[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - week of 04/13/2020

Tue Apr 14 05:15:13 UTC 2020

Greetings to all!
I have pasted several items of interest from President Riccobono’s Notebook 
for April 13, 2020
Valuable information for your consideration.

Warmly,
Joe

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President’s Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org
410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

I hope that everyone had a great weekend. It feels to me like the Federation 
is as busy as it has ever been despite social distancing and the inability 
to gather in person. I am working to make sure our team continues to bundle 
messaging to make it as easy as possible for Federation leaders to deal with 
the mountain of information that seems to come on a daily basis. If you have 
suggestions about what would be better, please let me know. You all are 
making a great difference. Thank you, keep it up, let me know what you need, 
and continue to share information with me.

Our 2020 National Convention change is obviously the biggest news. Well over 
five hundred people registered for the convention within forty-eight hours 
of our notice. Which of our affiliates will turn out the biggest delegation 
for our 2020 gathering? The registration numbers will be a race this year 
for this unprecedented opportunity to grow the reach of our organization. 
Many of you have already sent suggestions about the convention; thank you 
for being proactive. We know members have questions and many we may not be 
able to answer yet as the plans are coming together. Rest assured we will 
put together a great program, we will maximize participation as best we can 
using telephone and internet capabilities, and we will provide access to 
more convention gatherings than ever before. Plan on setting aside July 
14-19 for this great event.

While I was working on this letter, I received the news that Brian Miller, a 
member from Virginia, passed away after a two-week battle with the 
coronavirus. I know many of you have known Brian and have been tracking his 
fight. I would invite you to raise a prayer for Brian and his family and 
friends who are hurting tonight. I would also ask you to send positive 
thoughts to so many other Federationists who are dealing with the impacts of 
the virus.

Critical Actions:

Scholarships:
Since Friday’s announcement sharing the decision to hold our convention 
remotely, quite a few people have reached out with questions regarding the 
2020 scholarship program. Be assured, the National Federation of the Blind 
WILL award thirty students from all over the country with our prestigious 
merit-based scholarships this summer. Plans are already in the works to 
adjust the format of the program so that it can be best suited for the 
remote convention. An email was sent Friday to everyone who began a 
scholarship application, reassuring them that the program would be going 
ahead, if not exactly as originally planned, then in a way that is 
guaranteed to be dynamic, interactive, and in the spirit of excellence that 
has always characterized our scholarship process.

Seeking Those Applying for SSDI Benefits:
We would like to speak with blind individuals who are currently applying for 
SSDI benefits. This matter is time sensitive. Please have such individuals 
contact Valerie Yingling at vyingling at nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 
2440.

Presidential Releases:
I will be recording another Live Presidential Release on Friday, May 1, at 
8:00 p.m. eastern. This will also be on the Zoom platform, and the 
connection information will be send out closer to the date of the release.

To access the recording or the English or Spanish transcripts of the April 
Presidential Release, go to 
https://www.nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases.

Register for National Convention:
Plan to attend the 2020 National Convention, July 14-19, from anywhere. The 
National Federation of the Blind will hold its national convention beginning 
July 14, 2020, with virtual events and local, in-person gatherings where 
appropriate. The convention was originally scheduled to take place in 
Houston, Texas. The change of plans is in response to the public health, 
safety, and logistical concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 
official announcement was made last week. The National Federation of the 
Blind is delighted to connect blind Americans from anywhere to build 
opportunities everywhere. We look forward to spreading the 2020 view on 
blindness to the entire nation and beyond. Registration is now available at 
no cost. Register today.

Legislative Update:
Even in the midst of a national emergency, the advocacy work of the 
Federation cannot be stopped. As the world and our country adjust to the 
threat of the coronavirus and Congress passes new laws to ensure that life 
does go on, the National Federation of the Blind has the critical task of 
making sure the systems that get put into place are equal, fair, and above 
all, accessible. Just last week we sent two letters to this effect.

The first was a letter to the appropriate House and Senate Committees urging 
them to ensure the nonvisual accessibility of vote-by-mail systems that may 
be adopted for the upcoming state and federal elections. In this time of 
crisis, it is absolutely essential that we not lose focus on the idea that 
every American citizen deserves the right to cast a private and independent 
ballot. This is one of the core principles of our democracy, and it is a 
right protected by our Constitution.

The second was a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos urging her to 
note in her required report to Congress that waivers for the Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act are not necessary. Waiving the requirements 
of this important legislation now would set blind and other disabled 
students back while their sighted and nondisabled peers continue learning in 
virtual classrooms. This is utterly unacceptable.

Additionally, we have worked hard to make sure we bring you the most 
up-to-date information on the legislation being passed in the coronavirus 
aid bills that may impact your daily lives. On our COVID-19 resources page 
you can find important information on Economic Impact Payments, expanded 
unemployment insurance, and a comprehensive list of state special education 
guidance for schools.

Also, please be on the lookout for a legislative alert. The National 
Federation of the Blind is urging Congress to waive the five-month waiting 
period for SSDI benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are also asking 
Congress to waive the associated twenty-four-month waiting period for 
Medicare. The waiver would be for all beneficiaries who are found eligible 
between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. Additional details will be 
included in the legislative alert.

Upcoming Accessibility Boutiques: Zoom Meeting and Accessible Smart Home:
Accessibility boutiques are workshops presented by our access technology 
experts that provide introductions to accessibility best practices and the 
latest trends in access tech. Previously offered monthly, the National 
Federation of the Blind is now providing accessibility boutiques weekly. 
Here is what is scheduled for this week:

·       Tuesday, April 14, 2:00–3:30 p.m. eastern—How to Host a Zoom Meeting

·       Friday, April 17, 2:00–3:30 p.m. eastern—Tips and Tools for an 
Accessible Smart Home

Learn more about accessibility boutiques and register today.

New Blog Post: Uber, Lyft, and Service Animals: The Discrimination 
Continues:
After three years of implementation and monitoring, the National Federation 
of the Blind’s settlement agreements with Uber and Lyft are set to expire 
this summer. Progress has been difficult to measure, and discrimination by 
rideshare drivers against travelers with service animals continues. Read the 
recent blog post on the three year report and next steps. We are still 
requesting feedback on both successful rides and incidents of rideshare 
driver discrimination via the NFB’s Rideshare Survey.

In fact, we are requesting that members with service animals who continue to 
be discriminated against by Uber drivers consider providing a signed 
statement regarding their experiences. Please contact Valerie Yingling at 
vyingling at nfb.org by April 17 if you are able to help with this important 
next step in our effort to stop discrimination by Uber drivers. Learn more 
at https://www.nfb.org/rideshare

Distance Education—Daily Activities Full of Fun and Learning:
The National Federation of the Blind is providing daily distance education 
resources from making pasta boxes to creating journals to asking questions 
about technology for distance education. Share the videos of how-to 
activities and story time. Join the upcoming live, interactive Zoom lessons 
this week and participate in the great activities. Learn more about the 
distance education resources.

Kernel Books Series: Access Now:
The Kernel Books series is now available online. The National Federation of 
the Blind's thirty-book series highlights the stories of blind men and 
women, and goes beyond sentimentality and misconceptions—to the very 
"kernel" of blindness. The books share important messages delivered by witty 
authors who write about intriguing, yet every day, situations. These stories 
allow for great discussion during this time and are timeless. Access As the 
Twig Is Bent, Like Cats and Dogs, Wall-to-Wall Thanksgiving, and all of the 
Kernel Books today.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

·       April 15: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award application deadline

·       May 1: Distinguished Educator Award nomination deadline

·       July 14-19: NFB National Convention, remote!

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

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.

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