[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of March 21

Tue Mar 22 10:20:34 UTC 2022

Critical Actions:

Scholarship Program Deadline March 31:

There are less than two weeks left to apply. The National Federation of the
Blind Scholarship Program helps blind college students reach their
educational and employment goals and so much more. Building on its strong
foundation, we are enhancing the awards and making the experience even more
inclusive, engaging, and meaningful for the thirty finalists. Each
scholarship winner will receive $8,000. Encourage students to
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fabout-us%2Fpress-room%
2Fnational-federation-blind-enhances-largest-scholarship-program-blind-schol
ars&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGMaCTAMnB2muET41FdAJLLlfDVjg> apply for the 2022
scholarship program. The deadline is March 31.

Upcoming April Presidential Release:

The next Presidential Release will take place Monday, April 4, at 8:00 p.m.,
eastern. The monthly Presidential Release provides important updates and
perspectives of the organized blind movement, and the live event includes a
Q&A session. Submit questions in advance to
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/6ac5eodpqj3u/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=cdanielsen@n
fb.org> cdanielsen at nfb.org and put PR515 in the subject line, or call
410-659-9314, extension 2473. Zoom details coming soon.

News:

We're With U! A Benefit Concert to Help Blind Ukrainian Refugees: Many in
the Federation family have been asking if there is something we can
specifically do to help blind people affected by the horrific invasion
happening in Ukraine. The
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fworldblindunion.org%2Fblog%2Fnew
s%2Fwbu-stands-united-with-ukraine-and-is-taking-action-to-help%2F&sa=D&sntz
=1&usg=AFQjCNF2vNQls-jaqCrizspqhIi7_mDEUA> World Blind Union has established
the Ukrainian Unity Fund. While the National Federation of the Blind
operates in the United States, we want to use our extensive network of love
and support at this important time. On Saturday, April 16, at 2 p.m.,
eastern, the global online blind community is joining for a benefit concert
to help blind Ukrainian refugees.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fget-involved%2Fwe-are-
with-u-benefit-concert&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGwoQZZW7GAGJtk37F88YvGV-L8cw>
Learn more about We're With U!

Join Blind Driver Challenge Twitter Chat this Week:

During the week of March 28, Federationist Dan Parker, who is a blind
race-car driver and machinist, will attempt to break the Guinness World
Record for fastest blind driver. Join us on Thursday, March 24, at 2:00
p.m., eastern, to chat on Twitter about the Blind Driver Challenge and
autonomous vehicle technology.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fget-involved%2Ftwitter
&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHdvPN_9d9zX_yazDfSAwQf3C4EJQ> Access the questions
now to prepare for the chat. #CruisinWithNFB

RAINN Training:

Please share the below
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fform%2Fsafety-and-supp
ort-rainn-request&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEW6SvG-9MDobb-yRWFRJOE7d7ltg> link
with your members to gauge interest in attending upcoming RAINN trainings
tentatively offered in June 2022. This interest form will close on April 15.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fform%2Fsafety-and-supp
ort-rainn-request&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEW6SvG-9MDobb-yRWFRJOE7d7ltg>
https://nfb.org/form/safety-and-support-rainn-request

National Association of Blind Veterans Grant:

The NABV Board of Directors has approved a grant for first-time (in-person)
veteran participants to the 2022 NFB National Convention. The grant will be
awarded for eligible veterans in an amount up to $1,000 to attend and
participate in the sessions, division meeting, and banquet. If you know of a
veteran that would be interested, contact Vernon Humphrey at
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/6ac5eodpqj3u/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=mr_president
@nabv.org> mr_president at nabv.org.

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act:

Last week, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853) gained
four new cosponsors: Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23),
Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), and Stephen Lynch (D-MA-8). The bill now has a total
of forty-four cosponsors, including two Republican cosponsors, making it
bipartisan. This is great progress, and we need to keep up our advocacy to
ensure the success of this bill, as well as all of our other legislation.

Website Accessibility Regulations:

As you may remember, on February 28, 2022, the National Federation of the
Blind and more than 180 other organizations sent
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fad
vocacy%2Fpolicy-statements%2Fletter-assistant-attorney-general-regarding-web
site&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGRkyBjY3ZNhRBVFCpExqz-6fWv0Q> a letter to the US
Department of Justice regarding website accessibility regulations. On
Friday, the Department of Justice published
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fbeta.ada.gov%2Fweb-guidance%2F&s
a=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFIasgRp7wpGamAzJOpoYk5e96bMg> guidance on website
accessibility. There is little doubt that this letter, along with our
continued advocacy on this topic, has caused the administration to take
action. This guidance is a good first step, but we must continue to advocate
for the website accessibility regulations described in our letter.

Upcoming Event: Accessible Excel and PowerPoint Creation:

Learn how to create accessible Excel documents and PowerPoint presentations.
Join us on March 29 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., eastern, to discuss the powerful
tools you can use in either program. 

Upcoming Event: Comparison of Collaboration Tools:

[Boutique rescheduled from March 16]

As the Covid pandemic continued on, businesses and teams of all types
adapted to collaborating and working together online. To facilitate this, a
number of apps and services have sprung up to enable teams in widely
distributed areas to seamlessly work with each other. Come join the National
Federation of the Blind Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access on
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, from 1:00-5:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom where we
will compare the accessibility of several of the top collaboration services.

Take advantage of these free opportunities and
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fce
nter-excellence-nonvisual-access%2Ftrainings%2Faccessibility-boutiques%2Facc
essibility-boutique-registration&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEG0UXThYihuDaPEDFex9K
Zpd4VoQ> register for the accessibility boutiques today!

Opportunity for First-Time National Convention Attendees:

The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship provides funding support to
National Federation of the Blind members who want to attend the national
convention in person for the first time. Applications close April 15.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fget-involved%2Fnationa
l-convention%2Fkenneth-jernigan-convention-scholarship&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjC
NE8ucGah75sEPo091ICTYIa9xQFRA> Learn more about the Kenneth Jernigan
Convention Scholarship.

Video Programming Accessibility Forum with the FCC:

The FCC's Media Bureau and Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will
co-host this accessibility-related forum focused on issues surrounding audio
description. This is not a National Federation of the Blind-affiliated
event, but it may be of interest.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fcc.gov%2Fnews-events%2Feven
ts%2F2022%2F03%2Fvideo-programming-accessibility-forum-online-audio-descript
ion&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHYTkm5llA-fb9HgXC45hGiufOAQg> Learn more about
this FCC forum.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	March 29: Accessible Excel and PowerPoint Creation accessibility
boutique
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fce
nter-excellence-nonvisual-access%2Ftrainings%2Faccessibility-boutiques%2Facc
essibility-boutique-registration&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEG0UXThYihuDaPEDFex9K
Zpd4VoQ> 
*	March 31: Deadline to submit scholarship application
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fabout-us%2Fpress-room%
2Fnational-federation-blind-enhances-largest-scholarship-program-blind-schol
ars&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGMaCTAMnB2muET41FdAJLLlfDVjg> 
*	April 6: Comparison of Collaboration Tools accessibility boutique
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fce
nter-excellence-nonvisual-access%2Ftrainings%2Faccessibility-boutiques%2Facc
essibility-boutique-registration&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEG0UXThYihuDaPEDFex9K
Zpd4VoQ> 
*	April 15: Deadline for Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fget-involved%2Fnationa
l-convention%2Fkenneth-jernigan-convention-scholarship&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjC
NE8ucGah75sEPo091ICTYIa9xQFRA>  application
*	April 15: Deadline for Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award nominations
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fbolotin&sa=D&sntz=1&us
g=AFQjCNGwXsEYcOnKw5L3WFrN0i6JcLHQZg> 
*	July 5-10: National Convention
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fget-involved%2Fnationa
l-convention&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNF7GGzw931QLcVc6VIZ9DGNaYdNSw> , New
Orleans

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 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.