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<h1><b><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a>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>
Happy Thanksgiving to you! I am thankful for the love and hard work you
put into our organization every day. The scope of projects we have going
on and the tremendous number of areas where our organization has impact
is remarkable. The fact that we continue to evaluate what we do and keep
it authentically grounded in the hopes and dreams of blind people is what
makes it effective and powerful. Thank you for being part of that engine
of hope.<br>
<br>
I would like to take a brief moment to thank Carl Jacobsen for his
leadership with our New York affiliate. Both Carl and Mindy have touched
a lot of blind people in New York and encouraged them to pursue their
dreams with confidence. We now have a new president in New York, Mike
Robinson, and our incoming group of elected leaders, who have been taught
and inspired by our previous leaders, is eager to build on the foundation
that Carl and Mindy have left in New York. <br>
I encourage you not to slow down in the final month of the year. We have
a lot happening with our federal legislative priorities and preparations
for 2018, including Washington Seminar. Those of you who have signed up
to be with me at the presidents meeting will be receiving a survey
request asking for information about the topics that might be most useful
to you.<br>
<br>
I hope that each of you finds great joy in the Thanksgiving holiday this
week. I will be spending time with my immediate and extended family on
the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Next week, we will be in full holiday and
strategic planning mode at the NFB Jernigan Institute as we decorate for
the season, welcome our supporters for a partnership dinner, and host the
meetings of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the
Blind and the Board of Directors of the Jacobus tenBroek Fund. It will be
nice to get away with the Riccobono family before doing some intense
planning with the Federation family. I hope that your Thanksgiving
gatherings are fun and relaxing and that any travel you undertake is safe
and uneventful.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2>Legislative Updates:<br>
On Thursday, November 16, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the Accessible Instructional Materials in
Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act (S. 2138) in the United States Senate.
The legislation will authorize the creation of voluntary guidelines to
help colleges and universities meet the needs of blind students and
students with other disabilities that make it difficult or impossible to
read print. Please contact your two senators to encourage them to
cosponsor S. 2138.<br>
<br>
As you call your senate offices regarding S. 2138, please also encourage
your senators to cosponsor our Access Technology Affordability Act (S.
732). Immediately following the Thanksgiving recess, the Senate will
devote its attention entirely to tax reform, and it is crucial that
senate offices hear from us during this critical time. You can reach your
senate offices by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.<br>
<br>
Finally, don’t forget to start making plans to attend our 2018
Washington Seminar. You can find more information regarding how to make
hotel reservations and other logistics for 2018 by reading the
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm17/bm1710/bm171010.htm">
<i>Braille Monitor</a></i>.<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2>NFB Independence Market: <br>
Our market will be closed for business the week between Christmas and New
Year’s. Thus, the last day to place an order from the market in 2017
will be December 22.<br>
<br>
Eligible Sprint Customers Can Get a KNFB Reader Enterprise License for
Free:<br>
Starting November 20, 2017, Sprint customers who purchase a new line of
service or eligible upgrade through Sprint Accessibility will receive a
free license to download the KNFB Reader Enterprise app on up to two
mobile devices. All you need to do is:
<ol>
<li>Visit <a href="http://www.sprint.com/vision">sprint.com/vision</a> or
a Sprint store to purchase a new line of service or eligible upgrade.
<li>Call (855) 885-7568 and ask a Sprint Accessibility Care
representative for the KNFB Reader Enterprise app.
<li>Sprint will provide you with the information you need to create a
username and password that will activate your new KNFB Reader Enterprise
license.
<li>Download the KNFB Reader Enterprise app (free) and not KNFB Reader
(for $99.99) from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Windows 10
Store.
<li>When you launch the app, enter the username and password from step 3
above, and you’re all set!
</ol>To learn more about the KNFB Reader Enterprise, visit
<a href="http://www.knfbreader.com">www.knfbreader.com</a>.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2>
<ul>
<li>January 29, 2018: Great Gathering-In
<li>January 28-February 1, 2018:
<a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">Washington Seminar</a>
<li>March 22-23, 2018: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
<li>March 31, 2018: Deadline for scholarship applications,
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">www.nfb.org/scholarships</a>
<li>April 15, 2018: Deadline for
<a href="https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main">2018 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
competition</a>
<li><a name="_Hlk498959289"></a>July 3-8, 2018: National Federation of
the Blind National Convention, Orlando, Florida
</ul> <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>
With gratitude for your leadership and friendship,<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:7.1.0.9.2.20171122095331.008b7a50@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:7.1.0.9.2.20171122095331.008b7a50@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171122095331.008b7a50@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171122095331.008b7a50@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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