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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p>The 2026 state convention will be held at the Marriott in Dayton, Ohio, from November 5th to 8th. Attendees can look forward to excellent accommodations and a variety of downtown dining options. Further details, including room reservations, will be provided soon. In addition, board members are encouraged to take on key initiatives at the convention, and support through monetary donations for the Washington seminar team is requested from chapters and individuals.<o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Walking Alone and Marching Together</span></i></b><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The</span><i> </i><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Walking Alone and Marching Together</span></i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> podcast launched on November 16, the eighty-fifth Federation anniversary. This podcast shares the history of the National Federation of the Blind's fight for equality and inclusion from 1940 to 1990.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The first three episodes are now available. We will be releasing a new episode every Sunday. You can listen, subscribe, or share on:</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'> </span> <a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/walking-alone-and-marching-together"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'>Walking Alone and Marching Together</span></i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'> webpage</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> (includes episode transcripts)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'> </span> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walking-alone-and-marching-together-podcast/id1849913820"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'>Apple Podcasts</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'> </span> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6TMfseujdBqtecMXyj3DSO"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'>Spotify</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'> </span> <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/702e141c-675d-4df5-b5e3-c7fda1a73414/walking-alone-and-marching-together-podcast"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'>Amazon Music</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'> </span> <a href="https://walkingaloneandmarchingtogether.podbean.com/"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'>Podbean</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Department of Education OSERS and OCR Update:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Since the announcement of reduction in force (RIF) notices in the Department of Education, specifically in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), on October 10, the members of the National Federation of the Blind have been engaging with our members in Congress to let them know just how big of an impact this action will have on us. We asked you to call or email your senators and representatives, and you did. Then we asked some of you to come to Washington, DC, in person to meet with your senators on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and you did. I am happy to report that in the most recent Continuing Resolution to fund the government, Congress agreed that the RIF notices would be rescinded. However, that does not mean that this battle is won. We need to keep advocating to ensure that the government knows just how important the programs that are administered by OSERS and OCR are to us. If you didn’t get to meet with your members in Congress, please still try to get those meetings so that we can make sure our message is heard from one corner of the Capitol to the other.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Medicare Telehealth Benefits Extended:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>With the passage of the most recent Continuing Resolution on November 13 to fund the federal government, a provision was included to extend Medicare telehealth benefits once again. However, this is again a temporary extension and will expire on January 30, 2026. We need to continue our advocacy on this effort to ensure that these benefits are made permanent. The most effective way to do that is to call or email your members in Congress and ask them to cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act (H.R. 4206/S. 1261). For more information on the bill, please refer to our</span> <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-priorities/legislative-alerts/pass-connect-health-act"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'>legislative alert from September</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Independence Market Upcoming Holiday Schedule:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The Independence Market will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28. The market will reopen for regular business on Monday, December 1. Additionally, for best holiday gift results, customers should order by Thursday, December 11, for delivery before Christmas Day. Please be mindful that deliveries around the holiday may take longer than usual. Customers are welcome to reach out to the market staff for tracking information and updates. Keep in mind that the Independence Market online store will remain open and will accept orders twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, at nfb.org/ecommerce.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Career Quest Program at the Washington Seminar:</span></b> <o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Share this opportunity with blind students, early professionals, or emerging leaders:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Blind students are invited to join us at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Career Quest Program, held during the NFB Washington Seminar, from January 25 to January 28. This program empowers blind and low-vision students and early professionals to become confident advocates and future leaders.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Participants will have the opportunity to advocate on Capitol Hill, learn advocacy skills that will become valuable in college and in their careers, connect with peers at the NABS Winter Meeting, meet employers at the NFB Career Fair, and network with Federation mentors and professionals.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Participants must complete the</span> <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-quest/application"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#467886'>Career Quest Interest Application</span></a><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> by December 12</span> <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>to secure their spot. Please direct all questions to Nikki Jackson at 410-659-9314, extension 2404.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><a name=""><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dates to Keep in Mind</span></b></a><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:black'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New";color:black'> </span> <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'> </span> <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:1.0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Chapter Presidents Calls</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:black'>·</span><span style='font-family:"Courier New";color:black'> </span> <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Richard Payne, President <span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>937/829/3368</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="mailto:Rchpay7@gmail.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#467886'>Rchpay7@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="http://www.nfbohio.org"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#467886'>www.nfbohio.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>