[NFBNJ] Week of October 3, 2022 President Riccobono's Notebook, National Items of Interest and Dates to Keep in MindPresident’s Notebook

Tue Oct 4 10:40:37 UTC 2022

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

Dear Federation Family,

It was such an honor to be on the ground in Jackson, Mississippi, for our
Presidential Release LIVE event to kick off Blind Equality Achievement
Month. Thanks to our Mississippi affiliate for the invitation. Thanks again
also to our National Association of Blind Merchants for stepping up to
provide water for us to distribute to our blind members in Jackson who have
been dealing with the ongoing water crisis. I was humbled to travel around
the city with our local chapter president and meet members at their homes.
This was a true showing of the Federation family.

I encourage affiliates that have innovative proposals for our live release
events in 2023 to submit them to me. We cannot be on the road every month,
but we would love to do more of these in local communities.

Remember to promote our #BlindMonth activities by using the hashtag in
social media. I encourage all of our leaders to find something to post for
White Cane Awareness Day. Wouldn’t it be great if every national division
and affiliate president put out a post in social media for October 15? If
you do not have your own social media account, post on an NFB-related
account. You can always send your content to scascone at nfb.org for posting.

Have a great month of outreach in local communities.
Critical Actions: It's Blind Equality Achievement Month:

Members of the National Federation of the Blind conduct activities in local
communities such as white cane walks, film screenings, and social events.
Please send a description of your affiliate- or chapter-related #BlindMonth
activities, including the white cane proclamations, to web at nfb.org so they
can be posted on the Blind Equality Achievement Month page.
<https://nfb.org/blind-month> There is also still time to encourage your
local government to issue a White Cane Awareness Day proclamation. Learn
more at whitecane.day
News: Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities:

Last Thursday, the NFB submitted comments to the US Department of Health
and Human Services Office for Civil Rights regarding its notice of public
rulemaking (NPRM) for Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The
NPRM proposes to clarify and expand nondiscrimination requirements in
Section 1557 of the ACA and requested feedback specific to telehealth,
medical devices, and website and mobile app accessibility. I encourage you
to read our comments, as well as the other content on the Policy Statements
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> section of
our website.
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, S. 4998/H.R. 9021:

On September 28, 2022, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois introduced the
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the Senate. There
are three original cosponsors for the bill: Senator Bob Casey of
Pennsylvania, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Senator Ed Markey of
Massachusetts. On the same day, Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland
introduced an identical bill in the House, which has been assigned bill
number H.R. 9021. Now that the bill is introduced in both chambers of
Congress, please contact your members in the House and Senate and ask them
to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act! For
more information, check out our press release
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/senator-duckworth-and-representative-sarbanes-introduce-bill-make-websites-and-software-accessible>
.
2023 Washington Seminar:

The days are getting shorter, there’s a chill in the air, and the leaves
have just begun to fall from the trees—that means our annual Washington
Seminar is just around the corner. For 2023, the Washington Seminar will be
back in-person. January will mark the start of the 118th Congress, and we
wanted to make sure we were one of the first groups new members met with.
That’s why we scheduled next year’s seminar from Monday, January 30,
through Thursday, February 2, 2023. Save those dates in your calendars now
but stay tuned over the next few weeks and months as we release more
updates details, legislative issues, and training schedules.
You Can No Longer ShoutCAST It from the Rooftops:

Over the past few years, several affiliates have leveraged the software
tool the national office uses to stream our national convention. This
content-streaming platform has allowed affiliates to stream state
conventions, podcasts, and other types of audio content simply and
accessibly. Unfortunately, ShoutCAST has discontinued the audio-streaming
component of its business model and is no longer available for use. The
national office is evaluating inexpensive streaming options for
accessibility and usability but has yet to find a product that fully fits
the Federation’s needs. We continue to assess various platforms and will
share news should we identify a suitable replacement.
Announcing Matching Gift Opportunity:

We are asking you all to socialize the information below regarding our
upcoming challenge grant from Vispero.

Challenging Expectations: A Partnership with Vispero:

We rely on the generosity of individual supporters and partner
organizations to help us transform dreams into reality for blind people. We
are excited to announce a generous challenge gift from Vispero to celebrate
White Cane Awareness Day. Every dollar contributed between October 15 and
the end of the year will be matched up to $50,000!

Double your contribution and help ensure that we fulfill this matching
gift. Three ways you can help:

   - Give online at nfb.org/donate
   - Mail a check to National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells
   Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
   - Contribute by phone using a credit card by calling 410-659-9314,
   extension 2430

Office 365 Suite Accessibility Boutique:

October 4, 2:00-3:30 p.m., eastern, via Zoom

The National Federation of the Blind, in partnership with the Maryland
Department of Disabilities, invites you to attend the Office 365 Suite
Accessibility Boutique. Learn about the features of Microsoft’s online
Office 365 Suite and its accessibility for blind and low-vision users. The
boutique will focus on Office 365’s Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
applications. Register for the October 4 Accessibility Boutique.
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events>

Career Fair—Fearless Job Interview Part 1:

October 6, 7:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom

In the first seminar of the National Federation of the Blind career fair
series, job seekers will be given information on job search strategies, an
overview on customizing their resumes and cover letters, keys to developing
effective interview communication, and an interactive segment on the tricky
prompt “tell me about yourself.” No registration required. Access Zoom
details for Job Interview Part 1 on the Career Fair page
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?&reset=1&id=522>.
Recent Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog Post:

September was National Guide Dog Month, and it helps lead us to October,
which is Blind Equality Achievement Month. Danielle McCann’s retired guide
dog, Schultz, shares some of the experience with transitioning to
retirement. Read the blog post, “Hanging Up the Harness
<https://nfb.org/blog/hanging-harness>.”
Dates to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)

   - October 4: Office 365 Suite Accessibility Boutique
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events>
   - October 6: Career Fair Part 1
   <https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?&reset=1&id=522>
   - October 15: White Cane Awareness Day <https://whitecane.day/>
   - October 21: Where the Blind Work Webinar
   - October 25: Education Technology Accessibility Boutique
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events>
   - January 30, 2023: Great Gathering-In
   - March 23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
   - July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas
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