[Mn-at-large] NFB of Minnesota Update

[Andrews, David B (DEED)]

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMN-News [mailto:nfbmn-news-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jennifer Dunnam via NFBMN-News
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 7:57 PM
To: nfbmn-news <nfbmn-news at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfbmn-news] NFB of Minnesota Update

June 28, 2017

Dear Minnesota Federationists:

National convention is right around the corner! If you are attending, please read the specific information for Minnesotans sent earlier this evening. If you are not able to attend this year, remember that parts of the convention will be live streamed. Check out https://nfb.org/convention

☐ It appears that one of our Minnesota Congressman needs some additional education.  Tom Emmer of the 6th District is one of the co-sponsors of HR620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017. If passed, this legislation will dramatically weaken the ADA, hindering education, independent living, and community participation for all people with disabilities. The bill prevents people with disabilities from filing a lawsuit regarding an ADA violation until the person first notifies the violator. The violator then has 60 days to respond and then has another 120 days to remedy the problem, for a total delay of 180 days. Representative Emmer needs to hear from Minnesota Federationists of our strong opposition to this harmful bill so that he will see that he should withdraw his support from it. Please call him at 202-225-2331.

→	In better news, at last count We are up to thirty cosponsors on AIM
HIGH, H.R. 1772 (including Representative Rick Nolan of Minnesota), five cosponsors on the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1734, and eight cosponsors on the TIME Act, H.R. 1377. In the Senate, the Access Technology Affordability Act, S. 732, has one cosponsor. Please Ask your representative to cosponsor H.R. 1772, H.R. 1734, and H.R.
1377. Please also call senators Franken and Klobuchar and ask them to cosponsor S. 732.

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH) This bill will promote instructional technology and content that are accessible to the blind and other students with print disabilities.

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA) These bills will facilitate the purchase of access technology for blind people by creating a refundable, per person tax credit.

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME) This bill will increase employment opportunities by removing stigmas and low expectations propagated by section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Note that the bill now phases out subminimum wages over a six year period corresponding to the recommendation of the National Council on Disability.

→	Job announcement: This was announced at our most recent metro
chapter meeting and might be of interest to any Minnesotan. Student Access in the Disability Resource Center (University of Minnesota, Twin cities) is looking for four individuals to work directly with students and the University community to facilitate access and inclusion. This position is highly interactive and requires excellent communication skills, experience facilitating access, experience in higher education, and an ongoing commitment to working effectively
with and across diverse communities.   Counseling or advising
experience is valuable, as is an understanding of the social model of disability. The direct link to the job posting is
https://www.myu.umn.edu/psp/psprd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_SCHJOB&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1

If that does not work, visit this website and use the Job number 317965.

https://humanresources.umn.edu/jobs

As always, if you have items for these updates, please send them along!

To-Do List (AKA Things You Can Do To Help)
☐	Call your Congressman or Congresswoman and ask him or her to
cosponsor these three bills: the AIM HIGH Act (H.R. 1772), the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1734), and the TIME Act (H.R.
1377). Please also call senators Franken and Klobuchar and ask them to cosponsor S. 732. If you aren't sure who your representative is, find the name and contact information by entering your zip code at http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/. If you'd prefer, the number to the Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121; from there, the operator can transfer you.
☐	Call Tom Emmer's office and urge him to drop his support for HR620.
☐	If you use a guide dog, give feedback (positive or negative) on your
experiences using Uber and Lyft, and encourage anyone you know who uses a guide dog or other service animal to do the same:
https://nfb.org/rideshare

Important Dates Coming Up Soon:
• Monday July 10-Saturday July 15: 2017 NFB National Convention in Orlando (Agenda now available) https://nfb.org/convention • Thursday, August 3: Meeting of State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind http://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/blind-visual-impaired/council/
• Saturday, August 26: Next board meeting of NFB of Minnesota in Metro area • Saturday, September 9th: NFB of Minnesota Walk for Opportunity in Rochester—more details soon

The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back

http://www.nfbmn.org

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nfbmn

YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/nationsblind 

David Andrews | Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development 
State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave West, Suite 240, St. Paul MN 55114
Direct: 651-539-2294
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