[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of December 19

Thu Dec 22 16:23:08 UTC 2022

Critical Actions:

Accessible COVID-19 Tests:

The federal government is once again making COVID-19 tests available to the
public at no cost. Blind people can place one order (which will include
twelve tests) for the accessible Ellume tests. Go to
<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2FACL.gov%2FCOVIDtests%2Faccessible&
sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1TV-9aq5vWWe74ROHjBUqi> ACL.gov/COVIDtests/accessible
to access the ordering page. If you need to order these tests over the
phone, call the Disability Information and Access Line at 888-677-1199.

January Presidential Release:

Mark your calendars for the first Presidential Release of 2023: Wednesday,
January 4, at 8:00 p.m., eastern.

<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fj%2F99278902407&sa=D&s
ntz=1&usg=AOvVaw0axmBrumYMCNTsB94ApNXv> https://zoom.us/j/99278902407

Webinar ID: 992 7890 2407

News:

Scott LaBarre Celebration of Life:

A Celebration of Life to honor Scott will be held January 21, 2023, in
Denver, Colorado, at 4:30 p.m., mountain time. Those wishing to participate
in-person are asked to RSVP for planning purposes. Location details will be
shared once the RSVP form is completed. Details on how to join virtually are
coming soon.

<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fcivicrm%2Fmailing%2Fur
l%3Fu%3D28251%26qid%3D8162718&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2du6rWdSnfCgsRFMSrQK5k>
RSVP for the Celebration of Life

Help Us Meet Our End-of-Year Goals:

If you have already contributed, thank you so very much for your generosity.
It is not too late. If you have not supported us financially yet, please
consider an end-of-year gift. You can give in one of three ways:

1.    Visit our
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fdonate&sa=D&sntz=1&usg
=AOvVaw2Mb_Q2kc1vCeb8oxDaTLo8> donate page.

2.    Call 410-659-9314, extension 2430, and contribute by phone.

3.    Mail a check to
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+212
30?entry=gmail&source=g> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.

If you are not in a position to support us financially, please consider
sharing our messaging and asking friends and family to do so.

2023 Washington Seminar:

We are just six short weeks away from the 2023 Washington Seminar! The sound
of hundreds of white canes tapping through the halls of Congress will be
music to my ears after being virtual for the past two years. But before we
get to Washington, DC, there is still plenty to do to prepare. First, be
sure to attend the issues training session this Tuesday, December 20, at
8:00 p.m., eastern. The Zoom information for this training has been
distributed, but if you do not have it, please contact Kyle Walls at
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1k5prar8bbclb/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=kwalls@nfb.
org> kwalls at nfb.org. Tuesday's training will be an in-depth discussion of
our three Washington Seminar issues for 2023: the Websites and Software
Applications Accessibility Act, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility
Act, and eliminating the SSDI earnings cliff.

US Senate Special Committee on Aging Report Regarding the Accessibility of
Federal Technology:

On Tuesday, December 14, Senator Bob Casey (PA), the Chairman of the US
Senate Special Committee on Aging, published a report authored by the
committee titled Unlocking the Virtual Front Door. The report details the
findings of an eleven-month investigation detailing "widespread failure
across the federal government to ensure that federal technology is
accessible for people with disabilities, older adults, and veterans." The
full report can be read on
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aging.senate.gov%2Fpress-rel
eases%2Fcasey-investigation-details-widespread-failure-by-federal-government
-to-ensure-web-accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-older-adults-and-v
eterans&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw3p99L0lnKOajr34OaorIxt> Senator Casey's
website.

Where the Blind Work:

Please join us on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, to
celebrate the work and accomplishments of blind and low-vision people with
experience in the medical and healthcare field.

*	Hear about what their typical day looks like.
*	Hear how attitudinal and accessibility barriers are overcome at
work.
*	Learn about alternative techniques and strategies used to do these
jobs.

Register at
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fem
ployment%2Fwhere-the-blind-work-webinars-registration&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw
2bLuhGBJLWvmllIMVc73kO>
https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/where-the-blind-work-webinars-r
egistration.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	December 31: Deadline for assistance with updating member data
*	January 4:
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fbraille.day%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=A
OvVaw3QusGgegDCY4VmrpA6kIDw> World Braille Day
*	January 30: Great Gathering-In
*	February 8: Open House, 8:00 p.m.
*	March 2 and 5: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Scholarships)
*	March 23: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
*	May 10: Open House, 8:00 p.m.
*	June 1 and 4: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Member Engagement
and National Convention)
*	July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas
*	August 9: Open House, 8:00 p.m.
*	September 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Blind
Equality Achievement Month)
*	November 8: Open House, 8:00 p.m.
*	December 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Planning the
Year Ahead)

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

312-343-8396

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

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

Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is a community of members
and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every
day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.s