[IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, January 13, 2024

Mon Feb 5 16:03:12 UTC 2024

NFBI Chicago Chapter Minutes

January 13, 2024

CALL TO ORDER

The January meeting of the NFBI Chicago Chapter was held virtually over
Zoom. Chapter President Denise Avant called the meeting to order at 1:02 PM.
She commented that with Zoom at least people didn't have to brave the cold.
She thanked everyone who participated in our Chicago Chapter auction in
December, including those who donated items, set up the tables, and kept
track of money. 

INTRODUCTIONS

Dustin Cather and Patti Chang called on people to introduce themselves.
Persons in attendance were Marilyn Green, Todd Lively, Melissa Fuller, Ken
Schad, Pam Gillmore, Glenn Moore, Mary Lou Grunwald, Paul Shepherdson, Bart
Hickey, Ken Borst, Abdelrahman Osman, Bill Reif, Chris Millsap, Dan Tevelde,
Ed Birmingham, Eileen Truschke, first-timer Frederick Preet, Greg Rosenberg,
John Holtgreve, Marco Giannotti, Michelle Ault, Bob Hansen, Gary Jones,
Steve Hastalis, Sara Luna, Patti Chang, Gavid Meyer, and Bob Widman. 

PROGRAM

Dustin Cather introduced the program, a discussion of Kyle Walls's article
from the Braille Monitor on accessibility regulations under the ADA. On
August 4, 2023, the Department of Justice published the ADA Title II Notice
of Advanced Rule Making, NPRM. The new accessibility standard for online
accessibility includes seven proposed exceptions. Among these exceptions are
password-protected websites for students in public postsecondary
institutions and class or course content on websites for students in public
elementary or secondary schools. These rules would allow most online
educational materials to be inaccessible. During the comments period many
Federationists and others registered their deep concerns. We hope these
exceptions will not go through!

WASHINGTON SEMINAR

Dustin reported that the Illinois team attending Washington Seminar will
consist of Michelle Ault, Denise Avant, Dustin Cather, Abbu Elfaki, Kira
O'Bradovitch, Dilip Shah, and Kaitlyn Ryan. The Great Gathering In will take
place on January 29, and it will be live streamed for anyone who wants to
listen. Illinois is unique in having training prior to Washington Seminar
itself.

We will be presenting three legislative priorities to our members of
Congress. The Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act, HR 5813
and S 2984, would establish a comprehensive definition of accessibility to
avoid confusion in the private and public sectors. It will establish a
technical assistance center for covered entities, commercial providers, and
people with disabilities, and it will direct the Department of Justice and
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to promulgate accessibility
regulations. 

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, HR 1328, will call on the
Food and Drug Administration to come up with nonvisual accessibility
regulations for all Class II and Class III medical devices with digital
interfaces. Such devices include home pregnancy  tests, COVID-19 tests, home
dialysis machines, and much more. The act will require manufacturers to make
devices nonvisually accessible and authorize enforcement by the FDA. 

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act is not yet sponsored in the House or
Senate. It would eliminate the earnings cliff for people receiving SSDI by
instituting a ten-year pilot program to phase out benefits with earnings
over the limit. It would create incentives for blind people receiving SSDI
to earn more money, as they would be able to keep their benefits. 

Dustin encouraged everyone to visit nfb.org/washington-seminar to learn more
about the issues we will cover. Right now HR 1328 has fifty-two  cosponsors,
five of them from Illinois. The bill was introduced by Jan Schakowski;
cosponsors are Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, Jesús García, Danny Davis, and
Raja Krishnamoorthi. HR 5813 has two cosponsors, and S 2984, introduced by
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, has five cosponsors. 

We also are seeking cosponsors for S. 533, the Transformation to Competitive
and Integrated Employment Act. So far it has one sponsor. The companion bill
in the House is HR. 1263, with twenty-six cosponsors, including Robin Kelly
and Mike Quigley from Illinois. The Access Technology Affordability Act, HR
3702, has seventy-three cosponsors, four of them from Illinois: Mike Bost,
Mike Quigley, Brad Schneider, for Jan Schakowsky. The Senate companion bill
is S. 1467. 

Denise added that even though we will not be promoting HR. 3702 at
Washington  Seminar, we should make calls and urge our representatives to
sign back on. At one time fifteen of our seventeen representatives had
signed on. Right now we have only five. 

TREASURER'S REPORT

Chapter Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch delivered the Fourth  Quarter
Treasurer's Report for 2023. The report covered October through December.
The opening balance was $3,689.59. Fourth-quarter income was $1,115 from the
Read-a-Thon, $192.75 from the Beggars Pizza fundraiser, and $1,875 from the
holiday auction, for a sum total of $3,182.75. We also brought in $155 in
dues from new and renewing members. We received $150 in donations and $10
for cane tips, for a total of $160. We brought in $223 in the collections in
November and December. Altogether our fourth quarter income was $3,720.75. 

Total expenses for the fourth quarter came to $2,218.43. These included
donations of $50 toward the IABS door prizes and three monthly payments of
$50 each to the NFB. We spent $39.69 for copies and $58.74 for
transportation to events for individuals. We ended the fourth quarter with
$2,196.90 in the treasury. Due to some additional expenses in January, the
treasury now has $1,656.90. Ken moved and Marilyn seconded acceptance of the
report. The report was approved unanimously.

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

Kira reported that the Advocacy Committee is trying to make sure that the
CTA Advisory Committee will take our concerns seriously. The committee
encouraged members and the public to be aware of our concerns about signage
and announcements.

MEETING SPACE

Denise said that we are still looking for a place to meet in 2024. We need
to pay our donation of $250 for the museum project.

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

Presidential Release 534 was recorded on January 4, which is World  Braille
Day, commemorating the birth of Louis Braille in 2009. Braille is a great
example of empowerment through alternative techniques. Check out braille.day
for a sampling of 215 ways Braille can be used.

Thirty years ago the NFB affiliated with training programs that exemplify
the philosophy, spirit, and policies of the Federation. Our training centers
in Louisiana, Colorado, and Minnesota are affiliated with the national
organization but are run by independent boards of directors. In December the
board of BLIND, Inc., in Minnesota announced that all programs will be
discontinued in January 2024. The board hopes to reimagine and redesign the
program to open again in the future. Millions of dollars are needed to care
for the Pillsbury Mansion where the program is held. This is the first time
one of our centers has had to close. Federationists are encouraged to share
ideas by contacting Ryan Strunk at boardchair at blindinc.org
<mailto:boardchair at blindinc.org> . 

In 2015 the NFB supported blind workers in Ohio who were being paid
subminimum wages under a 14C certificate. In 2016 the plaintiffs were
awarded back pay and damages. The workshop appealed and filed a federal
lawsuit, seeking judicial review. The district court found in the clients'
favor to cover the workers' back pay. This sets an important tone for
workshops that use 14C certificates.

Factsheets for Washington Seminar are available in multiple formats at
nfb.org-washington-seminar. 

Over many years we have raised concerns about the Cogswell and Macy Act,
which was just reintroduced in Congress. We just sent a letter to leaders in
Congress outlining our concerns about this bill. It attempts to amend IDEA
by adding new sections that weaken the Braille presumption and fails to
leverage our Dear Colleague letters. To learn more, contact Justin Young at
jyoung at nfb.org <mailto:jyoung at nfb.org>  or extension 2210 at the national
office. 

STATE PRESIDENT'S REPORT

NFBI President Marilyn Green reminded everyone that Washington Seminar will
take place the week of January 29. Information about our state board meeting
will be sent out shortly. Applications for national and state scholarships
are now open. National scholarship applications are available at
nfb.org/scholarships, and Illinois scholarship applications are at
nfbofillinois.org/scholarships. Nationally we will award thirty scholarships
of $8000 each) We will award at least one NFBI scholarship of $5000. 

The NFBI committee list went out on January 1. If you wish to be dropped
from or added to a committee, contact Marilyn at president at nfbofillinois.org
<mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> .

Locations for our BELL programs are all set. Springfield BELL will run July
15-19 and Chicago BELL will run July 22 to August 2. Contact Debbie Stein if
you would like to volunteer.

National Convention runs from July 3 through 8. Call 407-996-9840 to make
hotel reservations. 

SECRETARY'S MINUTES

The Chicago Chapter minutes, with corrections, were posted on IL-Talk and
NFB Newsline. Robert Hansen moved to approve the minutes, and Eileen Truske
seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

Dave Meyer said the committee will meet at 7 on February 27. He will  send
out information and the Zoom link.

MEETING SPACE

Denise announced that our February meeting will take place on Zoom, as we
are still searching for a meeting place. We would like to return to our
hybrid meetings as soon as possible. 

ADJOURNMENT

Bill Reif moved to adjourn, and Dave Meyer seconded. The meeting adjourned
at 2:52 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary

-- 
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
www.avast.com