<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Hello all:</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small">Please consider attending these advocacy meetings virtually! FYI. </div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>Stacie</div><div><br></div><div><b>Stacie Leap</b><br></div><div><a href="mailto:stacie.leap@gmail.com" target="_blank">stacie.leap@gmail.com</a> | 215.776.6741</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">National Federation of the Blind</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org">webmaster@nfb.org</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, Jan 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM<br>Subject: Upcoming Call: Shape Career Development<br>To: Stacie Leap <<a href="mailto:stacie.leap@gmail.com">stacie.leap@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br>
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<h1><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:24pt;color:black">Advocacy and Policy Briefing on AbilityOne Career Development</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind is offering an informational briefing on January 21, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern via Zoom regarding a draft government policy enhancing career development for the blind community. Review the background and overview below.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Please </span><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37216&qid=10900490" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">register now for the NFB Advocacy Briefing</a>.</span><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black"> Closed captions provided.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">AbilityOne Draft Policy Background</span></h2>
<span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The AbilityOne Commission, who operates specialized employment programs for blind individuals or people with significant disabilities, recently released draft policy 51.405, which will have a significant positive influence over career development initiatives. The National Federation of the Blind has provided much feedback to shape this policy. Now, the voice of our members needs to be heard directly so that the AbilityOne Commission and its central nonprofit agencies can understand how important these changes are to blind Americans.</span>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The AbilityOne program is authorized by Congress and run by two central nonprofit agencies: National Industries for the Blind and SourceAmerica. These two central nonprofit agencies have oversight of qualified nonprofit agencies that bid on federal contracts to produce products and services, which appear on the procurement list, and can be purchased by federal agencies. Until several years ago, these qualified nonprofit agencies were known for paying disabled people less than the minimum wage under 14(c) special wage certificates. Fortunately, thanks to the direct advocacy efforts of members of the National Federation of the Blind, reform has occurred,
and these nonprofits are no longer allowed to pay subminimum wages on AbilityOne contracts. There is a significant modernization process underway.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">AbilityOne Draft Public Meeting</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">On January 23, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern, the AbilityOne commission will be holding their quarterly public meeting to provide information about draft policy 51.405 and seek public comment. You can request to speak at the January 23 meeting, but you can also provide comments by email until February 15, 2025.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37217&qid=10900490" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Registration is required for the AbilityOne quarterly public meeting</a>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Some members have reported problems completing the above form. There is a required question regarding accommodation. Please answer yes or no to this question, as the edit field appears to be required. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Please <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37216&qid=10900490" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">attend our briefing on January 21</a> to learn more about draft policy 51.405 and learn how to make public comments that will shape the future of the AbilityOne program. </span></p>
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National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 </td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=24399&qid=10900490&h=0daa6e3356defbfe" title="Unsubscribe" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold" target="_blank">Unsubscribe from this mailing list</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=24399&qid=10900490&h=0daa6e3356defbfe" title="Opt Out" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold" target="_blank">Opt out of all mailing lists</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37224&qid=10900490" rel="nofollow" title="Sign up for email newsletter" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold" target="_blank">Sign up for our newsletter</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="display:none;color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold"> <div><span><span>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span><br><span>Baltimore</span>, <span>MD</span> <span>21230</span><br><span>United States</span></span></div>.. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
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