[NFBNJ] Week of March 27, 2023 President Riccobono's Notebook, National Items of Interest and Dates to Keep in Mind

[NFB New Jersey]

President’s Notebook

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



Critical Actions:

Next Week: April Presidential Release:

Attend the next Presidential Release #526 on Tuesday, April 4, at 8:00
p.m., eastern. Submit questions for the Q&A sessions by sending an email to
cdanielsen at nfb.org with the subject line #PR526. Closed captions and
Spanish interpretations are available. Presidential Release Zoom ID: 948
2166 5754 <https://zoom.us/j/94821665754>.



New Issue of Future Reflections:

The latest issue of Future Reflections is now available. This issue
contains an article on encouraging play in blind infants and young blind
children, a high school student’s thoughts about returning to face-to-face
school after the COVID closure, articles by blind chef Regina Mitchell and
Bolotin Award winner Jeanetta Price, and much more. Check out Future
Reflections Vol 42, No. 1.
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr42/1/fr4201tc.htm>



New Episode of the Nation’s Blind Podcast:

Hosts Anil and Melissa dig into the NFB-supported case, Orozco v. Garland,
in the latest Nation’s Blind Podcast. They share an interview with Chris
Danielsen and Ronza Othman. Access the episode, “NFB Helps Win Battle for
Blind Federal Employees
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>.”




Congress Is in Session this Week:

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are in session this week
before they begin a two-week recess on Monday, April 3. That makes this
week a perfect opportunity to call or email your members of Congress and
urge them to cosponsor our legislation. In the House please ask your member
to cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
(H.R. 1263) and the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328).
The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act currently has forty-two
House cosponsors, and we would be thrilled to see it reach fifty (or more)
before next week’s recess. In the Senate, please ask your senators to
cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (S.
533).



Increased Appropriations Request for the Independent Living Services for
Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program:

Earlier this month we sent a letter to both the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees regarding increasing the annual appropriation for
the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB)
program. The federal funding for the OIB program has remained stagnate for
several years and is woefully inadequate to help all of the individuals who
are eligible for its services. An increase in funding would dramatically
help the OIB serve the growing population of aging blind Americans. Both
letters are posted on our Policy Statements page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements>, and I urge
you to read them.



Letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Regarding
Discriminatory Driver’s License Requirements on Job Applications:

Last week we sent a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
<https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/2023-03/EEOC-Drivers-License-Reconsideration-3-21-2023.pdf>
(EEOC) regarding companies requiring job applicants to possess a driver’s
license, even when driving is not an essential function of the job. This
topic was the subject of Resolution 2022-05
<https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/2022-resolutions#05>
at last year’s national convention in New Orleans. Under the ADA Amendments
Act of 2008, it is unlawful for companies to impose qualification standards
or selection criteria based on an individual’s uncorrected vision unless it
is required to perform an essential function of the job. By definition, a
driver’s license would fall into this category. This is already prohibited
in the current rule, but we are requesting that the EEOC add a clarifying
update to the rule to make it explicitly clear.



Upcoming Event: Basics of PDF Remediation:

On Tuesday, April 25, the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access will
present an Accessibility Boutique on creating accessible PDF documents. Come
learn strategies experts use to make digital documents readable by screen
readers! Register for the Basics of PDF Remediation boutique
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=28168&qid=8111077> today.



Reminders:

Where the Blind Work—Investigating the News with Blind Journalists:

Journalism involves interviewing, research, and sometimes extensive travel,
all of which could potentially present barriers to entry for blind people
given society’s low expectations. We are severely underrepresented in the
field, making our perspective even more valuable. Some blind journalists
have been immensely successful. Join us on April 20, 8:00-9:15 p.m.,
eastern, to find out how. Registration information is available on our
website
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/where-the-blind-work-webinars-registration>
.



Dates to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)


   - April 20: Where the Blind Work, 8:00 p.m.
   - May 10: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas
   - August 9: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20230401/0e7d7d19/attachment.html>