[NFB_of_Georgia] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 12/06/2022

Tue Dec 6 22:07:49 UTC 2022

Dear Federation Family,

The past four days have been spent reviewing our progress this year and
planning for the year(s) ahead. Our board of directors started the weekend
with a number of meetings with partners followed by a celebration with our
supporters. The enthusiasm for our work together in the movement is as high
as it has ever been among our partners and friends. Take a moment to share this
thank-you video <https://youtu.be/RrpR8h1KD-s> with supporters of our
organization.

The National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors spent the following
two days doing a deep review of the work of the organization and laying
plans to make that work even stronger at all levels. We will be eager to
roll some new things out to the members in 2023. One of the decisions made
was to finalize our legislative priorities for the 2023 Washington Seminar.
Our three issues this year will be:

   1. Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act
   2. Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
   3. Eliminating the SSDI Earnings Cliff

You are likely familiar with the first two issues, but the third is
something new. We will be proposing a bill to Congress that will eliminate
the SSDI earnings cliff and instead institute a gradual phase-out of
benefits based on income. This will incentivize more blind and disabled
Americans to find more fulfilling, better-paying jobs without fear of
completely losing all of their SSDI benefits if they cross a specific
earnings threshold. Each of these three issues will be discussed in depth
during a Zoom issues training call on Tuesday, December 20 at 8:00 p.m.,
eastern.

Our weekend concluded on Sunday with a steering committee continuing the
work on the organization’s strategic plan. We received very meaningful
feedback from hundreds of members across the country and we are now working
to shape the strategic commitments we will make to take our movement to the
next level. I look forward to working with members and affiliate leaders on
those commitments as we get into the second half of 2023.

News:*December Presidential Release Recording Available:*

The Presidential Release #522 recording for chapters
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is
available to share with chapter presidents to use during their December
chapter meetings. Transcripts and Spanish coming this week. The next
Presidential Release LIVE will be January 4, World Braille Day.

*Lyft Up and Share:*

On Giving Tuesday 2022 Lyft added us to its round-up program. Now you can
add the National Federation of the Blind as an option to receive
contributions every time you ride–a great option for all of our friends and
family. Please share the following blurb with members in emails and social
media to help encourage people to participate. You can copy and paste the
following:

An exciting and easy giving option for everyone: the organized blind
movement has joined the Lyft Up program, so you can contribute every time
you ride with Lyft. The program will round up the cost of your ride to the
nearest dollar and donate the difference. In the Lyft app, simply go to the
menu, navigate to donate, and choose National Federation of the Blind.
Share this with all of your friends and family, because all of our small
change leads to making a big difference. Thank you for your support!

*Accessibility Requirements for Self-Service Transaction Machines and
Self-Service Kiosks:*

The National Federation of the Blind recently submitted comments to the US
Access Board regarding its advanced notice of public rulemaking (ANPRM)
related to accessibility requirements for self-service transaction machines
and self-service kiosks. In our comments, we urge the Access Board to
incorporate Section 508 regulations and Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines into the rulemaking and further urge the Access Board to require
100 percent accessibility conformance in all locations. You can read our
comments, as well as the other content on the Policy Statements
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> section of
our website.

*Scholarship Program Deadline Approaching in March:*

The National Federation of the Blind scholarship program helps blind
college students reach their educational and employment goals and so much
more. Building on its strong foundation, we have enhanced the awards granted
—making the experience even more inclusive, engaging, and meaningful for
the thirty finalists. Each scholarship winner will receive $8,000. Students
can now be encouraged to apply for the 2023 scholarship program
<https://scholarships.nfb.org/>.

*Indeed Pre-Employment Assessments:*

The National Federation of the Blind is investigating the accessibility of
Indeed’s pre-employment assessments. If you have been invited by an
employer to complete a pre-employment assessment through Indeed, or if you
have wanted to or attempted to complete a pre-employment assessment as a
way of bolstering your resume on Indeed, please contact Valerie Yingling,
legal program coordinator, at legal at nfb.org.

*Braille Monitor** December Issue Available and Its History:*

The latest issue of our flagship publication is now available. Read about
the experience of attending one’s first convention, information on the
Social Security announcement, tech tips, stories from members, and more. Access
the December *Braille Monito*r now.
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm22/bm2211/bm2211tc.htm>Also
available on our *Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog* is an article titled “A
Brief History of the Braille Monitor
<https://nfb.org/blog/brief-history-braille-monitor>,” by Gary Wunder.

*Braille Readers Are Leaders Has Begun:*

December 5was the beginning of the 2022-2023 Braille Readers Are Leaders
Contest. Participants in the contest should track the minutes they read
Braille and log them at actionfund.beanstack.org. If someone wants to
participate in the contest and has not yet registered, it is not too late.
Individuals can sign up and participate in the contest until it ends on
January 23, 2023. Remember that this year we have contests for youth as
well as contests for adults of all Braille reading experience levels. If
you have any questions, please email braillereadingcontest at actionfund.org.

Reminders: *Santa and Winter Celebration Letters:*

Don’t forget! The time is now to request a Santa or Winter Celebration
letter from the National Federation of the Blind. There are only two weeks
left! We are providing both letters and the activities to go along with
them in English and Spanish. Wouldn’t your child, grandchild, or student
love to receive a Braille letter in the mail during the winter break? The
letters and activities are also provided in print for sighted family
members and friends. Just think how fun it will be making lasting memories
with your blind child that you cherish for years to come. All you need to
do is visit
http://nfb.org/program-servics/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters and
complete the form. Hurry, requests will only be accepted through December
16, 2022..

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

   - December 16: Deadline for Santa Letters and Winter Celebration
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters>
   - December 31: Deadline for assistance with updating member data
   - January 4, 2023: Braille Day <https://braille.day/>
   - January 30, 2023: Great Gathering-In
   - March 23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
   - July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpR8h1KD-s&authuser=0

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

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/>
 --

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.
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