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<p>Dear
Federation family,</p>
<p>We hope you'll be joining the Empire Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of New York State for our monthly
chapter
meeting on Monday, April 20<sup>th</sup>, 2026 at 7 PM EDT. We
have
an especially exciting program in store this month!</p>
<p>We are pleased to welcome Casey Robertson as our guest speaker.
Ms. Robertson is a Braille instructor, the lead instructor at
the
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness at
Louisiana Tech University, and is First Vice President of the
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. She has
earned
numerous awards for her work, including the Federation\u2019s
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children and Dr. Jacob Bolotin
Awards. She will also be joined by her current LA Tech students
who
will be attending as part of their coursework. Ms. Robertson
will
speak on the Natural Order of Braille Contractions, a system she
has
developed over the past two decades that teaches Braille
contractions
in the sequence that best matches how beginning readers
naturally
encounter and retain writing, greatly improving both the speed
and
effectiveness of Braille learning for blind students of all
ages.
Afterward, we'll host a discussion surrounding blindness
philosophy
and the importance of both learning and teaching Braille.</p>
<p>We will also take time to address one of the most urgent issues
facing blind and disabled Americans today: the Texas v. Kennedy
lawsuit, which poses a direct threat to Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For more than five decades, Section
504
has been a cornerstone of civil rights for blind and disabled
people,
prohibiting discrimination in programs and activities that
receive
federal funding. This lawsuit, brought by nine states led by
Texas,
challenges the federal government's authority to enforce Section
504
and puts at risk our access to education, employment, and public
services. The National Federation of the Blind has issued an
urgent
advocacy alert calling on all members to take action. At our
meeting,
we will discuss what is at stake, what the National Office is
asking
us to do, and how each of us can make a difference. This is a
moment
that calls for all of us, and we hope to see as many of you
there as
possible.</p>
<p>Meeting Details</p>
<p><a href="https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/9868886022"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/9868886022</a></p>
<p>Meeting ID: 986 888 6022</p>
<p>One tap mobile:</p>
<p><a href="tel:+16468769923,,9868886022#">+16468769923,,9868886022#</a>
(US - New York)</p>
<p>+16469313860,,9868886022# (US)</p>
<p>We can\u2019t wait to see you there! If you have any questions,
please reach out to Noah Tobias Carver, President of the Empire
Chapter, via email at <a href="mailto:empire@nfbny.org"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">empire@nfbny.org</a>
or via phone/text at <a href="tel:+12072057303">207-205-7303</a>.</p>
<p>Warmly,</p>
<p>Noah and the Empire Chapter Board</p>
</p>
<div class="moz-signature">
<p>Noah Tobias Carver, President<br>
Empire Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of New York
State<br>
<a href="mailto:empire@nfbny.org" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">empire@nfbny.org</a><br>
<a href="tel:+12072057303">(207) 205-7303</a><br>
<a href="https://www.nfbny.org/">www.nfbny.org</a><br>
Pronouns: he, him, his<br>
Live the life you want.</p>
<p>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members
and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation\u2019s
blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the
lives they want.</p>
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