[NFBNJ] Special August 4, 2022 President Riccobono's Notebook, National Items of Interest and Dates to Keep in Mind

[Linda Melendez]

*President’s Notebook*



* National Federation of the Blind Mark A. Riccobono *
*officeofthepresident at nfb.org* <officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
*410-659-9314*



Dear Federation Family,

I am happy to be back! Please see below for lots of great information.
News:Collaborative Advocacy to Pass Legislation at the State Level:

Please note, the meeting originally scheduled for August 2 at 8:00 p.m. has
been moved to September 13 at 8:00 p.m., eastern. The Zoom information
remains the same and will be redistributed soon.
Share Your #NFB22 Feedback:

Thank you for your participation, engagement, and support in New Orleans.
Please share your experiences of the 2022 National Convention. Take the
#NFB22 survey now online <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z3236GT> or by
phone. To complete the survey by phone, call 229-632-7878 or toll-free
833-632-7878. As an encore to the general sessions’ preshow commentary, a
post-convention review is available now on the *Nation’s Blind Podcast* with
the preshow panelists. Get more details on the survey, highlights, and
podcast episode <http://nfb.org/convention>.
2022 Resolutions:

On July 9 at the 2022 National Convention of the National Federation of the
Blind, the Federation passed eighteen resolutions. All of these resolutions
have been posted to our website and can be read at nfb.org/resolutions.
Presidential Release: September Save the Date & August Recording:

The next Presidential Release will take place Thursday, September 1, at
8:00 p.m., eastern (CC and Spanish available). Zoom details coming soon! Access
the August Presidential Release for chapter meetings, the full live event,
or the transcripts.
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
Braille Calendars for Affiliates and Individuals:

The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults has graciously
extended an offer to all National Federation of the Blind affiliates to
request up to fifty 2023 Braille calendars. These are the 6 x 6 1/2 inch
pocket calendars that have the month, date, day, and pertinent holidays.
Please send an email to Jen White at jwhite at nfb.org no later than August
31. Individuals can also order their free Braille calendar now
<https://actionfund.org/resources/braille-calendars>.
Senate Committee on Aging Hearing Regarding Accessible Federal Technology:

On Thursday, July 28, Anil Lewis testified before the US Senate Special
Committee on Aging on the importance of accessible federal websites and
technology. Anil’s full written testimony
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/anil-lewiss-testimony-senate-special-committee-aging>
can
be found on the Policy Statements page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> of our
website. You can also watch the hearing in its entirety on the Committee on
Aging’s website at
https://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/click-here-accessible-federal-technology-for-people-with-disabilities-older-americans-and-veterans
.
United States Postal Service Report Regarding Free Matter for the Blind:

On Tuesday, July 26, the United States Postal Service Inspector General
released a report with the result of their review of the Free Matter for
the Blind Program, as requested by Senators Van Hollen, Hyde-Smith, Peters,
and Portman. The report is available online at
https://www.uspsoig.gov/document/free-matter-blind. An impetus for this
Inspector General investigation was the testimony of Federationist Rania
Dima before the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services and the Federal
Government at a hearing in July 2021. The full hearing, including Rania’s
testimony, can be watched at
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-hearing-to-review-the-fy-2022-budget-request-for-the-usps-office-of-inspector-general-and-usps-service-issues-
.
Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services Issue Joint
Guidance on Nondiscrimination in Telehealth:

The NFB applauds DOJ and HHS for recently issuing guidance on
nondiscrimination in telehealth, and we encourage members and health-care
providers to review this important information available on HHS’s website
at
https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/guidance-on-nondiscrimination-in-telehealth/index.html
.
Social Security Administration Kiosks:

The NFB continues to seek information about the accessibility of the Social
Security Administration’s current visitor-intake-processing methods. If you
have visited an SSA field office since their reopening in April 2022, plan
to visit an office soon, or would be interested in being a tester for the
NFB, please contact Valerie Yingling at 410-659-9314, extension 2440, or
legal at nfb.org. We are specifically gathering information on whether the
field offices are using kiosk, web-based, or human check-in processes, and
whether these processes are accessible to blind individuals.


Uber and Lyft Ride Denials:

The NFB continues to gather information regarding Uber and Lyft ride
denials not only due to service animals, but also related to a traveler’s
use of a white cane, as well as access barriers on the companies’ apps. We
know that rideshare drivers continue to discriminate and request that you
complete NFB’s rideshare discrimination survey
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/rideshare-discrimination-survey>
and
share your experiences with us for our continued legal advocacy. The survey
is available via nfb.org/legal. We are especially interested in hearing
from individuals who use Uber and who do not have their own account, using
either a third-party service such as GoGo Grandparent; paratransit,
concierge, or medical appointment dispatchers; or who use Uber via a
friend, spouse, or other individual’s account.
Center for Employment Opportunities:

In the 2022 Presidential Report, I referenced our Center for Employment
Opportunities (CEO) initiatives intended to help bridge the gap of
unemployment and underemployment among the nation’s blind. This includes
the launching of our *Where the Blind Work* webinar series, featuring blind
professionals in a wide range of jobs and careers. We seek your help to
identify blind individuals in your network and/or affiliate.


We want to highlight blind workers in blue collar jobs in our upcoming
segment. If you have members who are mechanics, machinists, carpenters,
hair stylists, wait staff, hospitality, or other crafts and labor jobs, we
want to hear from them. While you are at it, we are looking for a range of
blind people working in all sorts of interesting jobs and careers, so
please join our efforts to feature them in our *Where the Blind Work* series
by contacting Maurice Peret, coordinator of career mentoring and employment
programs, at mperet at nfb.org or at 410-659-9314, extension 2350.
Dates to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)


   - August 31: Deadline for affiliates to request Action Fund Braille
   calendars
   - September 1: Presidential Release
   - January 30, 2023: Great Gathering-In
   - March 23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
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