[NFBNJ] NFB PresidentRiccobono's Notebook - Week of 08/24/2020

Mon Aug 24 21:37:25 UTC 2020

Greetings to all!
I have pasted a good number of items of interest for distribution to the 
NFBNJ list serve.

Please read through and assist when possible.
Joe
We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference
Joe Ruffalo, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
973 743 0075
nfbnj1 at verizon.net
www.nfbnj.org
Raising Expectations To Live The Life You Want!

Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.
Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
www.carshelpingtheblind.org
or call 855 659 9314

From: President, National Federation of the Blind
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2020 4:53 PM
To: President, National Federation of the Blind
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 08/24/2020

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

Dear Fellow Federationists,

I hope this message finds you doing well on this beautiful summer day. We 
continue to face many of the same challenges in the Federation that are 
impacting the entire nation. I appreciate the care and attention that each 
of our leaders continues to give to our collective action.

News:

Attend the Presidential Release Next Week:
The September Presidential Release of the National Federation of the Blind 
will be delivered on Tuesday, September 1, 2020. After the remarks, there is 
an opportunity for questions. Submit questions in advance to 
cdanielsen at nfb.org, and put PR497 in the subject line, or call 410-659-9314, 
extension 2473.

Comments: Each first day of the month through December, mark your calender 
for the Presidents Release.

Call for Blind Americans to Vote in 2020 Election:
The National Federation of the Blind encourages all blind people, regardless 
of their political views, to participate in the American democracy. If your 
circumstances do not allow you to vote privately and independently this 
year, we still urge you to vote and then complete our voting survey 
(available October 2020) as we will continue to fight for your right to 
privately and independently vote. You have the right to have a person of 
your choice assist you in voting, either by mail or at the polls, if you 
cannot fill out your ballot privately and independently. Please watch our 
video, “Call for Blind Americans to Vote in 2020 Election.

Comments:Let your voices be heard.  Vvote!

Advocacy and Policy Update:
On August 21, we gained four new House cosponsors for the Access Technology 
Affordability Act (H.R. 2086):

Buddy Carter of Georgia

Ralph Abraham of Louisiana

Vicky Hartzler of Missouri

Bradley Byrne of Alabama

This brings our total House cosponsor count to 125. Special thanks to the 
Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, and Alabama affiliates for working hard to get 
these four representatives. ATAA also has twenty-four cosponsors for the 
Senate companion bill, S. 815. These numbers are fantastic, but we must 
continue to build support for both of these bills in order to get ATAA 
completely across the finish line. Please continue to contact your members 
of Congress. If you need to find out who to contact in your member’s office, 
please email Jesa Medders at jmedders at nfb.org.

While you’re talking with your senators, you might also bring up our 
opposition to including the Americans with Disabilities Act in Section 181 
of the SAFE TO WORK Act (S. 4317). In a related note, you might have 
recently heard about a “skinny” COVID-19 relief proposal in the Senate. 
Unfortunately, this legislation, which is being proposed as an amendment 
intended to replace the text of an older bill (S. 178), also contains the 
same language as the SAFE TO WORK Act. Please tell your senators that you 
also oppose the inclusion of the ADA in Section 1181 of the Delivering 
Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act.

Finally, as you may already know, Sami’s Law (H.R. 4686) passed the House 
with no objection on July 29. This means that we are one step closer to 
having it become law, but we need to boost Senate support. Please let your 
senators know that you strongly support Sami’s Law (H.R. 4686), and the 
improvements it will bring to rideshare safety for all Americans, and urge 
that they support it as well when it is considered in the Senate.

Comments: Thanks to those that have made the calls and emails to your 
representatives.

If you need additional information, watch your inbox and or contact Ryan 
Stevens, NFBNJ LegislativeDirector.

New Blog Post: “Access Technology Detection as an App Permission: A Possible 
Solution”
Apps detecting if a screen reader is in use could provide improved 
functionality when screen readers are running. Unfortunately, it can also be 
used improperly, hiding functionality, presenting simplified or limited 
versions of interfaces, and more. Read the recent post on the Voice of the 
Nation’s Blind Blog.

Comments: A must read for many.

2020 Virtual Senior Retreat:
The National Federation of the Blind Senior Division’s annual retreat will 
be virtual this year. Focusing on promoting a sense of wellbeing and 
self-confidence in both newly and lifelong blind seniors, the retreat will 
take place October 18-24. Visit their website at http://seniors.nfb.org for 
more information and to register.

Comments: Watch your inbox or contact Jane Degenshein at 973 736 5785 or 
email, jdegen16 at comcast.net

2020 Online Research Platform Study:
This semester, we will be working with the accessibility of the HathiTrust 
to conduct a study on the accessibility and usability of an online research 
platform. If you are a college student, higher-education faculty member, or 
other professional conducting academic research, please complete this survey 
in order to be considered to participate in the study. All who complete the 
survey will be entered into a drawing.

Comments: Another opportunity for your voices to be heard.

NFB BELL® Donations from Affiliates:
Thanks go out to the NFB of Texas for our latest affiliate contribution to 
NFB BELL I continue to be proud of the way we have supported our shift to an 
all-virtual program for our NFB BELL In-Home Edition. Thanks to all of our 
affiliates who have contributed time and financial resources to make this 
happen.

Comments: The NFBNJ BELL Academy with the approval of the state board 
provided a vote to donate the national program in the amount of $1,500.

Great vote!

Dates to Keep in Mind:

  a.. September 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
  b.. September 13: Open-House Gathering call, 4:00 p.m. eastern
  c.. September 25: Nonvisual Access Conference
  d.. October 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
  e.. October 1: Inclusive Publishing Conference
  f.. October: Meet the Blind Month
  g.. November 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
  h.. December 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
  i.. December 9: Open-House Gathering call, 8:00 p.m. eastern
  j.. February 8, 2021: Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In

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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