[Mn-at-large] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - week of 03/ 20/2017

Tue Mar 21 03:09:48 UTC 2017

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>President's Notebook
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>National Federation of the Blind
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>Mark A. Riccobono
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><mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>officeofthepresident at nfb.org
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>(410) 659-9314
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>Dear Fellow Federationists:
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>Some note the coming of spring by the increased 
>level of activity and the blooming of life 
>around us. I find that because of my work in the 
>National Federation of the Blind it has not felt 
>like we have been through a low period of 
>activity. However, it is nice to have spring 
>here and it reminds me that our national convention is right around the corner.
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>Before we get to Orlando, there are some 
>immediate concerns that should take our 
>attention. Our Washington Seminar issues will be 
>heating up at an increasing rate, so be on the 
>watch for alerts about activity on those items. 
>As you will see, there are real attacks being 
>made on the Americans with Disabilities Act, and 
>these require the concentration of the 
>Federation. Other disability organizations often 
>look to us as the leader for mobilizing people; 
>now is one of those times. I call your attention 
>to the first critical action this week as a top 
>priority for all of our affiliates.
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>I look forward to visiting with most of you this 
>evening on the Uber monitoring call we have scheduled.
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>Critical Actions This Week:
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>Call to Action: Opposition to H.R. 620, the ADA 
>Education and Reform Act of 2017:
>As you know, we ask members from time to time to 
>contact their representatives in Congress in 
>support of legislation that would benefit the 
>blind community. But today I am calling upon all 
>Federationists to contact their representatives 
>in opposition to H.R. 620. The phone number for 
>the Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121. From 
>there, simply ask to be connected with your 
>representative. In addition, please call the 
>chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Robert Goodlatte, at (202) 225-5431.
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>Here are some brief talking points to share with 
>the offices of your representative and Chairman 
>Goodlatte: (1) the ADA was enacted in 1990, so 
>covered entities have had ample time to learn 
>about and comply with the law; (2) the ADA 
>already contains an â€œundue burdenâ€ provision 
>to protect covered entities when the costs of 
>making facilities accessible are too high; and 
>(3) Title III of the ADA (which applies to 
>public accommodations) does not allow monetary damages for noncompliance.
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>The National Federation of the Blind has joined 
>with 216 other allied civil rights organizations 
>in opposing this bill. You can read our joint 
>letter at 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/sign-on-letters/comments_on_hr620_03162017.pdf>https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/sign-on-letters/comments_on_hr620_03162017.pdf. 
>If you want to know how this bill would affect 
>us, consider internet access guaranteed under 
>the ADA and 
><https://nfb.org/ada-title-ii-internet-regulations-joint-sanprm-comments>our 
>comments filed with DOJ last October as just one example.
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>News:
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>National Federation of the Blind Comments on 
>Department of Justice Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Section 504:
>Last Thursday, the National Federation of the 
>Blind filed comments regarding the recent Notice 
>of Proposed Rulemaking issued by the Department 
>of Justice on updates to Section 504 of the 
>Rehabilitation Act.  You can read our comments 
>at 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/sign-on-letters/nfb_comments_re_504_regs.pdf>https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/sign-on-letters/nfb_comments_re_504_regs.pdf.
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>LGBT Group:
>We have recently formed the National Federation 
>of the Blind LGBT Group. Tai Tomasi is the 
>chairperson. She can be reached at 
><mailto:tai.tomasi8 at gmail.com>tai.tomasi8 at gmail.com or (515) 329-4908.
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>Dates to Keep in Mind:
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>Â·        March 23, 2017: 
><https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6317&qid=1522699>eBooks 
>and EPUB accessibility event
>Â·        March 30-31, 2017: 
><http://nfb.org/law-symposium>Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
>Â·        March 31, 2017: Deadline for 
><http://www.nfb.org/scholarships>scholarship applications
>Â·        April 15, 2017: Deadline for 
><https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main>Jacob Bolotin Award applications
>Â·        May 1, 2017: Deadline for 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award-form-fillable.pdf>Distinguished 
>Educator of Blind Students Award
>Â·        June 4, 2017: <https://nfb.org/dot-dash>6K Dot Dash
>Â·        July 10-15, 2017: 
><https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm161101.htm>National 
>Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida
>Â·        July 23-29, 2017: 
><http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam>Youth Slam, Towson University
>Â·        September 12-17, 2017: 
><http://blindmerchants.org/blast-2017/>BLAST, Nashville, Tennessee
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>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.
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>Mark A. Riccobono
>President
>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>(410) 659-9314 | 
><mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>officeofthepresident at nfb.org
>
>
><https://nfb.org/>
>National Federation of the Blind
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>
> 
><http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>
>Facebook
>     <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>
>Twitter
>     <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>Youtube
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>The National Federation of the Blind is a 
>community of members and friends who believe in 
>the hopes and dreams of the nationâ€™s blind. 
>Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
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