[Nfbmt] President's Notebook

[Bruce&Joy Breslauer]

President's Notebook


National Federation of the Blind


Mark A. Riccobono


officeofthepresident at nfb.org


(410) 659-9314


 

Dear Fellow Federationists,

 

It is hard to believe that April is almost through. Amongst the
forward-looking activities of the Federation, there is always a need to stop
to make sure all of our housekeeping business is in order. I note that seven
affiliates still have banking information from 2014 to provide to the
national office. And many are behind on the first quarter of 2015. I
encourage all affiliate leaders to make sure that their records with the
national office are up-to-date. If we're going to build our organization, we
want to make sure the house we invite people into is clean, tidy, and
welcoming. 

 


News:


PetSmart lawsuit:

A class action lawsuit, accusing PetSmart, Inc. of violating the rights of
blind customers under the ADA, was filed on behalf of  <http://www.nfb.org/>
the National Federation of the Blind, the Colorado Cross-Disability
Coalition (CCDC), and six blind individuals who reside in Colorado, Texas,
and Massachusetts. The suit alleges that PetSmart requires the entry of
debit card PINs on touch-screen keypads, which the blind cannot operate,
rather than simple, inexpensive tactile keypads. 

JAWS training bundle:
We are now the exclusive seller of the JAWS Training Bundle developed by
<http://freedomscientific.com/> Freedom Scientific. It is sold on cartridges
designed for use with the free DAISY playback equipment available from the
NLS.

 

Anne Taylor:
Anne is joining Microsoft as a senior program manager in the Trusted
Experience Team. She will start there May 26. Her last day at the Jernigan
Institute will be May 15.

 


Dates to keep in mind:


.         Spring affiliate conventions <https://nfb.org/state-conventions> 

.         May 14-16, 2015: NFB STEM2U Columbus (OH), COSI

.         June 7, 2015: NFB 6 DOT DASH

.         July 5-10, 2015: 75th Annual Convention of the National Federation
of the Blind

.         August 2-8, 2015: NFB STEM EQ 

.         September 11-13, 2015: NFB STEM2U Leadership Academy

.         June 19-25, 2016: NFB EQ (first iteration)

.         July 31-August 6, 2016 (second iteration) 

.         August, 2016: WBU-ICEVI General Assembly 

 

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

National Federation of the Blind

200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place

Baltimore, Maryland 21230

Phone: (410) 659-9314

Fax: (410) 659-5129

Email: officeofthepresident at nfb.org

Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice

Web:  <http://www.nfb.org/> www.nfb.org

 

 

 

 

 

Joy Breslauer, President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

www.nfbofmt.org

 

Live the life you want 

 

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