[NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 08/17/2020 (2)

Mon Aug 17 21:10:36 UTC 2020

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: President, National Federation of the Blind <
OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
Date: Mon, Aug 17, 2020 at 4:29 PM
Subject: NFB President’s Notebook - Week of 08/17/2020 (2)
To: President, National Federation of the Blind <
OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>

Dear Fellow Federationists,

It is nice to have a week when there is nothing shockingly urgent or
unexpected. We do have a number of important activities this week including
our 2020 Federation “BELLebration” to honor the more than 250 children

and families who were supported by our Federation family during our NFB BELL
® In-Home Edition. I know many of you are also looking forward to the
discussion on Wednesday evening of virtualizing conventions. We have a lot
of learning ahead of us

this fall as our affiliates go virtual.

There are some new items of interest below, so be sure to read further.

Have a great week.

News

Action Fund 2021 Braille Calendars:

The 2021 Braille calendars are ready! You can order up to three calendars at

https://actionfund.org/resources/braille-calendars,

by calling 410-659-9315 and pressing 2, or by emailing
actionfund at actionfund.org.

These calendars are available courtesy of the American Action Fund for
Blind Children and Adults.

Advocacy and Policy Update:

We still need the legislative director name and contact information for
many affiliates. This information is critical in order for us to send out
important alerts and messages pertaining to federal legislation. I urge you
to send this information

to Jesa Medders (jmedders at nfb.org) as soon as possible.

Last week I wrote a

letter to Senator John Cornyn
<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/safe-to-work-act-letter.pdf>
(TX) regarding language in a COVID-19 relief bill he introduced in the
Senate, the SAFE TO WORK Act (S. 4317). Section 181 of the bill would
suspend critical protections of the ADA, and we cannot let that happen.
There is still

time to contact your members of Congress and ask them to remove any mention
of the ADA from Section 181 of the SAFE TO WORK Act. For more specific
details, please refer to the legislative alert that was sent out on August
3.

Braille Books:

You may occasionally be asked whether the Federation has use for Braille
books. As you know, we host a Braille book fair, sponsored by the American
Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, at convention each year—at least
at our in-person

conventions. While we gladly accept Braille book donations for the fair,
the needs are specific. Books should be in good condition and titles that
an adult or child would enjoy reading. We do not typically accept textbooks
or magazines. Anyone donating more

than a title or two should send a list of available titles to Melissa
Riccobono at

melissa at actionfund.org before shipping anything to the Jernigan Institute.
Those who would still like to share titles that may not be suitable for the
book fair can create an account on ShareBraille (
https://www.sharebraille.org)

and post any available titles.

*Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research*:

The National Federation of the Blind’s *Journal of Blindness Innovation and
Research* is the scholarly journal created by blind people designed to
address the real problems of blindness. Some of the topics in this newest
issue include:

   -

   Association between mentoring and STEM engagement
   -

   Adjustment to blindness
   -

   Route learning

Read the

latest *JBIR* articles now
<https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/jbir/jbir20/jbir1002tc.html>.
*JBIR* is also available on NFB-NEWSLINE®.

New Blog—When Assertiveness and Confidence Made All the Difference:

Dr. Marc Maurer, Immediate Past President of the National Federation of the
Blind, stated in one of his iconic speeches that we are tired of being told
to sit down and wait, that we spend too many hours waiting, and that we
intend to take

control of our own lives.

Read Ever Lee Hairston’s experience
<https://www.nfb.org/blog/when-assertiveness-and-confidence-made-all-difference>
where she refused to sit and wait for a flight.

NFB In the News:

As the leading advocate for all blind Americans, the National Federation of
the Blind is often featured in a variety of news outlets at both the
national and local level. Recent articles include topics on mail-in ballot
discrimination,

access to voting, and Netflix’s new playback speed. Check out the latest
articles in our

press room <https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room>. The press room also
includes important press releases, news briefs, and public service
announcements.

Enjoy the Many NFB Songs:

One of the more unique organizational traits of the National Federation of
the Blind is the central role that songs have played in our community.
Enjoy the 2020 National Convention Choir songs and the many other songs in
our Jacobus tenBroek

Library vault.

Access the NFB songs now
<https://www.nfb.org/resources/jacobus-tenbroek-library/collections/nfb-songs>
!

Unemployment Benefits Survey:

The National Federation of the Blind is investigating barriers and denials
related to unemployment benefits. If you have been terminated or laid off
from your job within the last two years, please take time to complete our
important survey,

available at www.nfb.org/legal.

Dates to Keep in Mind

   - September 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - September 13: Open-House Gathering call, 4:00 p.m. eastern
   - October 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - October: Meet the Blind Month
   - November 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - December 1: Presidential Release LIVE, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - December 9: Open-House Gathering call, 8:00 p.m. eastern
   - February 8, 2021: Washington Seminar Great Gathering-In

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

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g>

(410) 659-9314 |

officeofthepresident at nfb.org

[image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>

[image: Facebook]
<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image:
Twitter] <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
work together to help blind people live the lives

they want.

-- 
Sheri Koch, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
304-993-5103