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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Direct from President Mark Riccobono: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Normally I send snippets from the President’s Notebook, an email all affiliate Presidents receive President Riccobono. His opening message is so powerful and strong, I am including it in this message to all members of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. Everyone be prepared for additional information and a plan to follow the urging of our National President! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Dear Federation Family,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>If you are like me, you are outraged by the news that the United States Department of Justice intends to extend the implementation dates for the Title II ADA regulations related to websites and digital assets. I do not need to tell you all why this is outrageous. I hope that you are as outraged as I am.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Now is the time to direct that outrage into action. Now is the time to make sure that every member of our movement knows why this directly affects their daily participation in local communities. Now is the time to rally people to the cause. In the coming weeks, we will be crafting the Federation’s official response to the Interim Final Rule and then we will be activating the membership to flood, or better yet, drown, the Department of Justice with personal stories of why this action is inappropriate and a break from the promise America made to people with disabilities through the long-fought-for Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>You should prepare your local chapters and membership for action on this in May. I would love to have every single affiliate support each member in submitting comments. We will provide the technical details, but the personal stories of students who struggle to get access to their coursework, blind adults who have to go through extra hoops to pay their water bill and property taxes, blind seniors who are prevented from applying for services from their county, and so much more has to come from the everyday experience of blind people. These stories highlight how America’s promise to its disabled citizens has fallen short; equality of opportunity continues to be delayed; equal access continues to be denied. This is your advance notice that next month will be “May the Promise Be Fulfilled Month” in the National Federation of the Blind. Let’s get ready to push back even harder on the idea that blind people should sit and wait for equal access in our society.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Let us make America’s promise a reality and continue to build the National Federation of the Blind.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Critical Actions:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Outrage Regarding Delays on Title II Regulations:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>The Department of Justice’s Interim Final Rule delaying ADA Title II digital accessibility compliance is a direct threat to equal access for blind people—and we need a rapid, unified response. Please be prepared to amplify this message with your networks, direct members to our official statement, and flag real-world examples of inaccessible state/local websites or apps affecting education, benefits, employment services, and civic participation. We will continue pressing the department to reverse course and will share action opportunities and talking points as they develop. </span><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-condemns-doj-interim-final-rule-signaling-delay-ada" title="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-condemns-doj-interim-final-rule-signaling-delay-ada"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>Read the press release</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> and share our outrage video across social media channels: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cTuHxq49bJI" title="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cTuHxq49bJI"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>YouTube</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1968583253860647" title="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1968583253860647"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>Facebook</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7451013191985254400" title="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7451013191985254400"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>LinkedIn</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>, </span><a href="https://nfb.social/@nationsblind/116422166148321320" title="https://nfb.social/@nationsblind/116422166148321320"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>Mastodon</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>, </span><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nations_blind" title="https://www.tiktok.com/@nations_blind"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>TikTok</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>, </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXP11u6P0DR/?igsh=MWF4OWt1dzJ2eWFocA==" title="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXP11u6P0DR/?igsh=MWF4OWt1dzJ2eWFocA=="><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>Instagram</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>, </span><a href="https://x.com/NFB_voice/status/2045248074344267979" title="https://x.com/NFB_voice/status/2045248074344267979"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none'>X</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Camille Tate, president<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbflorida.org/"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbflorida.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tel: 321.372.4899<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>With love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>