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<h1><b><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a>President's
Notebook</b></h1><a name="OLE_LINK7"></a><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>
It is Meet the Blind Month! It is always exciting to observe all of the
great activities that our chapters and affiliates generate during
October. I noticed a number of Facebook posts about Federation activities
yesterday so the month has already started with great energy. I had the
pleasure of representing the National Federation of the Blind in Dallas
where the Aira Tech Corp, along with executives of AT&T, was
promoting the Aira technology. Emmitt Smith described the first quarter
of the game using Aira's technology and we had the opportunity to talk
with a number of influential business leaders about the work of the
National Federation of the Blind. Read below for more important Meet the
Blind Month information, especially as it relates to October 15. <br>
<br>
Our hearts are with the families of victims in Las Vegas this morning. I
have heard from our president in Nevada, Terri Rupp. We are not aware of
any of our members being injured. Terri's husband Aaron is a first
responder and was on the scene while active shooting was still happening.
I am confident that each of you joins me in extending appreciation to
Aaron and the other first responders linked to our Federation family who
are involved in this situation, as well as with those involved with
relief efforts for recent hurricane victims. I am thankful to those who
continue to work on a daily basis to make our communities safer and
stronger even through their personal sacrifices. <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Welcome to Meet the Blind Month!:<br>
We are excited to hear about all the great events and <i>Do You Dream in
Color</i> screenings that have been scheduled, so please share your
events with
<a href="mailto:communicationsteam@nfb.org">communicationsteam@nfb.org</a>
.<br><br>
<br><br>
Here are some resources for you to use during the month:<br>
· A new
<a href="http://nfb.org/blog/article/3329">blog post</a> with ideas for
Meet the Blind Month<br>
· Visit
<a href="http://www.doyoudreamincolor.com/screenings">
www.doyoudreamincolor.com/screenings</a> to learn about screenings<br>
· A new
<a href="https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-celebrates-white-cane-awareness-day">
blog post</a> with ideas for White Cane Awareness Day<br>
· Our
<a href="https://nfb.org/nations-blind-podcast-episode-18-september-2017">
September </a><i>Voice of the Nation's
Blind</i>
<a href="https://nfb.org/nations-blind-podcast-episode-18-september-2017">
podcast</a> features a Presidential Privilege discussion about White
Cane Awareness Day<br>
· A new
<a href="http://nfb.org/white-cane-awareness-day">White Cane Awareness
Day webpage</a> and a link to the updated White Cane Awareness Day
Proclamation<br>
· A new
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/donate2017">www.nfb.org/donate2017</a>
webpage so we can track donations during our promotion of White Cane
Giving Day<br>
· A new video is in
production and more information is on the way via listserv emails<br>
· Please promote events
on social media and use the #mtbm17, #WhiteCaneAwarenessDay and
#WhiteCaneGiving hashtags as appropriate <br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Hurricane Relief:<br>
You are welcome to send contributions to the National Federation of the
Blind marked as “Hurricane Relief” and we will work with our
affiliates in Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas as needed. Our Texas relief
effort is doing well, so I would anticipate our focus being on Puerto
Rico. <br>
<br>
Contributions to the National Federation of the Blind Hurricane Relief
Project can be sent to:<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Attn: Hurricane Relief <br>
200 East Wells Street<br>
Baltimore, Maryland 21230<br>
<br>
Online contributions can be made at
<a href="https://nfb.org/donate">https://nfb.org/donate</a>. Be sure to
note your contribution is for hurricane relief.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b>Cardtronics ATM Testing:<br>
Congratulations to the NFB of Alaska! The Alaska affiliate is the first
to complete its assigned Cardtronics ATM testing and the first to win a
copy of KNFB Reader for Windows. The next nine affiliates to finish their
testing will also receive a redemption code for one copy of KNFB Reader
for Windows that they can use as a door prize at an upcoming
convention.</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h2><b> </b></h2><br><br>
Thank you to everyone who has already completed a Cardtronics ATM test.
To date, the NFB has received 125 completed tests, and 475 ATMs remain to
be tested. We aim to have all tests completed by October 15. If a tester
in your affiliate has not yet received his or her testing instructions or
Request Tracker (RT) login and password, please contact Valerie as soon
as possible at
<a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org">vyingling@nfb.org</a>.<br><br>
<h3><b> </b></h3><br><br>
AV START Act:<br>
Last week Senator John Thune, Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Senator Gary Peters; Senator Roy
Blunt; and Senator Debbie Stabenow introduced the American Vision for
Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies
(AV START) Act (S. 1885). This bill will promote equal access to
automated vehicles for the blind and others with disabilities through the
prohibition of discriminatory licensing practices and the promotion of
accessible user interfaces. <br><br>
<h3><b> </b></h3><br><br>
<br>
<h3><b>NAGDU App:<br>
The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a Division of the
NFB, has updated our app. The versions for both iOS and Android are now
available. This new version contains information about the Rideshare
Testing program, as well as other new information.</b></h3><br><br>
<br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://nfb.org/state-conventions">Fall Conventions</a>
<li>November 1, 2017: <a href="http://nfb.org/scholarships">2018
Scholarship Application</a> period begins
<li>November 6-8, 2017:
<a href="https://nfb.org/dare-be-remarkable-call-presentations">Dare to
Be Remarkable Conference</a>, Baltimore, Maryland
<li>November 15, 2017: <a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">2018
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award competition</a> begins, deadline March 31
<li>January 29, 2018: Great Gathering-In, Washington, District of
Columbia
<li>March 22-23, 2018: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium,
Baltimore, Maryland
</ul> <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:7.1.0.9.2.20171002215741.02021ae0@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:7.1.0.9.2.20171002215741.02021ae0@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171002215741.02021ae0@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171002215741.02021ae0@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>
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