[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of November 17

Tue Nov 18 15:17:31 UTC 2025

News:

2026 Washington Seminar:

We are just over two months from the 2026 Washington Seminar! Be sure to
book your hotel and travel arrangements as soon as you can. For 2026, we are
once again at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mall, and hotel
rates and booking information can be found on our Washington Seminar page at
nfb.org/Washington-seminar. Please be sure to check the NFB webpage often,
as it will be updated more frequently the closer we get to January. See you
in DC!

Monthly Donation Processing:

For security and compliance reasons, we are changing how we internally
process monthly donations for PAC, SUN Fund, the museum, and some mass mail
contributions. Internally processed monthly donations currently start in our
financial system by sending a file to our processor; payment data will now
be managed in and processed through Stripe. Our plan is for a seamless
transition, but if we have your email in our system, you may receive a
notification from Stripe. This proactive communication is to let you know
your credentials are safe and will continue to be protected and processed in
Stripe. Stripe implementation means our financial system will automatically
update when donations are successfully processed, and processing will stop
immediately when the system receives a declined message. Please direct any
questions or concerns to Bridgid Burke at  <mailto:bburke at nfb.org>
bburke at nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 2271

Copy & Paste Content for Sharing:

The following content contains information to share in your affiliate
communications-simply copy and paste to your affiliate's social media,
newsletters, and direct communications as needed.

Walking Alone and Marching Together:

The Walking Alone and Marching Together podcast launched on November 16, the
eighty-fifth Federation anniversary. This podcast shares the history of the
National Federation of the Blind's fight for equality and inclusion from
1940 to 1990. 

The first three episodes are now available. We will be releasing a new
episode every Sunday. You can listen, subscribe, or share on: 

*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/walking-alone-and-marching
-together> Walking Alone and Marching Together webpage (includes episode
transcripts)
*
<https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walking-alone-and-marching-together-p
odcast/id1849913820> Apple Podcasts
*	 <https://open.spotify.com/show/6TMfseujdBqtecMXyj3DSO> Spotify
*
<https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/702e141c-675d-4df5-b5e3-c7fda1a73414/walk
ing-alone-and-marching-together-podcast> Amazon Music
*	 <https://walkingaloneandmarchingtogether.podbean.com/> Podbean

Department of Education OSERS and OCR Update:

Since the announcement of reduction in force (RIF) notices in the Department
of Education, specifically in the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), on
October 10, the members of the National Federation of the Blind have been
engaging with our members in Congress to let them know just how big of an
impact this action will have on us. We asked you to call or email your
senators and representatives, and you did. Then we asked some of you to come
to Washington, DC, in person to meet with your senators on the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and you did. I am happy to
report that in the most recent Continuing Resolution to fund the government,
Congress agreed that the RIF notices would be rescinded. However, that does
not mean that this battle is won. We need to keep advocating to ensure that
the government knows just how important the programs that are administered
by OSERS and OCR are to us. If you didn't get to meet with your members in
Congress, please still try to get those meetings so that we can make sure
our message is heard from one corner of the Capitol to the other. 

Medicare Telehealth Benefits Extended:

With the passage of the most recent Continuing Resolution on November 13 to
fund the federal government, a provision was included to extend Medicare
telehealth benefits once again. However, this is again a temporary extension
and will expire on January 30, 2026. We need to continue our advocacy on
this effort to ensure that these benefits are made permanent. The most
effective way to do that is to call or email your members in Congress and
ask them to cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act (H.R. 4206/S. 1261). For
more information on the bill, please refer to our
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-priorities/legislati
ve-alerts/pass-connect-health-act> legislative alert from September.

Independence Market Upcoming Holiday Schedule:

The Independence Market will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday,
November 27, and Friday, November 28. The market will reopen for regular
business on Monday, December 1. Additionally, for best holiday gift results,
customers should order by Thursday, December 11, for delivery before
Christmas Day. Please be mindful that deliveries around the holiday may take
longer than usual. Customers are welcome to reach out to the market staff
for tracking information and updates. Keep in mind that the Independence
Market online store will remain open and will accept orders twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week, at nfb.org/ecommerce. 

Career Quest Program at the Washington Seminar: 

Share this opportunity with blind students, early professionals, or emerging
leaders:

Blind students are invited to join us at the National Federation of the
Blind (NFB) Career Quest Program, held during the NFB Washington Seminar,
from January 25 to January 28. This program empowers blind and low-vision
students and early professionals to become confident advocates and future
leaders.

Participants will have the opportunity to advocate on Capitol Hill, learn
advocacy skills that will become valuable in college and in their careers,
connect with peers at the NABS Winter Meeting, meet employers at the NFB
Career Fair, and network with Federation mentors and professionals.

Participants must complete the
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-quest/application>
Career Quest Interest Application by December 12 to secure their spot.
Please direct all questions to Nikki Jackson at 410-659-9314, extension
2404. 

Dates to Keep in Mind:

*	January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar
*	July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas

Chapter Presidents Calls

Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14

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 advances the lives of its
members and all blind people in Illinois. We know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.