<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">Greetings all,</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">To help stay connected with our National Office and with
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></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Warmly,<br>
Linda Melendez, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>
732-421-7063<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org" target="_blank">president@nfbnj.org</a><span></span></span></p>
<h1><a name="m_-7974177828568890736_m_-4999783170956141123_m_-3918590843127836222_OLE_LINK9"><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">President’s
Notebook</span></a><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br>
410-659-9314<br>
<a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><span></span></span></h1>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">News:<span></span></span></h1>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Plan to
Attend the </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=464" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(54,95,145);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;text-decoration-line:none">September Presidential Release</span></a><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">—Captioning and Spanish Available:</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"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The next Presidential Release of the National Federation of
the Blind will be Wednesday, September 1, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. There will be
an opportunity for questions after President Riccobono’s remarks. Submit
questions in advance to </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> and put PR508 in the subject line, or call
410-659-9314, extension 2473. Closed captions and Spanish interpretation will
be available. Zoom details coming soon.</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Straight Off the Canvas Film
Screening:<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"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">As mentioned in the board meeting during the 2021
NFB National Convention, the National Federation of the Blind is hosting a
special, post-convention, virtual film screening. Between August 23 to August
30, national convention attendees will be able to watch an award-winning,
audio-described documentary, <i>Straight Off the Canvas</i>. Attendees
will receive an email with a password-protected link to the film, which will be
available for the entire week. On August 29, at 7:00 p.m. eastern, there will
be a live screening with Q&A via Zoom. Learn more at </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/nfb21" target="_blank"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">nfb.org/nfb21</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">.</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Legislative
Alert: Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act Introduced into House:</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><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"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
(H.R. 4853) was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on
Thursday, July 29. This act calls upon the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
to create nonvisual accessibility standards for medical devices with digital
displays. Members of the National Federation of the Blind are urged to contact
your representatives regarding the important legislation. Please review </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/view?id=2349&reset=1" target="_blank"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">the alert to learn how to help promote the MDNA</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">.</span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Back-to-School
Season: Educational Technology Survey and Advocacy Resources:</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><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"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The National Federation of the Blind gathers
information and shares resources to help support blind people in the education
environment. Leaders of the organization may receive a higher volume of
questions or concerns this time of year. To help us gauge the accessibility of
educational technology used in our nation’s schools (kindergarten through
graduate level), please have students, teachers, or families complete the </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/education-technology-survey" target="_blank"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Education Technology Survey</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">. Some additional resources to share are the </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/self-advocacy-higher-education-toolkit" target="_blank"><i>Self-Advocacy in Higher
Education Toolkit</i></a></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> and </span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/advocacy-resources/blind-parents-essential-guide-effective-communication" target="_blank"><i>A Blind Parent’s Essential Guide to Effective
Communication from Public and Private Schools</i></a></span><a name="m_-7974177828568890736_m_-4999783170956141123_m_-1024902520639569535__Hlk80619857"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span></span></span></a></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Amazon Fulfillment Center
Employment:<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"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">As it relates to our <a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/amazon-make-more-employment-opportunities-available-blind" target="_blank">recent agreement with Amazon</a>, the National Federation of
the Blind is hoping to speak with individuals who have had workplace
accommodations denied, been placed on unpaid leave, and/or otherwise
experienced discrimination related to Amazon fulfillment center employment.
Please contact Valerie Yingling at <a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org" target="_blank">vyingling@nfb.org</a> to report your Amazon fulfillment
center experience.<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"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"></span></p><h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Subminimum Wages
Congressional Hearing:<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"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Last month our very own <a href="https://youtu.be/KVnUWfsH07o?t=2598" target="_blank">Anil
Lewis testified in a joint hearing</a> of the House Subcommittee on
Workforce Protections and the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human
Services. One of the purposes of this hearing was to discuss the Transformation
to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 2373), which would phase out
subminimum wages over a five-year period. After the hearing, the bill gained
four new cosponsors, bringing the total number up to twenty-three. For further
information, we strongly encourage you to read <a href="https://edlabor.house.gov/imo/media/doc/LewisAnilTestimony072121.pdf" target="_blank">Anil’s written testimony</a> to the committees.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Special Thanks:<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"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Special thanks go out to the NFB of Iowa,
the NFB of Texas, the NFB of Oregon, the NFB of Missouri, and the NFB of
Maryland Baltimore Chapter for their generous gifts. We continue to grow
stronger together with the support of our affiliates and chapters. <span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">National Dates to Keep in
Mind: (all times eastern)<span></span></span></h1>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">September
1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">October
1: Presidential Release, 12:00 p.m.<span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">November
1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman""> </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">December
2: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></span></p>
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