[NFB_of_Georgia] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 11/7/2022
Dorothy Griffin
dgriffin at nfbga.org
Tue Nov 8 20:52:51 UTC 2022
Please remember to click on the YouTube video at the very bottom of this
email. (Don't Miss It!)
Dear Federation Family,
It is that time of year that finds me writing from an airplane somewhere
over middle America. This weekend I attended the convention of the National
Federation of the Blind of California where many outstanding members are
working to build our movement. I will be turning around and jumping on a
plane to New Hampshire where I will work to inspire transition-age students
to contribute to our Federation community. Later this week I will go to
Texas to visit our convention hotel and then participate in the Texas
convention. Just imagine, eight months from now our 2023 NFB National
Convention will be wrapping up.
Please be sure to amplify our survey for blind voters and, if you have not
already, please plan to vote in your local elections. We are making great
progress on equal access to voting, let’s use this election as a
springboard to ensure that the next presidential election in 2024 is the
most accessible to the blind in history.
Critical Actions:*Blind Voter Survey:*
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that voters with
disabilities must be afforded an opportunity to vote privately and
independently that is equivalent to the opportunity afforded to voters
without disabilities. This requirement applies to both in-person voting and
voting by mail for the upcoming general election on November 8, 2022.
After exercising the fundamental right to vote, all blind and low-vision
voters are encouraged to complete our 2022 Blind and Low-Vision Voter
Experience Survey! The 2022 survey consists of two separate surveys: one
survey for those who voted in person at an early voting center or their
local polling place, and a second survey for blind and low-vision voters
who voted by mail. Both surveys can be accessed, in English and Spanish,
from our Voting Resources webpage.
<https://nfb.org/resources/voting-resources>
If someone is not able to access the survey online, they can call
410-659-9314 and get assistance from either Lou Ann Blake (extension 2221)
or Jeff Kaloc (extension 2206).
News:
*Early Childhood Initiatives: Santa Letters and Winter Celebration Program:*
Again this year, the National Federation of the Blind is not only helping
Santa out with Braille letters to blind children but our program also has 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 7, 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 so the whole family can participate in
the fun activities that accompany the celebration letters. The deadline for
letter requests is December 16 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
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters>
.
*2023 Washington Seminar:*
We are less than three months away from the 2023 Great Gathering-In on
Monday, January 30, 2023. The Great Gathering-In is the official kickoff
meeting for our 2023 Washington Seminar. For next year, the Washington
Seminar will be back in person at the Holiday Inn Washington – Capitol,
located at 550 C Street, SW Washington, DC. January will mark the start of
the 118th Congress, and we wanted to make sure we were one of the first
groups new members met with. That’s why we scheduled the 2023 Washington
Seminar from Monday, January 30 through Thursday, February 2, 2023. You can
reserve your room today by calling 877-834-3613 and using group code NB8,
OR by using our booking link
<https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/washington/wassm/hoteldetail?fromRedirect=true&qSrt=sBR&qIta=99801505&icdv=99801505&qSlH=WASSM&qGrpCd=NB8&setPMCookies=true&qSHBrC=HI&qDest=550%20C%20Street%20S.W.,%20Washington,%20DC,%20US&srb_u=1>.
Rates are $129 per night for a double or $109 per night for a single. Keep
in mind those rates do not include the 14.95% District of Columbia sales
tax. Please stay tuned in the coming weeks for updates on our legislative
issues and training schedules. Regarding COVID-19, we will not be requiring
proof of vaccination or a negative test to attend the 2023 Washington
Seminar. We will require that all attendees of the Great Gathering-In and
the 2:00 p.m. Legislative Seminar Training on Monday, January 30, wear
masks.
*November Legislative Surge:*
Congress has been out of Washington for the past few weeks leading up to
tomorrow’s elections, but both chambers will be back in session starting
next week (the week of Monday, November 14), before they break again for
the Thanksgiving holiday. They then return to Washington for the three
weeks immediately after Thanksgiving. This is a perfect time to contact
your members of Congress to urge them to cosponsor our legislation: Access
Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 431/S. 212), Medical Device Nonvisual
Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853), Transformation to Competitive Integrated
Employment Act (H.R. 2373/S. 3238), and Websites and Software Applications
Accessibility Act (H.R. 9021/S. 4998). If we gain support for our
legislation in these final few weeks of the 117th Congress, it might be
just enough to push it over the top for a late vote before they adjourn for
the year. This is our last chance in this Congress, and we have to make it
count! Your calls and emails absolutely make a difference!
*Amazon:*
The National Federation of the Blind and Amazon have collaboratively
resolved back-pay claims for five blind Amazon employees, and Amazon
representatives recently toured the Colorado Center for the Blind. NFB is
pleased that Amazon remains committed to working to identify accessibility
solutions and innovations for blind employees. We know, however, that our
advocacy is not yet done. If you have had workplace accommodations denied,
been placed on unpaid leave, and/or otherwise experienced discrimination
related to Amazon fulfillment center employment, please contact Valerie
Yingling at legal at nfb.org.
*Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act at the M-Enabling
Summit 2022:*
Last month, we discussed the Websites and Software Applications
Accessibility Act (H.R. 9021/S. 4998) at the 2022 M-Enabling Summit. The
M-Enabling Summit is a major technology conference held each year just
outside of Washington, DC, to help promote accessible technologies and
environments. The presentation for the Websites and Software Applications
Accessibility Act featured a panel led by our very own John Paré, with
leaders from the American Council of the Blind and the American Foundation
for the Blind. The presentation also included a video from Congressman John
Sarbanes of Maryland <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clx6B_YvwzA>, the
bill’s sponsor in the House of Representatives.
*Roll Call Pledges:*
Thanks go out to all affiliates; we have our affiliate pledges in from the
roll call of states for 2022. We have a few divisions still to account for,
but thanks go out to the majority of divisions. Most of our division
pledges have already been honored. We appreciate the teamwork to build the
National Federation of the Blind.
*Mark Your Calendar for December Presidential Release:*
The next Presidential Release of the National Federation of the Blind is
scheduled for December 1, 2022, at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. Zoom details
coming soon. Access the November presidential release for upcoming chapter
meetings.
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
*Help Us Meet the Match: Vispero Is Matching Donations (up to $50,000)
through December 31, 2022:*
· Give online at nfb.org/donate
· Mail a check to National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells
Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
· Contribute by phone using a credit card by calling 410-659-9314,
extension 2430
· Share this information with family and friends!
Thank you for contributing to our mission and helping blind people live the
lives they want.
*Vehicle Donations:*
The National Federation of the Blind uses car donations to improve the
education of blind children, distribute free white canes, help veterans,
and so much more. We have partnered with Vehicles for Charity to process
donated vehicles. Please call toll-free 855-659-9314, and a representative
can make arrangements, or you can donate online by visiting
www.nfb.org/vehicledonations.
Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)
- December 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
- January 30, 2023: Great Gathering-In
- March 23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
- July 1-6, 2023: National 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
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.
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Congressman John P. Sarbanes' statement on Websites
and Software Applications Accessibility Act
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clx6B_YvwzA&authuser=0>
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clx6B_YvwzA&authuser=0>
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clx6B_YvwzA&authuser=0>
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clx6B_YvwzA&authuser=0>
Congressman John P. Sarbanes' statement on Websites and Software
Applications Accessibility Act
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clx6B_YvwzA&authuser=0>
--
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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