<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"><a name="m_-8350715618054712346_m_-1231537099922712136_OLE_LINK9"><b><span style="line-height:115%">President’s
Notebook</span></b></a><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"><b><span style="line-height:115%">
National Federation of the Blind<br>
Mark A. Riccobono<br>
</span></b><span style="line-height:115%"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank"><b>officeofthepresident@nfb.org</b></a><br>
<b>410-659-9314</b><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" 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">I
am happy to be back! Please see below for lots of great information.<span></span></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">News:</font></h1><h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Collaborative Advocacy to Pass Legislation at the State Level:<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">Please
note, the meeting originally scheduled for August 2 at 8:00 p.m. has been moved
to September 13 at 8:00 p.m., eastern. The Zoom information remains the same
and will be redistributed soon.<span></span></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Share Your #NFB22 Feedback:<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">Thank
you for your participation, engagement, and support in New Orleans. Please
share your experiences of the 2022 National Convention. <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z3236GT" target="_blank">Take
the #NFB22 survey now online</a> or by phone. To complete the survey by
phone, call 229-632-7878 or toll-free 833-632-7878. As an encore to the general
sessions’ preshow commentary, a post-convention review is available now on
the <i>Nation’s Blind Podcast</i> with the preshow panelists. <a href="http://nfb.org/convention" target="_blank">Get
more details on the survey, highlights, and podcast episode</a>.<span></span></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">2022 Resolutions:<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">On
July 9 at the 2022 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind,
the Federation passed eighteen resolutions. All of these resolutions have been
posted to our website and can be read at <a href="https://nfb.org/resolutions" target="_blank">nfb.org/resolutions</a>.   </font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Presidential Release:
September Save the Date & August Recording:<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
next Presidential Release will take place Thursday, September 1, at 8:00 p.m.,
eastern (CC and Spanish available). Zoom details coming soon! <a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" target="_blank">Access
the August Presidential Release for chapter meetings, the full live event, or
the transcripts.</a></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Braille Calendars for
Affiliates and Individuals:<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
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults has graciously extended an
offer to all National Federation of the Blind affiliates to request up to fifty
2023 Braille calendars. These are the 6 x 6 1/2 inch pocket calendars that have
the month, date, day, and pertinent holidays. Please send an email to Jen White
at <a href="mailto:jwhite@nfb.org" target="_blank">jwhite@nfb.org</a> no
later than August 31. Individuals can also <a href="https://actionfund.org/resources/braille-calendars" target="_blank">order
their free Braille calendar now</a>.<span></span></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Senate Committee on Aging
Hearing Regarding Accessible Federal Technology:<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">On
Thursday, July 28, Anil Lewis testified before the US Senate Special Committee
on Aging on the importance of accessible federal websites and technology. <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/anil-lewiss-testimony-senate-special-committee-aging" target="_blank">Anil’s
full written testimony</a> can be found on the <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements" target="_blank">Policy
Statements page</a> of our website. You can also watch the hearing in its
entirety on the Committee on Aging’s website at <a href="https://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/click-here-accessible-federal-technology-for-people-with-disabilities-older-americans-and-veterans" target="_blank">https://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings/click-here-accessible-federal-technology-for-people-with-disabilities-older-americans-and-veterans</a>. </font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">United States Postal Service
Report Regarding Free Matter for the Blind:<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">On
Tuesday, July 26, the United States Postal Service Inspector General released a
report with the result of their review of the Free Matter for the Blind
Program, as requested by Senators Van Hollen, Hyde-Smith, Peters, and Portman.
The report is available online at <a href="https://www.uspsoig.gov/document/free-matter-blind" target="_blank">https://www.uspsoig.gov/document/free-matter-blind</a>.
An impetus for this Inspector General investigation was the testimony of
Federationist Rania Dima before the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services
and the Federal Government at a hearing in July 2021. The full hearing,
including Rania’s testimony, can be watched at <a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-hearing-to-review-the-fy-2022-budget-request-for-the-usps-office-of-inspector-general-and-usps-service-issues-" target="_blank">https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-hearing-to-review-the-fy-2022-budget-request-for-the-usps-office-of-inspector-general-and-usps-service-issues-</a>.<span></span></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Justice Department and
Department of Health and Human Services Issue Joint Guidance on
Nondiscrimination in Telehealth:<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 applauds DOJ and HHS for recently issuing guidance on nondiscrimination in
telehealth, and we encourage members and health-care providers to review this
important information available on HHS’s website at <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/guidance-on-nondiscrimination-in-telehealth/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/guidance-on-nondiscrimination-in-telehealth/index.html</a>.</font></p><h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Social Security
Administration Kiosks:<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 seek information about the accessibility of the Social Security
Administration’s current visitor-intake-processing methods. If you have visited
an SSA field office since their reopening in April 2022, plan to visit an
office soon, or would be interested in being a tester for the NFB, please
contact Valerie Yingling at 410-659-9314, extension 2440, or <span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:legal@nfb.org" target="_blank">legal@nfb.org</a></span>. We are
specifically gathering information on whether the field offices are using
kiosk, web-based, or human check-in processes, and whether these processes are
accessible to blind individuals.<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>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Uber and Lyft 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 gather information regarding Uber and Lyft ride denials not
only due to service animals, but also related to a traveler’s use of a white
cane, as well as access barriers on the companies’ apps. We know that rideshare
drivers continue to discriminate and request that you complete <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program/rideshare-discrimination-survey" target="_blank">NFB’s
rideshare discrimination survey</a> and share your experiences with us for
our continued legal advocacy. The survey is available via <a href="http://nfb.org/legal" target="_blank">nfb.org/legal</a>. We are especially interested in
hearing from individuals who use Uber and who do not have their own account,
using either a third-party service such as GoGo Grandparent; paratransit,
concierge, or medical appointment dispatchers; or who use Uber via a friend,
spouse, or other individual’s account.<span></span></font></p>

<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Center for Employment
Opportunities:<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">In
the 2022 Presidential Report, I referenced <span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">our Center
for Employment Opportunities (CEO) initiatives intended to help bridge the gap
of unemployment and underemployment among the nation’s blind. This includes the
launching of our <i>Where the Blind Work</i> webinar series,
featuring blind professionals in a wide range of jobs and careers. We seek your
help to identify blind individuals in your network and/or affiliate.</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" 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"><span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">We want to highlight blind workers in blue collar jobs in our upcoming
segment. If you have members who are mechanics, machinists, carpenters, hair
stylists, wait staff, hospitality, or other crafts and labor jobs, we want to
hear from them. While you are at it, we are looking for a range of blind people
working in all sorts of interesting jobs and careers, so please join our
efforts to feature them in our <i>Where the Blind Work</i> series by
contacting Maurice Peret, coordinator of career mentoring and employment
programs, at </span><a href="mailto:mperet@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">mperet@nfb.org</span></a><span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> or at 410-659-9314, extension 2350.</span><span></span></font></p>

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

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;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"><a name="m_-8350715618054712346_m_-1231537099922712136__Hlk110413867">August 31: Deadline for
affiliates to request Action Fund Braille calendars</a></font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">September
1: Presidential Release</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">January
30, 2023: Great Gathering-In</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">March
23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium</font></li></ul><p></p>







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