<html>
<body>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><br>
<h1><b>President's Notebook</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b>National Federation of the Blind</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b>Mark A. Riccobono</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a></b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b>(410) 659-9314</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
The presidential election is over and the National Federation of the
Blind is still on the job. As you know, we work with every elected leader
on our issues since blind people are a diverse cross section of society,
and our issues should be championed by all elected officials. We are
currently in the process of evaluating the changes in Congress and the
White House to develop our strategy for the coming year. I expect to
continue moving our issues forward, and we all should be planning to
develop or strengthen our relationship with our elected leaders at all
levels of government.<br>
<br>
We are moving into the end-of-the-year giving season. This is a time when
many general donations come into the National Federation of the Blind. I
urge you to activate your affiliate to encourage donations to our
organization. If you are sending out any emails, I encourage you to use
<a href="https://nfb.org/donate2016">https://nfb.org/donate2016</a> to
point individuals towards making donations to the Federation.<br>
<br>
Congratulations to our new affiliate presidents, Terri Rupp (Nevada) and
Tracy Soforenko (Virginia). I would also like to thank our outgoing
presidents in those affiliates, Kimie Beverly and Michael Kasey,
respectively. Both of the transitions were planned and represent signs of
growth and strength in these affiliates, and I am confident our outgoing
presidents will continue to be dedicated contributors to our
movement.<br>
<br>
I would also like to highlight that at our Nevada convention the
affiliate recognized Senator Heller for his leadership in our efforts
regarding the Space Available program. Although Senator Heller could not
be in attendance, a key member of his staff was present at the banquet
and it allowed for a nice opportunity to educate the senator's staff
about our broader priorities. I encourage all affiliates to consider how
they utilize strategic opportunities like this example to build
relationships and acknowledge our friends. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
Voter Survey:<br>
Now that you have exercised your fundamental right to vote, please
complete our 2016 Blind and Low-Vision Voter Experience Survey by Friday,
November 18. If you cast your ballot at an early voting center, your
local polling place on Election Day, or by absentee ballot that you
received by regular mail, please complete the survey at
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JJ5N38X">
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JJ5N38X</a>. If you used a personal
computer or tablet to mark your ballot, please complete the survey at
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JM9CMY6">
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JM9CMY6</a>.<br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act Regulation:<br>
After eight years of hard work by Federation members across the country,
I am pleased to announce that final regulations implementing the
Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 were issued by the National
Highway Traffic Safety administration (NHTSA) earlier today. While we are
still reviewing the regulation, we are optimistic that it contains the
provisions that we strongly feel are needed to protect the blind and
other pedestrians. For more information, read
<a href="https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-applauds-issuance-pedestrian-safety-enhancement-act-regulations">
our press release</a> and the
<a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/About-NHTSA/Press-Releases/nhtsa_quiet_car_final_rule_11142016">
official announcement from NHTSA</a>.<br>
<br>
Communications Request Form:<br>
We are often asked by affiliates, national committee chairs, national
division leaders, and others to have our national staff assist them in
helping to communicate information about important events, programs, and
initiatives. In order to better manage and track requests for
communications assistance with large-scale or national initiatives that
can benefit from a cohesive communications strategy, we have posted a
<a href="https://nfb.org/communications-request">communications request
form</a> to our website so that details of such initiatives can be
provided to our communications team. You can find and fill out the form
at
<a href="https://nfb.org/communications-request">
https://nfb.org/communications-request</a>. If you use this form, a
member of our communications team will get back to you within three to
five days in order to discuss your request. Keep in mind that you can
always contact our communications team with general questions or for
advice by emailing
<a href="mailto:communicationsteam@nfb.org">communicationsteam@nfb.org</a>
. You may also contact Chris Danielsen, director of public relations, at
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330.<br>
<br><br>
<h1><b>Uber:<br>
Last week I mentioned that we were aware of problems with Uber’s mobile
app and that we were reaching out to Uber to address those problems. The
company claimed they had received feedback from us on the app in advance.
In response to that false claim, we posted a blog post entitled
<a href="https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/commitment-more-checking-box-uber-fails-get-it">
Commitment Is More Than Checking a Box: Uber Fails to Get It</a>. The
company recently posted to Applevis the following:</b></h1><br><br>
Update Submitted by PJ L on 10 November, 2016 - 06:00; App Developer<br>
<br>
Hi everyone, <br>
<br>
I wanted to apologize for the way I characterized conversations my
colleagues had with the National Federation of the Blind and the American
Council for the Blind. My team and I care deeply about trying to
understand your concerns and we are working hard towards tangible
solutions. We recognize that open lines of communication are critical to
this process, and appreciate all of the feedback you’ve been sharing
here and in the Uber app. <br>
<br>
As an iOS developer, I test the app on VoiceOver as often as I can to
make sure that things are working. We recognize that there are still
improvements to be made and are working to address those. <br>
<br>
To continue to share your feedback, you can visit this page or do so in
the app with the instructions below:<br>
Navigate to the Help section in your app<br>
Select Accessibility<br>
Select “I have feedback about VoiceOver or TalkBack features”<br>
<br>
This will ensure that the engineering team can review and address your
feedback in a timely manner. Thank you to everyone for your thoughtful
feedback, and please keep it coming.<br>
Thanks, PJ<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Reminders:</b></h2><br><br>
NFB-Pearson STEM Survey:<br>
Please take time to complete the NFB-Pearson STEM survey, or encourage
your child or student to complete this detailed survey, by Friday,
December 2. Participation in the survey is critical; the results will
help us better understand barriers blind students encounter in the
classroom and how to broaden access to STEM subjects for future blind
students. Participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of
twenty $25 Amazon gift cards. <br>
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFBAdultSTEM">STEM survey for
college students and adults</a> <br>
<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFBTeenSTEM">STEM survey for
middle and high school students</a><br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
· November 16: Affiliate
President Call - Branding and Scholarship Program<br>
·
<a href="https://nfb.org/state-conventions">Fall Conventions</a><br>
· January 30, 2017: Great
Gathering-In <br>
· January 30-February 2, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar</a><br>
· March 30-31, 2017: Jacobus
tenBroek Law Symposium<br>
· March 31, 2017: Deadline for
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">scholarship
applications</a><br>
· April 15, 2017: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">Jacob Bolotin Award
applications</a><br>
· July 21-29, 2017: Youth
Slam, Towson University<br>
· September 12-17, 2017:
BLAST, Nashville, Tennessee<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br>
President<br>
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
(410) 659-9314 |
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a> <br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20161114211131.023227e8@visi.com.4" width=210 height=76 alt="National Federation of the Blind">
</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20161114211131.023227e8@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20161114211131.023227e8@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20161114211131.023227e8@visi.com.7" width=24 height=24 alt="Youtube">
</a><br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind 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.
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br><br>
</blockquote></body>
</html>