[NFBofSC] President"s Notebook

[Steve Cook]

Dear Fellow Federationists,


*Critical Actions:*
*Attend the Presidential Release Next Week:*

The October Presidential Release
<https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=399> of the National Federation of the Blind will be delivered on Thursday, October 1. After the remarks there is an opportunity for questions. Submit questions in advance to cdanielsen at nfb.org and put PR498 in the subject line, or call 410-659-9314, extension 2473.


*Celebrate #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, September 22:*

The National Federation of the Blind encourages all blind people, regardless of their political views, to participate in the American democracy. According to NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org millions of eligible voters are unable to cast a ballot every year because of a missed registration deadline, outdated registration information, or other problems with their voter registration. We hope that blind Americans across the country will celebrate #NationalVoterRegistrationDay and get registered to vote and ready to cast a ballot. Review our voting resources <https://www.nfb.org/resources/voting-resources> for more information on voting.

And don’t forget that we have our own voting song, "Our Vote <https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/nfb_songs/hamilton-parody-final.mp3>,"
thanks to the talents of NFB member Precious Perez who was inspired by "My Shot" from the musical *Hamilton.*


*News:**US Commission on Civil Rights Report on Subminimum Wages:*

Last week the US Commission on Civil Rights released a report, *Subminimum
Wages: Impacts on the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities <https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/briefing-reports/2020-09-17-Subminimum-Wages.php>*,
that recommended the 14(c) program be repealed with a planned phase out.
They also recommended transition funding be allocated for capacity building while the program is phased out. The commission recommended oversight authority and jurisdiction be assigned to either the Department of Labor or the Department of Justice, noting the lack of civil rights oversight to protect the rights of 14(c) workers. More information is available in our press release. Also, a video prepared by the commission is available at https://securisync.intermedia.net/us2/s/HZL97afsUcN4QDOGYdK5pp0011ef58.

The complete press release is available on our website <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-report-united-states-commission-civil-rights>
.


*Access Technology Affordability Act:*

The ATAA has record support in both the House and Senate. With the addition of Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Washington) and Lori Trahan
(Massachusetts) last week, the House version of the bill now has 127 cosponsors. There was also a new cosponsor in the Senate last week, as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (New York) signed onto the bill, bringing our total number of Senate cosponsors to twenty-five. Leadership in both chambers continues to be impressed with the cosponsor counts on the Access Technology Affordability Act, as well as the bipartisan nature of the cosponsors. However, we have to keep pushing for more, as this gives us the greatest opportunity to have ATAA included in a larger bill package.


*Independence Market Exhibit Video:*

A number of state affiliates have requested our Independence Market exhibit at their upcoming conventions. In an effort to fulfill all of the requests, we are working on a brief demo of a few independence market items that affiliates can use at their conventions. This video will be sent out to affiliates later this week; it is expected to be ready by Wednesday.


*Meet the Blind Month—Share Your Events:*

The National Federation of the Blind celebrates Meet the Blind Month <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/meet-blind-month> every October.
Many members are planning virtual events and more in our local communities.
Send the date of your event and a brief description to web at nfb.org, so it can be included on nfb.org/MTBM. Please use #MeetTheBlind in social media.
Additionally, plan to participate in our weekly Twitter chats <https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/twitter-chats> each Wednesday of October around lived experiences with intersectionality. Mark your calendars now!
 *This Week: Nonvisual Access Conference, September 24-25:*

*Access Technology and Structured Discovery. *Designed for teachers of blind students and blindness professionals, the National Federation of the Blind is hosting the Nonvisual Access Conference <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/nonvisual-access-conference>,
an all-virtual, two-day conference with sessions and panels discussing the intersection of access technology and the structured discovery training model used in other areas of blindness-skills training. Review the agenda and register today.


*Next Week: Inclusive Publishing Conference, October 1:*

*Working Together for an Accessible Future in Digital Content*. The National Federation of the Blind is hosting a one-day online event focused on digital publication accessibility. TheInclusive Publishing Conference <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/inclusive-publishing-conference>
will
feature presentations such as “Word to EPUB 101,” “Issues Facing Blind Students in Higher Education Today,” “Best Practices for Ensuring Accessible Content in Your University Course,” and more. Registration is open.


*Pearson Collaboration:*

The National Federation of the Blind’s collaboration with Pearson in connection with the Pearson/NFB Corporate Disability Mentoring Program is going well. In this six-month program, blind college students are matched with successful Pearson employees and are provided access to guidance, advice, and support from successful and experienced professionals working in a variety of positions within the Pearson organization. This year we also are matching each Pearson mentor-mentee pair with a blind NFB mentor who will serve as a resource to the mentoring pair should blindness questions or concerns arise. Although the primary relationship in the triad is the relationship between the student and his or her Pearson mentor, our NFB mentors will be available to serve as a sounding board and to answer any questions or offer advice if requested.

If you are interested in serving as a blindness resource to a mentor/mentee pair in the Pearson/NFB Corporate Disability Mentoring Program, please send an email tosdubnow at nfb.org.


*Amazon Fulfillment Center Employees:*

Related to NFB Resolution 2020-11: Regarding Amazon Employment Practices <https://www.nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/2020-resolutions>,
if you have been hired to work at an Amazon fulfillment center and were denied accommodations and/or put on leave without pay while your accommodations were being evaluated, the NFB needs to hear from you. Please contact Valerie Yingling, legal program coordinator, at vyingling at nfb.org regarding your experience.


*Thanks Go out to Missouri and Oregon:*

I want to especially recognize both our Missouri and Oregon affiliates for sharing recent bequests with our national office. These unrestricted gifts from estates are so important to what we do. They give us the flexibility to do things like advocate for voting rights during the pandemic.




*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

   - September 24-25: Nonvisual Access Conference
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/nonvisual-access-conference>
   - October 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - October 1: Inclusive Publishing Conference
   <https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/trainings/inclusive-publishing-conference>
   - October: Meet the Blind Month
   - November 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - December 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - December 9: Open-House Gathering call, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - February 8, 2021: Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In



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

Twitter: @Riccobono

Pronouns: he, him, his