[NFBNJ] Week of March 7, 2023 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
410-659-9314



 Dear Federation Family,



Do you ask yourself, Why Am I a Federationist? More importantly, do you
have an answer? Have you thought about your answer and how you can
articulate it to others? To state it more directly, what is your story?



I find that Federation leaders sometimes get caught up in the “what” of the
movement rather than the “why.” I try to refocus leaders, including myself,
to remember that the “what” must be grounded in the “why.” When we have to
do the key administrative tasks and make sure we file all the right papers
on time, it is to allow us to achieve the “why” that fuels our mission. If
you have not considered "why" and if you have not practiced telling your
story, now is the time. Take time to think deeply about the "why." Consider
how you want to tell your "why" story to others in the movement. Then go
out and start sharing your "why" story. If you truly open your heart as
part of that story, I promise you that you and others will learn something
from the story you tell.



In case you are having trouble getting started, I call you to the fact that
the Braille Monitor has published many "why" stories over the years. Dr.
Jernigan's is one of those that is better known and remembered. You can
find it at
https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1201/bm120108.htm.
There are dozens of others in the pages of the Braille Monitor or in our Kernel
Book series
<https://nfb.org/resources/jacobus-tenbroek-library/collections/kernel-books>
.



Dedicate some time to perfecting your "why" story. It will build the
movement in ways you cannot imagine.



Critical Actions:

March Presidential Release Chapter Version Available:

The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #525 chapter
version
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is
available. Additional formats coming soon. Please mark your calendars for
the next Presidential Release scheduled for April 4, 2023, at 8 p.m.
eastern.



News:

National Convention Registration Open:

The 2023 NFB National Convention will be a truly exciting and memorable
event, with an unparalleled program and rededication to the goals and work
of our movement. A wide range of seminars for parents of blind children,
technology enthusiasts, job seekers, and other groups will kick the week
off on Saturday, July 1, in Houston, Texas. Registration for #NFB23 is now
open at nfb.org/registration.



Affiliate Finance 2023:

Affiliates are transitioning to QuickBooks Online (QBO) for better
financial management and coordination with the NFB affiliate finance group.
Changing to QBO upgrades the affiliate’s financial processes, produces
better and more informative reports, and reduces everyone’s data entry
workload.



Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act:

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act was introduced in the House
by Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois on Wednesday, March 1. The
bill number is H.R. 1328, and it was introduced with thirty-two original,
bipartisan cosponsors. Your advocacy at last month’s Washington Seminar
was, without question, a catalyst for the bill’s introduction. As a
reminder, the bill will require all Class II and Class III medical devices
with a digital interface to be accessible and will go into effect three
years after it is signed into law. This legislation will allow blind
Americans to safely and independently monitor their health. Keep up the
advocacy by calling or emailing your members of Congress and asking them to
cosponsor the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, H.R. 1328.



Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act:

The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act was introduced
in both the House and the Senate last week. On Monday, February 27, Senator
Bob Casey of Pennsylvania introduced the bill in the Senate, with Senator
Steve Daines of Montana as the lead cosponsor. The bill number is S. 533.
On Tuesday, February 28, Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia introduced
the bill in the House, with Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers of
Washington as the lead cosponsor. The House bill number is H.R. 1263. While
the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act was not one of
our core Washington Seminar issues this year, this bill is still immensely
important, as it will phase-out and sunset Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act, eliminating subminimum wages for people with disabilities.
Please call or email your members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor the
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act.



Congratulations to the Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest Winners:

The 2022-2023 Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest winners were announced
last week on Read Across America Day, March 2. Participants in the contest
track the minutes they read Braille and log them at actionfund.beanstack.org.
Over six hundred thousand minutes were tracked in the forty-nine days of
the contest. The National Federation of the Blind is pleased to partner
with the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, which hosts
the contest, to strengthen Braille literacy and to create opportunities to
put Braille in the hands of blind children and adults. Read the American
Action Fund winner announcement <https://actionfund.org/node/660> and share
the Facebook video announcement
<https://www.facebook.com/americanactionfundforblindchildrenandadults/posts/pfbid02CWAcpZr3PWFJdL864L7eExvuFTpsrF5tUDiWTZXLv2JTduPLCtUdfjnpAD4VBGsjl?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZXCLFJTdyOEhqTuleb9eyBG2Gk4ItvMgaU7R5Swf-KEsIZMNxBywQdXe7VEjxBQStynRrJjV_cZJIamnLkf97fZjhDPRLe9NC6Yj8PN4EyUw_EJQ3lFYqmkXqFzr97yydLBueDYWTrIw9viNt_6sF9qmYayHEcZ7QZkhOCJxHLpsyeg96EC89H1hfn_GjDxyIU&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R>
.



Read and Share the Braille Monitor:

Access the latest issue of our flagship publication. Read about the
significance of the Washington Seminar, legislative agenda fact sheets,
celebration of life of Scott LaBarre, stories from members, and more.
March Braille
Monitor (English)
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2303/bm2303tc.htm>



Scholarship Program Deadline Approaching:

The National Federation of the Blind scholarship program helps blind
college students reach their educational and employment goals and so much
more. Building on its strong foundation, we have enhanced the awards granted
—making the experience even more inclusive, engaging, and meaningful for
the thirty finalists. Each scholarship winner will receive $8,000. Deadline
to apply is March 31. Encourage students to apply for the 2023 scholarship
program <https://scholarships.nfb.org/>.



Google Workspace: Accessible Platform, Accessible Content:

The Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Accessibility will present a half-day
seminar Wednesday, March 22, from 1:00 to 5:00, eastern. Presenters will
explain the accessibility of the Google ecosystem and best practices for
creating accessible content using Google Workspace. Learn more about this
event and register at www.nfb.org/cena.



The State of Remote Desktop Management:

CENA will present an accessibility boutique on March 28 from 2:00 to 3:30
p.m., eastern, discussing the accessible tools available for connecting
remotely to other computers—even those without a screen reader running.
This is essential in IT administration and is a powerful training tool,
especially in one-on-one settings. Find out more about these events and
register at www.nfb.org/cena.



Lyft Up and Share:

On the Lyft app, encourage people in your lives to add the National
Federation of the Blind as an option to receive contributions every time
you ride. Lyft passes on 100 percent of these donations to us. This is an
opportunity to make an easy ask of those we know like family, friends, and
colleagues. Please share the following blurb with members in emails and
social media to help encourage people to participate. You can copy and
paste the following:


An exciting and easy giving option for everyone: the organized blind
movement has joined the Lyft Up program, so you can contribute every time
you ride with Lyft. The program will round up the cost of your ride to the
nearest dollar and donate the difference. In the Lyft app, simply go to the
menu, navigate to donate, and choose National Federation of the Blind.
Share this with all of your friends and family, because all of our small
change leads to making a big difference. Thank you for your support!



Department of Justice Section 508 Report:

Last month, the US Department of Justice released a report regarding the
accessibility of Federal Electronic and Information Technology. The report
showed that one in ten public-facing websites at major federal departments
and agencies are inaccessible. It also showed that approximately 60 percent
of internal websites at major federal departments and agencies are
inaccessible. Senator Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), the Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Aging, expressed disappointment in the data by declaring “the
federal government has a lot more work to do to make technology
accessibility … a priority and fulfill our promise to Americans with
disabilities.”



Medicaid Eligibility Verification:

The federal government is giving states up to one year to determine whether
their residents are still eligible to receive Medicaid. Over the course of
the next twelve months, the states are required to verify the personal
information of all Medicaid recipients. This includes contact information,
income, and household size. If you are receiving Medicaid, we strongly
advise you to contact your state’s Medicaid office to verify your address
so that you will be able to receive updates from them. Additionally, please
make sure that you pay attention to any correspondence you receive from
your state’s Medicaid office and answer it if necessary.



New Apparel in the Independence Market:

The Independence Market has brand-new NFB apparel! We have cotton polos in
black, red, and blue that come in a wide variety of sizes for just $24. We
also have windbreaker jackets in black, red, and green for just $30.
Lastly, black skull caps are available for $20. Call the Independence
Market today to get yours!





Dates to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)


   - March 23: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
   - May 10: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
   - JEngagement and National Convention)
   - 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.
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