2026 scholarship applications and all supporting documentation must be
submitted by March 31, 2026. For questions, contact Cayte Mendez, the
scholarship committee chair, at  <mailto:scholarships at nfb.org>
scholarships at nfb.org.

News:

April Presidential Release Is Available:

The
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
April Presidential Release Live, chapter recording, and transcripts are
available. Please share the chapter recording as part of your chapter
meeting agenda and discuss it among members.

Jacobus tenBroek Disability Rights Law Symposium:

The National Federation of the Blind hosted the 19th annual Jacobus tenBroek
Disability Rights Law Symposium last week. We had over two hundred
attendees. Many of the presentations are posted to the web and can be found
at  <https://nfb.org/jtb> nfb.org/jtb. 

Reminders:

District Meetings with Your Members of Congress:

>From March 30 through April 10, both the Senate and the House of
Representatives will be working in the districts. That makes these next two
weeks a perfect opportunity for you to try and get a face-to-face meeting
with your members of Congress while they are back in their home states to
ask them to support the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1529/S.
1918) and the Blind Americans Return to Work Act (H.R. 1175). 

Copy & Paste Content for Sharing:

The following content contains information to share in your affiliate
communications-simply copy and paste to affiliate's social media,
newsletters, and direct communications as needed.

Tomorrow: Women's History Month Webinar:

In recognition of Women's History Month, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 8:00
p.m., Eastern, join the National Organization of Blind Black Leaders for
"Not Without Question: The Power of Black Women Who Refuse Silence." This
webinar will feature Jean Brown, author, former model, entrepreneur, and NFB
chapter and division president. Join using the Zoom information below.

Zoom link:  <https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/8204086286?omn=92274666164>
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/8204086286?omn=92274666164
Meeting ID: 820 408 6286

One tap mobile:
+13017158592,,8204086286# US (Washington DC)
+16469313860,,8204086286# US

Nation's Blind Podcast:

In recognition of Women's History Month, we are honoring blind women who
have made significant contributions to the organized blind movement. In this
episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Melissa and Anil are joined by Joyce
Brooks and Lois Staves, two women who have gone above and beyond to help
blind people live the lives they want. Listen to this episode at
https://buff.ly/HqIHlEu.

NFB-NEWSLINE Is Back in Tennessee:

NFB-NEWSLINER will resume service in the state of Tennessee on Wednesday,
April 1. That means that NFB-NEWSLINE is once again available in forty-seven
states and the District of Columbia. Thank you to the National Federation of
the Blind of Tennessee for taking action and helping to make this possible.

Access On:

Tune in to episode 68 of Access On. Robin Christopherson demonstrates
obtaining machine-driven audio description of videos with Omni Describer.
There are plenty of listener contributions on topics including Meta
accessibility, the accessibility of new food delivery robots, the emerging
era of AI screen-reader agents, and much more. Subscribe to Access On
wherever you get podcasts, or download the audio for this week's episode at
<https://buff.ly/n1zfHQv?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNzFvc2JKMXZ1OW1zMl
RpU3NydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5Te-D8-kSHfJuM76D8y8AcD01pkC8uZE
a-bZ-7o5zHBGIXbMeUk-zQCYDnWg_aem_9y1bniupAPwO6ZsBfoqqRQ>
https://buff.ly/n1zfHQv.

Walking Alone and Marching Together Podcast:

Listen to episode twenty-two of our Walking Alone and Marching Together
podcast entitled, "Episode 22: Chapter 7 - Culmination, The Concluding Years
of the Second Jernigan Presidency, Part 1." Listen at
<https://buff.ly/odLunJh> https://buff.ly/odLunJh or on Spotify, Apple
Podcasts, or on Amazon Music.

April Braille Monitor:

Read the March issue of the Braille Monitor, our flagship publication and
the magazine of the organized blind movement. Access
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm26/bm2604/bm2604tc.htm>
Braille Monitor Vol 69 No 4 April 2026.

Virtual Career Exploration Fair:

The Virtual Career Exploration Fair, hosted by our National Employment
Committee in collaboration with our national divisions, connects blind
people with professionals working across a wide range of industries. 

Society's misconceptions about the careers blind people can pursue are
limiting and lack imagination. This event highlights the diversity of career
options available, connects blind people with professionals working in
diverse professions, and provides strategies to pursue and succeed in a
career of choice.

 <https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-expo> Register for the
Career Exploration Fair by April 17, 2026. Please direct all questions to
<mailto:employment at nfb.org> employment at nfb.org.

Spring Educator Virtual Meeting:

The National Organization of Blind Educators will host its spring virtual
meeting on April 12, 2026, from 7:00-8:00 p.m., Central. This meeting is
open to current and prospective blind educators to engage and connect.

 <https://meet.google.com/icp-hwyj-pkn> Join us on Google Meet.
Call in: +1 402-629-0253 PIN: 177556327
 <https://tel.meet/icp-hwyj-pkn?pin=7165697838750> Explore additional phone
numbers.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

*	July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas
*	July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas
*	July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois
*	July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls

*	Wednesday, May 6
*	Wednesday, August 5
*	Wednesday, November 4

Chapter Presidents Calls

*	Thursday, June 11 and Sunday, June 14
*	Thursday, September 10 and Sunday, September 13 
*	Thursday, December 10 and Sunday, December 13

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 advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
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.