[ND-Talk] Notes from This Weeks Presidential Notebook

Tue Aug 27 12:18:02 UTC 2019

Below is information that comes from President Riccobono's Notebook to all
affiliate president.

Critical Actions This Week:

Spread the Word:
The NFB is in litigation with the Department of Education Office for Civil
Rights regarding its March 2018 amended Case Processing Manual, 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 Case Processing Manual 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 members' experiences with
Department of Education complaints since March 2018. Please contact Valerie
Yingling at vyingling at nfb.org <mailto:vyingling at nfb.org> or 410-659-9314,
extension 2440, if:

*    you had any complaint dismissed because you filed a complaint
previously or because you filed against multiple entities,

*    you had any complaint reopened as a "directed investigation," or

*    you had an appeal dismissed or were instructed that you were not
allowed to appeal.

News:

Self-driving Car Bill:
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 submitted comments
<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/av-comments-8-22-19.p
df>, 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. 

Become a Beta Tester for NFB-NEWSLINER Mobile 3.0:
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. 

To participate in the training, please use one of the options listed below.

Join Zoom Webinar on your computer or mobile device by following this link:
<https://zoom.us/j/506774545>

Or join by phone: 646-876-9923; webinar ID: 506774545

Los Angeles Community College District Ruling:
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 NFB press
release
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/federal-court-rules-favor-blind-student
s>. 

Indiana Lawsuit:
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 Press Release from the homepage at:

https://www.nfb.org/

Milton Ota, President

National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota

Web: https://nfbnd.org/

4273 Coventry Dr., S., Unit E

Fargo, ND 58104-4498

(701) 731-0511 (Cell)

mota1252 at gmail.com (E-mail)

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. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND-IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING
FOR OURSELVES.

* * *

NFB Pledge

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation
of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind;
to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its
constitution.

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