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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> National Federation of the Blind <webmaster@nfb.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 17, 2025 5:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> Suzanne Turner <smturner.234@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Upcoming Call: Shape Career Development<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#0075C9;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><img width=600 height=28 style='width:6.25in;height:.2916in' id="_x0000_i1034" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37215&qid=10897109"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=240 height=264 style='width:2.5in;height:2.75in' id="_x0000_i1033" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;border-color:initial'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><h1><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Advocacy and Policy Briefing on AbilityOne Career Development</span><o:p></o:p></h1><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Please <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37216&qid=10897109">register now for the NFB Advocacy Briefing</a>. Closed captions provided.</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>AbilityOne Draft Policy Background</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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><span style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>AbilityOne Draft Public Meeting</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37217&qid=10897109">Registration is required for the AbilityOne quarterly public meeting</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;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><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Please <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37216&qid=10897109">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><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr style='height:6.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:6.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;background:#002F6D'><tr style='height:45.0pt'><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 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style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" alt="Email Icon Image"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37223&qid=10897109"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" alt="Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=24398&qid=10897109&h=b351fc3dd7ad24a1" title=Unsubscribe><span style='color:white'>Unsubscribe from this mailing list</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=24398&qid=10897109&h=b351fc3dd7ad24a1" title="Opt Out"><span style='color:white'>Opt out of all mailing lists</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37224&qid=10897109" title="Sign up for email newsletter"><span style='color:white'>Sign up for our newsletter</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=street-address><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><br><span class=locality>Baltimore</span><span class=adr>, </span><span class=region>MD</span><span class=adr> </span><span class=postal-code>21230</span><br><span class=country-name>United States</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>.. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/open?qid=10897109" /></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img 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