<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Greetings
all,</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">To
help stay connected with our National Office and the work of our organization I
am sharing some of President Riccobono's weekly notebook, national items of interest and dates to keep in mind.<span></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Warmly,<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Linda Melendez, President<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">732-421-7063<br></span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Email: </span><a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org" target="_blank" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">president@nfbnj.org</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">****<span></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="m_2367578783694066887_m_4506644173433786484_m_5868950994202076"><span style="line-height:115%"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">President’s
Notebook <br>
Week of March 8, 2021<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Mark A. Riccobono <span></span></font></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Dear
Fellow Federationists,<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">Happy
International Women’s Day. Like so many other movements, women are the
foundation of our organization and provide leadership in more areas than I have
time to reflect here. Three years ago I made this the focus of my banquet
speech and someday, if I get free time, I would love to spin that into a full
book—there are so many powerful and untold stories throughout our movement. I
want to help elevate these stories because I think they are such a powerful
teaching tool about leadership and the strength of our movement. Yet even in
2021 we recognize we need to do more to break down the gender barriers and find
opportunities to build leadership among the emerging generation of women in our
movement.<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span><span><span>So
today I would like to offer you two diverse pieces from the emerging generation
of leaders in the Federation. Check out Kenia Flores in her TED talk, “</span><a href="https://youtu.be/RNmIRFFKRp4" target="_blank"></a></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/RNmIRFFKRp4" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span>Rising Above
Low Expectations with A Disability</span></span></span></span></a></span><u><span><span><span style="color:blue"><span><span>,”</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></u>and
from the <i>Braille Monitor</i>, “<a href="https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm21/bm2103/bm210309.htm" target="_blank"><span>We are Women
and Sisters Forever</span></a><u><span><span><span style="color:blue"><span><span>,”</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></u>by
Danielle McCann.<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><span><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span>I
could not let today get away without giving a huge thank you to all of our
national board members who are women—they represent a majority of the board—and
especially our first vice president, Pam Allen, whose grace, determination,
insights, and innovations move us forward every day. I work closely with Pam on
everything we do, and I could not imagine what our movement would be without
her in it. I raise that up because she is one of the many leaders who keep me
grounded and contribute to my understanding on a daily basis. I appreciate that
Pam and our other board members continue to be a driving force in ensuring that
our organization roots out and eliminates bias that may be hidden in our
practices and policies.</span><span></span></font></span></span></span></p>
<h1><span><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Share
Your Experience Accessing COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing:<span></span></font></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span>The
National Federation of the Blind is gathering data to monitor and challenge
access barriers for blind people to COVID-19 vaccines and tests. It is vital
that blind and low-vision Americans receive the same opportunities and tools to
participate in ending this public health threat as others do. </span><span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Please complete a five- to fifteen-minute survey regarding
your experience with COVID-19 vaccines and testing.</span></span><span></span></font></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span><span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/access-covid-19-vaccine-and-testing-survey" target="_blank"></a></span></span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/access-covid-19-vaccine-and-testing-survey" target="_blank"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><span><span><span>Take the survey on accessing COVID-19 vaccines and testing</span></span></span></span></span></a></span><span><span>.</span><span></span></span></font></p>
<h1><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span>Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research</span><span> Highlight:<span></span></span></font></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span><i><span><span>The
Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research</span></span></i></span><span><span><span><span> is the
first scholarly journal created by blind people designed to address the real
problems of blindness. This month we are highlighting the article, “</span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/jbir/jbir21/jbir110108abs.html" target="_blank"></a></span></span></span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/jbir/jbir21/jbir110108abs.html" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span>Client-Centered
Therapy versus Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: Applications in
Adjustment-to-Blindness Training" by Justin M. H. Salisbury, MA, NOMC,
NCRTB, NCUEB</span></span></span></span></a></span><u><span><span><span style="color:blue"><span><span>,</span></span></span></span></span></u><span> </span><span>which
discusses two types of therapy and how they may apply to adjusting to blindness.<span></span></span></font></p>
<h1><span><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">App
Development Seminar:<span></span></font></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span>On
Monday, March 15, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. eastern, the National Federation of
the Blind, in collaboration with Google, is hosting an app development seminar
focused on accessibility. Anyone who develops or is considering developing apps
is encouraged to register for this Zoom event. There are also limited
opportunities to meet directly with Google engineers to discuss your app and
have your accessibility questions answered. The registration page will be live
shortly, check<a href="http://www.nfb.org/cena" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span>www.nfb.org/cena</span></span></span></span></a></span></span><span><span><span><span> for updates.</span><span></span></span></span></span></font></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span><span>Accessibility Boutique—Utilizing Smartphone
Accessibility Features:</span></span></span><span></span></font></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><span><span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span>On Tuesday, March 30, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. eastern, the National
Federation of the Blind is hosting an accessibility boutique that will be based
on utilizing smartphone accessibility features. We will cover iOS accessibility
features, Android accessibility features, and accessibility applications on
both systems. Take advantage of this free opportunity on Zoom to learn the
latest in smartphone accessibility. Register for the</span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/accessibility-boutiques/accessibility-boutique-registration" target="_blank"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><span><span><span>accessibility boutique</span></span></span></span></span></a></span><span><span><span><span> </span><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">today!</span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span></span></span></span></span></span></font></span></span></span></span></p>
<h1><span><span><span><span><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Latest
Blog Post<span><span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">— </span>“So
Much More than the Money: A Scholarship Story”:<span></span></span></font></span></span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span><span><span>The
<i>Voice of the Nation's Blind Blog</i> highlights personal experiences
and stories of blind people. In the recent article, Cayte Mendez shares her
scholarship story. Read the blog, </span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/blog/so-much-more-money-scholarship-story" target="_blank"></a></span></span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/blog/so-much-more-money-scholarship-story" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span>"So Much
More than the Money: A Scholarship Story.</span></span></span></span></a></span><u><span><span><span style="color:blue"><span><span>”</span></span></span></span></span></u><span></span><span></span></font></p>
<h1><span><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Complete
the Diversity and Inclusion Survey by March 15:<span></span></font></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><span><span><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">The
National Federation of the Blind is gathering information on diversity and
inclusion from members and leaders in the organization. Please take
approximately fifteen minutes to complete this important survey by March 15.
The survey includes a short, optional, confidential questionnaire about you.
Your perspective and experiences are needed to develop diversity and inclusion
initiatives for our movement.<span></span></font></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span><span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFB-Diversity-Inclusion" target="_blank"></a></span></span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFB-Diversity-Inclusion" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span>2021
Diversity and Inclusion Survey (English)</span></span></span></span></a></span><span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span><span><span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFB-Diversidad-Inclusion" target="_blank"></a></span></span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFB-Diversidad-Inclusion" target="_blank"><span><span><span><span>En Español:
2021 Encuesta sobre Diversidad e Inclusión</span></span></span></span></a></span><span></span></font></p>
<h1><span><font size="2" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Dates
to Keep in Mind:<span></span></font></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">(all times eastern)<span></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 43.15pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span><span>March 31:<a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program/scholarship-program-application-checklist" target="_blank"><span>Scholarship application</span></a></span><span> deadline<span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 43.15pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span><span>April 5: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 43.15pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span><span>April 15:<a href="https://www.nfb.org/bolotin" target="_blank"><span>Bolotin Awards</span></a> nominations
deadline<span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 43.15pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span><span>May 3: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 43.15pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span><span>June 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 43.15pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal">
</span>July 6-10: NFB National Convention, anywhere
and everywhere</font><font face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-size:14pt"></span></font></p></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div></div></div><div dir="auto"></div><font color="#888888"></font></div></div></div></div></div>