[Nfbwv-talk] President Riccobono's Notebook for February 1, 2016

[Smyth, Charlene R]

February 1, 2016
President's Notebook
National Federation of the Blind
Mark A. Riccobono
officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
(410) 659-9314

Dear Fellow Federationists,

Thank you for the tremendous effort everyone made to be in Washington, DC, and cover the offices that were left without NFB members due to the weather. Although we had fewer meetings because of our reduced attendance, we had many quality meetings on the Hill and made a great impression.

This morning I was reading the NABS Notes-the update provided by our student division. In reading the notes from state affiliate student divisions, it struck me how much changes but how much stays the same. The sentiments, projects, hopes, and dreams were largely the same as I remember them when I first came into the Federation twenty years ago. The details are different, of course, and the environment for students is very different; but the underlying stuff of what makes the Federation important and critical remains. This got me thinking about how we deal with the generation gaps in our organization. As leaders in the Federation, we need to be sensitive to the changing times while bringing the historical perspective. Likewise, we need to manage the change so that we do not sideline expertise that is invaluable in our organization. Far too often, we are not setting up opportunities to talk about these different perspectives within our organization so we can leverage them as building opportunities. I encourage everyone to seek ways to bridge the gaps in our organization by intentionally facilitating dialogues about the varying perspectives within our organization. If you find ways we can help facilitate this at the national level, please be sure to advise me.

News:

Registration Open for 2016 Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium:
Registration is open for this year's law symposium<https://nfb.org/law-symposium> to be held March 31 through April 1, 2016. Don't miss this opportunity to hear the keynote speaker U.S. District Judge Myron H. Thompson and leading disability rights and civil rights advocates examine the status of diversity in the disability rights movement and explore ways to increase diversity so that all may achieve Dr. tenBroek's vision of equality of opportunity.



Summer Internship Blog:

Anil Lewis posted an informational blog about the summer internship program<https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/national-federation-blind-2016-summer-internship-program> this week.



NFB EQ:

The National Federation of the Blind will facilitate three weeklong advanced engineering design programs known as NFB EQ. The first program took place in the summer of 2015 (August 2-8). This summer (2016), two additional programs will be held June 19-25 and July 31-August 6. To learn more and apply, please visit http://www.blindscience.org/NFBEQ.

New Books:
The softcopy print version The Power of Love is now available at iUniverse at http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-001055365/The-Power-of-Love.aspx for $28.99. The ebook will be released sometime in the near future, and is expected to be priced at $9.99.

The print version of Crooked Paths Made Straight is also available from iUniverse at http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000951291/Crooked-Paths-Made-Straight.aspx for $20.95. The ebook version will also be released sometime in the near future, and is expected to cost $3.99.

Spanish Version of the Presidential Release:
The Spanish version of the January release is now available at https://nfb.org/presidential-releases.



Reminders:

Petition to sign and share:
Last week we launched a We the People petition<https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/direct-us-department-justice-promptly-release-ada-internet-regulations> 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 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/direct-us-department-justice-promptly-release-ada-internet-regulations.




Self-Advocacy in Higher Education Toolkit:
Equal access in higher education is an ongoing priority issue for us. To better address students' needs and to help prevent or mitigate access barriers, we have created the Self-Advocacy in Higher Education Toolkit<https://nfb.org/self-advocacy-higher-education>. Please take time to review this toolkit, forward the information on to others, and, importantly, send us your feedback.

We plan to expand the toolkit to include additional topics and want to ensure it is useful to all blind students. Please send your suggestions to Valerie Yingling at vyingling at nfb.org<mailto:vyingling at nfb.org>, (410) 659-9314, extension 2440, or Mehgan Sidhu at msidhu at nfb.org<mailto:msidhu at nfb.org>, (410) 659-9314, extension 2314.


Legal Department Surveys:
In an effort to gather critical accessibility information from members, the legal department is seeking information from members on the following topics:
*         Redbox
o    We are seeking members who have tried to use or would like to use Redbox video and video game rental kiosks.
*         Social Security Kiosks and Forms
o    We are gathering information regarding inaccessible field office kiosks or online forms.
*         Online Banking
o    We are gathering information pertaining to the accessibility of online-only banks.
*         Electronic Health Records
o    We are seeking information from employees and students required to use electronic health record systems on the job or for school purposes.
*         Employment
o    We are seeking information from anyone who has attempted to fill out an online job application or take an online employment test with screen-access software.
*         Common Core State Standard Assessments
o    We are seeking information regarding K-12 students who completed a 2015 PARCC or Smarter Balanced assessment or will be taking a 2016 PARCC or Smarter Balanced assessment.
*         Technology in Higher Education
o    We are gathering information regarding inaccessible technology and discriminatory practices and feedback on the accessibility of student loan documents.

* Applebee's

o We are seeking information about any experience you had with inaccessible touchscreen devices that are used for ordering food, paying a bill, and performing other tasks at Applebee's restaurants.

Please contact Valerie Yingling, paralegal at the National Federation of the Blind, at Vyingling at nfb.org<mailto:Vyingling at nfb.org> or (410) 659-9314, extension 2440 if you have experienced accessibility barriers pertaining to these issues. For Applebee's responses, please contact Tim Elder by telephone at (410) 415-3493, email at telder at trelegal.com<mailto:telder at trelegal.com>.



Dates to keep in mind:

*        March 3-5: NFB STEM2U San Francisco

*        March 31: NFB Scholarship Program application deadline, https://nfb.org/scholarships

*        March 31-April 1: 2016 Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium<https://nfb.org/law-symposium>; Diversity in the Disability Rights Movement: Working Together to Achieve the Right to Live in the World

*        April 15: Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Program nomination deadline, https://nfb.org/bolotin-award-main

*        May 17-20: BLAST, Chicago

*        May 19-21: NFB STEM2U Minneapolis

*        June 19-25: NFB EQ (first iteration)

*        June 30-July 5: National Federation of the Blind Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida

*        July 31-August 6: NFB EQ (second iteration)

*        August 18-25: WBU and ICEVI General Assembly, Rosen Centre, Orlando, Florida, www.wbu-icevi2016.org<http://www.wbu-icevi2016.org>

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.


Mark A. Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314
Fax: (410) 659-5129
Email: officeofthepresident at nfb.org<mailto:officeofthepresident at nfb.org>
Twitter: @Riccobono and @NFB_Voice
Web: www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org/>





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