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<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><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Scholarship Application Deadline:<br>
March 31 is quickly approaching. Help us make this year's goal of eight
hundred applications by reaching out to all the students that you know to
encourage them to participate.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
KNFB Reader for Microsoft Windows 10:<br>
At CSUN last week, we announced the launch of KNFB Reader for Microsoft
Windows 10. Thanks to support from Microsoft, the KNFB Reader was
available for an introductory price of $19.99 for a limited time.<br>
<br>
Los Angeles Community College Suit:<br>
Along with the NFB of California and two blind students, Roy Payan and
Portia Mason, we have filed suit against the Los Angeles Community
College District (LACCD) alleging that they have violated the Americans
with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
by failing to provide accessible instructional materials and other
accommodations required by these statutes and needed by these
students.<br>
<br><br>
Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards Case:<br>
We are also assisting Kristen Steele in her lawsuit against the
Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), which has denied her
request to take its examination in Braille. Ms. Steele seeks to become a
licensed massage therapist in Iowa and Nebraska, both of which require
passing the exam in order to receive a license. Strangely, the FSMTB
claims that Braille would somehow provide her with an unfair
advantage.<br><br>
<br><br>
Pearson Career Exploration Mentorship Program:<br>
Pearson announced a new career exploration mentorship program in
collaboration with the NFB. The program is for college students and
recent graduates with disabilities. The pilot program will combine our
expertise in mentoring and advocating for career opportunities for blind
and low-vision students with Pearson’s commitment to providing
mentorship to a wide range of students with disabilities.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Reminders:</b></h2><br><br>
Convention Preregistration Is Open:<br>
You can now preregister at
<a href="http://lx-web.nfb.org/convention/preregistration.php">
http://lx-web.nfb.org/convention/preregistration.php</a>. <br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
· March 23, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6317&qid=1522699">
eBooks and EPUB accessibility event</a><br>
· March 30-31, 2017:
<a href="http://nfb.org/law-symposium">Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium</a>
<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>
· May 1, 2017: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award-form-fillable.pdf">
Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award</a><br>
· June 4, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/dot-dash">6K Dot Dash</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 23-29, 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/">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170307212612.0482ce98@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:7.1.0.9.2.20170307212612.0482ce98@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170307212612.0482ce98@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20170307212612.0482ce98@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>
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