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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><h2>Good afternoon, Federationists!<o:p></o:p></h2><h2><o:p> </o:p></h2><h2>Due to the weather conditions and accumulation of snow in Washington DC, many of our hill appointments have been cancelled., Additionally, our delegation has been working on rescheduling flights...to no avail. Therefore, this year, we will not have in-person appointments with our representatives in D.c.. We will be scheduling appointments with our senator’s and congressmen’s in-state offices to discuss the legislative issues that the National Federation of the Blind has for this congress. We will ask for your participation via visits , phone calls and e-mails along with a strong presence on social media about our issues. More information about how you can help will be forthcoming. Please watch for an update from Glenda Farnum, our NFB of Oklahoma Legislative Director. Our collective voice is heard when we join together. Your commitment to our efforts are truly appreciated. <o:p></o:p></h2><h2><o:p> </o:p></h2><h2>The legislative concerns for the 114<sup>th</sup> Congress, Second Session are as follows:<o:p></o:p></h2><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;mso-line-height-alt:12.0pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#1F66C3;letter-spacing:-.6pt;font-weight:normal'>The Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act (HR 188, S 2001)<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:12.0pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay workers with disabilities subminimum wage because of the false assumption that they are less productive than nondisabled workers. This antiquated provision breeds low expectations and discourages disabled Americans from reaching their full vocational potential. HR 188 and S 2001 will responsibly phase out the use of Section 14(c) Special Wage Certificates, ending the era of segregated, subminimum wage work.<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:14.4pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>More information can be found at the following link:</span> <span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'><a href="https://nfb.org/timefactsheet">https://nfb.org/timefactsheet</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;mso-line-height-alt:12.0pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#1F66C3;letter-spacing:-.6pt;font-weight:normal'>The Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HE) Act<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:14.4pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Electronic instructional materials have replaced traditional methods of learning in postsecondary education, but the overwhelming majority of ebooks, courseware, web content, and other technologies are inaccessible to students with print disabilities. The law requires equal access in the classroom but fails to provide direction to schools for the way it applies to technology. AIM HE creates voluntary accessibility guidelines for educational technology to improve blind students’ access to course material, stimulate the market, and reduce litigation for schools.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:14.4pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>More information can be found at the following link:</span> <span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'><a href="https://nfb.org/aimheafactsheet">https://nfb.org/aimheafactsheet</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;mso-line-height-alt:12.0pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#1F66C3;letter-spacing:-.6pt;font-weight:normal'>Equal Access to Air Travel for Service-Disabled Veterans (HR 2264)<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:14.4pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>The Space Available Program allows active-duty military, Red Cross employees, and retired members of the armed services to travel on military aircraft if space is available. HR 2264 reverses the exclusion of 100 percent service-disabled veterans who were discharged before September 23, 1996, and entitles them to the program’s privileges even though they were never classified as “retired.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:14.4pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>More information can be found at the following link:</span> <span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'><a href="https://nfb.org/equal-access-air-travel-service-disabled-veterans-hr-2264">https://nfb.org/equal-access-air-travel-service-disabled-veterans-hr-2264</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;mso-line-height-alt:12.0pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#1F66C3;letter-spacing:-.6pt;font-weight:normal'>The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:14.4pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Despite the ability to convert print books into accessible formats like Braille, large print, audio, and digital copies, millions of blind and otherwise print-disabled Americans are excluded from accessing 95 percent of published works. The Marrakesh Treaty calls for contracting parties to provide in their national copyright laws for a limitation or exception that allows for the reproduction, distribution, and cross-border exchange of accessible works.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:14.4pt;background:#F1F1F1;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#333333'>More information can be found at the following link:</span> <a href="https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet">https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet</a><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>NFB of Oklahoma State Convention <o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>April 1-3. 2016 Holiday Inn City Center, Tulsa<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A basic agenda and information will come in a separate e-mail. <o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>We hope you can join us!<o:p></o:p></span></h2><h2><o:p> </o:p></h2><h2>The following message and information is from Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind:<o:p></o:p></h2><h2><o:p> </o:p></h2><h2>Thank you for your commitment to the work of the National Federation of the Blind. The hope and determination that Federationists across the country have demonstrated during the past week is a significant part of what makes our organization unique and effective. For those who simply have not been able to get to Washington because of the lack of seats on rescheduled flights, thank you for the effort you have put in to Washington Seminar 2016. While there is nothing quite as effective as being on the ground and in a Congressional office, please remember that there is a lot you can do to let your members of Congress know that our issues are important to you as one of their constituents. Finally, I know that the rescheduling of appointments and the uncertainty over the past couple of days has been frustrating for all of us. The effort is definitely worth it. Remember, together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality. <o:p></o:p></h2><h2><o:p> </o:p></h2><h2>News:<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>The Self-Advocacy in Higher Education Toolkit:<br>The new toolkit is now live at <a href="https://nfb.org/self-advocacy-higher-education">https://nfb.org/self-advocacy-higher-education</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>Video:<br>In our most recent video, Lisa Irving from San Diego talks about her faith in the NFB. You can access the video at<span style='color:#1F497D'> <a href="https://youtu.be/bHlKXvnbiY4">https://youtu.be/bHlKXvnbiY4</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Reminders:<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal>Petition to sign and share:<br>Last week we launched a <a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/direct-us-department-justice-promptly-release-ada-internet-regulations">We the People petition</a> calling on the Obama administration to promptly release the ADA internet regulations. We need to have 100,000 signatures by February 11, 2016, so please sign and share with your contacts. The full URL for the petition is <a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/direct-us-department-justice-promptly-release-ada-internet-regulations">https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/direct-us-department-justice-promptly-release-ada-internet-regulations</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Mark A. Riccobono, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Baltimore, Maryland 21230</span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Phone: (410) 659-9314</span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stay tuned for information from Glenda about our legislative initiatives and requested action on your part in the next week or so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Also, remember to send articles of interest or chapter/ event information to Audrey for the website and to Rex and Cammie for the newsletter. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can send information to them at the following addresses: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Audrey Farnum- <a href="mailto:audrey@nfbok.org">audrey@nfbok.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rex and Cammie- <a href="mailto:newsletter@nfbok.org">newsletter@nfbok.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Have a great week! Let’s go build the Federation!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Warmly, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeannie <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Jeannie M. Massay, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>National Federation of theBlind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>505 Baker Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Norman, OK 73072<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Phone: 405-600-0695<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><a href="mailto:Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org">Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of the blind because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life youw ant.!. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>“Whatever you dare to dream, begin.” – Goethe <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>