Dear Federation Family,
I hope you all are staying cool as we enter the August summer heat. I wanted to acknowledge that we are starting our fall conventions with South Carolina, which has long been the traditional first convention in our long list of fall conventions. I will be traveling to a number of conventions this fall, and I look forward to the opportunity to engage members at the local level.
When you tuned into the Presidential Release Live last week—oh I am sorry you missed it—well, if you had tuned in, you would have heard me talk about my desire to receive feedback from members about the Presidential Release. As you know, we have the live event and the recorded version. The recorded version is intended to be played at every chapter meeting across the country. As leaders, you know that the aim is to help every member of the Federation understand their connection to the nationwide movement and to have a direct connection to our elected President. We wish to prevent people being stuck on only the local priorities. I will remind you that I want feedback about how we can improve, especially the recorded message intended for our local chapters.
Please send your ideas via email using the hashtag #PR-Feedback. Or you can also text your thoughts to our Mark AI at 833-564-2271. If you send a text, consider putting something like this at the beginning: I have some feedback on your Presidential Releases…
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspectives.
Critical Actions:
National Convention Attendee Survey:
Please share feedback in the National Federation of the Blind survey<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nfb24> available in English and Spanish<https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nfb24esp> or by phone in English. To complete the survey by phone, call 229-632-7878 or toll-free 833-632-7878. The phone survey is in an automated system and will require it to be completed in one session. There is an option to pause the survey for five minutes and the pause can be extended as needed. Push the pound key for help. Please share the phone survey option with members who may not have internet access. Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Presidential Release #540 Available:
The National Federation of the Blind Presidential Release #540<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases> for chapters is available. Mark your calendar for the next Presidential Release on September 4, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., eastern.
News:
National Convention Highlights:
Thanks again to our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and everyone who made #NFB24 a success. Access the 2024 National Convention highlights now.
Calling All PAC Donors:
If you participate in the Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) plan and have not checked your donor status recently, please reach out to us at PAC@nfb.org or call 877-632-2PAC (2722) to confirm you are still an active PAC donor. Sometimes members think they are actively supporting the NFB each month through a credit card or bank account, but a change on the account may have stopped the monthly donation. The NFB’s policy is to deactivate any account that is declined or returned to make sure we don’t waste funds on return fees. By proactively confirming your PAC donor status you will help the NFB continue our important work on behalf of blind people.
Blind Equality Achievement Month Planning:
The National Federation of the Blind celebrates the organized blind movement during October each year. Chapters across the country organize local outreach events. Submit your events, activities, and celebrations to web@nfb.org, so they can be posted on nfb.org/blind-month. If you need items or ideas, review past activities and also the White Cane Awareness Day Proclamation. Remember history. Advance equality. Celebrate accomplishments.
Where the Blind Work Webinar:
Join us for an informative discussion featuring a panel of blind professionals who are finding employment success in the world of remote work. This event will be held August 22, 8:00–9:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom. Our panelists are:
1. Danara Barlo, Agency Program Coordinator/Contracting Specialist, United States Airforce, Kansas
2. Brandi Major, Customer Service Professional, Lighthouse Works, North Carolina
3. Mike Forzano, Senior Software Engineer, Amazon, New York
We look forward to your participation. Register to get the Zoom details at Where the Blind Work Registration
Blind Voter Registration Drives:
Hosting a voter registration drive is a meaningful way that protection and advocacy personnel, consumer organizations, and service groups can encourage blind people to participate in the electoral process. It is also an opportunity for blind people to learn about the organized blind movement. The National Federation of the Blind developed a guide that contains suggestions for planning and conducting a voter registration drive that will be accessible to the blind. Access the Blind Voter Registration Drive Guide. Learn more at nfb.org/vote.
Dare to Be Remarkable Conference:
Mark your calendars for the National Federation of the Blind 2024 Dare to Be Remarkable conference, a three-day national conference for education and rehabilitation professionals who work with blind students and adults. The conference will be held from November 11 through 13 at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. We also invite you to submit your presentation proposals for this event to Edward Bell at ebell@latech.edu. The deadline to submit proposals is September 2.
Registration is $400 until October 5 and $500 after October 6. Registration details are coming soon.
Please direct all inquiries to the conference organizers, Edward Bell, at ebell@latech.edu or 318-257-4554, or Anil Lewis, at alewis@nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 2374.
Virtual Career Fair:
Mark your calendars for the National Federation of the Blind Virtual Career Fair being held October 22, 1:00–4:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom. Jobseekers, this is an opportunity to find your occupational passion. Employers, this is a chance to connect with great talent. Registration details are coming soon.
Legislative Update:
In the last couple of weeks, we have seen increases in cosponsor support across several of our bills. On the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 3702/S. 1467), we have gained four new cosponsors in the House: Representative Suzan DelBene (Washington), Representative Chellie Pingree (Maine), Representative Jim Costa (California), and Representative Don Bacon (Nebraska). We now have a total of ninety-five cosponsors on the House version of the Access Technology Affordability Act.
Our Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328/S. 3621) also gained a new cosponsor in the House, Representative Valerie Foushee of North Carolina, bringing the total number of House cosponsors to eighty-five.
The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 1263/S. 533) also gained a new cosponsor in the House, Representative Grace Napolitano of California, marking thirty-four total cosponsors in the House of Representatives.
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (H.R. 4858/S. 2494) also gained three new cosponsors in the House: Representative Jill Tokuda (Hawaii), Representative Grace Napolitano (California), and Representative Mark Takano (California). There are now twenty total cosponsors on the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act in the House. This is all outstanding progress, and we must continue to press on and call or email our members of Congress to build as much support for our legislation as possible.
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act Letter to Senators Sanders and Cassidy:
On July 24, we sent a letter to Senators Bernie Sanders (Vermont) and Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, to urge them to include the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act in the upcoming Apprentice and Workforce Package. The full letter can be read on our Policy Statements page.
NABS Mid-Atlantic Student Seminar:
Registration has been extended for the National Federation of the Blind National Association of Blind Students Mid-Atlantic Regional Seminar. Hosted by the Maryland Association of Blind Students (MDABS), the seminar will take place from August 16-18 at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. It is an opportunity to discover “Who Am I? Who Are You? Who Are We?” through engaging workshops, skill-building activities, and networking opportunities. Please direct questions to MDABS President Qualik Ford at qford@bism.org.
Mid-Atlantic Seminar Registration Form is where you can register for this event. Registration closes on August 7.
Dates to Keep in Mind:
(all times eastern)
1. February 3, 2025: Great Gathering-In
2. February 3-6, 2025: Washington Seminar
3. July 8-13, 2025: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana
The latest notifications from the National Federation of the Blind: