<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><b><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192);font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">President\u2019s Notebook<br></span><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192);font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">National Federation of the Blind<br></span><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192);font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">Mark A. Riccobono<br></span><a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org" target="_blank" style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:rgb(70,120,134)">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a><br><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192);font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">410-659-9314</span></b></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><span style="color:rgb(0,112,192);font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt"><br></span></div><h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Newest Podcast Episodes:</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Listen to \u201cThe Myth of the SuperBlind,\u201d the newest episode
of the <i>Nation\u2019s Blind Podcast</i>. In this episode, Melissa and Anil
are joined by Denise Avant. They address misconceptions about the NFB and
emphasize the importance of your voice within the organized blind movement.
Download this episode at <a href="https://buff.ly/kTuoYkn?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVU12UWRhbHh6MHJtZkMySnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5tckjaDH74IBerUgf_IvjNLawaHFp2UUgrLQrOh96oS8z_73CLMDcwz5SFlQ_aem_EM6QjyhvcB3ot7V5DOyPzw" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">https://buff.ly/kTuoYkn</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Tune into episode 69 of <i>Access On</i>. This episode
is our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/apple?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZaKxwvQsnNAi8gjYji3oND1ZQj7XwaoDUb__0EASu7uv4FrLTj1bHS1iRtWWYCBC3J8_fCjHgN2h-GmXkUp_2IZtukHgaISFkouGDfRYmocRgg-ZjndhJ0dyETSpnxutN3FFQIAS7tdvusX-mD-ZFQVwnH2T4gKFsK8XYJEohLbJroH7U61z3TNJHGSpTG_OWg&__tn__=-%5dK-R" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">Apple</a> fiftieth birthday special. We tell the story of
the first era of Apple accessibility, which was entirely grassroots-driven, by
speaking with some of the people who lived it. We fire up a virtual Apple IIE,
let you hear some of the games people played, and what the speech sounded like
in the 1980s. We also reflect on how the modern Apple accessibility era would
not have occurred without the tenacity and input of the organized blind
movement. Subscribe to <i>Access On</i> wherever you get podcasts or
download the audio for this week\u2019s episode at <a href="https://buff.ly/fEkello" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">https://buff.ly/fEkello</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Dr. Jernigan tells the story of how a blind person helped
sighted people evacuate an airplane after an accident. Tune into episode
twenty-three of our <i>Walking Alone and Marching Together</i> podcast
entitled, "Episode 23: Chapter 7 - Culmination, The Concluding Years of
the Second Jernigan Presidency, Part 2." Listen at <a href="https://buff.ly/Az9tOdu?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVU12UWRhbHh6MHJtZkMySnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4tK2uzfweu9GsEUHm31HuTWJkZz7O4ERhfe4AMNchiJ09XGcZwWqgs39PMGQ_aem_GZiQasLw_POoERwJoy61WQ" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">https://buff.ly/Az9tOdu</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)">NFB Teachers of Tomorrow:</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Applications are now open for the 2026\u20132027 NFB Teachers of
Tomorrow cohort. The deadline for applying is May 4. This immersive program
connects educators of blind and low-vision students with the lived experiences
of blind individuals, helping them to better support student success. Please
share with teachers in your affiliate and community. Learn more and apply
at <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)">2026 NFB Youth Programs: NFB BELL Academy & NFB STEM2U:</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind is excited to offer two
engaging youth programs in 2026. NFB BELL<sup>®</sup> Academy builds
Braille literacy, nonvisual skills, and confidence through hands-on learning,
while NFB STEM2U provides accessible STEM experiences that spark curiosity and
problem-solving abilities. Please share with parents of blind children, students,
and teachers in your affiliate and community. Programs will be available in
multiple locations. Learn more and register at <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy" target="_blank" title="https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">nfb.org/bell</a> and <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/nfb-stem2u" target="_blank" title="https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/nfb-stem2u" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">nfb.org/stem2u</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)">2026 National Convention Career Quest:</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">The Career Quest is a weeklong program that offers blind
students an opportunity to participate in an array of employment exploration
opportunities, work with blind mentors and leaders, and learn self-advocacy
skills. <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-quest" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">Register for the National Convention Career Quest by May 1.</a> Please
direct all questions to <a href="mailto:employment@nfb.org" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">employment@nfb.org</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Legislative Alerts:</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Early next week, our government affairs group will send out
a legislative alert on the Access Technology Affordability Act. The goal is to
try to get the bill into one of the upcoming larger legislative vehicles that
Congress will need to pass in the near future. Please be sure to check your
inboxes for the alert. The government affairs group will also be sending out a
second legislative alert the following week regarding the Blind Americans
Return to Work Act.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Introducing the Cobolt Talking Double Air Fryer:</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">The fryer is ready to use straight out of the box, with
instructions in Braille and featuring built-in voice guidance with no Wi-Fi
required. It offers smart cooking categories with eight automatic functions for
potatoes, poultry, meat, fish, vegetables, pizza, fruit, and cake, and provides
a mid-cycle prompt to rearrange food for optimal cooking results. To purchase,
please contact Independence Market by phone, with online ordering coming soon
via our e-commerce website. The air fryer is priced at $289.00.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Oregon State University Settlement:</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Oregon State University (OSU) will pay $475,000 to resolve
claims brought by the nationwide membership and advocacy organization and by
one of its members, who is a blind student at the university, involving
concerns about the speed and accuracy with which course materials\u2014particularly
those needed for STEM courses\u2014were made accessible by the university\u2019s
disability access services office in partnership with academic units. The
National Federation of the Blind made recommendations for additional staff positions
to support accessibility work and OSU proactively established these positions.
Additionally, in consultation with the NFB, OSU leaders have begun implementing
changes including procuring tools to support the creation of accessible
materials, expanding assistive technology and services that provide access to
blind people, rewriting policies, and developing new procedures to ensure that
accessibility will be better addressed in the future. Read the full press
release at <a href="https://nfb.org/index.php/about-us/press-room/oregon-state-university-commits-accessibility-improvements-blind-and-low-vision" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">https://nfb.org/index.php/about-us/press-room/oregon-state-university-commits-accessibility-improvements-blind-and-low-vision</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<h2 style="margin:8pt 0in 4pt;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,176,80)"><a name="m_-9193628572866736120__Hlk183426075"></a><a name="m_-9193628572866736120__Hlk216694561"></a>Dates
to Keep in Mind:</h2>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">July
3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">July
2-7, 2027: National Convention; Austin, Texas</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">July
3-8, 2028: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">July
2-7, 2029: National Convention; Chicago, Illinois</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement Calls</p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Wednesday,
May 6</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Wednesday,
August 5</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Wednesday,
November 4</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of
its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and
diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</p>
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