[Ohio-Talk] The 2026 state convention

Tue Nov 18 10:55:16 UTC 2025

The 2026 state convention will be held at the Marriott in Dayton, Ohio, from
November 5th to 8th. Attendees can look forward to excellent accommodations
and a variety of downtown dining options. Further details, including room
reservations, will be provided soon. In addition, board members are
encouraged to take on key initiatives at the convention, and support through
monetary donations for the Washington seminar team is requested from
chapters and individuals.

	Walking Alone and Marching Together:
	The Walking Alone and Marching Together podcast launched on November
16, the eighty-fifth Federation anniversary. This podcast shares the history
of the National Federation of the Blind's fight for equality and inclusion
from 1940 to 1990. 

	The first three episodes are now available. We will be releasing a
new episode every Sunday. You can listen, subscribe, or share on: 
*	Walking Alone and Marching Together webpage
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/walking-alone-and-marching
-together>  (includes episode transcripts)
*	Apple Podcasts
<https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walking-alone-and-marching-together-p
odcast/id1849913820> 
*	Spotify <https://open.spotify.com/show/6TMfseujdBqtecMXyj3DSO> 
*	Amazon Music
<https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/702e141c-675d-4df5-b5e3-c7fda1a73414/walk
ing-alone-and-marching-together-podcast> 
*	Podbean <https://walkingaloneandmarchingtogether.podbean.com/> 

	Department of Education OSERS and OCR Update:
	Since the announcement of reduction in force (RIF) notices in the
Department of Education, specifically in the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), on
October 10, the members of the National Federation of the Blind have been
engaging with our members in Congress to let them know just how big of an
impact this action will have on us. We asked you to call or email your
senators and representatives, and you did. Then we asked some of you to come
to Washington, DC, in person to meet with your senators on the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and you did. I am happy to
report that in the most recent Continuing Resolution to fund the government,
Congress agreed that the RIF notices would be rescinded. However, that does
not mean that this battle is won. We need to keep advocating to ensure that
the government knows just how important the programs that are administered
by OSERS and OCR are to us. If you didn't get to meet with your members in
Congress, please still try to get those meetings so that we can make sure
our message is heard from one corner of the Capitol to the other. 

	Medicare Telehealth Benefits Extended:
	With the passage of the most recent Continuing Resolution on
November 13 to fund the federal government, a provision was included to
extend Medicare telehealth benefits once again. However, this is again a
temporary extension and will expire on January 30, 2026. We need to continue
our advocacy on this effort to ensure that these benefits are made
permanent. The most effective way to do that is to call or email your
members in Congress and ask them to cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act
(H.R. 4206/S. 1261). For more information on the bill, please refer to our
legislative alert from September
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-priorities/legislati
ve-alerts/pass-connect-health-act> .

	Independence Market Upcoming Holiday Schedule:
	The Independence Market will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday,
November 27, and Friday, November 28. The market will reopen for regular
business on Monday, December 1. Additionally, for best holiday gift results,
customers should order by Thursday, December 11, for delivery before
Christmas Day. Please be mindful that deliveries around the holiday may take
longer than usual. Customers are welcome to reach out to the market staff
for tracking information and updates. Keep in mind that the Independence
Market online store will remain open and will accept orders twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week, at nfb.org/ecommerce. 

	Career Quest Program at the Washington Seminar: 
	Share this opportunity with blind students, early professionals, or
emerging leaders:
	Blind students are invited to join us at the National Federation of
the Blind (NFB) Career Quest Program, held during the NFB Washington
Seminar, from January 25 to January 28. This program empowers blind and
low-vision students and early professionals to become confident advocates
and future leaders.

	Participants will have the opportunity to advocate on Capitol Hill,
learn advocacy skills that will become valuable in college and in their
careers, connect with peers at the NABS Winter Meeting, meet employers at
the NFB Career Fair, and network with Federation mentors and professionals.

	Participants must complete the Career Quest Interest Application
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/career-quest/application>  by
December 12 to secure their spot. Please direct all questions to Nikki
Jackson at 410-659-9314, extension 2404. 

Dates to Keep in Mind:
*	January 26-29, 2026: Washington Seminar
*	July 3-8, 2026: National Convention; Austin, Texas

Chapter Presidents Calls
*	Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14

Richard Payne, President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

937/829/3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com> 

www.nfbohio.org <http://www.nfbohio.org> 

The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.

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