[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 02/11/2025

Wed Feb 12 13:27:23 UTC 2025

National Federation of the Blind President's NotebookMark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org410-659-9314

Dear Federation Family,

Thank you for an outstanding 2025 Washington Seminar. The Federation was at
its best, and we laid some truly critical groundwork for the 119th Congress.
I also appreciate those of you who were able to participate in our annual
Presidents Retreat. You provided valuable feedback, and I appreciated the
questions you all submitted in advance.

Some of the items you requested are represented in items presented in this
week’s notebook.

Critical Actions:

*Presidential Release:*

The February Presidential Release chapter recording is available. Please
remind chapter presidents to use this recording as program material for
chapter meetings to engage and discuss with the members. The next
Presidential Release Live will be announced as soon as the date is set.

News: *NFBRN Always on Audio:*

As announced at the Great Gathering-In, we have officially launched NFBRN,
the National Federation of the Blind Radio Network, an all-new, always-on
audio experience designed to transform, motivate, and invite you to raise
expectations of blind people. Broadcasting 24/7, this dynamic station
brings together a diverse mix of content from the organized blind movement,
including legendary speeches, *Braille Monitor* articles, recent podcasts,
convention highlights, uplifting stories, and live events. And there is
more to come. Access NFBRN on your Amazon devices by opening “Nation’s
Blind” or on NFB-NEWSLINE® under the National Channel, or on your Victor
Reader Stream under “Internet Radio.” It will be available on more radio
platforms soon. Send your feedback and suggestions for NFBRN to
communications at nfb.org.

*Washington Seminar and Protecting Laws and Programs Specific to the Blind:*

Last week we conducted our annual Washington Seminar, where more than four
hundred blind Americans from all across the country traveled to Washington,
DC, to advocate for the laws that will improve the lives of the blind. Just
before the start of the Washington Seminar, the new administration in
Washington announced some distressing possible changes to federal laws and
programs that affect the blind. Naturally, we could not let this happen, so
we made some last-minute adjustments in our messaging to ensure that we do
not give up any of the legal ground that we have earned through more than
eighty years of hard-fought advocacy. This involved the creation of an
entirely new fact sheet that details specific laws and funding that the
blind depend on
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-priorities/laws-and-funding-fact-sheet>.
We encourage you to read this fact sheet and learn more about these laws
and programs so that you will always be an effective defender of our rights.

*Great Gathering-In Recording:*

The recording of the National Federation of the Blind Great Gathering-In is
now available on the Nation’s Blind YouTube channel. Watch and share the 2025
Great Gathering-In <https://youtu.be/wDUkAoyejtc?si=aAyFzkzPPrd4Qbez>.

*Jacobus tenBroek Disability Rights Law Symposium:*

The Jacobus tenBroek Disability Rights Law Symposium is the largest
disability rights law symposium in the world and will be held from
Thursday, March 20, through Friday, March 21, right here in our building.
Registration is currently open through March 7. Fees are $200 for in-person
attendance, $150 for virtual attendance, and a discounted rate of $25 for
students.

In-person attendance: https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=616

Virtual attendance: https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=617

More information: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium | National
Federation of the Blind
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/jacobus-tenbroek-disability-law-symposium>

*Catch up on Content and Share on Social Media:*

Highlights, news, and stories are available in our most recent
publications. Access and share with Federationists on affiliate and
division social media to create discussions on various topics.

   - February *Braille Monitor*
   <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm25/bm2501/bm2501tc.htm>
   - *Access On* podcast
   <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/access-on-podcast>
episodes
   with transcripts available
   - *Nation’s Blind Podcast*
   <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
episodes
   with transcripts available

*New NFB-NEWSLINE® Voices:*

NFB-NEWSLINE® now has new voices for the Alexa skill! The popular, more
human-quality voices, Kate and Paul, have been restored to the skill along
with two new premium voices, Sophie and Mark. Subscribers can choose from
any one of the five voices to personalize their NFB-NEWSLINE listening
experience. Available voices include Kate, Paul, Sophie, Mark, and
Eloquence. While listening to an article, just say, "Alexa, ask National
Federation to change voice." Each time you use this command, the skill will
rotate to the next available voice, allowing you to sample each one. If you
need any assistance or have questions, please contact us at 866-504-7300 or
nfbnewsline at nfb.org.

*Comments to the Federal Trade Commission Regarding the accessiBe Consent
Order:*

On January 27, we sent our comments to the Federal Trade Commission
regarding the commission’s recent consent order to accessiBe
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/comments-federal-trade-commission-regarding-accessibe>.
We noted that the commission’s findings with regard to accessiBe’s
deceptive practices were similar to our own observations from resolution
2021-17. Our full comments can be read on the policy statements
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> page of our
website.

*Uber’s SelfID Feature:*

As a result of our advocacy, Uber is announcing a new, voluntary SelfID
feature for guide-dog users. Again, this is completely voluntary, but we
encourage our members with guide dogs to try this feature, which will
remind drivers that they must transport you if they try to cancel your ride
when they see your guide dog. If they still cancel, the feature will also
let you submit a complete denial complaint with the press of a button. We
think this will reduce denials and make it much easier to report them when
they happen.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

   - February 28: Deadline to register for IEP Advocacy Academy
   - March 20-21: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, registration
   deadline is March 7.
   - 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

The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.
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