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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>January 30, 2019<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Memo To: Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From: Frank Coppel, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Positive Note 1694<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This week more than five hundred Federationists representing 52 affiliates of the NFB gathered in Washington D.C. to discuss with their congressional delegation the legislative agenda of the nation’s blind. The 2019 Washington Seminar officially began Monday January 28, at 5:00 p.m. with the “Great Gathering In” meeting. President Riccobono conducted the meeting and there were other Federation officials present informing participants on various NFB activities which will be occurring during 2019. Tuesday January 29, was a very busy day for the South Carolina delegation as they met with our congressional delegation at various times throughout the day. I am extremely proud to have fourteen members of our affiliate attend this year’s Washington Seminar. The delegation this year was under the leadership of our NFB of SC First vice President, Lenora Robertson. Other members of the delegation were Ellen Taylor, Second Vice President, Debra Canty, Dianne Singleton, NFB of SC State board member, Linda Dizzley, Director of our Successful Transitions program, Jennifer Bazer, and Pam Schexnider. We are also very proud to have seven members (Allontate Ellerbe, AJ McFadden, Olivia Taylor, Bailey Hightower, Derique Simon, Neel Sheth, and Wallace Stuckey of our SC Association of Blind Students as part of this year’s delegation. The work done by our delegation on Capitol Hill this week only lays the ground work for passage of the three legislative initiatives which are outlined below. All of us need to continue to contact our Congressman and Senators throughout the year to ensure passage of these three legislative initiatives. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most blind Americans. By providing a refundable tax credit for qualifying purchases, Congress will stimulate individual procurement of this technology and promote affordability of these tools. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN) Act<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals from independently operating essential devices that enhance quality of life. Congress must end the digital divide that threatens the independence of blind Americans by developing minimum accessibility requirements for such devices. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Disability Employment Act (DEA)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> An outdated approach to employment fails to adequately equip workers with disabilities for the challenges of the twenty-first century. The Disability Employment Act will spur innovation that will increase and enhance modern employment opportunities for people with disabilities. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Do not forget to purchase your tickets to attend the fourth annual Sweetheart dance sponsored by the NFB of SC which will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at the Federation Center of the Blind from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening promises to be a fun and enjoyable experience with a catered dinner, door prizes, music and dancing. Tickets to this event will only be $25 per person. Please make checks payable to NFB of SC and mail to: NFB of SC, 119 S. Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205. Please note the memo line for Sweethearts Dance. Deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, February 6, 2019. Please contact Jennifer Bazer at 803-960-9977 or jhipp25@sc.rr.com if you would like to contribute a door prize. If you have any questions regarding this fundraising event, please contact Debra Canty at 803-775-5792 or via email at debra.canty@frontier.com. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 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. Joining me for comments in this Positive Note is the President Emeritus of the NFB of SC. Here is Dr. Capps. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> This week we are spotlighting the new 2019 Charleston Chapter President Lavern Addison. She is quite energetic and likes a challenge. Having always resided in the Charleston area, Lavern went to the Charleston Public Schools and then attended USC in Columbia obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Protective Services, Child Abuse and Neglect and Criminal Justice. She applied her degree in several positions such as working in a day care center, as a disability counselor at SC Vocational Rehabilitation assisting in areas of the disabled receiving Social Security benefits, and she also did set up for security cameras in a Belk department store. She was married for 23 years before becoming divorced in 2010. Her daughter Jordan is a teacher in the Berkeley County School District and her son works for Fed Ex. Each of them has obtained college degrees. Her son-in-law is an Assistant Principal in a Summerville High School. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Lavern Addison became blind in March 2016, shortly before renewing her driver’s license. Although she first found out about the Charleston Association for the Blind, it was her son who got her a white cane through the NFB. It was through a local PSA spot about the NFB by Leroy Smith that she learned of the NFB of SC Charleston Chapter. She liked it better when people spoke of what they can do instead of complaining about what they could not do. She joined the Charleston Chapter in January 2018, watching the chapter and taking in federation information. She took the trip to the Baltimore NFB National Center last spring and that changed everything. She really took in all aspects of the National Center and before you know it, she was elected President of the Charleston Chapter for 2019. The chapter is working toward doing a local TV interview in the near future. By finding out who donated her free white cane she met Tony in Charleston and got him (and his church Pastor) involved. Tony sang at the beginning of the Statewide Seminar. Her hobbies include braille Scrabble and she even brailled her own deck of playing cards. She volunteers with her women’s auxiliary and missions group, bereavement committee, and even checks in on members. She is passionate about education and her daughter works with a scholarship program. She says that no one will tell her what she cannot do because she is blind. Recently she also assisted someone in finding out how to get braille certification. Let’s salute Lavern Addison’s enthusiasm and energy in making life better for the blind in the Greater Charleston area. She is living the life she wants!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Final Thought: Work hard this year because next year everything will be 2020!<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>