[NFBofSC] President's Notebook Week of November 24, 2024

Tue Nov 26 10:58:40 UTC 2024

Dear Federation Family,

Happy Thanksgiving week and much gratitude for all that you do.

As the 118th Congress comes near closing, there are a number of strategic
opportunities for us to push forward in the final minutes. One is to keep
the Access Technology Affordability Act on the radar. The other is to push
hard to get the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act over
the line. Both of these could still become law this year. If each of us
takes some time to make some calls and encourage others to do the same, we
can make this happen.

Thank you in advance for this work. After you take these actions, I hope
that you have a blessed holiday with family and friends. Travel safe and
take many moments to thank those you appreciate.

Critical Actions:

Blind Voters Survey—Final Call:

Our online Blind Voters Survey is available, and we encourage anyone who has
already voted to complete it so that your experiences, whether positive or
negative, can be documented. Please complete the survey either online or by
phone:

*	 <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VDJGSS8> Voter Survey for In-Person
via web.
*	 <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VYYJDXT> Voter Survey for Absentee
or Mail via web.
*	Voter Survey via phone: call 229-632-7878 or toll-free 833-632-7878.
Please note that the phone number above provides the survey in an automated
system and will require the survey to be completed in one session. There is
an option to pause the survey for five minutes and the pause can be extended
as needed. Push the pound key for help and the star key exits the help menu.
*	Spanish Survey via web:  <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7J3G7FH>
Encuesta de votantes ciegos en español

Upcoming Presidential Release for Chapters:

The next National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release chapter
version will be published on Monday, December 2. The chapter version is
intended to be played during each chapter meeting throughout the month. As a
reminder, there will not be a Presidential Release Live in December.
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
Access the chapter version and live details.

News:

2025 Washington Seminar Registration:

For 2025, we are trying something new with regard to the Washington Seminar.
We are asking that all attendees complete a registration form so that we can
keep those who are attending better informed about the events taking place
that week. There is no fee associated with registration for the Washington
Seminar, and the form is quick and easy to complete. It can be found on our
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar> Washington
Seminar page along with many other helpful pieces of information about the
2025 Washington Seminar.

 Legislative Alert: Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act:

On Friday, November 22, we sent out a legislative alert regarding the
inclusion of the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. We
are coming down to the wire on the 118th Congress and we want to make sure
that we’ve done everything that we possibly can in order to advocate for our
legislative priorities. In this case, we are trying to ensure that the
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA) is included
in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorization bill
that is currently being considered. Right now is a crucial time for this
initiative because Congress wants to pass the WIOA reauthorization when they
return after Thanksgiving. Please urge your chapter members to follow up
regarding the details of the report. If you need a copy of the alert, please
contact Justin Young at  <mailto:jyoung at nfb.org> jyoung at nfb.org.  Or see
attached below.

 Catch Up on Content and Share on Social Media:

NEW Publication: As announced in the November Presidential Release, the
National Federation of the Blind has launched a new podcast, Access On, with
host Jonathan Mosen, executive director of Accessibility Excellence. Whether
you’re a technology expert or just trying to make sense of it all, Access On
has something for you. Subscribe and listen on your podcast client.

Additionally, catch up on highlights, news, and stories in the most recent
Braille Monitor, Future Reflections, and Nation’s Blind Podcast. The links
below are National Federation of the Blind publications for you to access
and share with Federationists. These articles and episodes are great to
share on affiliate and division social media to create discussions on
various topics. 

*
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm24/bm2410/bm2410tc.htm>
November Braille Monitor

*         <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr43/3/fr4303tc.htm>
Future Reflections, Volume 43 Number 3

*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
Nation’s Blind Podcast, “Preserving Our Dignity as Blind People"

Upcoming Accessibility Boutique for Family and Friends:

Join the National Federation of the Blind on Tuesday, November 26, 2024,
from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. to learn how to teach a friend or family member
the basics of using a screen reader. We will cover how screen readers
present content, common keyboard shortcuts, helpful training and learning
techniques for screen readers, and more.
<https://nfb.org/form/accessibility-boutique-reg> Register for the November
26 boutique today. 

Braille Readers Are Leaders:

The Braille Readers Are Leaders contest opened registration on November 15,
2024. Registration lasts through the end of the contest, which will be
January 17, 2025. Logging of your reading minutes does not start until
December 2, 2024.

This year we will have the youth, adult, and teachers of blind students
contests. Be sure to complete the first activity as that will give us your
address so that we can send any prizes you win along the way.

Use the Beanstack website or the Beanstack app to log your many minutes of
reading. Have fun and challenge your friends, family members, and colleagues
who read Braille to join you.  

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In
*	February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar
*	July 8-13, 2025: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

*	Wednesday, February 5
*	Wednesday, May 7
*	Wednesday, August 6
*	Wednesday, November 5

Chapter Presidents Calls

*	Thursday, December 19, and Sunday, December 22
*	Thursday, March 13 and Sunday, March 16
*	Thursday, June 12 and Sunday, June 15
*	Thursday, September 11 and Sunday, September 14

Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14

Steve Cook, Board Member

National Association of Guide Dog Users

 <mailto:scook at nagdu.org> scook at nagdu.org

(803) 260-1292

 <http://www.nfb.org> www.nfb.org

•  <http://www.nagdu.org> www.nagdu.org

Subscribe to the NAGDU public calendar

Facebook Group • Email list • Mastodon

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