<div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please share with members that may not be on our listserv.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">Dear Federation Family,</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">I am still fired up from our gatherings before and during the 2022 Washington Seminar week. You all continue to inspire me and fuel my love for the work of this movement.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">We are heading into a busy spring convention season and planning for our first in-person convention in three years. There is much ahead to get excited about and to bring us together again.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Critical Actions:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Museum Planning Survey Closing February 18:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Your thoughts, suggestions, and opinions are needed to help us with the initial planning of a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the civil rights struggle of blind Americans, including the history of the National Federation of the Blind as the leader in the blind civil rights movement. Our museum will highlight the struggles, triumphs, and challenges blind people have experienced and the contributions we have made as we continue to secure our place in the world as fully participating citizens. You can<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1byRFNrP1741YzcukC0pcG3s4_1ufxpRuPTGXAM_q-JE/viewform?edit_requested=true" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">complete the survey online,</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span>or you can complete the telephone survey by calling 229-632-7878 or toll-free 833-632-7878. The survey will close on Friday, February 18, so please be sure to let us know your thoughts by then.</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Washington Seminar Thank You:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Thanks to everyone who participated in Washington Seminar. As a result of our advocacy our bills garnered many new cosponsors. The Access Technology Affordability Act in the House jumped from 118 to 130 cosponsors and in the Senate increased from 34 to 35. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act jumped from 10 to 18 cosponsors. The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, in the House, jumped from 24 to 34 cosponsors. In addition, the lead Senate cosponsor of the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, Senator Steve Daines, spoke at our Great Gathering-In.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Template Letters Regarding Inaccessible Education Technology Software:</span></b><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The NFB has posted to our website template letters for blind students, blind parents, and parents of blind children to use when they encounter inaccessible education technology software at their or their children’s schools. As the templates recommend, please copy NFB on any letters you send via the email address<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="mailto:advocacy@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">advocacy@nfb.org</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">      <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u></u><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/support-and-resources/blind-parent-template-letter-regarding" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Blind Parent Template Letter Regarding Inaccessible Education Technology</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">      <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u></u><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/support-and-resources/blind-student-template-letter-regarding" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Blind Student Template Letter Regarding Inaccessible Education Technology</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">      <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u></u><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/support-and-resources/parent-blind-student-template-letter" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">Parent of Blind Student Template Letter Regarding Inaccessible Education Technology</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Please also continue to report information about accessible and inaccessible education tech software through NFB’s Education Technology Survey:<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/education-technology-survey" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/education-technology-survey</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Accessible Self-Service Kiosks at McDonald’s Restaurants:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">As a part of the NFB’s collaboration with McDonald’s to improve access for blind McDonald’s customers, the attached list includes the corporate-owned McDonald’s restaurants that now feature screen-reading software, tactile keypads, and the ability for customers to connect their headphones or ear buds to the kiosk and independently place their orders by responding to audio prompts. For more information about the NFB’s collaboration with McDonald’s, please visit<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/mcdonalds-and-national-federation-blind-collaborate-self-service-kiosks" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/mcdonalds-and-national-federation-blind-collaborate-self-service-kiosks</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">. To watch the McDonald’s kiosk video shared during the NFB’s 2021 National Convention, please visit<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/past-conventions/2021-national-convention" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:blue">https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/past-conventions/2021-national-convention</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">.  <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">KJ Fund and SUN Fund Program Years:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10pt;margin-left:0.25in;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">In recent years we adjusted the PAC program and membership years to coincide with the calendar year. As of January 1, 2022, we changed the Kenneth Jernigan Fund and SUN Shares Fund program years to the calendar year. Reports will now begin with funds received as of January 1 and end as of December 31. All pledged funds are to be received by December 31. This adjustment makes it easier to account for funds in the correct program year and follows our fiscal year.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Dates to Keep in Mind:<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">(all times eastern)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">      <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">March 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">      <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">March 31: Deadline to submit<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:23px;color:blue">scholarship application</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">      <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">April 15: Deadline for the<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/dr-jacob-bolotin-awards/application-information" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award nominations</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">      <span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><u></u><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">July 5-10: National Convention, New Orleans<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.75in;line-height:23px"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> Please review the attachment at the bottom of this email.  It is in PDF format. <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10pt;line-height:23px"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:23px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><u></u> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Mark A. Riccobono, President</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">410-659-9314 |<span class="gmail-Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:Officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">Officeofthepresident@nfb.org</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Twitter: @Riccobono<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Pronouns: he, him, his<u></u><u></u></span></p><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Dorothy Griffin - President <div>National Federation of the Blind of Georgia</div><div><a href="mailto:dgriffin@nfbga.org" target="_blank">dgriffin@nfbga.org</a></div><div>404-632-5989</div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:14px;line-height:normal;font-family:Arial"><span>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.</span></p></div><div><span><br></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>