<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">As a person with (currently) only mild hearing loss, I am still in complete support of all DeafBlind members of this organization as well as all with any disability other than blindness.<div><br></div><div>It is my belief that our organization needs to do far better in being inclusive of all people with multiple marginalizations.</div><div><br></div><div>That said, at least within my state of Indiana, I have been advocating for the inclusion of A (for Accessibility) into our DEI efforts. After all, there can be no true diversity, equity and inclusion without accessibility for all, and you’d think that our organization of all organizations would understand and seek to implement that. Nevertheless, I feel I hav received some resistance for even bringing this up. Still, I do hope at least this idea reaches the national level. I know it is a small step, but it may also encourage all within the organization to live up to this ideal.</div><div><br></div><div>Just some thoughts from an ally.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">—</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ms. Misty D. Kienzynski</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Treasurer </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Membership Chair</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Historian</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">National Federation of the Blind—Indiana Affiliate</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Phone: 812-381-0073</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">E-mail: mkienzyn@alumni.iu.edu</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Twitter: @AuroraNebulosa</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem. — L. Annaeus Seneca</span></p></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Jan 29, 2024, at 3:11 PM, Michael Forzano via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">I'm currently in the legislative session at Washington seminar. There is no mic being used for questions from the audience. The only way to ask a question is to shout out and hope you're heard. The presenters try to repeat the questions but sometimes they are long and sometimes even they can't hear the question being asked. This has been a problem at every NFB national event I have attended, including some division meetings at national convention. I think we should take this issue on as a division and advocate for more inclusive meetings for those of us who are deaf blind. It's truly frustrating that we can't get such a basic thing right.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Curious to hear others' thoughts on this.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">-Mike</div>
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