[NFBNJ] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 04/10/2026

[NFB of NJ President]

*President’s NotebookNational Federation of the BlindMark A.
Riccobonoofficeofthepresident at nfb.org
<officeofthepresident at nfb.org>410-659-9314*

Newest Podcast Episodes:

Listen to “The Myth of the SuperBlind,” the newest episode of the *Nation’s
Blind Podcast*. In this episode, Melissa and Anil are joined by Denise
Avant. They address misconceptions about the NFB and emphasize the
importance of your voice within the organized blind movement. Download this
episode at https://buff.ly/kTuoYkn
<https://buff.ly/kTuoYkn?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVU12UWRhbHh6MHJtZkMySnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5tckjaDH74IBerUgf_IvjNLawaHFp2UUgrLQrOh96oS8z_73CLMDcwz5SFlQ_aem_EM6QjyhvcB3ot7V5DOyPzw>
.

Tune into episode 69 of *Access On*. This episode is our Apple
<https://www.facebook.com/apple?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZaKxwvQsnNAi8gjYji3oND1ZQj7XwaoDUb__0EASu7uv4FrLTj1bHS1iRtWWYCBC3J8_fCjHgN2h-GmXkUp_2IZtukHgaISFkouGDfRYmocRgg-ZjndhJ0dyETSpnxutN3FFQIAS7tdvusX-mD-ZFQVwnH2T4gKFsK8XYJEohLbJroH7U61z3TNJHGSpTG_OWg&__tn__=-%5dK-R>
fiftieth
birthday special. We tell the story of the first era of Apple
accessibility, which was entirely grassroots-driven, by speaking with some
of the people who lived it. We fire up a virtual Apple IIE, let you hear
some of the games people played, and what the speech sounded like in the
1980s. We also reflect on how the modern Apple accessibility era would not
have occurred without the tenacity and input of the organized blind
movement. Subscribe to *Access On* wherever you get podcasts or download
the audio for this week’s episode at https://buff.ly/fEkello.

Dr. Jernigan tells the story of how a blind person helped sighted people
evacuate an airplane after an accident. Tune into episode twenty-three of
our *Walking Alone and Marching Together* podcast entitled, "Episode 23:
Chapter 7 - Culmination, The Concluding Years of the Second Jernigan
Presidency, Part 2." Listen at https://buff.ly/Az9tOdu
<https://buff.ly/Az9tOdu?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVU12UWRhbHh6MHJtZkMySnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4tK2uzfweu9GsEUHm31HuTWJkZz7O4ERhfe4AMNchiJ09XGcZwWqgs39PMGQ_aem_GZiQasLw_POoERwJoy61WQ>
.


NFB Teachers of Tomorrow:

Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 NFB Teachers of Tomorrow
cohort. The deadline for applying is May 4. This immersive program connects
educators of blind and low-vision students with the lived experiences of
blind individuals, helping them to better support student success. Please
share with teachers in your affiliate and community. Learn more and apply
at https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow.


2026 NFB Youth Programs: NFB BELL Academy & NFB STEM2U:

The National Federation of the Blind is excited to offer two engaging youth
programs in 2026. NFB BELL® Academy builds Braille literacy, nonvisual
skills, and confidence through hands-on learning, while NFB STEM2U provides
accessible STEM experiences that spark curiosity and problem-solving
abilities. Please share with parents of blind children, students, and
teachers in your affiliate and community. Programs will be available in
multiple locations. Learn more and register at nfb.org/bell
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy> and nfb.org/stem2u
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/nfb-stem2u>.


2026 National Convention Career Quest:

The Career Quest is a weeklong program that offers blind students an
opportunity to participate in an array of employment exploration
opportunities, work with blind mentors and leaders, and learn self-advocacy
skills. Register for the National Convention Career Quest by May 1.
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-quest> Please direct
all questions to employment at nfb.org.


Legislative Alerts:

Early next week, our government affairs group will send out a legislative
alert on the Access Technology Affordability Act. The goal is to try to get
the bill into one of the upcoming larger legislative vehicles that Congress
will need to pass in the near future. Please be sure to check your inboxes
for the alert. The government affairs group will also be sending out a
second legislative alert the following week regarding the Blind Americans
Return to Work Act.


Introducing the Cobolt Talking Double Air Fryer:

The fryer is ready to use straight out of the box, with instructions in
Braille and featuring built-in voice guidance with no Wi-Fi required. It
offers smart cooking categories with eight automatic functions for
potatoes, poultry, meat, fish, vegetables, pizza, fruit, and cake, and
provides a mid-cycle prompt to rearrange food for optimal cooking results.
To purchase, please contact Independence Market by phone, with online
ordering coming soon via our e-commerce website. The air fryer is priced at
$289.00.


Oregon State University Settlement:

Oregon State University (OSU) will pay $475,000 to resolve claims brought
by the nationwide membership and advocacy organization and by one of its
members, who is a blind student at the university, involving concerns about
the speed and accuracy with which course materials—particularly those
needed for STEM courses—were made accessible by the university’s disability
access services office in partnership with academic units. The National
Federation of the Blind made recommendations for additional staff positions
to support accessibility work and OSU proactively established these
positions. Additionally, in consultation with the NFB, OSU leaders have
begun implementing changes including procuring tools to support the
creation of accessible materials, expanding assistive technology and
services that provide access to blind people, rewriting policies, and
developing new procedures to ensure that accessibility will be better
addressed in the future. Read the full press release at
https://nfb.org/index.php/about-us/press-room/oregon-state-university-commits-accessibility-improvements-blind-and-low-vision
.


Dates to Keep in Mind:

   - July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas
   - July 2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas
   - July 3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois
   - July 2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois



Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls

   - Wednesday, May 6
   - Wednesday, August 5
   - Wednesday, November 4



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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