[NFBofSC] FW: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of10/17/2022

Mon Oct 17 22:07:38 UTC 2022

Good Evening All,

Please take note of the information below in the President’s Notebook.

My Best,

Marty

From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2022 4:37 PM
To: State Presidents <StatePresidents at nfb.org>
Cc: Kane Brolin <kbrolin65 at gmail.com>
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of10/17/2022

President’s Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
410-659-9314

Dear Federation Family,

I hope everyone had a great White Cane Awareness Day. It is heartwarming to witness so many outstanding events to promote the Federation in the public again. Check out this clip of our Baltimore Running Festival water stop<https://news.yahoo.com/national-federation-blind-mans-baltimore-125809041.html?guccounter=1> hosted by the Greater Baltimore Chapter. If you have not shared activities from your affiliates with our communications group, I hope you do so very soon.

There are a number of conventions happening in the coming weeks. I encourage you to use these as opportunities to promote the important interconnections between affiliates and our national movement. I also invite you to urge people to support our end-of-year giving during which we have been offered a matching contribution from Vispero.

Thank you for your continued leadership!

Critical Actions:
October 18 Oral Argument for Orozco v. Merrick in Washington, DC:
We invite and encourage NFB members to attend the in-person oral argument for the NFB-supported case, Orozco v. Merrick, on October 18 in Washington, DC. NFB member Joe Orozco is appealing a federal district court decision finding that blind federal employees do not have a private right of action to directly enforce Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act against their federal employers. The impact of the decision could extend to members of the public seeking to access federal electronic information technology as well as other disabled federal employees using technology at work. Please contact Valerie Yingling at 410-659-9314, extension 2440, or legal at nfb.org<mailto:legal at nfb.org> for more information about attending in person. For those who cannot attend in person, we encourage you to listen to the oral argument live via the court’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/USCourtsCADC<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2F_0JvCkROzYcOrygQfz7Q0z%3Fdomain%3Dnam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com&data=05%7C01%7Cvyingling%40nfb.org%7C274b4c3e152b40c6eba308da9a43b25a%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637991912808755875%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=F5SassaNrzm5JOExwTw7f0p03cKUo0Ql5Cz6MMt3djE%3D&reserved=0>.

Upcoming Event: Information Session with Tonya Baña:
As part of our safety and support work, the National Federation of the Blind Code of Conduct Feedback Committee has been gathering information for improving the participant experience, socializing the code itself and associated procedures, and any barriers to understanding the policies and standards established for our community. There is an upcoming information session on Sunday, October 23, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, with Tonya Baña, our external investigator. Zoom and details are available on the nfb.org event page for the information session<https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/info?id=537&reset=1>.

News:
Blind Voter Survey:
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that voters with disabilities must be afforded an opportunity to vote privately and independently that is equivalent to the opportunity afforded to voters without disabilities. This requirement applies to both in-person voting and voting by mail for the upcoming general election on November 8, 2022.

After exercising the fundamental right to vote, all blind and low-vision voters are encouraged to complete our 2022 Blind and Low-Vision Voter Experience Survey! The 2022 survey consists of two separate surveys: one survey for those who voted in person at an early voting center or their local polling place, and a second survey for blind and low-vision voters who voted by mail. Both surveys can be accessed from our Voting Resources webpage.<https://nfb.org/resources/voting-resources>

Help Us Meet the Match: Vispero Is Matching Donations through December 31, 2022:

·         Give online at nfb.org/donate<https://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

·         Share this information with family and friends!

Thank you for contributing to our mission and helping blind people live the lives they want.

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (S. 4998/H.R. 9021):
Since the introduction of the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in both the House and the Senate, we have been copied on a number of your emails urging members of Congress to cosponsor the bills. This is fantastic, and really demonstrates the power we have when we all set out to accomplish one goal. Please keep up this great work and continue to email and call your members of Congress to urge them to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (S. 4998/H.R. 9021).

It's Still Blind Equality Achievement Month!:
Let’s keep engaging on social media using the hashtag #BlindMonth. Members of the National Federation of the Blind are still conducting activities in local communities such as white cane walks, film screenings, and social events. If you still have events or have had one, please share a description of your affiliate- or chapter-related #BlindMonth activities, including the white cane proclamations, to web at nfb.org<mailto:web at nfb.org> so they can be posted on the Blind Equality Achievement Month page.<https://nfb.org/blind-month>

Social Security Administration Announces 2023 Cost-of-Living Adjustment:
On Thursday, October 13, 2022, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the 2023 benefit amounts. The increase for 2023 is 8.7 percent and will have the following impact on benefit amounts beginning in January of next year:
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
2022 benefit: $841
2023 benefit: $914

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Average 2022 benefit: $1,364
Average 2023 benefit: $1,483

SSDI Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Threshold for Blind People
2022: $2,260
2023: $2,460

NIH RADx COVID-19 At-Home-Test-Experience Survey:
The National Institutes of Health Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (NIH RADx) has extended the closing date for its COVID-19 At-Home-Test-Experience survey. If you haven’t already, please take time to complete this important survey: https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bdqaz5GtByY4H1I<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FG08iCn5ND2f7xNz9S9VZdJ%3Fdomain%3Dgatech.co1.qualtrics.com&data=05%7C01%7Cvyingling%40nfb.org%7Ce86041fd47d24dd4b9d108daab13fe89%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C638010399780995579%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8%2BbjZYZQF7%2BDFNcQBKvFksqzFntf%2FpHJgjKDwCiU%2FT8%3D&reserved=0>

Where the Blind Work:

Join us on Friday, October 21, at 8:00 p.m., eastern, as we celebrate the work and accomplishments of successfully employed blind professionals. Register at https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/where-the-blind-work-webinars-registration.
Fearless Job Interview Part 2: the Dos and Don’ts of Business Communication, October 13, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., eastern. Join Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93698466990

Fall virtual career fair on Wednesday, October 26, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., eastern. The deadline to register is Friday, October 14, at noon, eastern.

  *   Registration for Job Seekers<https://nfb.org/form/career-fair-jobseeker-registration>
  *   Registration for Employers<https://nfb.org/form/career-fair-employer-registration>

Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)

  *   October 21: Where the Blind Work Webinar
  *   October 25: Education Technology Accessibility Boutique<https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/events>
  *   January 30, 2023: Great Gathering-In
  *   March 23, 2023: Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
  *   July 1-6, 2023: National 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<mailto:Officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
Twitter: @Riccobono
Pronouns: he, him, his

[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.

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