[NFBofSC] President's Notebook

Wed Apr 1 20:57:11 UTC 2020

President’s NotebookNational Federation of the BlindMark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org410-659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

The activity around the Federation seems as busy as ever, even if the activity is different than it was just one month ago. I want to call your attention to a few things:

News:

*PR Briefings:*

The National Federation of the Blind is receiving some requests from the media about the impact of COVID-19 on our community. Reporters are often adopting the premise that we are especially vulnerable during this time because we rely on our sense of touch. We are explaining that tools like white canes mitigate the need to touch objects directly, and that we are of course just as capable of washing our hands as everyone else. We are also trying to refocus reporters’ attention on the true impact COVID-19 is having on blind people, particularly those of us who:

·       Are students in public school systems that are closed or in colleges
and universities
<https://www.governing.com/news/headlines/Bill-Aims-to-Give-Same-Higher-Ed-Tech-Access-to-All-Students.html>
that
have moved courses online

·       Are expected to work from home
<https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-employee-sues-beacon-health-options>
using
remote services and platforms that have accessibility barriers

·       Need to order groceries, food deliveries, prescription drugs,
medical supplies, or other essential items

·       Need to connect with their medical providers virtually rather than
visiting the office or clinic, or are encountering inaccessible registration kiosks and other technology at healthcare facilities

·       Need to access healthcare instructions or other critical information

If you receive media inquiries, please coordinate with Chris Danielsen, our director of public relations, so that he can help you with more in-depth talking points on these topics. This coordination is especially crucial if the media outlet that has reached out to you has a national scope (e.g., *New York Times*, *NBC Nightly News*). We will want to explore the opportunity for President Riccobono to be interviewed in those situations. You should also feel free to share local examples of the problems that blind people are experiencing with Chris so that he can direct reporters who contact us to those stories. You can reach him by calling 410-659-9314, extension 2330, or by emailing cdanielsen at nfb.org.

*Connect to NFB-NEWSLINE® to be informed on COVID-19:*

In an effort to bring the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) to our subscribers, we are pleased to offer a new information source in our Breaking News Online category. This source of information is being provided by Johns Hopkins University and is titled COVID-19 Pandemic Data. Johns Hopkins University is considered one of the leading worldwide resources concerning statistics on this pandemic and we are pleased that we can offer it in an accessible audio and Braille format to our subscribers.

There are various sections in the COVID-19 data that you may access and they are broken down by total state cases, as well as world/country data cases. To further provide specific state or international detail, you can select states or world regions in an alphabetical range. This data is continuously updated throughout the day with the most recent statistics.

Just like with the breaking news search results, which we added to everyone's Alexa's favorite number 1, we have added this to everyone's favorite number 2 for ease of access. You can access this new information source by issuing the command: "Alexa, ask National Federation to read favorite 2.” Recall that we do have an electronic file containing other commands that you can use with the NFB-NEWSLINE skill for Alexa. If you would like a copy, please contact us.

Access the COVID-19 information using the telephone by pressing 5 from the main menu, then press 1 for the Breaking News Online category, then press 1 for the virus search results or press 2 for the Johns Hopkins data. If you are using the NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile iOS app, look for the virus information under the All Publications section. Web-News-On-Demand users can find the
COVID-19 information by selecting "Publications Organized by State," and then "Breaking News Online."

We hope that you find the COVID-19 information on NFB-NEWSLINE to be beneficial to keeping you and your family safe during this health crisis.
If you have ideas on other coronavirus-related material that you would like to see on NFB-NEWSLINE, please write Scott White at swhite at nfb.org or call 866-504-7300.

*NFB-NEWSLINE Presentations Possible:*

Many chapter and affiliates are conducting Zoom meetings during the
COVID-19 health crisis and Scott White would like you to know that he is available to present on NFB-NEWSLINE and how it can help you to live the life you want. If you would like Scott to speak at one of your Zoom meetings, please contact him via email at swhite at nfb.org.

*Blog Post: Gratitude for the Women of the Movement:*

March is Women’s History Month and it is a time to celebrate the vital role of women in history. In this week’s blog post, learn more about BLIND, Inc.’s executive director, Jennifer Kennedy, and her connection to many women of the Federation. The National Federation of the Blind is proudly affiliated with the country’s leading training centers for the blind <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/training-centers>, which offer a variety of programs for all ages that help build blindness skills and encourage independence, which includes BLIND, Inc. Read the *Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog* <https://www.nfb.org/blog/gratitude-women-movement>*.*

*Continued Celebration for Women’s History Month:*

To continue celebrating women’s history month, the President’s banquet speech from the 2018 NFB National Convention highlighted a sampling of the hundreds of female leaders of our movement whose stories illuminate the characteristics that have allowed us, as diverse individuals who happen to be blind, to synergize a movement that cannot be divided. The role of blind women within the National Federation of the Blind is clear and powerful. Access the banquet speech <https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/convent/banquet-speech-2018-2.html>.
The audio of the speech
<https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/2018_convention_highlights/2018_banquet_speech.mp3>
is
also available.

Reminders

 Dates to Keep in Mind:

   - March 31: Deadline for scholarship applications
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-program>

·        April 15: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award
<https://www.nfb.org/bolotin> application deadline

·        May 1: Distinguished Educator Award
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-educator-blind-students-award>
nomination
deadline

   - June 21-27: NFB EQ
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/national-center-blind-youth-science/nfb-eq>;
   St. Paul, Minnesota
   - July 14-19: NFB National Convention <https://www.nfb.org/convention>,
   Houston, Texas

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.

Mark A. Riccobono, President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org

[image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>

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The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.