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<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Last year, I sent via email, monthly notes from me, Joe Ruffalo as
your</DIV>
<DIV>president. I hope it was somewhat helpful as I am providing the
second year</DIV>
<DIV>information titled, "Notes From Joe Ruffalo NFBNJ President April
2018"</DIV>
<DIV>Each month, hopefully the notes will be forwarded by mid month.</DIV>
<DIV>Please read and share the information with others.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Joe Ruffalo, President </DIV>
<DIV>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey </DIV>
<DIV>973 743 0075</DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:Nfbnj1@verizon.net">Nfbnj1@verizon.net</A>
<mailto:Nfbnj1@verizon.net> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A> <<A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">http://www.nfbnj.org</A>> </DIV>
<DIV>Raising Expectations To Live The Life You Want </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Items of Interest</DIV>
<DIV>1. Successful Leadership/Membership Building </DIV>
<DIV>2. Application Deadline Is Approaching, EQ Summer
Program
</DIV>
<DIV>3. National Convention, Orlando July 3 to July 8
</DIV>
<DIV>4. Ken Lawrence, Update On His Radio Show </DIV>
<DIV>5. Uber And Lyft Service Animal Survey Please
Consider
</DIV>
<DIV>6. EZ Ryde Transportation Information </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1. On March 24, 39 members of the state affiliate
representing the</DIV>
<DIV>state board, chapters, divisions and guests attended an all day</DIV>
<DIV>meeting/workshop at the JKTC in New Brunswick. We are planning an
article</DIV>
<DIV>for the spring issue of the Sounding Board that will highlight the
days</DIV>
<DIV>activities.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**** </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2. Blind and low-vision high school teens who are ready to learn new
things,</DIV>
<DIV>meet new people, and have an adventure this summer are encouraged to
apply</DIV>
<DIV>to attend the NFB EQ program. To learn more visit:</DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq">http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq</A>.
The deadline to apply is May 1.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**** </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>3. The 2018 convention of the National
Federation
of the Blind will take</DIV>
<DIV>place in Orlando, Florida, July 3 to July 8, at the Rosen Shingle
Creek</DIV>
<DIV>Resort, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. Make
your</DIV>
<DIV>room reservation as soon as possible with the Shingle Creek staff only.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Call (866) 996-6338.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Additional information can be located in the monthly Braille Monitor
and/or</DIV>
<DIV>by visiting the National Federation of the Blind website at
www.nfb.org</DIV>
<DIV><<A href="http://www.nfb.org">http://www.nfb.org</A>> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**** </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4. Hi Joe please post this to the NFBNJ mailing list. Hi NFB
friends
here</DIV>
<DIV>is exciting news concerning my radio show. Our station is now joining
the</DIV>
<DIV>accessible friends network's station. Many of our out of sight shows
are
now</DIV>
<DIV>being simulcast on TAFN radio while they are simulcasting some of
their</DIV>
<DIV>shows on our station. This just launched on Monday, march 26th after
several</DIV>
<DIV>weeks testing and making sure all our members can run on two stations
at</DIV>
<DIV>once. Right now I have only one simulcast each week but I may
offer
to do</DIV>
<DIV>shows on TAFN only. So now my show is still heard on Monday,
Wednesday,</DIV>
<DIV>Thursday, and Friday at 9:00 A.M. and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. but
now</DIV>
<DIV>the Sunday shows will be a simulcast. Tune to
www.out-of-sight.net/radio</DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="http://www.out-of-sight.net/radio">http://www.out-of-sight.net/radio</A>>
and for the Sunday shows you can also</DIV>
<DIV>tune to www.tafn.org.uk <<A
href="http://www.tafn.org.uk">http://www.tafn.org.uk</A>> . Hope you will
also make</DIV>
<DIV>requests on Radio@out-of-sight.net
<mailto:Radio@out-of-sight.net> .
If you</DIV>
<DIV>have an alexa speaker, just tell alexa to play out of sight net
radio.</DIV>
<DIV>Thanks, and happy listening.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>**** </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>5. Please consider using the following social media messaging this
month
to</DIV>
<DIV>reach potential testers via Twitter, Facebook, and your
affiliate's</DIV>
<DIV>listserv.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>An Uber or Lyft denial is no April Fool's joke. If you're denied</DIV>
<DIV>transportation because of your service animal, let the NFB know: </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="https://nfb.org/rideshare-test">https://nfb.org/rideshare-test</A>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* Spring into action today!
Ride
Uber or Lyft with your service</DIV>
<DIV>animal and then fill out our survey: <A
href="https://nfb.org/rideshare-test">https://nfb.org/rideshare-test</A>.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* If you use Uber or Lyft
with a
service animal, tell us about your</DIV>
<DIV>experience: <A
href="https://nfb.org/rideshare-test">https://nfb.org/rideshare-test</A>
.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you, again, for your help with the NFB's rideshare testing
program.</DIV>
<DIV>Please note that we've posted at <A
href="https://nfb.org/rideshare">https://nfb.org/rideshare</A> tips on how
to</DIV>
<DIV>reduce ambiguity when interacting with a Lyft or Uber driver or</DIV>
<DIV>investigator. We want to prevent drivers saying that they didn't know
your</DIV>
<DIV>animal was a service animal. The tips are as follows:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 1. Help the driver know it is not a pet. Tell your driver,
via
text,</DIV>
<DIV>phone call, or in person, that you are traveling with your service
animal.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 2. Tell Uber or Lyft that your driver knew it was a
service
animal. When</DIV>
<DIV>you complain, let them know that you told the driver about your
service</DIV>
<DIV>animal. If the incident was witnessed by another person, tell the
rideshare</DIV>
<DIV>company, and if possible provide contact information for the
witness.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 3. Report non-service denial discrimination. If you
experience
forms of</DIV>
<DIV>discrimination related to your service animal other than being denied
a</DIV>
<DIV>ride, please report these to Uber or Lyft and to NFB or our legal
team.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Valerie Yingling</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Legal Program Coordinator</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>(410) 659-9314, extension 2440 | vyingling@nfb.org</DIV>
<DIV><mailto:vyingling@nfb.org%3cmailto:vyingling@nfb.org></DIV>
<DIV><mailto:vyingling@nfb.org></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>*** </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 6. Ryde4Life - On Demand Transportation</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For Adults 100+ Years and Younger</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ryde4Life EZ Ride offers on demand transportation for adults 18 years
or</DIV>
<DIV>older in partnership with transportation network companies like Lyft
and</DIV>
<DIV>Uber.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>What Makes It Different?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. No smartphone required - use any cell phone</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. No advanced reservations - rides are arranged on demand.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Offer you the best pricing available</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. We monitor your ride and assist if needed.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Register:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Fill out application online at Ryde4Life.org</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>or</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Speak to a live person from your area Call: (866) 208-1307, Option
4</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>or</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Print and mail application to:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>EZ Ride</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>144 Park Place East</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Request a Ride:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. To request a ride call free (866) 208-1307, Option 4</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Rides are available:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Monday through Friday from 8am - 8pm & Saturday from 8am -
5pm</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Cost:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Non-refundable membership fee: $15 per year</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Ride fee: based on Lyft or Uber rates.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Administrative fee: $1 per ride</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Discounts Subject to availability of funds, the following discounts
are</DIV>
<DIV>available to riders with Pharmaceutical Assistance for Aged and
Disabled</DIV>
<DIV>(PAAD) cards, based on availability of funds:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Reduction of $1/ride</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>. Waiver of the $1/ride administrative fee</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>For details about the PAAD Card, call NJDHS at 1-800-792-9745 or
visit</DIV>
<DIV>www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/paaddetail.html</DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/paaddetail.html">http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/paaddetail.html</A>>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>EZ Ride is a non-profit public-private partnership that strives to
improve</DIV>
<DIV>the quality of life for people in New Jersey by providing
transportation</DIV>
<DIV>services for commuters, older adults, and people with reduced mobility.
In</DIV>
<DIV>addition to our Ryde4Life Program we manage the state's largest carpool
and</DIV>
<DIV>vanpool program and operate shuttle services for businesses,
municipalities</DIV>
<DIV>and universities. We provide more than 650,000 shuttle rides a year in
the</DIV>
<DIV>state's most densely populated counties. The Community
Transportation</DIV>
<DIV>Association of America recognized EZ Ride as the Urban Community</DIV>
<DIV>Transportation System of the Year in 2013 for excellence in serving
the</DIV>
<DIV>community. To learn more about what we can do for you or your
community,</DIV>
<DIV>visit www.ezride.org <<A
href="http://www.ezride.org">http://www.ezride.org</A>> .</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>-- </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Robin Paoletti</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Outreach Coordinator</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> EZ Ride</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> 144 Park Place East</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Tel : (201) 939-4242 ext.1*26*</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Fax : (201) 939-2630</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> rpaoletti@ezride.org <mailto:rpaoletti@ezride.org>
<kskora@ezride.org</DIV>
<DIV><mailto:kskora@ezride.org> ></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> www.ezride.org <<A
href="http://www.ezride.org">http://www.ezride.org</A>> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference</DIV>
<DIV>Joe Ruffalo, President </DIV>
<DIV>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey </DIV>
<DIV>973 743 0075</DIV>
<DIV>nfbnj1@verizon.net <mailto:nfbnj1@verizon.net> </DIV>
<DIV>www.nfbnj.org <<A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">http://www.nfbnj.org</A>> </DIV>
<DIV>Raising Expectations To Live The Life You Want </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.</DIV>
<DIV>Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
www.carshelpingtheblind.org</DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org">http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org</A>>
or call 855 659 9314</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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