[NFB-Muslims] sharing info for convention

[Heather Albright]

salaams, just passing along info.

Good morning,

I have some information to share with you today. If action is requested, 
feel free to act.

Independence Market Hours:
The Independence Market will be closed from July 1 through July 14. In 
addition, leading up to convention, the showroom will be closed from 
June 22 through June 30. Our eCommerce system will not close and items 
will ship while we are at convention.
Note that while the showroom is closed from June 22 through June 30, 
customers can still stop by in person and place or pick up orders; 
however, there will be nothing on display. We have one set of display 
items, and these items will be packed during this timeframe. Thank you 
for your understanding!
UPS Shipping for Independence Market Items:
Customers can now purchase items that are not eligible to be shipped via 
Free Matter directly through our eCommerce site with UPS shipping. Some 
notable products that fit this description include NFB-branded 
merchandise, tumblers, Meta glasses, and other featured items.
Volunteers Needed for Independence Market During National Convention:
If you are interested in volunteering at the Independence Market during 
the 2026 National Convention, please contact Danielle McCann 
at dmccann at nfb.org for more information. Opportunities are available for 
demonstrators and storekeepers, and all assistance is greatly appreciated.
Federation Sues Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human 
Services Regarding Delay of Website Accessibility Rule:
On Thursday, May 21, the National Federation of the Blind filed a 
lawsuit challenging the administration’s abrupt delay of critical 
website accessibility features designed to ensure blind people and 
people with other disabilities can access essential government and 
healthcare services online. The lawsuit challenges actions by the US 
Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) that postponed long-anticipated compliance deadlines 
under federal disability rights laws, without public notice or input. 
Regulations finalized by DOJ and HHS in April and May 2024, after years 
of public engagement and rulemaking, required state and local 
governments and those who receive federal funding from HHS to make their 
websites and mobile applications accessible to people with disabilities, 
including those who are blind and rely on screen readers and other 
assistive technology. However, on April 20, 2026, and May 11, 2026, 
respectively, DOJ and HHS issued interim final rules delaying the 
compliance deadlines by a year. You can read our full press release 
regarding the DOJ and HHS lawsuit in our Press Room.
Department of Health and Human Services Section 504 Interim Final Rule 
Response:
On May 11, the Department of Health and Human Services published an 
interim final rule delaying the implementation of website and mobile 
application accessibility regulations for Rehabilitation Act Section 504 
covered entities. Much like our response to the ADA Title II website 
rule delay, we believe this postponement for implementation is 
completely unwarranted. I encourage you to read our official response to 
the Health and Human Services interim final rule that we submitted on 
Friday, May 29.
ADA Title II Digital Accessibility Interim Final Rule – Submit Your 
Comments:
This is a quick reminder that there is still time for you to submit your 
individual comments in response to the Department of Justice’s interim 
final rule on website and mobile application accessibility for ADA Title 
II-covered entities. As a reminder, we sent out an advocacy alert on 
this topic on May 17, and we encourage you to read it and submit 
comments so that the DOJ understands how critical digital accessibility 
is to us.
Dates to Keep in Mind:
• July 3-8: National Convention; Austin, Texas
• July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas
• July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois
• July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois
Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls
• Wednesday, August 5
• Wednesday, November 4
Chapter Presidents Calls
• Thursday, June 11, and Sunday, June 14
• Thursday, September 10 and Sunday, September 13
• Thursday, December 10 and Sunday, December 13
Norma Crosby, President
National Federation of the Blind of Texas
1600 E Highway 6, Suite 215
Alvin, TX  77511
(281) 968-7733 (Main Office)
(281) 968-7158 (Fax)
ncrosby at nfbtx.org