[NFBofSC] FW: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 05/15/2023

Mon May 15 21:09:59 UTC 2023

Please see the below President’s Notebook.

My Best,

Marty.

From: President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 4:30 PM
To: State Presidents <StatePresidents at nfb.org>; NFB-Division-Leaders at nfbnet.org; NCB Staff <NCBStaff at nfb.org>
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 05/15/2023

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:

With the convention coming up, I am sure all of us are thinking about the policy advancement work of the organized blind movement. It is important for each of us as leaders to be involved in understanding and shaping the programs and services that affect blind people. As an example, about this time two years ago members started raising concerns with national leaders about the marketing practices of AccessiBe. The national board took action and the Convention further took action by passing a number of resolutions.

Recently, the Braille Monitor published an apology authored by the CEO of accessiBe. Please refer to “A Heart-felt Apology and a Chance to Start Again” (HTML)<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm23/bm2305/bm230503.htm> from the May 2023 issue. We accepted the writing as it was offered by accessiBe and we now want to hear what our members think about the apology. How does the community feel about it? How do we advance digital access and hold companies accountable for their marketing practices? These and other questions need to continue to receive debate and attention in our quest for equality. This is the level of engagement that we need throughout the organization. Sharing your thoughts on this and other topics will help to shape where we go.

With that in mind, do not forget that the deadline for submission of resolutions for our 2023 Convention is June 1, 2023. Please reach out to our new resolutions chairman, Donald Porterfield, at resolutions at nfb.org<mailto:resolutions at nfb.org> to make your submission or get assistance with crafting a resolution.

Let’s go build the Federation.

Critical Actions:
June Presidential Release Is May 31:
The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #528<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> is scheduled for Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Mark your calendar. Zoom details coming soon.

Convention:
2023 Convention Resolutions:
The deadline to submit resolutions for the 2023 National Convention is just over two weeks away. Make sure that if you have a topic that deserves the recognition of the Convention that you craft a resolution and send it to resolutions at nfb.org<mailto:resolutions at nfb.org> before Thursday, June 1, 2023.

News:
Section 508 Webinar This Week:
Join the National Federation of the Blind and the US Access Board on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Thursday, May 18, for a one-hour seminar about Section 508 for government employees with disabilities, their supervisors, human resource professionals, contractors, and anyone else interested. Learn about what it is supposed to do and how people with disabilities can work together to leverage the new ruling. Register for the #GAAD Section 508 Webinar.<https://nfb.org/form/gaad-section-508-webinar>

Request Affiliate and Division Mastodon Account:
As mentioned in the May presidential release, the National Federation of the Blind is building our presence in the social media network space known as Mastodon, and we launched our Mastodon server, nfb.social. We are establishing affiliate and division accounts for nfb.social at the request of the affiliate and national division presidents. If you are interested in being part of the first wave of organizational accounts, please email mastodon at nfb.org<mailto:mastodon at nfb.org>. These will be organizational accounts, not accounts for individuals. We would like to hear from you by May 19, 2023, if you want to have your affiliate or national division be part of the initial round of accounts we create. We will organize an initial review and training on Mastodon for the first batch of accounts that are created for nfb.social. If you are already on Mastodon, we encourage you to follow @Nationsblind at nfb.social and the official @President at nfb.social accounts.

Share and Forward Teachers of Tomorrow Opportunity:
Applications are open for the 2023-2024 National Federation of the Blind Teachers of Tomorrow cohort. NFB Teachers of Tomorrow is an immersive professional-development program that connects teachers of blind and low-vision students to the lived experiences of blind people. The program will equip the participants with knowledge of the skills and attitudes that can help blind students thrive in school and beyond. Please encourage teachers of blind students in your affiliate to apply for this opportunity and help circulate the application information to any university programs that prepare teachers of blind students where you have contacts. For more information, visit https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/teachers-tomorrow.

Rocket Your Way into STEM: Upcoming Event for Blind and Low-Vision Students:
The National Federation of the Blind works to improve opportunities for blind students in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). NFB STEM2U brings nonvisual accessible lessons and activities to blind youth. Students of varying ages across the country will learn fundamental nonvisual tools and techniques they can use to pursue further education and careers.
The theme this year is space! In collaboration with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), join us for a day of excitement as we build and launch rockets, create a moon base, learn about the impact of craters, and make a parachute.
Do you know blind or low-vision children that would benefit from this program? To learn more and to register, visit https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/nfb-stem2u. Some of the affiliate programs start soon, so hurry and register today.

Help with Ride for Literacy – Ideas and Introductions:
As part of our Ride for Literacy we are seeking sponsors and hope you all can help by making suggestions or providing introductions. There are marketing opportunities for sponsors during the ride. We are especially interested in potential supporters with ties to sports or local sponsors whose businesses are along Route 66. Please reach out to Rachel Held at rheld at nfb.org<mailto:rheld at nfb.org> with your ideas. Thanks in advance for making this a successful public awareness and fundraising endeavor.

Upcoming Event: Accessibility of Virtual Meeting Platforms Boutique:
On Tuesday, May 30, the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access will present an Accessibility Boutique on recent accessibility improvements in Virtual Meeting Platforms. Come learn about the accessibility of Zoom, WebEx, and Microsoft Teams meetings, and how they have changed over the last few years! Register for the Virtual Meeting Platforms Boutique<https://nfb.org/form/accessibility-boutique-reg>.

Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 1467):
Now that the Access Technology Affordability Act has been introduced in the 118th Congress, it’s all hands on deck to build cosponsor support. We have a strong start with Senators Boozman (AR), Wyden (OR), and Young (IN) stepping in as original cosponsors, but it’s going to take a lot more than the three of them to get the bill passed. The Senate will be in session all this week before they take a week break ahead of Memorial Day, so we need you to contact your state’s two senators and urge them to cosponsor S. 1467, the Access Technology Affordability Act.

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328):
Since the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328) was introduced on March 1 with thirty-two original cosponsors, we have seen a relatively steady flow of cosponsors sign on throughout the month of April and the beginning of May. We know that the House will be in session for the next two weeks before the Memorial Day holiday, so we need your help to turn that steady flow into a surge of cosponsors. Please call your representative and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 1328, the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act.

Mondelēz Global LLC Settlement:
On May 13, 2023, a class action settlement agreement regarding Mondelēz Global LLC and its related entities was reached. The suit alleged that Mondelēz Global LLC violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to take the necessary steps to ensure its websites do not discriminate against blind or visually disabled consumers who use screen-reader auxiliary aids to access digital content. Under the settlement, Mondelēz Global LLC agrees to take additional steps to make its websites, mobile apps, and any new website or mobile app it develops or acquires accessible to screen-reader users. For a more complete summary of the terms of the proposed settlement and to review other documents and information related to this matter, please visit: https://www.mondelezADAsettlement.com.

Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)

  *   May 18: Global Accessibility Awareness Day
  *   June 1 and 4: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Member Engagement and National Convention)
  *   July 1-6, 2023: National Convention; Houston, Texas
  *   August 9: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
  *   September 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Blind Equality Achievement Month)
  *   November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
  *   December 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Planning the Year Ahead)

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>
Mastodon: @President at nfb.social
Pronouns: he, him, his

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

                         [Facebook] <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>     [Twitter] <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>     [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.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/attachments/20230515/71b0d5de/attachment.html>