[NFBNJ] NFB Presidents Notebook - Week of 05/20/2024

Mon May 20 23:47:29 UTC 2024

President’s NotebookNational Federation of the BlindMark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org410-659-9314

Dear Federation Family,

This weekend we hosted Federationists from the District of Columbia and
Virginia for two different program offerings here at our national center.
It is incredible to think about how effective our staff is in being able to
maximize our Federation offerings to our members.

One of the Virginia students asked me about those who have been my mentors
during my journey. Being that we are coming on the completion of
twenty-eight years, that is a long list—it continues to grow even today.
However, it got me thinking about this week twenty-five years ago when I
arrived in Denver and was welcomed by the Colorado Center for the Blind as
a student. I did not know what I did not know, and I had no idea how deeply
important the intense focus on our philosophy would benefit me through a
lifetime. I expand on that learning every day as I continue to try to keep
the core of my training fresh in my life and in the lives of others around
me. I arrived in Colorado during the first few months of Julie Deden’s time
there as executive director of the CCB. I understand the board at the CCB
met this past weekend and honored Julie’s quarter of a century of
leadership. Let me add my own public congratulations for the huge
difference Julie Deden has made in my life and in the lives of countless
others who are now giving back the world over.

Critical Actions:*June Presidential Release is May 30:*

The June Presidential Release LIVE
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is
scheduled for Thursday, May 30, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Each Presidential
Release Live includes a question-and-answer session. These questions can be
about recent activities or common questions members have about being in the
organized blind movement. Please submit questions early to
cdanielsen at nfb.org. <cdanielsen at nfb.org--questions> Zoom ID: 952 9095 1843

Convention:*Deadline Approaching for National Convention Registration:*

Get access to the latest information as it is made available and more for
the 2024 National Convention. Online registration ($25) closes May 31.
Onsite registration ($30) will be available in Orlando. Plan to register
early to avoid the increased registration fees. Register for the 2024
National Convention now!
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=592>

Reminder: Promote the convention using the hashtag #NFB24 on affiliate and
division social media accounts.

*Convention Resolutions:*

The national convention is just six short weeks away! Our Resolutions
Committee, chaired by Donald Porterfield, is currently accepting proposed
resolutions for the convention to consider. Proposed resolutions should be
emailed to the committee at resolutions at nfb.org. Don’t forget, the deadline
to submit a resolution is Tuesday, June 4, at midnight, eastern.

This year’s exhibit hall will take place on July 4 and 5, from 9:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m., and on July 6 from noon to 1:45 p.m. and 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. If
you know any vendors or service providers who might be interested in
sponsoring or exhibiting at the national convention, please share the
convention information with them. The deadline to apply is May 31. Thank
you for all of your work—we're looking forward to another great convention.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Held at rheld at nfb.org or
410-659-9314, extension 2423.

*National Convention Career Fair:*Be sure to register for the in-person
career fair at the National Convention, our largest gathering of blind
people in America. We expect employers from a variety of industries from
around the country to attend. Jobseekers, find that dream job. Employers,
add notable talent to your team. Wednesday, July 3, 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00
p.m., eastern. Registration ends May 31.

National Convention Job-Seeker Registration
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33724&qid=9768544>

National Convention Employer Registration
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=597>

Please direct all questions to Lia Stone, employer liaison, at
evangeliastone at gmail.com or Jennifer Wenzel, jobseeker liaison, at
jenwen319 at gmail.com.

*DeafBlind Division Needs SSP Volunteers:*

The DeafBlind Division is seeking volunteers to assist deafblind members as
SSPs. There is a sign-up form on the convention website
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/support-service-provider-volunte>.
Anyone that needs more information should reach out to Maurice Mines at
nfbdbpresident at mmines.org.

News:*Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act Update:*

Congratulations to all on our hard work regarding the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act! Because of our tremendous work
over the past few weeks, both the Senate and House of Representatives
passed H.R. 3935 with overwhelming bipartisan support keeping all of the
accessibility provisions intact. On May 16, 2024, President Biden signed
H.R. 3935 into law, beginning the implementation process of these vital
accessibility provisions for blind air travelers.

*Legislative Action:*

Heading into the national convention is a great time to boost the support
for our issues. Currently, our Websites and Software Applications
Accessibility Act (H.R. 5813/S. 2984) has thirty-three cosponsors in the
House and five cosponsors in the Senate. Our Medical Device Nonvisual
Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328/S. 3621) has eighty-four cosponsors in the
House and one in the Senate. Finally, our Access Technology Affordability
Act (H.R. 3702/S. 1467) has eighty-eight cosponsors in the House and
eighteen in the Senate. We would love to see these numbers increase by the
time of the convention, so please call and email your members in the House
and Senate and urge them to cosponsor our legislation.

*Dream Big! Give $25 Drive Toolkit:*

Our Give $25 Drive launched on May 16 with a couple of new twists.
Contributors can win a Monarch tactile display or a trip to the 2025
National Convention. Supporters can also give their chances to win in honor
of someone else, which gives the honoree more chances to win. Our
affiliates can magnify messaging about the drive by liking and sharing
posts, but affiliates can also post directly on the affiliate social media
channels. To make that easier, a toolkit is attached to this email. Please
help this to be our biggest drive ever and post to as many of our NFB
affiliate channels as possible. You can also visit https://nfb.org/give25 to
see our Dream Big! Give $25 Drive landing page and
https://nfb.org/give25donate to see our contribution form.
 *Congratulations to our 2024 Scholarship Finalists:*

The National Federation of the Blind announced the finalists for its annual
scholarship program, which provides financial assistance and connects
students with blind mentors and other resources. Congratulations to the
thirty outstanding finalists.
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/2024-nfb-scholarship-announcement>

*Urging Sonos to Restore Accessibility:*

The National Federation of the Blind shared deep disappointment concerning
a recent redesign of the Sonos smartphone apps that has significantly
degraded their accessibility to blind users. Read the press release
regarding Sonos.
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-urges-sonos-restore-accessibility>

*U.S. Department of Health and Human Services New Accessibility Rule*

The National Federation of the Blind applauds the United States Department
of Health and Human Services for finalizing its accessibility rule for
programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance under Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Read the press release about the new
HHS rule.
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-us-department-health-and-human-services-new>

*MinuteClinic to Implement Accessible Self-Check-In Process:*

Julie Dalton, a blind individual residing in Minnesota; the National
Federation of the Blind; and MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic inside
CVS Pharmacy, have worked together to successfully resolve litigation filed
against CVS Pharmacy, Inc. over the accessibility of self-check-in kiosks
at MinuteClinic. Read the announcement regarding MinuteClinic.
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-patient-national-federation-blind-and-minuteclinic-resolve-litigation>

Reminders:*May Boutique—Document Creation:*

There are different options for accessible word processors. Join our
document-creation-software boutique on May 28 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. to learn
about the features and accessibility of some popular options. Register
today. <https://nfb.org/form/accessibility-boutique-reg>

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

   - May 31: Deadline to register online
   <https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=592> for the national
   convention
   - May 31: Deadline to secure a table in the exhibit hall
   - May 31: Deadline register for the career fair
   - June 4: Deadline to submit proposed resolutions
   - July 3-8: National Convention; Orlando, Florida
   - Monday, February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In
   - February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar
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