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<h1><b>The 10,000 Dreams Newsletter</b></h1><br><br>
<br>
<h1><b>The Resilient Edition</b></h1><br><br>
<br><br>
Fellow Federationists:<br><br>
The calendar tells me there are only 23 days left in the year 2020. While
I will not be sad to see the end of this challenging year, I realize that
there’s also been unexpected innovations that have come out of the
problems created by the pandemic. Virtual platforms enable many people to
attend our events who may have otherwise found it challenging for health
or logistical reasons. National convention saw world-wide,
record-breaking attendance. The increased willingness of companies to
allow remote workers could create even more employment opportunities for
blind people. None of these negate the hardships many are facing. But it
does remind me that humans can display incredible resilience when faced
with extraordinary circumstances. These lessons are worth carrying into
the future as we continue on our mission to empower blind people in
Minnesota. Thank you for your agility, patience, and innovative spirits.
<br><br>
<br><br>
Warmly,<br><br>
Ryan<br><br>
<br><br>
<h2><b>News You Should Know</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h3><b>COVID-19 Resources Now Available for Blind Minnesotans
</b></h3><br><br>
As case numbers continue to rise around the state, it’s vital that
everyone has access to accurate information and a connection to helpful
resources. Here are a few places to start when you need your questions
answered.
<ul>
<li>COVID-19 Hotline: BLIND, Inc., as a community partner with the
Minnesota Department of Health, is your one-stop-shop for anything you
need to know regarding COVID-19 in Minnesota. To get your questions
answered about transportation to a testing site, what to do if you have
no insurance, or anything in between, call (612)-547-9821 or e-mail Dan
Ashman, the program coordinator, at
<a href="mailto:dashman@blindinc.org">dashman@blindinc.org</a>.
<li>BLIND, Inc. is presenting an update on resources and the evolving
landscape of COVID-19 in Minnesota. Please come ready to learn about MDH
updates regarding COVID and Community Contractors. Ready your questions,
experiences, and accessibility concerns for the Q and A session. There
are two remaining sessions leading into the new year on December 12 and
19 at 4 p.m.
</ul><br>
Join Zoom Meeting<br>
<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87497124252?pwd=aWc3bWFvWjdveVVTRlRtZElpRzhmZz09">
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87497124252?pwd=aWc3bWFvWjdveVVTRlRtZElpRzhmZz09</a>
<br><br>
One tap mobile<br>
+13017158592,,87497124252#,,,,,,0#,,904447# US (Washington D.C)<br>
+13126266799,,87497124252#,,,,,,0#,,904447# US (Chicago)<br><br>
Dial by your location<br>
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington
D.C)<br>
+1 312 626 6799 US
(Chicago) <br>
Meeting ID: 874 9712 4252<br>
Passcode: 904447
<ul>
<li>At-home testing is available: Minnesota and Vault Medical Services
have teamed up to offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for everyone,
with or without symptoms, at no cost. You can
<a href="https://learn.vaulthealth.com/state-of-minnesota/">order your
Vault: no-cost COVID test here</a> and you will receive the kit by mail
at your home. When you are ready to take the test, you will log in to
access the Vault virtual waiting room and do a video visit with a Vault
test supervisor. They can give you instructions and make sure you do the
test the right way. You will then send the test to the lab in Oakdale,
Minnesota, using the prepaid package. Once it arrives at the lab, you
will get your test results by email in 24-48 hours. This saliva test is
just as accurate as the nasal swab test and is available at no cost for
every Minnesotan, whether or not you have insurance.
<a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/athome.html">
More information is available here</a>, including a list of frequently
asked questions, and a phone number to call if you run into difficulties.
It is important to note that you will need a valid photo ID to obtain a
test.
</ul><br>
<h3><b>Day at the Capitol is Coming! </b></h3><br><br>
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 13, 2021 for our annual Day at
the Capitol legislative event. We’re going virtual this year which means
we’re excited about the increased ability for all blind Minnesotans to
participate whether you live near or far from Saint Paul. More
information is coming soon regarding what issues we will be tackling this
year, but be sure to set aside the day for making your voice heard to
improve the lives of all blind Minnesotans. Your participation makes a
difference.<br><br>
<h3><b>The 100 Years in Sound documentary now available on our website!
</b></h3><br><br>
One of the highlights of the 2020 annual convention of the NFB of
Minnesota was the presentation of an audio documentary with voices and
sounds from our history, gathered by Steve Jacobson and Tim Aune. This
amazing trip through time was presented in several segments during the
convention, and is <a href="http://nfbmn.org/100years">available for
download</a> free for all to hear.<br><br>
<h2><b>What You Can Do</b></h2><br><br>
<br>
<h3><b>Fill out the Educational Technology Survey</b></h3><br><br>
Part of our mission in the NFB is to ensure equal access to education for
blind children, blind parents, and blind educators. We know that barriers
to access have significantly increased in this remote learning
environment and we are actively working to help. If you are a student,
parent, teacher, or administrator who uses screen access software or
other accommodations to participate nonvisually in educational programs
or services, or if you are the parent, teacher, or administrator of
someone who does,
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/education-technology-survey">
please complete this survey</a> and contribute to our important
research.<br><br>
<h3><b>Sign up for the Braille Readers are Leaders
contest</b></h3><br><br>
Love to read? Want a little motivation to practice your braille skills?
This contest is designed to encourage the contestants to read more
Braille, helping them to improve their reading skills and win prizes. The
National Federation of the Blind is partnering with the American Action
Fund for Blind Children and Adults to present the 2020-2021 Braille
Readers Are Leaders contest to encourage Braille literacy and reading for
pleasure. Children and adults across the United States compete against
their same-grade peers to read the most Braille pages between December 1,
2020, through January 18, 2021. Registration is open now.
<a href="https://www.actionfund.org/programs/braille-readers-are-leaders">
Learn more about Braille Readers are Leaders here</a> and be sure to
share with your friends.<br><br>
<h3><b>Help others learn more about the NFB</b></h3><br><br>
Sunday, December 13, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. ET, the National Federation of
the Blind is hosting an open house gathering for people who are not yet
members of the Federation. Share with a blind person in your life to help
them learn from leaders about the Federation, why membership is crucial
to the continuation of our work, and how to become a member. Those
interested can sign up by emailing
<a href="mailto:membership@nfb.org">membership@nfb.org</a> or calling
(410)-659-9314, extension 2509.<br>
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