[NFBNJ] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 8/2/2023

Thu Aug 3 17:31:51 UTC 2023

*President’s Notebook*

*National Federation of the Blind*

*Mark A. Riccobono*

*officeofthepresident at nfb.org* <officeofthepresident at nfb.org>

*410-659-9314*

 Convention Survey and Highlights:

Thank you for a great #NFB23 convention. Please share feedback in the
National Federation of the Blind survey available at nfb.org/convention in
English and Spanish or by phone. To complete the survey by phone, call
229-632-7878 or toll-free 833-632-7878. Please note that the phone number
above provides the survey in an automated system and will require the
survey to be completed in one session. There is an option to pause the
survey for five minutes and the pause can be extended as needed. Push the
pound key for help. The #NFB23 convention highlights are also available at
nfb.org/convention. Save the date: NFB24 is scheduled for July 3 through 8
in Orlando, Florida.

 *News:*

*Route 66 Ride for Literacy Update:*

The National Federation of the Blind Route 66 Ride for Literacy with Dan
O’Rourke has officially kicked off. Starting in Santa Monica, California,
on July 27, Dan has biked across the first state and is heading through
Arizona as of August 1. Please share this ride with your friends and family
to raise awareness on the importance of Braille literacy and connecting
with our community. Follow the Ride for Literacy at nfb.org/route66.

 *United States Access Board Meeting:*

On Tuesday, July 25, the United States Access Board conducted its quarterly
meeting at our headquarters right here in Baltimore. The public portion of
the meeting is available on the Access Board’s YouTube channel
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUgAv8c_HzY>.

*House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing on Autonomous Vehicles:*

On Wednesday, July 26, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce conducted a legislative
hearing titled “Self-Driving Vehicle Legislative Framework: Enhancing
Safety, Improving Lives and Mobility, and Beating China.” I was asked to
testify at this hearing regarding the impact of autonomous vehicles on
people with disabilities. My written testimony
<https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/2023-07/IDC_Mark%20Riccobono%20Testimony-Self%20Driving%20Vehicles-AV%20Hearing_7.26.2023.pdf>
is available on our Policy Statements page, and the full video of the
hearing <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-um7LWAEUTY>, including my verbal
testimony <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-um7LWAEUTY&t=2805s>, is
available on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s YouTube channel.

 *Uber Town Hall Meeting:*

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Uber Town Hall meeting last
Thursday, July 27. We had approximately three hundred people on the call.
Uber will be conducting a second town hall meeting regarding service
animals on Wednesday, August 16, at 8:30 p.m., eastern, in case you missed
the first call and want to have an opportunity to participate. Please stay
tuned for Zoom information, which will be available in the coming weeks.

 *Rideshare Denials:*

The National Federation of the Blind encourages individuals who are denied
access to an Uber or Lyft vehicle due to the presence of a service animal
or otherwise on the basis of blindness to file complaints with the Civil
Rights division of the US Department of Justice. Complaints of each
incident can be filed using the following online form:
civilrights.justice.gov/report/*.*

Individuals who file complaints through this multi-step online form should
download or print a copy of the confirmation screen, which contains the
text of the complaint and the record number (example 123987-ABC). The text
of a submitted complaint is not currently included in the confirmation
email or easily available after you leave the submission screen.

We are asking members to forward the email confirmation of the complaints
or send their record numbers to legal at nfb.org so that our legal team may
follow up in further advocacy. Submitting an online complaint through the
above website should generate a confirmation email from
civilrightsdonotreply at mail.civilrights.usdoj.gov. Note that the Department
of Justice has significant enforcement power under the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Several of our members participated in a recent
multi-million-dollar settlement involving discriminatory wait-time fees.
Individuals can learn more about that case at the following website:
justice.gov/crt/case/united-states-v-uber-technologies-inc
<https://www.justice.gov/crt/case/united-states-v-uber-technologies-inc>*.*

Please help us advocate for change in the rideshare space by submitting
your complaints to the US DOJ and forwarding the confirmation emails so we
can follow up.

 *Blind Equality Achievement Month Planning:*

Remember history. Advance equality. Celebrate accomplishments. The National
Federation of the Blind celebrates the organized blind movement during
October each year. Chapters across the country organize local outreach
events. Submit your events, activities, celebrations to web at nfb.org, so
they can be posted on nfb.org/blind-month. If you need items or ideas,
check out the free literature resources and White Cane Awareness Day
Proclamation <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2378&reset=1>.

 *Braille Calendars:*

Are you ready for a 2024 Braille calendar? The American Action Fund for
Blind Children and Adults produces over eight thousand Braille calendars
each year, and they are given free to any blind or deafblind persons in the
United States. These pocket calendars are great for the office, home, or
your travel bag.

You can order up to three Braille calendars via our online form at
actionfund.org/resources/braille-calendars, by sending an email to
actionfund at actionfund.org, or by leaving a telephone message at
410-659-9315.

 *Dream Makers Circle:*

You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a
member of our Dream Makers Circle. It is easier than you think. You can
visit your bank and convert an account to a P.O.D. (payable on death) bank
account, which is payable after your passing to the National Federation of
the Blind or one of our affiliates. Your legacy gift to the National
Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of {insert
state} can be made in the form of a will or living trust, an
income-generating gift, or by naming us as the beneficiary of a retirement
plan, IRA, pension, or a life insurance policy. You can designate a
specific amount, a percentage, or list the NFB as one of several
beneficiaries. For additional information, please contact Patti Chang at
410-659-9314, extension 2422, or at pchang at nfb.org.

 *Vehicle Donations:*

The National Federation of the Blind uses car donations to improve the
education of blind children, distribute free white canes, help veterans,
and so much more. We have partnered with Vehicles for Charity to process
donated vehicles. Please call toll-free 855-659-9314, and a representative
can make arrangements. Or you can donate online by visiting
nfb.org/vehicledonations <http://www.nfb.org/vehicledonations>.

 *Preauthorized Contributions (PAC):*

Can you help the National Federation of the Blind on a regular basis?
Please consider joining our preauthorized contribution plan. Starting at $5
per month, you can help us turn dreams into reality and raise expectations
for blind people. Visit nfb.org/pac <https://nfb.formstack.com/forms/pac>
to fill out the online form or email pac at nfb.org for additional information.

-- 
Warmly,
Linda Melendez, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
908-590-1747
president at nfbnj.org
*www.nfbnj.org* <http://www.nfbnj.org/>
*Facebook: **https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238*
<https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238>

To schedule a 30-minute meeting about the National Federation of the Blind
of New Jersey please click on the link below
https://calendly.com/nfbnj/30min
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20230803/9dfc8ebe/attachment.html>