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<div dir="ltr">Dear Federation family,</div>
<div dir="ltr">Today's the day! We hope you'll be joining the Empire
Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of New York State
for our monthly chapter meeting at 7 PM EDT. We have an especially
exciting program in store this month!
<div dir="ltr">
<p>We are pleased to welcome Casey Robertson as our guest
speaker. Ms. Robertson is a Braille instructor, the lead
instructor at the Professional Development and Research
Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University, and is
First Vice President of the National Organization of Parents
of Blind Children. She has earned numerous awards for her
work, including the Federation\u2019s Distinguished Educator of
Blind Children and Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards. She will also be
joined by her current LA Tech students who will be attending
as part of their coursework. Ms. Robertson will speak on the
Natural Order of Braille Contractions, a system she has
developed over the past two decades that teaches Braille
contractions in the sequence that best matches how beginning
readers naturally encounter and retain writing, greatly
improving both the speed and effectiveness of Braille learning
for blind students of all ages. Afterward, we'll host a
discussion surrounding blindness philosophy and the importance
of both learning and teaching Braille.</p>
<p>We will also take time to address one of the most urgent
issues facing blind and disabled Americans today: the Texas v.
Kennedy lawsuit, which poses a direct threat to Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For more than five decades,
Section 504 has been a cornerstone of civil rights for blind
and disabled people, prohibiting discrimination in programs
and activities that receive federal funding. This lawsuit,
brought by nine states led by Texas, challenges the federal
government's authority to enforce Section 504 and puts at risk
our access to education, employment, and public services. The
National Federation of the Blind has issued an urgent advocacy
alert calling on all members to take action. At our meeting,
Federation and disability rights advocate Kaleigh Brendle,
will join us to discuss what is at stake, what the National
Office is asking us to do, and how each of us can make a
difference. This is a moment that calls for all of us, and we
hope to see as many of you there as possible.</p>
<p>Meeting Details</p>
<p><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/9868886022"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" moz-do-not-send="true">https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/9868886022</a></p>
<p>Meeting ID: 986 888 6022</p>
<p>One tap mobile:</p>
<p><a href="tel:+16468769923,,9868886022#"
moz-do-not-send="true">+16468769923,,9868886022#</a> (US -
New York)</p>
<p>+16469313860,,9868886022# (US)</p>
<p>We can\u2019t wait to see you there! If you have any questions,
please reach out to Noah Tobias Carver, President of the
Empire Chapter, via email at <a
href="mailto:empire@nfbny.org" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
moz-do-not-send="true">empire@nfbny.org</a> or via
phone/text at <a href="tel:+12072057303"
moz-do-not-send="true">207-205-7303</a>.</p>
<p>Warmly,</p>
<p>Noah and the Empire Chapter Board</p>
<div class="moz-signature">
<p>Noah Tobias Carver, President<br>
Empire Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of New York
State<br>
<a href="mailto:empire@nfbny.org"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" moz-do-not-send="true">empire@nfbny.org</a><br>
<a href="tel:+12072057303" moz-do-not-send="true">(207)
205-7303</a><br>
<a href="https://www.nfbny.org/" moz-do-not-send="true">www.nfbny.org</a><br>
Pronouns: he, him, his<br>
Live the life you want.</p>
<p>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of
members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of
the nation\u2019s blind. Every day we work together to help blind
people live the lives they want.</p>
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