[NFBofAlaska] Notes from President Mark Riccobono, President of the NFB

Tue Oct 4 04:58:21 UTC 2022

Reading these notes will give you a better understanding of what this
dynamic organization is up to.

>From President Riccobono:

Dear Federation Family,

It was such an honor to be on the ground in Jackson, Mississippi, for our
Presidential Release LIVE event to kick off Blind Equality Achievement
Month. Thanks to our Mississippi affiliate for the invitation. Thanks again
also to our National Association of Blind Merchants for stepping up to
provide water for us to distribute to our blind members in Jackson who have
been dealing with the ongoing water crisis. I was humbled to travel around
the city with our local chapter president and meet members at their homes.
This was a true showing of Federation family.

I encourage affiliates that have innovative proposals for our live release
events in 2023 to submit them to me. We cannot be on the road every month,
but we would love to do more of these in local communities.

(Wouldn't it be amazing if the live Presidential Release could be done in
one month Alaska?)

It's Blind Equality Achievement Month!:

Members of the National Federation of the Blind conduct activities in local
communities such as white cane walks, film screenings, and social events.
Please send a description of your affiliate- or chapter-related #BlindMonth
activities, including the white cane proclamations, to  <mailto:web at nfb.org>
web at nfb.org so they can be posted on the  <https://nfb.org/blind-month>
Blind Equality Achievement Month page. There is also still time to encourage
your local government to issue a White Cane Awareness Day proclamation.
Learn more at  <https://whitecane.day/> whitecane.day

News:

Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities:

Last Thursday, the NFB submitted comments to the US Department of Health and
Human Services Office for Civil Rights regarding its notice of public
rulemaking (NPRM) for Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The
NPRM proposes to clarify and expand nondiscrimination requirements in
Section 1557 of the ACA and requested feedback specific to telehealth,
medical devices, and website and mobile app accessibility. I encourage you
to read our comments, as well as the other content on the
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> Policy
Statements section of our website.

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, S. 4998/H.R. 9021:

On September 28, 2022, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois introduced the
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the Senate. There
are three original cosponsors for the bill: Senator Bob Casey of
Pennsylvania, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Senator Ed Markey of
Massachusetts. On the same day, Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland
introduced an identical bill in the House, which has been assigned bill
number H.R. 9021. Now that the bill is introduced in both chambers of
Congress, please contact your members in the House and Senate and ask them
to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act! For
more information, check out
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/senator-duckworth-and-representative-sa
rbanes-introduce-bill-make-websites-and-software-accessible> our press
release. 

2023 Washington Seminar:

The days are getting shorter, there's a chill in the air, and the leaves
have just begun to fall from the trees-that means our annual Washington
Seminar is just around the corner. For 2023, the Washington Seminar will be
back at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol, located at 550 C Street, SW
Washington, DC. January will mark the start of the 118th Congress, and we
wanted to make sure we were one of the first groups new members met with.
That's why we scheduled next year's seminar from Monday, January 30, through
Thursday, February 2, 2023. Save those dates in your calendars now but stay
tuned over the next few weeks and months as we release more updates like
hotel reservation details, legislative issues, and training schedules.

Announcing Matching Gift Opportunity:

We are asking you all to socialize the information below regarding our
upcoming challenge grant from Vispero. 

Challenging Expectations: A Partnership with Vispero:

We rely on the generosity of individual supporters and partner organizations
to help us transform dreams into reality for blind people. We are excited to
announce a generous challenge gift from Vispero to celebrate White Cane
Awareness Day. Every dollar contributed between October 15 and the end of
the year will be matched up to $50,000!

Double your contribution and help ensure that we fulfill this matching gift.

Three ways you can help:

*         Give online at  <https://nfb.org/donate> nfb.org/donate

*         Mail a check to National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells
Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

*         Contribute by phone using a credit card by calling 410-659-9314,
extension 2430

Office 365 Suite Accessibility Boutique:

October 4, 2:00-3:30 p.m., eastern, via Zoom

The National Federation of the Blind, in partnership with the Maryland
Department of Disabilities, invites you to attend the Office 365 Suite
Accessibility Boutique. Learn about the features of Microsoft's online
Office 365 Suite and its accessibility for blind and low-vision users. The
boutique will focus on Office 365's Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
applications.
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events
> Register for the October 4 Accessibility Boutique.

Career Fair-Fearless Job Interview Part 1:

October 6, 7:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom 

In the first seminar of the National Federation of the Blind career fair
series, job seekers will be given information on job search strategies, an
overview on customizing their resumes and cover letters, keys to developing
effective interview communication, and an interactive segment on the tricky
prompt "tell me about yourself." No registration required.
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?&reset=1&id=522> Access Zoom details for
Job Interview Part 1 on the Career Fair page.

Recent Voice of the Nation's Blind Blog Post:

September was National Guide Dog Month, and it helps lead us to October,
which is Blind Equality Achievement Month. Danielle McCann's retired guide
dog, Schultz, shares some of the experience with transitioning to
retirement. Read the blog post, " <https://nfb.org/blog/hanging-harness>
Hanging Up the Harness."

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	October 4:
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events
> Office 365 Suite Accessibility Boutique

*	October 6:  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?&reset=1&id=522>
Career Fair Part 1
*	October 15:  <https://whitecane.day/> White Cane Awareness Day

*	October 21: Where the Blind Work Webinar
*	October 25:
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events
> Education Technology Accessibility Boutique
*	January 30, 2023: Great Gathering-In
*	March 23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium

July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas

Bonnie Lucas
President
National Federation of the Blind of Alaska
Cell: 907-301-6808

Email: lucas.bonnie at gmail.com <mailto:lucas.bonnie at gmail.com> 

Web: alaskanfb.org <https://alaskanfb.org/> 
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.

[Delegate-BML]

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