[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of March 27

Tue Mar 28 14:26:02 UTC 2023

Critical Actions:

Next Week: April Presidential Release:

Attend the next Presidential Release #526 on Tuesday, April 4, at 8:00 p.m.,
eastern. Submit questions for the Q&A sessions by sending an email to
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1nmi9wgmpo6bp/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=cdanielsen@
nfb.org> cdanielsen at nfb.org with the subject line #PR526. Closed captions
and Spanish interpretations are available.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fj%2F94821665754&sa=D&s
ntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2akhnWwfXxFMtXcebA9Umt> Presidential Release Zoom ID: 948
2166 5754.

News:

New Issue of Future Reflections:

The latest issue of Future Reflections is now available. This issue contains
an article on encouraging play in blind infants and young blind children, a
high school student's thoughts about returning to face-to-face school after
the COVID closure, articles by blind chef Regina Mitchell and Bolotin Award
winner Jeanetta Price, and much more.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fimages%2Fnfb%2Fpublica
tions%2Ffr%2Ffr42%2F1%2Ffr4201tc.htm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw1vYDF5ISt7Btg2nnj
vjzzq> Check out Future Reflections Vol 42, No. 1.

New Episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast:

Hosts Anil and Melissa dig into the NFB-supported case, Orozco v. Garland,
in the latest Nation's Blind Podcast. They share an interview with Chris
Danielsen and Ronza Othman.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fresources%2Fpublicatio
ns-and-media%2Fnations-blind-podcast&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2WUpuwuoF9EMv8xhW
KHX7m> Access the episode, "NFB Helps Win Battle for Blind Federal
Employees."

Congress Is in Session this Week:

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are in session this week
before they begin a two-week recess on Monday, April 3. That makes this week
a perfect opportunity to call or email your members of Congress and urge
them to cosponsor our legislation. In the House please ask your member to
cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R.
1263) and the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328). The
Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act currently has forty-two House
cosponsors, and we would be thrilled to see it reach fifty (or more) before
next week's recess. In the Senate, please ask your senators to cosponsor the
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (S. 533).

Increased Appropriations Request for the Independent Living Services for
Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program:

Earlier this month we sent a letter to both the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees regarding increasing the annual appropriation for
the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB)
program. The federal funding for the OIB program has remained stagnate for
several years and is woefully inadequate to help all of the individuals who
are eligible for its services. An increase in funding would dramatically
help the OIB serve the growing population of aging blind Americans. Both
letters are posted on our
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fad
vocacy%2Fpolicy-statements&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw0EXlbeWMG6kvuG4KNGNuOl>
Policy Statements page, and I urge you to read them.

Letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Regarding
Discriminatory Driver's License Requirements on Job Applications:

Last week we sent a
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fsites%2Fnfb.org%2Ffile
s%2F2023-03%2FEEOC-Drivers-License-Reconsideration-3-21-2023.pdf&sa=D&sntz=1
&usg=AOvVaw3bQjice0oaVSyFfJCBhGG_> letter to the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regarding companies requiring job applicants
to possess a driver's license, even when driving is not an essential
function of the job. This topic was the subject of
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fresources%2Fspeeches-a
nd-reports%2Fresolutions%2F2022-resolutions%2305&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2XmHd
LPrhe53ZqT0-YE701> Resolution 2022-05 at last year's national convention in
New Orleans. Under the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, it is unlawful for
companies to impose qualification standards or selection criteria based on
an individual's uncorrected vision unless it is required to perform an
essential function of the job. By definition, a driver's license would fall
into this category. This is already prohibited in the current rule, but we
are requesting that the EEOC add a clarifying update to the rule to make it
explicitly clear.

Upcoming Event: Basics of PDF Remediation:

On Tuesday, April 25, the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access will
present an Accessibility Boutique on creating accessible PDF documents. Come
learn strategies experts use to make digital documents readable by screen
readers!
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fcivicrm%2Fmailing%2Fur
l%3Fu%3D28168%26qid%3D8111077&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw0_w5Y4bgdAb_9h8J53i1Iw>
Register for the Basics of PDF Remediation boutique today. 

Reminders:

Where the Blind Work-Investigating the News with Blind Journalists: 

Journalism involves interviewing, research, and sometimes extensive travel,
all of which could potentially present barriers to entry for blind people
given society's low expectations. We are severely underrepresented in the
field, making our perspective even more valuable. Some blind journalists
have been immensely successful. Join us on April 20, 8:00-9:15 p.m.,
eastern, to find out how.
<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> Registration information is available on our
website.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	April 20: Where the Blind Work, 8:00 p.m.
*	May 10: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 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: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
*	September 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Blind
Equality Achievement Month)
*	November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 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