<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><i><span class="gmail_default"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"></span></i></span></font><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif";font-size:14pt">Greetings all,</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif""> </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""> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Warmly, <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Linda Melendez, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>
732-421-7063<br>
</span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif""><a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org" target="_blank">president@nfbnj.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.nfbnj.org/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">www.nfbnj.org</span></i></a><i><br>
Facebook: </i><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238" target="_blank"><i><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238</span></i></a><i><br>
Twitter: </i><a href="https://twitter.com/nfbnewjersey" target="_blank"><i><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">@NFBNewJersey</span></i></a><i><br>
YouTube: </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKEDbjGsCYHMlwd4gqpBPjg" target="_blank"><i><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">NFBNJTransformDreams</span></i></a><i><br>
Live the life you want.<br>
</i><br>
</span><i><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The National Federation of the Blind of
New Jersey is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and
dreams of the nation’s blind. Everyday we work together to help blind people
live the lives they want.</span></i><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif""><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Attend December
Presidential Release:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The
December Presidential Release will take place December 2, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.
The monthly Presidential Release provides important updates and perspectives of
the organized blind movement, and the live event includes a Q&A session.
Submit questions in advance to <a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org" target="_blank">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a> and put PR511 in the subject line,
or call 410-659-9314, extension 2473. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=461" target="_blank">Zoom
details and more ways to access are available.</a><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Draft Code of Conduct Open
Meeting with Blind Survivors Group:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">As
announced at the <a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank">November
Presidential Release</a>, the National Federation of the Blind is seeking
feedback on the most recent. The comment period for the <a href="https://nfb.org/draftcode" target="_blank">draft
Code of Conduct</a> will conclude at noon eastern time on Thursday, December
2, 2021. The Blind Survivors Group is hosting an open meeting on Sunday,
November 28, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, to review and receive feedback. <a href="https://zoom.us/j/2023132945" target="_blank">The
Zoom ID for the open meeting is 2023132945</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Department of Justice and
Uber: Share Your Experience regarding Wait-Time Fees:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Related
to its recent <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-uber-overcharging-people-disabilities" target="_blank">lawsuit
against Uber</a>, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is gathering information
from individuals with disabilities who have been charged wait-time fees by
Uber. If you have been charged a wait-time fee, please contact DOJ at<span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span><a href="mailto:uber.fee@usdoj.gov" target="_blank">uber.fee@usdoj.gov</a>, 833-591-0425 (toll-free), or
202-305-6786. If you have a copy of your Uber receipt detailing the wait-time
fee, please include this with your outreach to DOJ. For more information about
DOJ’s lawsuit, visit <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-uber-overcharging-people-disabilities" target="_blank">https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-uber-overcharging-people-disabilities</a>.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Audio Descriptions: <i>Squid
Game</i>:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The
National Federation of the Blind regularly meets with Netflix to provide
insights and feedback on their programs and services. At a recent meeting, we
requested that English audio descriptions be added for <i>Squid Game</i>,
a popular 2021 series produced in South Korea, and they delivered. Netflix’s
stated policy has been to provide audio description only in the program’s
original language, but our feedback has led to reconsideration in this case and
others. We thank Netflix for their commitment to inclusion by working with the
nation’s blind.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Accessible Kiosk
Walkthrough:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">During
the NFB Board of Directors meeting at the 2021 National Convention, a clip of a
McDonald's kiosk walkthrough was presented. The full demonstration is available
on our YouTube for review: <a href="https://youtu.be/plPB9YzR8lQ" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/plPB9YzR8lQ</a>.
Please comment with your experiences.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Register for Braille
Readers Are Leaders Contest:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Registration
is now open for the 2021-2022 Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, administered
by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership with
the National Federation of the Blind. The competition is open to blind children
and adults and this year, there is a refresh to the contest criteria. The contest
starts December 1. Details on how to sign up and important dates can be found
at <a href="https://www.actionfund.org/programs/braille-readers-are-leaders" target="_blank">https://www.actionfund.org/programs/braille-readers-are-leaders</a><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">.</span><span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Transformation to
Competitive Integrated Employment Act Introduced in US Senate:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">On
Thursday, November 18, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Steve Daines (R-MT) <a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-transformation-competitive-0" target="_blank">introduced
the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act in the Senate</a> (S.
3238). Sheila Leigland, an active NFB member from Montana and a constituent of
Senator Daines, is featured in a <a href="https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/videos/watch/sen-daines-bipartisan-bill-is-a-game-changer-for-disabled-community" target="_blank">video
promoting the legislation on Senator <span style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">Daines’s</span></span> official Senate website</a>.
Please contact your senators and urge them to cosponsor S. 3238, and contact
your representative to urge them to cosponsor the House companion, H.R. 2373.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Comments to the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Regarding Accessible Voting<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">On
October 21, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published
a request for information regarding an upcoming report on recommendations for
promoting access to voting for people with disabilities. We submitted our
comments today and will have them on the <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements" target="_blank">policy
statements page</a> of our website soon.<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Grant Program to
Incentivize States to End Subminimum Wages in Build Back Better Act:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">On
November 19, the House passed the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376). The bill
includes language that would create a grant program to incentivize states to
transition employees with disabilities from subminimum wage employment to
competitive integrated employment. While this provision is helpful, we still
need to focus our efforts on passing the Transformation to Competitive
Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 2373/S. 3238).<span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">In the News: Share <i>USA
Today</i> Article:<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">The
following recent <i>USA Today</i> article, “‘I am not my blindness':
What the blind community wishes you knew,” features President Mark Riccobono.
Please share through National Federation of the Blind affiliate communications
channels. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/11/17/what-blind-visually-impaired-people-wish-you-knew/8637271002/" target="_blank">https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/11/17/what-blind-visually-impaired-people-wish-you-knew/8637271002/</a> <span></span></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">Dates to Keep in Mind:</span><span class="gmail-gmaildefault"><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif";font-weight:normal"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">(all
times easter<span></span></span></h1>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">December 1: <a href="https://nfb.org/scholarships" target="_blank">NFB
Scholarship Program</a> applications o<span class="gmail-gmaildefault">pen</span><span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">December 2:
Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.<span></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,"sans-serif"">July 5-10,
2022: National Convention, New Orlean<span class="gmail-gmaildefault">s</span><span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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