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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>
Dear Fellow Federationists,<br>
<br>
As we lead up to Labor Day—and the perceivedd final week of summer—I know
that many affiliates are ramping up foor a great fall schedule, including
many affiliate conventions. We should be planning to ramp up our efforts
with members of Congress to gain support for our bills when they come
back into session. With the election schedule next year, our time to make
progress in this Congress is limited. The fall is critical to making
things happen.<br>
<br>
Please note that I recently have been making some changes in our staff.
Karen Anderson has moved to a new assignment working on our education
programs. Our affiliates working on Federation BELL Academies will have
the opportunity to work very closely with her in the coming year. As
other changes are made, I will share them with you. Please be sure to
promote job opportunities on our national staff. Openings are posted to
our website at
<a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/career-opportunities">
https://nfb.org/about-us/career-opportunities</a>.<br>
<br>
<h2><b>Critical Actions This Week:</b></h2><br><br>
Spread the Word:<br>
The NFB is in litigation with the Department of Education Office for
Civil Rights regarding its March 2018 amended <i>Case Processing
Manual</i>, which mandated dismissal of new complaints by anyone who had
filed a complaint in the past (even against a different entity or a
different issue) and eliminated the right to appeal a dismissal. In
November 2018, the department amended the <i>Case Processing Manual</i>
again to stop dismissing complaints on that basis and reinstated the
appeal right. The department also stated that it would reopen the
complaints previously dismissed as “directed investigations,” rather
than complaint investigations. The NFB is seeking information–by
September 4–about membersârs’ experiences with Department of Education
complaints since March 2018. Please contact Valerie Yingling at
<a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org">vyingling@nfb.org</a> or 410-659-9314,
extension 2440, if:<br>
· you had any complaint
dismissed because you filed a complaint previously or because you filed
against multiple entities,<br>
· you had any complaint
reopened as a “directed investigation,” or<br>
· you had an appeal
dismissed or were instructed that you were not allowed to appeal.<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News:</b></h2><br><br>
Self-driving Car Bill:<br>
Recently, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation agreed to work
together on a bipartisan and bicameral basis to develop a self-driving
car bill. As part of that process, the committees sought feedback in a
variety of categories, one of which was disability access. Of course, the
National Federation of the Blind was one of the disability advocacy
groups they contacted to submit feedback in this area. Our
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/av-comments-8-22-19.pdf">
submitted comments</a>, along with our official statements on a wide
range of legislative topics, are posted on the NFB website in the Policy
Statements section of the Advocacy page. <br>
<br>
Become a Beta Tester for NFB-NEWSLINE® Mobile 3.0:<br>
By now you may have heard that the NFB-NEWSLINE mobile app is getting an
upgrade. An important part of the app development process is user
feedback and that’s where you come in! If you are interested in getting
a sneak peak of the new features that will be available and being a beta
tester, then join us on Thursday, August 29, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. eastern
(7:00 p.m. central, 6:00 p.m. mountain, 5:00 p.m. Pacific) to learn more.
<br>
To participate in the training, please use one of the options listed
below.<br>
Join Zoom Webinar on your computer or mobile device by following this
link:
<a href="https://zoom.us/j/506774545">https://zoom.us/j/506774545</a><br>
Or join by phone: 646-876-9923; webinar ID: 506774545<br>
<br>
<br>
Los Angeles Community College District Ruling:<br>
In a case filed by the National Federation of the Blind; the National
Federation of the Blind of California; and two blind students, Roy Payan
and Portia Mason, the Federal District Court for the Central District of
California Found that Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)
violated the students’ rights under Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by
failing to provide them with accessible documents and course materials,
failing to provide equal access to library resources, procuring and using
inaccessible educational technology, and maintaining an inaccessible
website, among other things. More information can be found in the
<a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/federal-court-rules-favor-blind-students">
NFB press release</a>. <br>
<br>
<br>
Indiana Lawsuit:<br>
The National Federation of the Blind was joined by Christopher and Sarah
Meyer, blind siblings, in a suit filed against the Indiana Family and
Social Services Administration (FSSA) and its Division of Family
Resources (DFR), claiming communications sent out by the organization and
their contractors were inaccessible, forcing the Meyers to not only rely
on other people to intercept and read their private information, but
causing them to lose their benefits. Please see
<a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-hoosiers-file-lawsuit-against-indiana-division-family-resources">
the press release</a> for more details. <br>
<br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>Dates to Keep in Mind:</b></h2><br><br>
<ul>
<li>February 10, 2020: Great Gathering-In; Washington Seminar begins
<li>March 26-27, 2020: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium, Baltimore,
Maryland
<li>June 30-July 5, 2020: NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas
</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, 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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</a><br>
<br>
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</a>
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</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><br>
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