[NFB_of_Georgia] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 11/09/2021

Wed Nov 10 01:04:58 UTC 2021

Dear Federation Family,

A couple of big back-to-back weekends full of affiliate conventions brings
us into November with the good feeling of Federation gatherings. You may
have heard that I am sidelined with COVID through Friday, but I was able to
drop in on a number of the virtual portions of conventions this weekend and
it was a great shot in the arm.

Keep pushing on the ATAA. We are steadily gaining co-sponsors, which is the
surest way of getting this bill to advance to President Biden’s desk.

*News:*

*Access Technology Affordability Act:*

Unfortunately, the Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) is not in the
House version of the Build Back Better (BBB) Act. The House version of the
BBB is waiting for a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score and is likely
to be passed by the House the week of November 15. The good news is the
Senate is extremely likely to change the BBB before passing it. This means
we have an opportunity to get the Access Technology Affordability Act back
in the bill. Another legislative alert will be going out early this week,
but in the meantime, please continue to contact Majority Leader Schumer’s
office and ask him to restore the ATAA into the Build Back Better Act
before it gets passed in the Senate. Furthermore, if your individual
Senator or Representative has not cosponsored the Access Technology
Affordability Act, please ask them to do so.

*Teachers of Tomorrow:*

Applications to be a part of the 2022 Teachers of Tomorrow cohort will be
opening later this week. The goals of the Teachers of Tomorrow program are
to equip early career teachers of blind students with a positive philosophy
about blindness, to empower them to have high expectations for their
students, and to help them recognize the value in being connected with the
organized blind for themselves and the families they work with. Please
circulate this application to any university programs in your state, as
well as to school districts and any teachers of blind students you know.
https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow

*Upcoming Early Childhood Initiatives: Santa Letters and Winter Celebration
Program:*

This year, the National Federation of the Blind is not only helping Santa
out with Braille letters to blind children, we are also expanding our
program to have a winter-themed Braille letter for those who do not
celebrate the Christmas holiday. We are excited to provide both of these
letters in English and Spanish. Parents of children under the age of ten
can select one of the options that best fits their family.

Starting November 8, parents can request the Braille activity packet
online, via fax, or email. The celebration packets will start going out to
blind children around the country on December 6. The Braille letter will
also be accompanied by a print copy for the whole family to participate in
the fun activities that accompany the celebration letters. The deadline for
letter requests is December 17 to ensure that a return letter in Braille is
received before the winter season ends. Learn more about the Santa Letters
and Winter Celebration Program.

*Response to AbilityOne Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Subminimum
Wages:*

On Friday, we submitted our response
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/response-abilityone-commission-nprm-regarding>
 to the most recent AbilityOne NPRM
<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/10/12/2021-22118/prohibition-on-the-payment-of-subminimum-wages-under-14c-certificates-as-a-qualification-for>.
The NPRM, published in the Federal Register on October 12, would require
that any nonprofit entity seeking an AbilityOne contract would need to
certify that it has no employees with disabilities being paid subminimum
wages. As you will read in our comments, we strongly support this proposed
rule.

*Upcoming Event: Creating and Using Tactile Graphics:*

On Tuesday, November 16, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., eastern, the National
Federation of the Blind Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Accessibility is
hosting an accessibility boutique on tactile graphic creation.Register now!
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration>

*Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) and National Board for
Certified Counselors (NBCC) Exams:*

The NFB is gathering information regarding access barriers with Center for
Credentialing & Education (CCE) and National Board for Certified Counselors
(NBCC) exams. If you have encountered barriers or delays with requesting
accommodations and completing an accessible CCE or NBCC exam, or if you
plan to take a CCE or NBCC exam in the future, please contact Valerie
Yingling, NFB legal program coordinator, atvyingling at nfb.org. Examples of
CCE and NBCC tests include the National Counselor Examination (NCE),
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), and state
counselor licensure exams, among other tests.

*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

(all times eastern)

   - November 18: NFB Training Centers Meeting, 8:00 p.m.
   - December 1: NFB Scholarship Program
<https://nfb.org/scholarships> applications
   open
   - December 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - July 5-10, 2022: National Convention, New Orleans

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

Twitter: @Riccobono

Pronouns: he, him, his

[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.