[NFBofSC] NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 05/06/2024

Wed May 8 09:41:25 UTC 2024

Steve Cook

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

410-659-9314

Dear Federation Family,

As we enter the month of May, I find myself reflecting upon the unique role we play as an organization of blind people. We have made a strong commitment to be blind-led, blind-centered, and driven by the priorities of blind people themselves. This approach has tremendous advantages, but it does not happen without real work and sacrifice. Many similar efforts around the world have had difficulty sustaining the independence and blind-led movement we have maintained here in this country.

It is important that we do not take this for granted. It is also important that we do not get lost in the day-to-day details of operating an organization and lose the bigger objective. If we are to continue to make progress, we need to maintain blind leadership to determine our own future. We need to continue to mobilize blind people to the cause, we need to continue to raise our individual and collective expectations, and we must not get distracted by believing that the gains we have already made cannot easily be lost if we stray from our strategic priorities.

All indications are that this summer’s convention will be an important part of building the movement. Keep up the great work mobilizing blind people at the local level, connecting them into our nationwide network and spreading the truth about the lived experience we share.

Critical Actions:

May Presidential Release:

The  <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> May Presidential Release chapter version is available for chapter meetings. The next live presidential release is scheduled for Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Zoom TBD.  

Convention:

Convention Resolutions:

The national convention is just two months away. Our Resolutions Committee, chaired by Donald Porterfield, is currently accepting proposed resolutions for the convention to consider. Proposed resolutions should be emailed to the committee at  <mailto:resolutions at nfb.org> resolutions at nfb.org. Don’t forget, the deadline to submit a resolution is Tuesday, June 4, at midnight, eastern. Donald recently published a  <https://nfb.org/blog/resolutions-101-way-drive-external-change> blog post on the topic of writing resolutions, so be sure to check it out as you prepare to submit yours.

National Federation of the Blind National Convention Career Fair:

Join us for the National Federation of the Blind National Convention career fair. The career fair is an event for blind people seeking jobs to connect with employers and is an opportunity for employers to seek more talent for their teams. Registration is required by Friday, May 31, 2024.

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=33724&qid=9768544> National Convention Job-Seeker Registration

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=597> National Convention Employer Registration 

To prepare job seekers, the Employment Committee will be hosting “Elevating Your Career Fair Experience,” an online seminar designed to provide tips and techniques for creating the most positive experience while attending the fair. Members will automatically be registered for the online seminar once they have registered for the career fair. For more information on the career fair or webinar, please contact Lia Stone, employer liaison, at  <mailto:evangeliastone at gmail.com> evangeliastone at gmail.com or Jennifer Wenzel, jobseeker liaison, at  <mailto:jenwen319 at gmail.com> jenwen319 at gmail.com.

The career fair will take place on Wednesday, July 3, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., eastern. 

News:

Dream Big! Give $25 Drive Launches May 16:

We announced the launch of our Dream Big! Give $25 Drive on the May Presidential Release. This year we have some new elements to encourage magnification of our messaging and peer-to-peer fundraising. When you give $25 or more between May 16 and July 6, you're entered into the Dream Big: Give $25 Drive Drawing. Each $25 increment is a chance to win! Why "Dream Big"? Because blindness doesn't hold you back. You could win prizes like roundtrip transportation for two to the 2025 NFB National Convention, hotel accommodations, registration, banquet tickets, or $2,000 cash! Thanks to our partners at APH and HumanWare, you could also win a Monarch—a dynamic tactile device! New this year, friends and family can make donations in your honor, and you'll get extra entries. The drive supports funds like the Kenneth Jernigan Fund and the White Cane Fund, and you can choose one when you donate. To enter, visit  <http://nfb.org/Give25Donate> nfb.org/Give25Donate; call 410-659-9314, extension 2430; or send a check to National Federation of the Blind and mention #Give25 and the fund in the memo. The winner will be announced July 8, 2024. Thank you for your generosity. 

ADA Title II Website Final Rule:

On April 24, 2024, the  <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/24/2024-07758/nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web-information-and-services-of-state> ADA Title II Website Accessibility Final Rule was published in the Federal Register. The National Federation of the Blind has been advocating for the release of this final rule since the advance notice of proposed rulemaking was announced in 2010, nearly fourteen years ago. An advance copy of the rule was distributed in early April, and we released an  <https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-us-department-justice-web-and-mobile-content> official statement on the ADA Title II Website Accessibility Rule at that time.

You can read our official statement, as well as many other Federation positions on key federal policies, on the  <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> Policy Statements page of our website.

Museum of the Blind People’s Movement—Funding:

Recently, the Museum of the Blind People’s Movement was awarded two government grants. The first was from the federal government, in the form of Congressionally Directed Spending, in the amount of $301,000. The second was from the state of Maryland, in the form of a legislative bond initiative, in the amount of $250,000. We thank both the federal and state governments for their generous contributions to preserving the history of the organized blind in the United States. 

Voting Accessibility:

We are in the midst of primary voting season and have a presidential election approaching in November. If you are a registered voter, you have the legal right to cast your private and independent ballot. As we make our way through this election year, it is important to ensure that your vote is both private and independent. The Help America Vote Act requires all polling stations during federal elections to have one accessible ballot-marking device available. It is the polling place’s responsibility that these devices are set up and ready for use by the start of election day as well as having trained poll workers to operate the machines. If your state permits remote voting options, this process must also be accessible, thereby providing privacy and independence. Instances that do not provide accessibility, whether you voted in person or remotely, can be reported to the Department of Justice. We at the NFB are also interested to hear why your voting experience did not go as planned so feel free to contact Jeff Kaloc at 410-659-9314, extension 2206, or  <mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org> jkaloc at nfb.org. Here is the information to file a complaint with the Department of Justice:

*        By complaint form at  <http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php> http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php

*        By email at  <mailto:voting.section at usdoj.gov> voting.section at usdoj.gov

*        By telephone at 800-253-3931 (toll free)

*        By telephone at 202-307-2767

*        By fax at 202-307-3961 

Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization:

The Senate will be considering the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization this week. This bill contains several access provisions that we have specifically been advocating for. Please watch your inboxes for a legislative alert coming soon. 

Blind Businesswoman Vindicated and Awarded over $30,000 by Jury in Federal Equal Access Case:

We supported recent ADA litigation. A jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California rendered a verdict in favor of Lisamaria Martinez, a blind entrepreneur, in her equal access lawsuit against the County of Alameda. The jury found that the county Clerk-Recorder’s Office deliberately violated her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California law.  <https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-businesswoman-vindicated-and-awarded-over-30000-jury-federal-equal-access> Read and share the full press release. 

May Boutique—Document Creation:

There are different options for accessible word processors. Join our document-creation-software boutique on May 28 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. to learn about the features and accessibility of some popular options.  <https://nfb.org/form/accessibility-boutique-reg> Register today.  

Reminders:

NFB Year in Review Available:

Have you ever wanted something to reference our past year, or just something you can link to or print and take to meetings? Our Year in Review for 2023 is out and will soon be available in the NFB Portal, in the Finance and Organizational Documents modules. Think of the Year in Review as a short-form annual report for quick reference or sharing. Please take a look and employ this helpful resource. 

Dates to Keep in Mind: (all times eastern)

*        July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

*        Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 p.m.

*        Wednesday, August 7, 8:00 p.m.

*        Wednesday, November 6, 8:00 p.m.

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