<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4">National
Federation of the Blind<br></font></div><h1 style="margin:0in;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></span></font></h1>
<h1 style="margin:0in;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">Mark
A. Riccobono<span></span></font></h1>
<h1 style="margin:0in;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"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><span></span></font></h1>
<h1 style="margin:0in;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">410-659-9314<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></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">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">I hope everyone had a great
White Cane Awareness Day. It is heartwarming to witness so many outstanding
events to promote the Federation in the public again. Check out this clip of
our <span style="color:black"><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/national-federation-blind-mans-baltimore-125809041.html?guccounter=1" target="_blank">Baltimore Running Festival water
stop</a></span> hosted by the Greater Baltimore Chapter. If you have not
shared activities from your affiliates with our communications group, I hope
you do so very soon.<span></span></font></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Critical
Actions:<span></span></font></h1>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">October
18 Oral Argument for <i>Orozco v. Merrick</i> in Washington, DC:<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">We invite and encourage NFB
members to attend the in-person oral argument for the NFB-supported case, <i>Orozco
v. Merrick,</i> on October 18 in Washington, DC. NFB member Joe Orozco is
appealing a federal district court decision finding that blind federal
employees do not have a private right of action to directly enforce Section 508
of the Rehabilitation Act against their federal employers. The impact of the
decision could extend to members of the public seeking to access federal
electronic information technology as well as other disabled federal employees
using technology at work. 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> for
more information about attending in person. For those who cannot attend in
person, we encourage you to listen to the oral argument live via the court’s
YouTube channel:</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"><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2F_0JvCkROzYcOrygQfz7Q0z%3Fdomain%3Dnam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com&data=05%7C01%7Cvyingling%40nfb.org%7C274b4c3e152b40c6eba308da9a43b25a%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637991912808755875%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=F5SassaNrzm5JOExwTw7f0p03cKUo0Ql5Cz6MMt3djE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/USCourtsCADC</a></span>.<span></span></font></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Upcoming
Event: Information Session with Tonya Baña:<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">As part of our safety and
support work, the National Federation of the Blind Code of Conduct Feedback
Committee has been gathering information for improving the participant
experience, socializing the code itself and associated procedures, and any
barriers to understanding the policies and standards established for our
community. There is an upcoming information session on Sunday, October 23, at
8:00 p.m., eastern, with Tonya Baña, our external investigator.</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"> </span><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?id=537&reset=1" target="_blank">Zoom and details are available on
the nfb.org event page for the information session</a></span><span class="gmail-m-4293886186782271562msohyperlink" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><u><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">.</span></u></span><br></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">News:<span></span></font></h1>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Blind
Voter Survey:<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">Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act requires that voters with disabilities must be afforded an
opportunity to vote privately and independently that is equivalent to the
opportunity afforded to voters without disabilities. This requirement applies
to both in-person voting and voting by mail for the upcoming general election
on November 8, 2022.<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">After exercising the fundamental
right to vote, all blind and low-vision voters are encouraged to complete our
2022 Blind and Low-Vision Voter Experience Survey! The 2022 survey
consists of two separate surveys: one survey for those who voted in person
at an early voting center or their local polling place, and a second survey for
blind and low-vision voters who voted by mail. Both surveys can be accessed
from our <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/voting-resources" target="_blank">Voting Resources webpage.</a></span> <span></span></font></p>
<h1 style="break-after:avoid"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Help Us Meet the
Match: Vispero Is Matching Donations through December 31, 2022:<span></span></font></h1>
<p class="gmail-m-4293886186782271562msolistparagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;break-after:avoid;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">Give online at <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/donate" target="_blank">nfb.org/donate</a></span></font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Mail a check to National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells
Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Contribute by phone using a credit card by calling 410-659-9314,
extension 2430. Share this information with family and friends!</font></li></ul><p></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">Thank you for contributing to
our mission and helping<span style="color:black;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> blind people live the lives they want</span>. <span></span></font></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Websites
and Software Applications Accessibility Act (S. 4998/H.R. 9021):<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">Since the introduction of the
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in both the House and the
Senate, we have been copied on a number of your emails urging members of
Congress to cosponsor the bills. This is fantastic, and really demonstrates the
power we have when we all set out to accomplish one goal. Please keep up this
great work and continue to email and call your members of Congress to urge them
to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (S.
4998/H.R. 9021). <span></span></font></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">It's
Still Blind Equality Achievement Month!:<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">Let’s keep engaging on social
media using the hashtag #BlindMonth. Members of the National Federation of the
Blind are still conducting activities in local communities such as white cane
walks, film screenings, and social events. If you still have events or have had
one, please share a description of your affiliate- or chapter-related
#BlindMonth activities, including the white cane proclamations, to <span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:web@nfb.org" target="_blank">web@nfb.org</a></span> so they can be posted on
the <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/blind-month" target="_blank">Blind Equality Achievement Month
page.</a></span> <span></span></font></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Social
Security Administration Announces 2023 Cost-of-Living Adjustment:<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, October 13, 2022,
the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the cost-of-living
adjustment (COLA) for the 2023 benefit amounts. The increase for 2023 is 8.7
percent and will have the following impact on benefit amounts beginning in
January of next year:<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="margin-left:0.25in;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">Supplemental
Security Income (SSI)<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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">2022
benefit: $841<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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">2023
benefit: $914<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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"> Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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">Average
2022 benefit: $1,364<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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">Average
2023 benefit: $1,483<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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"> SSDI
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Threshold for Blind People<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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">2022:
$2,260<span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in;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">2023:
$2,460 <span></span></font></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">NIH
RADx COVID-19 At-Home-Test-Experience Survey:<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 National Institutes of
Health Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (NIH RADx) has extended the closing
date for its COVID-19 At-Home-Test-Experience survey. If you haven’t already,
please take time to complete this important<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> </span> survey:</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"><a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FG08iCn5ND2f7xNz9S9VZdJ%3Fdomain%3Dgatech.co1.qualtrics.com&data=05%7C01%7Cvyingling%40nfb.org%7Ce86041fd47d24dd4b9d108daab13fe89%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C638010399780995579%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8%2BbjZYZQF7%2BDFNcQBKvFksqzFntf%2FpHJgjKDwCiU%2FT8%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bdqaz5GtByY4H1I</a></span> <span></span></font></p>
<h1><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Where
the Blind Work:<span></span></font></h1>
<p style="margin-bottom:15pt;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">Join us on Friday, October 21, at
8:00 p.m., eastern, as we celebrate the work and accomplishments of
successfully employed blind professionals. Register at </span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:15pt;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"><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/where-the-blind-work-webinars-registration" target="_blank">https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/where-the-blind-work-webinars-registration</a></span><span class="gmail-m-4293886186782271562msohyperlink"><u><span style="color:rgb(5,99,193)">.</span></u></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">Fearless Job Interview Part 2:
the Dos and Don’ts of Business Communication, October 13, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.,
eastern. Join Zoom: </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"><a href="https://zoom.us/j/93698466990" target="_blank">https://zoom.us/j/93698466990</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" size="4"><span style="color:black"><br></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"><span style="color:black">Fall virtual career fair on
Wednesday, October 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., eastern. The deadline to register
is Friday, October 14, at noon, eastern.</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"><span style="color:black"><br></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;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"><a href="https://nfb.org/form/career-fair-jobseeker-registration" target="_blank"><span style="color:black">Registration for Job Seekers</span></a></span><span></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;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"><a href="https://nfb.org/form/career-fair-employer-registration" target="_blank"><span style="color:black">Registration for Employers</span></a> </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="gmail-m-4293886186782271562msolistparagraph" style="margin:0in;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">October 21: Where the Blind Work Webinar</font></li><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">October 25: <span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events" target="_blank">Education Technology Accessibility
Boutique</a></span></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><li><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas</font></li></ul><p></p>
<div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4"> </font></div></div></div>