[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 04/15/2025

Wed Apr 16 12:00:00 UTC 2025

President’s Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org410-659-9314

Dear Federation Family,

Yesterday was Tax Day, which is an important day for a nonprofit
organization like ours. In case you're saying, "but we don't pay taxes,"
stay with me. American tax code allows us to operate in an environment
where we are not subject to taxes. Like any system, this has both
advantages and disadvantages. The money we raise can be used for our
charitable purpose as long as we stay within that purpose. This is a
commitment we make to the government and, more importantly, to our donors.
This is the same benefit that allows us to receive financial contributions
that our donors can use to reduce their tax burden with the government.
This benefits us in many ways. So, if you were dreading Tax Day, instead
use the day to honor our donors and the difference they empower us to make
through our meaningful mission. Take the opportunity today to thank our
donors. I take this opportunity to thank you as one of our contributors and
extend my deep appreciation to our affiliates for the impact that the
dollars sent to the national organization have on the lives of blind people
across the nation, including my own family.

Furthermore, when we advise affiliate leaders about documents that need to
be filed and procedures that should be used around fundraising, it is to
preserve the benefits noted above. We are able to operate as a nonprofit
organization and get the benefits of that because we follow rules
prescribed for 501(c)(3) organizations. If we fail to adhere to those
rules, we can put the nonprofit status of our organization in jeopardy. If
one of our affiliates makes a significant mistake, it has the potential to
harm the status of other affiliates. Although our affiliates are
independent organizations, we have agreed to coordinate and work together
in a nationwide movement. Thus, we all have a shared responsibility to our
donor base.

Finally, many Americans will be getting refunds from the IRS. Those dollars
make a difference in local communities. Those dollars can also make a
difference in the mission of the National Federation of the Blind. Our Give
$25 Campaign is coming up and it will be critical that you ask people you
know to consider giving some of their dollars—say twenty-five of them—to
our mission so that we can continue our record of accomplishment for blind
people. Now is the time to plan for who you are going to ask to support the
Federation so that we can come into the National Convention with a strong
wave of public support.

Thank you and happy Tax Day!

Critical Actions:*Mark Your Calendar: Presidential Release Live on May 15:*

The next Presidential Release Live will be Thursday, May 15, at 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern, in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Zoom details are
below. Attend to get the latest updates on the movement, ask questions, and
hear important perspectives on the organized blind movement. Submit
questions or suggestions to communications at nfb.org.

Presidential Release Live Zoom: https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96380567586

One Tap Mobile: +13017158592,,96380567586# US

Zoom ID: 96380567586

Note: The Presidential Release chapter recordings
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> are
available by the first Friday of each month. Please share the chapter
recording as part of your chapter meeting agenda and discuss among members.

 National Convention:*Reminder: Register and Book Hotel for National
Convention:*

Promote registration for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind National
Convention <https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention>, July 8-13,
in New Orleans. Let members know to register early because prices go up if
you register on site in New Orleans. Registration includes the biggest
event of the year, access to the event app, and communications on the
latest news and events. Reserve your room by calling 888-236-2427 for the
Marriott or 855-516-1090 for the Sheraton New Orleans. Ask for the
“National Federation of the Blind 2025 Convention” block.

News:*Letter to the Social Security Administration:*

On March 26 we sent a letter to the Acting Commissioner of the Social
Security Administration
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-social-security-administration-regarding-recent>
(SSA),
Leland Dudek, in response to several proposed policy changes that had
recently been announced by the SSA. Most notably, this letter was in
response to announced planned reductions in the number of employees who
work for SSA, and the closing of dozens of Social Security field offices
across the country. This letter can be read in full on the Policy
Statements page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> of our
website. After we sent our letter, there were further developments to this
situation. See the next item for details.

*Legal News: Disability Advocates Sue to Stop Unlawful Cuts to Social
Security Services:*

We filed a federal lawsuit on April 2, 2025, with several disability
advocacy organizations and individual plaintiffs. As shared in the press
release, “Many blind Americans rely on Social Security benefits for their
survival and for the support of their families...In the most severe cases,
these cuts could endanger people’s very lives. The National Federation of
the Blind supports greater government efficiency and recognizes that much
can be done to improve the SSA, but careful planning and collaboration with
blind Americans and other disability advocates are the right ways to handle
reform.” Read and share the full press release
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/disability-advocates-sue-social-security-administration-and-doge-stop-unlawful?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqpNdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHosh9nhSbHJoKZv9v45x_e8tapICdaQ5cZy3IWHIN1ALUFxQGrLF0guWKQF1_aem_VaqOVDHjJN8BrkC0nndy2Q>
.

*Federal Workers Impacted by Recent Layoffs:*

We know that federal employees with disabilities have been
disproportionally affected by recent reductions in the federal employment
workforce, and we are doing all we can to help our blind colleagues. If you
are a federal worker impacted by the government layoffs and are interested
in information on career opportunities through the National Federation of
the Blind Employment Initiatives, please submit the Employment Interest Form
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/general-interest-form> to
receive announcements about career opportunities and to receive notices
about potential financial support to attend the NFB National Convention to
explore additional employment opportunities.

*Chapter Presidents Listserv Clean Up:*

Affiliate presidents have recently been asked to confirm/update chapter
presidents and their email addresses so we can clean up the chapter
president listserv distribution. Current chapter presidents who are not yet
subscribed will be added in the near future, and those who are not chapter
presidents any longer will be removed. If you have not yet sent your
affiliate's list of current chapter presidents and their email addresses,
the deadline is April 18. Going forward, when a new chapter president is
elected (or otherwise put into that position), please send an email to Beth
Braun <bbraun at nfb.org> so that modifications can be made to the listserv,
the database, and access to the NFB Portal and the Membership Management
module.

*Jesse Shirek Testimony to the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee
on the Legislative Branch:*

On April 9, Jesse Shirek, one of our government affairs specialists,
testified in front of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch regarding
the importance of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print
Disabled (NLS). Jesse emphasized how critical it was that the subcommittee
maintain at least the current level of funding for the NLS. The testimony
can be found in full, beginning at 14:10, on the House Appropriations
Committee YouTube channel <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxf9vGtDAOU>.
You can also read and share the full written and verbal testimony from the
hearing
<https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/legislative-branch-public-witness-day?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqpgdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHh8n73G_ZktPBfzHdkkcx94R6LDzkeZWdJAqDHD8BJlmVCLshrgOw9pjN5Yp_aem_-j4eXu3V6b0EZtwRSqXbMA>
.

*Letter to the Secretary of Education Regarding the Executive Order to
Close the Department of Education:*

On March 20, 2025, the White House issued an executive order to close the
United States Department of Education. Just a few days later, on March 25,
we sent a letter to the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-secretary-education-regarding-executive-order>,
reminding her of the importance of many programs for blind and disabled
Americans that are currently administered by the Department of Education,
and urging her to maintain those programs. Our letter can be read in full
on the Policy Statements page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> of our
website. On April 11, we received a response from Diana Diaz, the Acting
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
which states in part, “No employees in the Office of Special Education
Programs or the Rehabilitation Services Administration were part of the
reduction in force. The Department is committed to ensuring uninterrupted
services to meet the needs and develop the potential of children and youth
with disabilities, while also supporting states and other agencies in
providing vocational rehabilitation and other services.”

*Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1529):*

Last week, the United States House of Representatives passed the FY25
Concurrent Budget Resolution. Now that both chambers of Congress have
passed this resolution, the work begins on the comprehensive tax bill, part
of the reconciliation process that is frequently mentioned in the news.
This is the ideal opportunity that members of the National Federation of
the Blind have been waiting for to get the Access Technology Affordability
Act included as part of the larger tax legislation. A legislative alert was
sent out by Jesse Shirekon Monday, April 14, on this very topic, so please
check your inboxes and review it carefully to understand the next steps
that we need to take in order to get the Access Technology Affordability
Act passed into law!

*New State Legislation Harmful to Blind Merchants:*

The respective state legislatures in North Dakota and Tennessee are
considering statutory changes that would dramatically restrict or eliminate
opportunities for blind merchants to continue to operate vending facilities
in these states. We are coordinating with affiliates and the National
Association of Blind Merchants to defeat this harmful legislation. If you
learn of similar legislation in your state, please reach out immediately to
Jesse Shirek, government affairs specialist, by emailing jshirek at nfb.org or
calling 410-659-9314, extension 2348.

*A Breakfast Response to Low Expectations:*

Every day, the National Federation of the Blind raises the expectations of
blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind
people and our dreams. An example of low expectations was displayed in a
segment of *The Breakfast Club* radio show regarding a news story of a
blind man named Terry Sutherland, from Indiana, who acquired a gun license
but felt that he shouldn’t have been because he is blind. *The Breakfast
Club* agreed with him and began to perpetuate misconceptions about blind
people. We address those misconceptions in a video featuring national board
members, Jim Marks and Shawn Callaway, and Federationists, Danielle McCann
and Anil Lewis. Watch and share the video, “Serving Up the Truth: A
Breakfast Response on What It Really Means to Be Blind
<https://youtu.be/V8HwahweBJI?si=FFWzzB_oBtomMNqZ>.”

 Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

   - May 1: Deadline for applications for the Blind Educator of the Year
   Award
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/blind-educator-year-award>
   .
   - May 1: Deadline for applications for the Distinguished Educator of
   Blind Students Award
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>
   .
   - May 16-17: Diabetes Action Network; Baltimore, Maryland; registration
   coming soon.
   - July 8-13: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

   - Wednesday, May 7
   - Wednesday, August 6
   - Wednesday, November 5
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