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<h1><b>President's Notebook<br><br>
<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br><br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">
officeofthepresident@nfb.org<br><br>
<br>
</a>(410) 659-9314</b></h1> <br>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
I had the opportunity to represent the Federation at the Consumer
Electronic Show (CES) last week. In talking to technology providers, it
is encouraging to find more awareness of what "accessibility"
means than I did years ago when I last attended CES. It is clear that we
are living in an ever-connected world from cars, to homes, to wearables,
to the physical environment. I think that our advocacy and technology
expertise put the blind in a great position to take advantage of all of
these innovations.<br>
<br>
Technology will never be the answer. We need to continue to articulate
our philosophy about blindness. I think that we need to walk carefully
around the use of technology making sure that the blind continue to
direct that use in our lives. There are many simple things that do not
require a technology solution. However, how can we further leverage
technology to give us increased access to information that is expensive
or difficult to get in our everyday lives? It will be up to the National
Federation of the Blind to define what the cutting edge of technology and
independence is, and I am looking to the leaders of the Federation to
help by actively participating in those discussions.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2>Washington Seminar:<br>
The Great Gathering-In is exactly three weeks from today. Please schedule
appointments with members of your Congressional delegation for January
31, February 1, and February 2. Once your appointments are scheduled,
please notify us at
<a href="mailto:Hillappointments@nfb.org">Hillappointments@nfb.org</a>,
providing as much information about each meeting as you can, including:
date, time, meeting location, and (perhaps most importantly) whether you
are meeting with a staffer or an actual member of Congress.<br>
<br>
The 2017 <a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Legislative Fact
Sheets</a> are online. This is a great time to be studying our issues for
the 2017 Washington Seminar and memorizing the fact sheets. Be sure to
check back often for updates regarding the Washington Seminar in the
weeks leading up to the Great Gathering-In on January 30 at 5:00 p.m. at
the Holiday Inn Capitol.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2>2017 BELL Academy Program launched:<br>
On Louis Braille's birthday, January 4, we launched the 2017 BELL Academy
Program with Wells Fargo. In addition to sponsoring the BELL Academy,
Wells Fargo will provide strategic input into the program and offer team
member volunteers at select academies.<br>
<br>
Presidential Release:<br>
The January Presidential Release has been posted to our website at
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/pr457.mp3">
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/pr/pr457.mp3</a>.<br>
<br>
EPUB 3 Training Seminar:<br>
We will be hosting a training seminar designed to teach how to create and
implement accessible EPUB 3 in a variety of different settings and to
discuss the upcoming release of the EPUB accessibility conformance
specification. This event will be hosted under the auspices of the
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Center of Excellence in Nonvisual
Access to Education, Public Information, and Commerce (CENA), with
financial support through the Non-Visual Accessibility Initiative grant
from the State of Maryland.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in
Mind:</b></h2>· January 30,
2017: Great Gathering-In <br>
· January 30-February 2, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar</a><br>
· March 23, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/ebooks-and-epub-accessibility">EPUB 3 Training
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 10-15, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1611/bm161101.htm">
National Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando,
Florida</a><br>
· July 21-29, 2017:
<a href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam">Youth Slam</a>,
Towson University<br>
· September 12-17, 2017:
<a href="http://blindmerchants.org/blast-2017/">BLAST</a>, 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>
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/">
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<br>
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<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>
<br>
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