<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span class="gmail-gmaildefault"></span><b>President’s Notebook<br>National
Federation of the Blind<br>Mark
A. Riccobono</b></font></p>

<h1 style="margin-top:0in;line-height:normal"><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><br>410-659-9314</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" size="4"> </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" size="4">Dear
Federation Family,<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" size="4"><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" size="4">We
are racing toward the 2022 National Convention and our first time being in
person in a big way since 2019. It is hard to believe it has been three years,
but on the other hand, it feels like forever since we were in Vegas.</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 style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ol><li><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">For the
health and safety of all of our Federation family members, we are asking those
attending the convention to mask in convention </span>meeting<span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> and common areas. Let’s
all do our part to ensure our convention is welcoming and safe for all.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">All convention attendees will need to test negative for COVID-19
prior to being admitted to convention activities. We strongly encourage people
to test prior to coming to New Orleans. You can review the full protocols at </span><a href="http://www.nfb.org/convention" target="_blank" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">http://www.nfb.org/convention</a><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">.
Test results can be sent in advance via email to </span><a href="mailto:testresults@nfb.org" target="_blank" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">testresults@nfb.org</a><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">, and
the email should include the full name of the person as they registered. Tests
can be taken up to seventy-two (72) hours before check in at the hotel but not
earlier than that. Test results can be submitted when they are available or can
be shown in person. On-site testing will be available starting on July 4, but
there are incentives for getting test </span>results in early<span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">, including not having to
wait in line for testing. Anyone who has not gotten the convention wristband
indicating that they have demonstrated proof of a negative COVID test will not
be able to get their registration materials.</span><br></li><li><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">Everyone can be a leader in making the convention a welcoming
and powerful experience for all involved.</span><br></li><li><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">Those participating virtually can play an important role in
amplifying the message of the organization in social media. Most importantly,
virtual participants are still engaging in the conversation of the future of
the movement. </span><br></li></ol><p></p>







<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">News:<span></span></font></h1>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">NEW: Ballot-Marking-Device
Videos—Learn Their Accessibility Features:<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" size="4"><span style="color:black;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The National Federation of the Blind is publishing
demonstrations of four ballot-marking devices (BMD) so that election
judges/volunteers and voters can have a better understanding of the devices and
their accessibility features. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires that at
least one accessible voting machine be available in all polling places for
federal elections. The following are direct links to the videos for each BMD.
Learn more about HAVA and voting rights at <a href="http://nfb.org/vote" target="_blank">nfb.org/vote</a>.</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" size="4"><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"></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKevtc_YKsU" target="_blank"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Ballot
Marking Device: ClearAccess from Clear Ballot - Accessibility Settings and Demo
for Voting</font></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCC7XYTCD4Q" target="_blank"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Ballot
Marking Device: ExpressVote from ES&S - Accessibility Settings and Demo for
Voting</font></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsZ7pqKNnu8" target="_blank"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Ballot
Marking Device: ICX Dominion - Accessibility Settings and Demo for Voting</font></a></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://youtu.be/L26AdrOueqA" target="_blank">Ballot
Marking Device: Verity from Hart InterCivic - Accessibility Settings and Demo
for Voting</a></span> </font></li></ul><p></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">June <i>Braille Monitor</i> Available:<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" size="4"><span style="color:black;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">The latest issue of our flagship publication is now
available. Read about the coverage on the Blind Driver Challenge, the winners
of the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, and stories from members. </span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm22/bm2206/bm2206tc.htm" target="_blank"><span style="border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Access the <i>Braille Monitor</i> now</span></a><span style="color:black;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">.</span><span></span></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Uber Ride Denials:<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" size="4">The
NFB continues to investigate complaints related to Uber ride denials for blind
individuals who travel with a service animal or white cane. Relatedly, if you
use Uber through a third-party service such as GoGo Grandparent, or via
paratransit, concierge, or medical appointment dispatchers and do not have your
own account with Uber, or if you use Uber via a friend, spouse, or other
individual’s account and do not have your own account with Uber, the NFB would
like to hear from you. Please contact Valerie Yingling at <a href="mailto:legal@nfb.org" target="_blank">legal@nfb.org</a> or extension
2440.<span></span></font></p>

<h1><font size="4" style="" face="tahoma, sans-serif">Dates to Keep in Mind: (all
times eastern)<span></span></font></h1><h1>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></p><ul><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">June 21:
Convention career fair registration closes</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July
5-10: 2022 <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention" target="_blank">National Convention</a></span>, New
Orleans</font></li></ul><p></p>



</h1>

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