[NFB-Maryland] December / January Minute Message from the Movement
president at nfbmd.org
president at nfbmd.org
Mon Jan 13 01:03:20 UTC 2020
December 2019/January 2020 Minute Message
Fellow Federationists:
Happy New Year! As we begin a new decade, the National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland is working harder than ever to fight for the rights of
Maryland's blind. May 2020 bring the Federation and each of you tremendous
happiness and success! I apologize for not sending out a Minute Message in
December - I was very ill and unable to write to you all. I'm doing much
better now and look forward to seeing you at the various activities we have
coming up. Read below for information about news and upcoming activities.
Annapolis Begins!
The 2020 session of the Maryland General Assembly began on January 8, and we
have been working hard to prepare for our Annual NFBMD Day in Annapolis,
which will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2020. We will visit all 188
Delegates and Senators about a week after the legislative session begins in
order to maximize the time we have to push our issues through both chambers.
If you would like to participate in the 2020 NFBMD Day in Annapolis on
January 16, please reach out to Sharon Maneki at
<mailto:NFBMD at earthlink.net> NFBMD at earthlink.net or at 410-715-9596. This
year, our legislative priorities include: 1) restoring the secret ballot to
disabled voters by ensuring a single voting system for all; 2) Ensuring
nonvisual access to information concerning electronic dockless scooters; 3)
changing the name of the Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped to the Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled and
ensuring that a member of the Library Board is blind; and 4) protecting the
$250,000 appropriation in the Governor's budget for the Center of Excellence
in Nonvisual Access (CENA) to Education, Public Information, and Commerce.
You may read the fact sheets about each issue by visiting
<https://nfbmd.org/legislative/20> https://nfbmd.org/legislative/2020 and or
on the Information Channel on Newsline.
Washington Seminar Is Coming!
On February 10, Maryland will join Federationists from throughout the
country on Capitol Hill to let Congress know about the priorities for blind
Americans. The three issues that we will discuss are: cosponsoring the
Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 2086 / S. 815); cosponsoring the
Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology
Act (H.R. 3929); and cosponsoring the Accessible Instructional Materials in
Higher Education Act (H.R. 5312 / S. 3095). You may read the Washington
Seminar fact sheets by visiting
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar>
https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar or via
Newsline. The Great Gathering In will take place at 5:00PM on Monday,
February 10, 2020 at the Holiday Inn Capitol. Maryland will be visiting our
Congressional Delegation on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, and there will be a
reception for Congressional members beginning at 5:00PM at the Capitol. If
you plan to attend the Great Gathering In, the Congressional meetings, the
Reception, or all of the above, please let me know by emailing
<mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org.
Basket and Bag Bingo is Coming!
Would you like to win over $4,000 in prizes? Would you like to play 23 games
of BINGO? Snacks and raffles will also be available. Buy your tickets early
because we always sell out.
We are busy arranging and filling baskets and procuring bags (purses). We
need financial contributions to help with these purchases. Please let us
know whether you would like to sponsor a basket or bag for $100. All
contributions of any amount are welcome. You may also purchase your ticket
for $25. Please contact Sharon Maneki at <mailto:NFBMD at earthlink.net>
NFBMD at earthlink.net for more information.
National Convention Date Change
The 2020 national convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be
held July 14-19 <x-apple-data-detectors://0> in Houston, Texas. While the
convention was originally planned for two weeks earlier, the Federation
agreed to move its convention to accommodate activities in the city of
Houston. We believe this change will further enhance the program, exhibits,
and dynamic content provided at America's civil rights and resource
convention of blind people and their families. More information regarding
convention arrangements was published in the December issue of the Braille
Monitor.
Blind Cruising 2020 - Deadline for Initial Deposit Extended
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland will be hosting a cruise
fundraiser from September 27, 2020 to October 4, 2020. The affiliate will
receive a portion of the cost of each cabin that is booked. All are
welcome, including members of the NFBMD, other affiliates, families,
colleagues, and friends. For additional information or to reserve your
cabin, please email <mailto:NFBMD.outreach at gmail.com>
NFBMD.outreach at gmail.com. Details are as follows:
Ship: Carnival Pride
Date: September 27 - October 4, 2020
Port of Departure: Baltimore, Maryland
Number of nights: 7
Ports visited: Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; and
Freeport, Bahamas
Key Dates:
- First deposit due: March 1, 2020 = $25 per person
- Second deposit due: April 15, 2020 - $250 per person plus full names
of sailors
- Final payment due: June 15, 2020
Types and prices of cabins (this is a per person price based on double
occupancy and includes cabin fee, port charges, and taxes); we have a
limited number of cabins, so prices may change once our block is filled.
- Balcony cabin (extended balcony) = $951.64 per person
- Balcony cabin (standard balcony) = $928.64 per person
- Balcony cabin (obstructed view) = $885.64 per person
- Ocean View cabin = $835.64 per person
- interior cabin = $770.64 per person
- if anyone needs a triple or quad cabin, they should let us know.
NFB and NFBMD Scholarship Programs
The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland each administer a separate scholarship program for
post-secondary students. The deadline to apply for an NFB scholarship is
March 31, 2020, and the deadline to apply for an NFBMD Scholarship is April
15, 2020.
National Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB awards 30 merit-based
scholarships totaling at least $120,000.
- Scholarships range in amount from $3,000 to $12,000.
- Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement,
leadership, and community service.
- The 30 scholarship finalists are announced in the spring and
attend the National Convention, where they are awarded a specific
scholarship.
- Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by
11:59PM on March 31, 2020.
- To be eligible, applicants must:
o Be legally blind in both eyes;
o Reside in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico;
o Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of
study in a degree program at a U.S. institution in the Fall of 2020 (one
scholarship may be awarded to an individual who works full-time and attends
school part-time); and
o Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind (and all scholarship activities) in Houston, Texas from July 14
through 19, 2020 (scholarship finalists will receive convention assistance).
- To apply:
o Submit an application using the online application system at
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login>
https://nfb.org/civicrm/scholarships/login; or
o Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by
visiting: <https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program>
https://nfb.org/programs/scholarship-program.
State Scholarship Program: Each year, the NFB of Maryland awards the John T.
McCraw Scholarship to two students in the amounts of $2,000 and $1,500 each.
NFBMD may award a third scholarship to a former McCraw scholarship
recipient.
- Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and
community involvement.
- Application materials must be submitted (online or postmarked) by
11:59PM on April 15, 2020.
- To be eligible, applicants must:
o Be legally blind in both eyes;
o Be a legal resident of Maryland or be pursuing post-secondary studies at
a school in Maryland;
o Be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, post-secondary course of
study in a degree program in the Fall of 2020; and
o Attend the entire National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind in Houston, Texas from July 14 through 19, 2020 and the annual
convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Towson,
Maryland from November 6 - 8, 2020 (scholarship finalists will receive
convention assistance).
- To apply:
o Submit an application using the online application system at
<http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply> http://nfbmd.org/scholarship/apply; or
o Download, complete, and email or mail in a hard copy application form by
visiting: <http://nfbmd.org/scholarship> http://nfbmd.org/scholarship.
LBPH and BookShare Partner to Give Us More Books!
The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH)
has partnered with BookShare, an online repository of thousands of books, to
make BookShare service available to patrons of LBPH free of charge. To be
eligible, individuals must be a member of LBPH and not have an existing
BookShare membership. For more information, contact LBPH at 410-230-2424.
Do You Feel Lucky?
The NFBMD spring raffle is underway. During the months of May and June, you
have the opportunity to win $50 Sunday through Friday, or $100 on Saturday.
Purchase a 3-digit number raffle ticket for $10. You will be the only one
who has this number. Between now and February 10, you may request a specific
number from Melissa Riccobono and pay the $10. You might want to request
your birthday, your anniversary, or some other significant number. After
February 10, tickets will be available from chapter presidents and you will
not necessarily be able to get the specific number you want. If you want to
buy or sell tickets, please contact Melissa Riccobono at
MelissaARiccobono at gmail.com. Help us sell all 1,000 tickets! The individual
who sells the most winning tickets will win a prize, provided we sell all
1,000 tickets.
Update on Voting Lawsuit
In August, the National Federation of the Blind, the NFB of Maryland, and
three blind members, Joel Zimba, Marie Cobb, and Ruth Sager, filed suit in
Federal Court against the Maryland Board of Elections. The suit asserts
that the Maryland Board of Elections maintains a segregated system of voting
that denies blind voters their right to a secret ballot and equal voting
experience as non-disabled voters. The suit claims this violates the
Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act and that the
Board of Elections' actions are discriminatory based on disability. In
early September, the Board of Elections filed a Motion to Dismiss our
lawsuit, claiming: 1) the Board could not get the appropriate number of BMDs
from the manufacturer; 2) the policy the Board adopted in June 2019 to
require 5 people to use the BMD at each polling location solves our problem
of not having private ballots; and 3) it would be too costly to obtain a
sufficient number of BMDs. The Board later corrected itself, saying it
could indeed get enough BMDs from the manufacturer to make the BMDs the
default, but it was standing by its other two reasons for not thinking it
should have to do so.
The hearing on MSBE's Motion to Dismiss our lawsuit is scheduled for 1:00PM
on Friday, January 17, 2020 at the Federal Courthouse, located at 101 W
Lombard Street, Baltimore. I encourage as many NFB members as possible to
attend the hearing so that we show MSBE and the judiciary that this issue is
important to us. Please meet in the lobby, just past security, at 12:30PM.
If you have questions, please call me at 443-426-4110.
On September 20, 2019, we filed for a preliminary injunction to compel the
Board of Elections to have to use the BMDs as the default means for all
voters in the 2020 General Election unless a voter specifically asks for a
paper ballot. We argued that we should not have to sacrifice our privacy
and civil rights for the illusion of security and that since the Board is
able to obtain enough machines, they should do so. We also argued that
since the Board couldn't successfully get even two people to use the BMDs
before, they aren't going to succeed in getting five to use them unless the
BMDs are the default method of voting.
In mid-October, the Board filed an Answer to our Motion, arguing that it
would, in essence, be too costly and burdensome for the State to make using
the BMDs the default voting method in Maryland. We now wait for the judge
to rule on our preliminary injunction request.
The parties are currently in discovery, meaning we are exchanging
information, evidence, and depositions.
Meanwhile, we know for certain there will be a Special Primary and a Special
General Election in February and in April, respectively, in Congressional
District 7 to fill the vacant seat of the late Elijah Cummings. Our
preliminary injunction request did not envision a special election, and
thus, we will be forced to go through the special election cycle without the
ability to vote in secret, and we know that segregated voting due to
disability will remain in place for that election. Despite this, we will
not stop fighting until Maryland desegregates voting for voters with
disabilities.
NFB RideShare Testing Program
We continue to need your help. If you use a service animal or are
accompanying someone who does, please fill out a short form about your
experience each time you use Uber or Lyft. In Maryland, we have to complete
a certain number of surveys each year. You can submit a survey for every
trip you took, so please look back at your ride history and do this if you
haven't already done so. Please go to <https://nfb.org/rideshare-test>
https://nfb.org/rideshare-test or use the NFB Connect app (instructions
below) to complete the survey. Please give us information about both good
and bad experiences. Spread the word, we need information from every blind
person whether they are a member of NFB or not. Ashley Alvey is the Maryland
coordinator for this program. If you have questions email her at
ashleyalvey1994 at gmail.com.
NFB Connect App instructions for Rideshare Survey
1. On the top left corner of the screen, you will find a button that
says, Menu button. Double tap Menu.
2. After double tapping on menu, at the top left corner of the screen,
you will see Home.
3. Swipe to the right once and you will see Fast Facts. Double tap Fast
Facts.
4. You will swipe right until you see, Rideshare Survey. Double tap
Rideshare Survey.
5. Lastly, swipe to the right. When you see First Name, this is where
the form begins and this is where you put in the information for the survey.
Important Upcoming Dates
* January 16, 2020 - Day in Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland
* January 17, 2020 - MSBE Hearing, Federal Courthouse, 101 W Lombard
Street, Baltimore, Maryland
* February 8, 2020 - Regional Braille Challenge, held at the Maryland
School for the Blind.
* February 10, 2020 - Great Gathering In, Washington Seminar,
Washington, DC
* February 11, 2020 - Visit to Maryland Congressional Delegation in
Washington DC
* March 13, 2020 - Basket and Bag Bingo at The Lodge, 2832 9 Mile Cir.
Catonsville, MD.
* March 27, 2020 - Board of Directors Meeting; Location TBD
* March 31, 2020 - Deadline for National Scholarship Applications.
* April 4, 2020 - Scholarship Dinner and Bid for Opportunity at VFW
Post 9619, 6527 Suitland Rd, Morningside, MD
* April 15, 2020 - Deadline for NFBMD Scholarship Applications.
* July 14 -19, 2020 - NFB National Convention, Houston, Texas
* August 8, 2020 - Annual Crab Feast - Tall Cedars, 2501 Putty Hill
Ave., Parkville, MD 21234
* September 27 - October 4, 2020 - Blind Cruising 2020, Carnival
Pride, Departing from Port of Baltimore
* November 6-8, 2020 - Annual State Convention, Towson, Maryland
Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
443-426-4110
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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.
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