<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style=""><h1 style="margin:0in"><a name="m_793800539616867259_OLE_LINK9" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4">President’s Notebook<u></u><u></u></font></a></h1><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">National Federation of the Blind<u></u><u></u></font></h1><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Mark A. Riccobono<u></u><u></u></font></h1><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><u></u><u></u></font></h1><h1 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">410-659-9314<u></u><u></u></font></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Dear Federation Family,<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">I am feeling energized after attending the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas convention this past weekend. It was my first time ever visiting this affiliate convention. I noted some other Federationists visiting from other states. I think it is always a great way to build our movement when leaders take time to visit other affiliates to share their ideas and take home new approaches.<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">This week is a special one for me. Twenty years ago this week, I started as an employee working at our national office. Although I left the staff in 2014, I have the joy of coming to work here each day. I had no idea that my path would take the turns it has by committing my time and energy to this movement. I feel truly blessed to be able to serve you every day. Here’s to the next twenty years of service to the movement and may we accomplish even more together. Thank you for the opportunity to work closely with each of you.</span></p><h2 style="margin:0in"><br></h2><h2 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">News:<u></u><u></u></font></h2><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><b>November Presidential Release Chapter Version Available:</b><b><span style="line-height:16.8667px"><u></u><u></u></span></b></font></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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 </span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases" 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">Presidential Release #532 chapter version</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"> is available. Please mark your calendars for the December Presidential Release scheduled for November 30, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Zoom details coming soon.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Happy Federation Anniversary:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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 was founded November 16, 1940, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Celebrate by reading history of the organized blind movement. Here are two publications: </span><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/building-lives-we-want" target="_blank"><i><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">Building the Lives We Want</span></i></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"> and </span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/books/wamt/wamtc.htm" target="_blank"><i><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">Walking Alone and Marching Together</span></i></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 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"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></span></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Share Op-Ed Article Regarding Voting:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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">Security and accessibility are not mutually exclusive. It is time for voters with disabilities to be treated as first-class citizens and afforded full and equal voting rights. As blind people, the National Federation of the Blind is working toward that goal. Share the following op-ed published in <i>The Hill</i> to affiliate and division social media: “</span><a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/4278948-why-do-some-voting-advocates-fight-equal-access-for-the-blind/" 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">Why do some voting advocates fight equal access for the blind?</span></a><span class="m_793800539616867259MsoHyperlink" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration-line:underline"><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">”</span></span><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 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"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></span></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">IRS Direct File Pilot Program:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Thirteen states have agreed to participate in the IRS Direct File pilot program for the 2024 tax filing season. Direct File will allow taxpayers to file their federal returns directly with the IRS for free. The thirteen states participating are Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. For the pilot, Direct File will only be available for filing simple federal tax returns. We are reaching out to the IRS to investigate the accessibility of the Direct File program.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Upcoming Early Childhood Initiatives: Santa Letters and Winter Celebration Program:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">The National Federation of the Blind provides Braille letters celebrating Christmas and winter holidays for blind children. We are excited to provide letters in English and Spanish again this year. Parents of children under age ten can select the option that best fits their family.<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">We invite parents to begin requesting these Braille activity packets <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters" target="_blank">online</a>, via fax at 410-685-5653, or via email at <a href="mailto:communityrelations@nfb.org" target="_blank">communityrelations@nfb.org</a> on November 6. We will start mailing celebration packets around December 4, but you can request packets until December 15.<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Each packet will include a Braille letter, a print letter, and some fun activities for the whole family to share. Learn more about <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters" target="_blank">the Santa Letters and Winter Celebration Program on the NFB website</a>.<u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Catch Up on Content:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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">Highlights, news, and stories are available in the most recent <i>Braille Monitor</i>, <i>Nation’s Blind Podcast</i>, and <i>Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog</i>. The following are National Federation of the Blind publications for you to access and share with Federationists:</span><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"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;color:black;line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">November </span><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2310/bm2310tc.htm" target="_blank"><i><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Braille Monitor</span></i></a><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><u></u><u></u></span></font></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;color:black;line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><i><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Nation’s Blind Podcast </span></i><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">episode<i>, </i></span><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">#BlindMonth 2023</span></a><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><u></u><u></u></span></font></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;color:black;line-height:18.4px"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Blog article<i>, </i></span><a href="https://nfb.org/blog/blind-kids-can-krystal-guillorys-federation-story" target="_blank"><i><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Blind Kids Can: Krystal Guillory’s Federation Story</span></i></a><span style="line-height:16.8667px;border:1pt none windowtext;padding:0in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><u></u><u></u></span></font></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Career Opportunities at the National Federation of the Blind:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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 always seeking talented individuals to join our staff team. We have several current openings: Affiliate Finance Bookkeeper, Hospitality Assistant, Hospitality Manager, Lead – Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access, NFB-NEWSLINE^® Operations Specialist, and Talent Resource Coordinator. Please share and refer qualified candidates. </span><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/career-opportunities" 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 benefits guide and job descriptions to learn more</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 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"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><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"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></span></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">NFB EQ for Parents: A STEM Learning Toolkit for Parents of Blind Children:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black">The National Federation of the Blind understands that with the proper tools, environment, and encouragement blind people can participate equally in any career field they choose. As a parent, you want to support your child in participating actively in all areas of their education, including science and math. The STEM Learning Toolkit for Parents of Blind Children was designed to support you as the parent of a blind child in guiding your child’s successes in STEM and much more. To learn more about the toolkit, visit </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq/nfb-eq-parents" target="_blank">https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq/nfb-eq-parents</a><span style="color:black">.</span><u></u><u></u></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">NFB EQ for Teachers: A Nonvisual & Accessible Engineering Curriculum:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><span style="color:black">The National Federation of the Blind has always been an innovator when it comes to education, technology, and access. We believe that STEM learning should be accessible for all, including blind and low-vision youth. As our world is evolving to become more and more digital, we discovered a need to create a version of our popular NFB EQ curriculum that is digitally accessible, free, and publicly available. In other words, an online, Open Educational Resource (OER) that allows educators to access the NFB EQ curriculum remotely — from anywhere. To access the curriculum, visit </span><a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq/nfb-eq-teachers" target="_blank">https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq/nfb-eq-teachers</a><span style="color:black">.</span></font><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"> </span></p><p class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> <u></u></font></p><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4"></font><h2 style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Dates to Keep in Mind:</font>(all times eastern)</h2><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">Monday, January 29, 2024: Great Gathering-In</span><br></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">January 29 -February 1, 2024: <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar" target="_blank">Washington Seminar</a><u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida<u></u><u></u></font></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> <u></u></font></p><h3 style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.25in;line-height:18.4px;font-weight:normal"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">2024 Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement:<u></u><u></u></font></b></h3><ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-top:0in"><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Wednesday, February 7, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Wednesday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></font></li><li class="m_793800539616867259MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m.<u></u><u></u></font></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><u></u> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" style="" size="4">The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.</font></p></div></div></div>