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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 did not take long for things to heat up after the national convention.
The NFB Jernigan Institute has been alive with activity during the past
week as thirty high school students were in our building for NFB EQ, and
the NFB of Maryland BELL Academy took over East Mall and continues to
occupy the building this week, spreading the love for Braille throughout
the building. Speaking of Braille, check out the Presidential Release or
the below note for some news about Braille that will leave a good taste
in your mouth.<br>
<br>
This weekend we start the fall convention season with our NFB of South
Carolina convention. I anticipate lots of exciting reports from the work
of our affiliates this fall.<br>
<br>
Congratulations to Ron Brown and the Indianapolis Thunder for their third
World Series championship title in a row!<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
August Presidential Release:<br>
This month's release is available at
<a href="https://nfb.org/presidential-releases">
https://nfb.org/presidential-releases</a>.<br><br>
<br><br>
The Secret Is Out:<br>
On July 26, the United States AbilityOne Commission announced that the
American Foundation for the Blind was being appointed as a central
nonprofit under the program. This action was taken completely under cover
without public comment and without any disclosure even to the other
central nonprofits. Read my
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/ballard_third_cna_designation_08032018.pdf">
yet-to-be-answered letter to the AbilityOne Commission</a> challenging
the lack of consultation with the organized blind movement.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Share the Love:<br>
The National Federation of the Blind is partnering with Kellogg's Rice
Krispies Treats to create Braille and audio “Love Notes” so parents
can share messages of love and encouragement with blind children. The
Love Notes are an accessible version of the writable wrapper on Rice
Krispies Treats, which allows parents to include messages in their
children's lunch boxes. The new, accessible Love Notes are available in
two forms: Braille stickers and re-recordable audio boxes. The Braille
stickers are heart shaped to match the space on Rice Krispies Treats
writable wrappers for written notes. Each Braille sticker sheet includes
eight uplifting messages for parents to share with their children, such
as "you've got this" and "love you lots." The
re-recordable audio box holds a Rice Krispies Treat and, when opened,
plays a ten-second, pre-recorded message. The audio box messages can be
re-recorded over a thousand times. A video has been produced to promote
this partnership, featuring two of our members, Eme and Tabby Mitchell.
The plan is to distribute over 6,000 sheets of Braille stickers and
co-branded NFB/Kellogg's Rice Krispy Treats alphabet cards, as well as
over 1,500 re-recordable audio boxes. A print/Braille welcome letter will
go out in every delivery to reinforce the importance of Braille and
ensure everyone gets the same welcome. The National Federation of the
Blind will be prominently featured on the website about this program,
including a link to subscribe to our <i>Imagineering Our Future</i>
newsletter. Our participation in this initiative reflects our commitment
to helping parents raise blind children who are prepared to be confident,
happy, and productive members of society, as well as our emphasis on
Braille literacy and accessibility. <br>
<br>
To check out the website and order Love Notes for your child, visit
<a href="https://www.ricekrispies.com/en_US/love-notes.html">
ricekrispies.com/lovenotes</a>.<br>
<br>
AV START Act: <br>
I had
<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/399503-the-senate-must-act-legislation-so-americans-can-reap-the">
an op-ed published in
</a>
<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/399503-the-senate-must-act-legislation-so-americans-can-reap-the">
<i>The Hill</a></i> last week supporting the AV START Act and urging the
Senate to act on it. Neil Romano, chairman of the National Council on
Disability and speaker at this year’s convention, had
<a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/399752-its-time-for-people-with-disabilities-to-get-paid-their-fair-share">
an opinion piece in
</a>
<a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/399752-its-time-for-people-with-disabilities-to-get-paid-their-fair-share">
<i>The Hill</a></i> later in the week. <br>
<br>
Advocacy Update:<br>
On the legislative front, we continue to gain momentum on the Access
Technology Affordability Act. We are up to eighty cosponsors in the House
of Representatives, and ten cosponsors in the Senate. In addition, we
know that the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) is actively working to
estimate the annual cost of the bill, more colloquially referred to in
Congress as the bill’s “score.” Getting the JCT to officially
score the bill is a significant accomplishment on our part. We need you
to build upon this momentum by calling or emailing your senators and
representatives in order to obtain as many cosponsors as possible. Our
Advocacy and Policy team will be distributing more information on this
topic later this week. <br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>October 11-12, 2018: Tactile Graphics Symposium
<li>March 28-29, 2019: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium
<li>July 7-12, 2019: NFB National Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada
</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>
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:7.1.0.9.2.20180807195227.01f5a2f8@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:7.1.0.9.2.20180807195227.01f5a2f8@visi.com.5" width=24 height=24 alt="Facebook">
</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180807195227.01f5a2f8@visi.com.6" width=24 height=24 alt="Twitter">
</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20180807195227.01f5a2f8@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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