[NFB_of_Georgia] President's Notebook

Tue Mar 17 14:51:34 UTC 2020

National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobonoofficeofthepresident at nfb.org410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

A leadership quote I like goes something like, “You can’t relate to a
superhero, but you can identify with a real person who in times of crisis
draws forth some extraordinary quality from within and triumphs but only
after a struggle.” These are times not just for superheroes but for each of
us to come together and support each other. In the last week I have read
some of the most beautiful posts and had some of the deepest conversations
with people in this leadership group. It demonstrates to me the strength
that each of you has and the power and love that we gain from bonding
together. I am so grateful to have this leadership group in these uncertain
times.

You already know about the action of the board of directors to shut down
all public meetings through Easter. Our training centers are closely
monitoring the situation. The Colorado Center has already altered its
operation based on local circumstances, and I expect our other centers will
make similar modifications at some point. Our national office remains open
at the moment, although we have shifted at-risk staff to remote work and
reduced walk-in traffic and meetings at the building to minimize the risks.
We have also increased our already-detailed cleaning procedures. I do not
know about you, but I think the bones in my hands are starting to absorb
hand sanitizer.

Many of you have asked about the national convention. It is just too far
away for us to make a realistic decision about our annual family reunion.
We are putting plans in place for the convention and for an alternative
plan, but it is too early to know anything. As you know, on an unrelated
note, our convention registration system experienced some issues in the
first couple days of implementation. That system is now being retested. We
hope that it will be back online soon.

There are a number of things that our chapters and affiliates can be doing
to support and connect blind people. There are resources below that you
should be aware of and share. For example, some affiliates have been
nervous about jumping into the Zoom platform. Check out the great resource
being made available from Jonathan Mosen. If you find it of value, drop
Jonathan a note and thank him.

If you find other ways the Federation can help make a difference, or if
your affiliate is undertaking an interesting new project in light of the
situation, please let me know or share it on the leadership listserv.

Stay safe, healthy, and strong. I am here for you if you need anything.

Critical Actions:

Coronavirus COVID-19 Public Event Policy:
The public event policy that was updated late last week is available on our
website at
https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-covid-19-policy-relating-public-events.
We are continuing to monitor best practices from the CDC and will update
you all as the situation changes with respect to the National Federation of
the Blind.

News:

*Legislative Update:*
As the excitement of Washington Seminar fades into the distance, our
legislative priorities are still experiencing a tremendous amount of
momentum from our time on Capitol Hill. The Access Technology Affordability
Act (ATAA) now has 83 cosponsors in the House (H.R. 2086) and 22 cosponsors
in the Senate (S. 815). That's nearly one quarter of each chamber. Just
last week we gained seven new cosponsors in the House: David Schweikert
(AZ), John Rutherford (FL), Lance Gooden (TX), Dwight Evans (PA), Ann
Kuster (NH), Madeleine Dean (PA), and Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO). Special
thanks to Arizona, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and
Missouri. It may not seem like much, but those numbers are actually quite
impressive and show significant support for our legislation.

This legislation may be more relevant now than ever. With the tragic
outbreak of the coronavirus, we may see job loss in the very near future,
and the ATAA would significantly improve employment opportunities for blind
people when companies begin hiring again. Call or email your senators and
representative and ask them to cosponsor the Access Technology
Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 2086/S. 815). A legislative alert on this
topic will follow soon.

*Virtual Instruction for Students During COVID-19 School Closures -
#AccessibleNOW:*

The threat of COVID-19 has prompted many schools to close their physical
locations and shift to virtual instruction. This sudden transition raises
concern about the accessibility of web-based educational technology. The
NFB has issued a blog that highlights how, regardless of COVID-19-driven
closures, schools must continue to provide equal access for blind students
to programs, benefits, and services. There are steps you can take now to
help your school prevent access barriers for blind students and to help the
NFB monitor barriers that do occur:

·         Share the NFB’s blog <https://www.nfb.org/blog> and listed
resources

·         Complete the NFB’s education technology survey
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/education-technology-survey>

·         Connect with us in our #AccessibleNOW #InEducation Twitter chat
on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. eastern.

Furthermore, if you or your child or student has been discriminated against
by their school, we urge you to file a complaint
<https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html> with the
US Department of Education through the Office for Civil Rights. If you have
questions or concerns, please email AccessibleNow at nfb.org.

*Parental Rights Foundation Podcast:*
Recently I recorded a podcast with the Parental Rights Foundation. You can
listen to the recording on their website at
https://parentalrightsfoundation.org/podcast/.

Hit Submit: Complete Scholarship Applications Today!:
Hundreds of applications get started for the National Federation of the
Blind scholarship program, and many lose the opportunity to be a winner
simply by not completely submitting the application. This annual
scholarship program is an investment in the future of blind people who
demonstrate scholastic aptitude, leadership, and service. Encourage every
blind college student to apply. Share the secret to winning
<https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm20/bm2002/bm200205.htm> with
blind students and urge them to complete their applications
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program>.
The deadline to apply is March 31, 2020. Time to Be Counted - Census 2020:
The 2020 Census is making its way into all mailboxes between now and the
end of March in order to be completed April 1. Rather than filling out the
paper questionnaire that will be sent to every home, we can, for the first
time, fill it out online or over the telephone. Learn about the importance,
the accessibility, and how to participate in the recent *Voice of the
Nation’s Blind* *Blog* <https://www.nfb.org/blog/time-be-counted>
article. National
Federation of the Blind Engineering Quotient (NFB EQ) Program - June 21-27
- Science Museum of Minnesota:
While there is uncertainty as to what the summer holds this year, it is
worth considering the options. NFB EQ is a weeklong adventure into
engineering and problem-solving. No specific level of engineering
experience required. Engage in activities designed to strengthen knowledge
and grow interests. Connect with the twenty-nine other high school teen
participants. Enriched experiences. New friendships. More independence. The
deadline to apply is March 29. Apply now atwww.nfb.org/eq.

*Free Audiobook Resource for Learning the Zoom Platform:*
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Jonathan Mosen has made his
audiobook *Meet
Me in the Cloud *freely available. This tutorial, which takes approximately
three hours, walks through all aspects of the popular conferencing
platform, from joining your first meeting, to hosting a meeting, to the
differences between Basic and Pro accounts. Mosen’s book is thorough and
accessible to all, regardless of technical background or proficiency. Note
that at the time these recordings were made, several instances of
accessibility glitches needed to be pointed out, however with current
operating systems, and the latest versions of the Zoom conferencing
software, most bugs have been resolved. In addition, Zoom has kept the
labeling of commands and options, as well as their keyboard conventions
consistent, meaning that none of the substance has altered from the time
these recordings were produced. We believe this will be a useful resource,
especially in this time of social distancing and greater adoption of
teleconferencing. The book can be obtained free of charge at
https://mosen.org/zoom/.
SSA:
The National Federation of the Blind and two blind individuals, Lisa Irving
and Amy Bonano, have resolved their 2017 lawsuit against the Social
Security Administration and entered into a settlement agreement designed to
ensure that SSA’s visitor-intake-processing kiosks are accessible to blind
users by December 31, 2021. Per the agreement, SSA will work with a
third-party, kiosk-accessibility expert to redesign the agency’s kiosks so
that blind users can enter required intake information, including their
Social Security number, privately and independently. Read the press release
<https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-americans-settle-lawsuit-against-social-security-administration>
.Dates to Keep in Mind:

   - Spring Conventions
   <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates/state-conventions> (including
   new dates for postponed conventions)
   - March 31: Deadline for scholarship applications
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program>

·         April 15: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
<https://www.nfb.org/bolotin> application
deadline

   - May 1: Distinguished Educator Award
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>
nomination
   deadline
   - June 21-27: NFB EQ
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq>;
   St. Paul, Minnesota
   - July 14-19: NFB National Convention <https://www.nfb.org/convention>,
   Houston, Texas

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.

Mark A. Riccobono, President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org

[image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>

                         [image: Facebook]
<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
<https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

-- 
Dorothy Griffin - President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
dgriffin at nfbga.org
770-374-4832

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.