[IL-Talk] November Chicago Chapter minutes with, I Hope, Final corrections

Tue Dec 5 20:59:34 UTC 2023

CHICAGO CHAPTER MINUTES

November 11, 2023

Exchequer Pub and Restaurant 

226  S. Wabash, Chicago

CALL TO ORDER

Denise Avant called the meeting to order at 1:02 PM. Persons in attendance
were Michal Nowicki, Ken Schad, Debbie Stein, Sara Luna, Nickie Nishijima,
Ed Birmingham, Mary Grunwald, Gary Jones, Paul Shepherdson, Michelle Ault,
Chris Milsap, Dan Tevelde, Ken Borst, Steve Hastalis, Bruce Paul, Marco
Giannotti, Francisco Chang, Patti Chang, Jackie Cook, and Jemal Powell.
David Meyer, Dustin Cather, Eileen Truschke, Bob Hansen, Melissa Fuller, and
Bob Lee attended on Zoom. Steve Pangere and his wife joined later in the
meeting.

PROGRAMDenise introduced Rachel Arfa, Commissioner of the Mayors Office for
People with Disabilities. Ms. Aarfa spoke through her interpreter, Jennifer.
She shared information about some of the services through the Mayors Office
and asked for our feedback.  The Mayors Office provides many services. There
is a home modification program that helps make peoples homes more
accessible.

Another program teaches deaf and hard of hearing youth from sixth through
twelfth grade about substance abuse prevention. A  personal assistance
program can provide up to six hours of home assistance per week. Assistance
can include cooking, cleaning, and shopping. A Career Center launched in
July 2022. Companies claimed they would like to hire people with
disabilities but did not know where to go. The Mayors Office now has five
career counselors and a sign language interpreter. So far they have obtained
jobs for seventy people. Any job-seeker in Chicago should contact the
office. 

Patti commented that the online 311 complaint site is not fully accessible.

She wondered about access on other city websites. She also pointed out that
information about COVID vaccines at the United Center was highly
inaccessible. In terms of access in the home, she wondered if the office can
help with replacing inaccessible home devices or providing accessible apps
or overlays. The commissioner said she would like to learn more and follow
up on these issues. The city has hired someone to make sure that city
websites are accessible, but clearly there is more work to be done. 

To reach the office on careers call 3 1 2-7 4 6-5 7 7 3 and enter 3. The
email address is mopdcareercenter at cityofchicago.org
<mailto:mopdcareercenter at cityofchicago.org> . Most organizations that help
people with disabilities find jobs maintain a list of available positions,
mainly in customer service. MOPD doesnt work that way. They find out what
kind of work people want to do and then help them find something in the
field that interests them. 

Denise raised the issue of drivers license requirements on job applications.
She noted that NFBI passed a resolution on this topic. Ms.

Arfa said she shares this concern. She said that a state ID can serve in
lieu of a drivers license. She asked people to email her when they find
applications that require a drivers license. Patti suggested that Chicago
should share job postings with NFB job fairs and with sites specific to
people with disabilities. 

The commissioners email is rachel.arfa at cityofchicago.org
<mailto:rachel.arfa at cityofchicago.org> . 

Kira explained our concerns about the lack of Braille and large print
information at bus stops. We are planning a write-in campaign to make the
bus stop signs accessible. We also are concerned about audio announcements
on buses and turning on audible information at CTA stations. Commissioner
Arfa thanked us for our work on this and asked to be copied on any messages
to CTA officials. 

Denise thanked her for speaking with us, and her presentation met with a
round of applause.

TREASURERS Report

Kira gave the third quarter treasurers report for 2023. At the beginning of
the third quarter our balance was $3,409.31, and the quarter ended with a
balance of $3,689.06. Income was $1,399.05 and expenses were $2,115.00. As
of November 10 our balance was $2,049.90. Jemal moved and Steve seconded
approving the report. The Third Quarter Treasurers Report was approved
unanimously.

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

Presidential Release 532 was historic, because the first Presidential
Release was issued on November 12, 1973. The 83rd anniversary of the
Federation is on November 8. For a long time the NFB has been pushing for
blind actors to play blind people in the movies. Tomorrow NetFlix will
release All the Light We Cannot See with a blind actor in the leading role.

In October Carla Gilbride was appointed general council of the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission. We continue to work on accessible voting.

Security is often raised as a concern, but accessibility and security can go
hand in hand.

Government Affairs Specialist Jesse Shirek at our national office can answer
questions about SSI and SSDI. His extension is 2348 or email jshirek at nfb.org
<mailto:jshirek at nfb.org> .

President Riccobono encouraged everyone to share information about our
end-of-year match program. Donations will be tripled! Again we have our
longstanding relationship with  Santa Claus, who will send Braille  letters
and packets in English or Spanish for the holidays. The Action Fund has
again launched the Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest for blind children
and adults. The contest runs from December 4 2023 through January 22, 2024.

In addition to categories for blind children and adults, there is a category
this year for sighted teachers of blind children. Send questions to
braillereadingcontest at actionfund.org
<mailto:braillereadingcontest at actionfund.org> .

Among losses in the Federation family, President Riccobono noted the passing
of Gina Falvo of Illinois. In honor of Veterans Day he thanked our veterans
for their service and asked that we all work toward peace.

STATE PRESIDENTS REPORT

Since NFBI President Marilyn Green was unable to attend the meeting, Denise
read the State Report. Marilyn thanked everyone for making our 2023 state
convention a success. Be on the lookout for an email survey to gauge what
people thought of the new format. Washington Seminar applications are due to
president at nfb.org <mailto:president at nfb.org>  by 11:59 on December 2. David
Meyer can assist people in filling out their application. We want
representation from all parts of the state. The next affiliate board meeting
will take place on Thursday, December 14, at 7 PM. All are welcome to
attend. Denise added that Washington Seminar begins on January 29, 2024.

FEDERAL LEGISLATION

Dustin Cather reported that HR 1328, the Medical Device Nonvisual
Accessibility Act, introduced by Rep. Jan Schakowski, currently has
forty-nine cosponsors in the House. Five of them are from Illinois: Mike
Quigley, Sean Casten, Jesús García, Danny Davis, and Raja Krishnamoorthi.

The Transformation to Competitive and Integrated Employment Act (S. 533) has
one cosponsor in the Senate. Its companion bill, HR 163, has twenty-seven
cosponsors. The Access Technology Affordability Act is called S. 1467 in the
senate and HR 3702 in the House. It has eight Senate cosponsors and twenty
in the House. Denise encouraged everyone to contact their representatives
about our legislative concerns prior to Washington Seminar. 

SECRETARYS MINUTES

Ken Borst moved and Jemal seconded acceptance of the minutes from the
meeting of September 9. The minutes were approved unanimously.

Fundraising Committee 

Dave Meyer thanked everyone who donated or plans to donate to the
Read-a-thon. It helps fund our members who attend Washington Seminar. We
will hold a fundraiser at Beggars Pizza from noon to 8 pm on November 15.

In December we will hold our annual holiday auction. The chapter  meeting
will begin at 12 noon, with the auction after the business meeting.
Francisco had auction letters to hand to anyone who wanted them. 

NEW BUSINESS

Jemal announced that PACE has launched a project allowing anyone eligible
for Paratransit to ride free on PACE. The program starts in February 2024. 

ADJOURNMENT

Patti moved and Mary seconded adjourning the meeting. The meeting adjourned
at 2:49 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary

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