[NFBNJ] President Riccobono's Notebook, National Items of Interest and Dates to Keep in Mind for week of October 4, 2021

Linda Melendez president at nfbnj.org
Tue Oct 5 02:37:35 UTC 2021 

Greetings all,


To help stay connected with our National Office and with the work of our
organization I am sharing some of President Riccobono's weekly notebook,
National Items of Interest and Dates to Keep in Mind.


Warmly,
Linda Melendez, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
732-421-7063
Email: president at nfbnj.org
President’s Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
410-659-9314
officeofthepresident at nfb.org



Dear Federation Family,

How did it get to be October already? It is great to observe all of the
Federation activity with affiliate conventions and Blind Equality
Achievement Month, but it is starting to feel like we are moving in super
speed again. I encourage everyone to remember that we need to take our work
one day at a time and build for tomorrow with everything we do.

Here are a few things I wanted to share, in addition to all the information
below the letter:

1.   Some of you have been wondering about our safety and support efforts.
We are getting ready to launch our NFB Survivor Group in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, the board of directors is examining recommendations that
have been made and is considering how to best structure our Code of Conduct
going forward. In the meantime, our process for receiving and externally
investigating reports of sexual misconduct is working well. As our board
considers what our policies should be for 2022 and beyond, we need your
input. Remember you can share your thoughts by emailing
boardofdirectors at nfb.org.

2.   Thank you to those who gave feedback on the Presidential Release Live
#509. As always, your suggestions are welcome. If you have ideas for other
programming that would benefit you, please share that with me.

3.   Earlier I announced that the hope was to move committee appointments
to September instead of January. That turned out to be not such a great
idea, logistically speaking, as other projects and priorities have gotten
in the way. I am still evaluating how to more effectively manage committee
appointments. Please know if you have not heard anything it is because I
have not created new committee appointments yet. All committee appointments
will remain in effect through the end of this calendar year unless new
appointment letters are sent out prior to that time.
Critical Actions: Blind Equality Achievement Month: Send in Your Events:

Remember history. Advance equality. Celebrate accomplishments. The National
Federation of the Blind celebrates the organized blind movement during the
month of October. Chapters across the country organize local outreach
events and many White Cane Awareness Day
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-equality-achievement-month/white-cane-awareness-day>
Proclamations.
Submit your events, activities, and celebrations to web at nfb.orgso they can
be posted on nfb.org/blind-month.
News: Access Technology Affordability Act:

We continue to make progress on the Access Technology Affordability Act on
several fronts. H.R. 431 is now up to 114 cosponsors. The most recent House
cosponsors are from Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, and New York, so
special thanks to those affiliates. On the Senate side, S. 212 is up to 27
cosponsors, with the two most recent being Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN), the
Chair of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and Senator
Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), who is a member of the Senate Finance
Committee. Finally, the text of the Access Technology Affordability Act has
been included in the reconciliation package currently moving through
Congress, in Section 138519, starting on page 2339. Please keep up the good
work and continue to build cosponsor support for the ATAA.
Celebrate Blind Equality Achievement Month with Our Blind Students:

Use the registration form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecmriDvTsPgduC3xCXQ6vmP58gtlCDnAOYeL4tBKdl7OMLvQ/viewform>
to
sign up to join the National Association of Blind Students (NABS) on
Saturday, October 16, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, for our virtual Blind Equality
Achievement Month Trivia Fundraiser! The event will be a great night of
friendly Federation competition and a celebration of the movement of the
organized blind. Registration is a $5 donation to NABS. We will be giving a
portion of the proceeds to the student division of the winning state. If
the winning state does not have an active division, the funds will be
gifted to the affiliate instead.
October Presidential Release Available:

The audio and streaming versions of the October Presidential Release are
available now at
https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases. The
English and Spanish transcripts will be posted at the same link as soon as
they are ready. The next presidential release is scheduled for November 1
at 8 p.m., eastern, via Zoom.
Pearson:

As a reminder, in 2020, the National Federation of the Blind engaged
in a collaboration
agreement with Pearson
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-and-pearson-announce-agreement-promote-equal-access>.
As a part of the agreement, Pearson established a communication channel
through which the NFB can alert Pearson to accessibility issues that blind
students are experiencing. If you or your student encounter barriers with
Pearson products this fall, please contact Valerie Yingling, legal program
coordinator at the NFB, at vyingling at nfb.org.
Where the Blind Work Webinar:

This webinar is a panel discussion celebrating the work and workplace
accomplishments of blind and low-vision people. On Thursday, October 14, at
8:00 p.m., eastern, hear about what a typical day looks like, discover
elements that prepare for career success, learn about alternative
techniques and strategies used to do these jobs, as well as how to advocate
for accommodations on the job. Register for the webinar today
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=23101&qid=>.
Upcoming Accessibility Seminar: iOS 15 and Android 12 Releases:

Both iOS and Android have exciting new features, and the National
Federation of the Blind Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration>
is covering them in an upcoming seminar. Come join us on October 13 from
1:00-5:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom to learn about all the new features
coming to iOS 15 and Android 12. Register today
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration>
*.*
Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research:

Volume 11 number 2
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/jbir/jbir21/jbir1102tc.html> of
our *Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research* is now available.
Articles included in this issue describe how sculpture can be used to teach
concepts in the visual arts education of blind students, inexpensive and
easily employed methods to make geographic instructional materials
accessible, the perspectives of blind patients on their interactions with
healthcare providers, and the perceptions of blind students in
post-graduate distance learning in STEM fields.
New Blog—On Blindness, Equality, and Achievement: Who Defines Us:

Read the first blog of defining Blind Equality Achievement Month in the *Voice
of the Nation’s Blind Blog*, “On Blindness, Equality, and Achievement: Who
Defines Us
<https://nfb.org/blog/blindness-equality-and-achievement-who-defines-us>,”
by President Mark Riccobono. New blog posts are published each Monday.
October *Braille Monitor* Available:

The latest issue of the National Federation of the Blind flagship
publication is now available. Read more 2021 National Convention speeches,
articles about raising expectations, and stories from members.  Access
the *Braille
Monitor* now.
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm21/bm2109/bm2109tc.htm>
Independence Market Highlighted Items for October:Products of the Month:

   - Talking All-Purpose Thermometer - $35.00
   - Digital talking thermometer that can be used for cooking, candy
   making, gardening, and other hobbies.
   - Pot Clip for Talking Thermometer - $4.50 – To be used in conjunction
   with the Talking All-Purpose Thermometer mentioned above. Handy for
   monitoring the temperature of liquids. Thermometer sold separately.
   - Braille Measuring Spoons (set of four) - $6.00 – Plastic measuring
   spoons labeled in print and Braille; includes sizes of 1 tablespoon, 1
   teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, and ¼ teaspoon.
   - Braille Measuring Cups (set of four) - $9.00 – Plastic measuring cups
   labeled in print and Braille; includes sizes of 1 cup, ½ cup, 1/3 cup, and
   ¼ cup.

Sale and Close-Out Items (Supplies Limited):

   - Solitaire and Fox and Geese Game - $10.00
   - Shut the Box Math Game - $10.00
   - Egg Separator - $1.00

Dates to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)


   - October 14: Where the Blind Works Webinar
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-month/2021_where_the_blind_work_webinar>,
   8:00 p.m.
   - October 15: White Cane Awareness Day
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-month/2021_where_the_blind_work_webinar>
   - November 1: Scholarship Program Applications Open
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program>
   - November 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - November 18: NFB Training Centers Meeting, 8:00 p.m.
   - December 2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - July 5-10, 2022: National Convention, New Orleans
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