[NFBofSC] NFB President’s Notebook - Final One for 2021

Steve Cook cookcafe at sc.rr.com
Thu Dec 23 12:07:10 UTC 2021 

Please share with members that may not be on this listserv.  Thank you.

Dear Federation Family,

As we come to the end of the year, I reflect upon the many members of this movement who have made a contribution to our work in the past twelve months. Many of you receiving this come to mind because of the heart and quiet actions you put into improving people’s lives. Mostly, my heart is filled with a great optimism for our future together. This past year has tested and transformed our movement. The next year will be a period of hope, building, and renewal for all of us. Even as we face another surge in the coronavirus, we have the confidence and experience of the past two years to guide our decisions and our actions—experience that we did not have two years ago. This is what we do in our movement: we learn as we go and build upon our experience. Sometimes we face uncertain circumstances but we face them together. Often, we can use our history, our experience, and our expertise to guide us through. In 2022, we will do all of these things to bring our movement to even greater heights for the blind of America.



Let me take a moment to give you just a couple of quick notes in addition to what is below. There is an incredible amount of important stuff happening even as we move into the holiday week. So, in no particular order:

* The NFB Board of Directors has approved a revised Code of Conduct that will become effective on January 1, 2022. You will find it on our website very soon. Thank you to those of you who took time to review our draft and give feedback. You will find that many of the suggestions raised were incorporated into the newest version.

* Another reminder that on January 4, at our next Presidential Release Live, we will be making a very special announcement about the Federation's scholarship program. You will not want to miss it.

* The national office will be closed on Monday, December 27, and Friday, December 30.

A Positive Story for 2021:

* Here is one from me: Although we have had a long-standing partnership with Santa Claus to produce Braille letters, this year we broke all records. We distributed more letters from Santa Claus than any other previous year and, above that, we introduced a new winter letter series that was sent to well over one hundred kids. The spirit of giving and making connections is truly alive in our movement in December 2021.

In the Riccobono household we celebrate Christmas, and we are looking forward to the family being together for a week of relaxation, reflection, and refreshment. We continue to be thankful that we have the opportunity to be part of a community of leaders and extended family within the Federation. I regret that time does not permit us to call each of you personally to share our gratitude and well wishes. Instead, please accept this as our wish that you have a safe, happy, and rejuvenating holiday and that 2022 brings you many great things. In addition, we want to express our great anticipation for being with each of you in New Orleans next summer.

Happy holidays!



*Critical Actions:*

*Legal Update—Spread the Word #BackOffLACCD: *

In a case filed by the National Federation of the Blind; the National Federation of the Blind of California; and two blind students, Roy Payan and Portia Mason, the Federal District Court for the Central District of California found that Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) violated the students’ rights under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
However, LACCD is planning to petition the US Supreme Court regarding this case—putting disability rights at risk. Please follow and engage with the hashtag #BackOffLACCD on Twitter <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BackOffLACCD&src=typed_query&f=live> to demand that LACCD stop this intentional effort that threatens our rights.
More information will be shared in an upcoming email.



*News:*

*Start the New Year at the January Presidential Release:*

The January Presidential Release will take place January 4, 2021, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. The monthly Presidential Release provides important updates and perspectives of the organized blind movement, and the live event includes a Q&A session. Submit questions in advance to cdanielsen at nfb.org and put PR512 in the subject line, or call 410-659-9314, extension 2473. Zoom details are https://zoom.us/j/96155839686 or the Meeting ID is 961 5583 9686.



*2022 Washington Seminar: *

The 2022 Washington Seminar is less than two months away and here at the Jernigan Institute we are kicking our preparation and planning into overdrive. Last Thursday, December 16, John Paré sent out an extensive summary email that included several important details for the Washington Seminar.

Of the critical details mentioned in that email, one is the Holiday Inn-Washington reservation deadline, which is January 7, 2022. Please remember to make your hotel reservation before then. Other important details were our four 2022 Washington Seminar issues. They are the Access Technology Affordability Act, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, the Twenty-First Century Website and Application Accessibility Act, and the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. We plan to post the fact sheets for these issues on our website during the week of January 10, 2022.



*Process for Posting Research Participant Solicitation Announcements:*

The large and diverse membership of the National Federation of the Blind is of great interest to researchers who are looking for blind and low-vision individuals to participate in research studies. To help ensure that these research studies have been approved by the research institution's internal review board and are focused on topics that align with the NFB's research mission, our research advisory council (RAC) has been formed to review all research studies, except for research conducted by high school and undergraduate students, before an announcement to solicit members to participate in research can be posted to any NFB list.

Once a study has been approved by the RAC for participation by our members, a recruitment announcement will either be posted to the appropriate NFB email list by Lou Ann Blake, our director of research programs, or she will ask the appropriate affiliate, chapter, or division president to make the post. If you have any questions, or if a researcher emails an announcement to you for posting, please contact Lou Ann Blake at lblake at nfb.org*, or 410-659-9314, extension 2221.*



*Thank You for Your Support of the National Federation of the Blind:*

The National Federation of the Blind relies on the generosity of our supporters to help us raise the expectations of blind people. Please share our thank you video to supporters you connected with this year and to new supporters we look forward to working with in the future.
https://youtu.be/XwgClsONKgY



*Lawsuit against Duke University:*

The NFB and member Mary Fernandez recently resolved our lawsuit against Duke University. As a part of the settlement, Duke will revise its policies and guidelines regarding accessible materials for blind students and will retain a consultant with expertise in accessible materials. For more information, please visit Fernandez v. Duke University Agreement Exhibit 1 <https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/files-pdf/Exhibit%201.pdf>.



*Read and Share the Kernel Books:*

The National Federation of the Blind's Kernel Book series highlights the stories of blind people and goes beyond sentimentality and misconceptions—to the very "kernel" of blindness. The text and audio of every Kernel Book is available online at https://nfb.org/resources/jacobus-tenbroek-library/collections/kernel-books.
Please note: this link is an updated page, please update any bookmarks you may have of a previous link.





*Dates to Keep in Mind:*

(all times eastern)

   - January 4: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - February 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - February 7: Great Gathering-In, 5:00 p.m.
   - February 7-10: Washington Seminar
   <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/>
   - March 1: Presidential Release, 8:00 p.m.
   - March 31: Deadline to submit scholarship application
   <https://nfb.org/scholarships>
   - July 5-10: National Convention, New Orleans



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





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



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<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
<https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>



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.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwgClsONKgY&authuser=0

Dorothy Griffin - President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia dgriffin at nfbga.org
770-374-4832

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.






--
Dorothy Griffin - President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia dgriffin at nfbga.org
770-374-4832

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.

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