[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 01/26/2025

Wed May 28 11:11:39 UTC 2025

*President’s Notebook*

*National Federation of the Blind*

*Mark A. Riccobono*

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

*410-659-9314*

Dear Federation Family,

Let me begin by sharing my appreciation for those who have lost their lives
in service of our nation, and my thoughts are with those of you who have
lost loved ones. I hope that each of you found an opportunity to remember
those heroic individuals yesterday. I am remembering my father this week,
who, as a result of his service in the US Navy, was exposed to harmful
chemicals, which led to his passing.

As we come to the close of May, the excitement about our national
convention grows. While we still have a lot of work to do, the Louisiana
affiliate, our staff, and I are looking forward to the opportunity to be
back in person with you all. Please be sure to encourage members to submit
their registrations this week before online registration closes. There are
plenty of rooms left at our overflow hotel, which also will house our
exhibit hall, so do not hesitate to encourage members to reserve rooms at
the Sheraton.

Finally, a heads up that we will have a Presidential Release recording for
chapter meetings in June but then will not have one in July. There
continues to be some confusion about the live Presidential Release events
and the chapter recordings. Per the request of many of you, we have kept
the recorded version short and specific to chapters so that it gets played.
Apparently, some of your chapters are still playing the live version or
choosing not to play it because the live version is too long or there was
no live release in that month. Please help chapters understand the value of
the recorded release, how to get it, and how to build it into meetings.

*Convention:*

*Volunteers Needed:*

New Orleans is the place, and the Independence Market is the space! We are
looking for folks who are interested in helping to make the 2025 NFB
National Convention a huge success. You can help by volunteering in the
Independence Market at the national convention! We are currently looking
for volunteers to serve as demonstrators*, *storekeepers, and line marshals
during all four days the Independence Market is open. The dates and times
are as follows:

   - Tuesday, July 8: 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. or 12:45 to 5:00 p.m.
   - Wednesday, July 9: 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. or 12:45 to 5:00 p.m.
   - Thursday, July 10: 12:00 to 1:45 p.m.

   - Friday, July 11: 12:00 to 1:45 p.m

The Independence Market at the national convention would not be possible
without the support, dedication, and hard work of our numerous volunteers.
For more information or to volunteer, please complete our new market
volunteer form
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/market-volunteer> or
contact Jen White at 410-659-9314, extension 2236, or email her at
jwhite at nfb.org today.

*Independence Market Convention Schedule:*

Independence Market telephone orders will close on Monday, June 30, at 5:00
p.m., Eastern, and reopen on Thursday, July 17, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern. This
is to ensure that orders can be processed and shipped before our market
employees travel to New Orleans for this year’s national convention.
However, the ecommerce system will remain open and continue to accept and
process your orders during those days.

*Congratulations to the 2025 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/celebrating-outstanding-blind-students>

*National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career Fair:*

Join us for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career
Fair on July 9, 1:00–4:00 p.m., Central. Hosted by the National Employment
Committee, this event is an opportunity for blind and low-vision people
seeking jobs to connect with employers and is an opportunity for employers
to seek more talent for their teams.

National Convention Jobseeker Registration
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-fair-jobseeker-registration>

National Convention Employer Registration
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&action=preview&id=621>

To prepare job seekers and employers, the Employment Committee will be
hosting “Getting Career-Fair Ready: For Jobseekers and Employers,” virtual
seminars designed to provide strategies for creating the most positive
experience while attending the fair. Individuals will automatically be
registered for these events once they have registered for the career fair.
For more information on the career fair or virtual seminars, please contact
Charles Bennett, jobseeker liaison, at cbennett at cocenter.org*, or *Kris
Colcock, employer liaison, at Kris at colcok.com.

*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. The hotel blocks are filling up—there is now
limited space at the Marriott. Reserve your room at the Sheraton New
Orleans by calling 855-516-1090. Ask for the “National Federation of the
Blind 2025 Convention” block. Registration will be closing on May 31.
Attendees can still register on site at an increased cost. Promote
registration now!

*Critical:*

*Independence Market Now Available for Online Orders:*

As announced during the May Presidential Release Live, the Independence
Market is now online, making it easier than ever to find and order reliable
blindness-related tools and resources you need. Shop online now at
catalog.nfb.org.

*News:*

*Presidential Release Chapter Recording June 1:*

The June Presidential Release chapter recording
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> will
be available by June 1. Please share the chapter recording as part of your
chapter meeting agenda and discuss among members. There will not be a
Presidential Release Live in June or July. Tune into the Presidential
Report during the NFB National Convention on July 11, during the morning
session.

*New Partnership Announced: Innosearch AI:*

As announced in the May Presidential Release Live
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>,
the National Federation of the Blind is proud to announce a formal
partnership with Innosearch AI, an innovative AI-powered accessibility and
shopping platform. Read the press release
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/innosearch-ai-and-national-federation-blind-announce-strategic-partnership>
and
access the membership benefits in your member profile
<https://nfb.org/member_profile/login>.

*Legislative News: The Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act:*

The National Federation of the Blind applauds the introduction of the
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, H.R. 3417, into the
House of Representatives by Representative Pete Sessions (Texas) and lead
cosponsor Representative Steny Hoyer (Maryland). This legislation seeks to
eliminate persistent digital accessibility barriers faced by blind and
disabled Americans. Read the full joint press release
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/disability-advocates-commend-introduction-websites-and-software-applications>.

*Two Recent Legislation Introductions:*

The month of May has been great for our legislative advocacy. In the last
two weeks, we have gotten two of our legislative priorities reintroduced in
the 119th Congress. On May 14, Representative Pete Sessions (TX-17)
sponsored our Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the
House. He was joined by Representative Steny Hoyer (MD-05) as the lead
cosponsor. And on May 22, Senator John Boozman (AR) reintroduced our Access
Technology Affordability Act in the Senate with Senator Ben Ray Lujan (NM)
as the lead cosponsor. We want to ensure the Congress knows how important
both of these bills are to the blind of America, so please call or email
your members in the House and Senate today and urge them to cosponsor!

*Dates to Keep in Mind: *(all times eastern)

   - July 8-13: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana
   - June 8, 2025: Deadline to submit resolutions <resolutions at nfb.org> for
   the 2025 National Convention.
   - January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

   - 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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