[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook of r the week of April 14

Wed Apr 16 14:36:56 UTC 2025

Critical Actions:

Mark Your Calendar: Presidential Release Live on May 15:

The next Presidential Release Live will be Thursday, May 15, at 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern, in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Zoom details are
below. Attend to get the latest updates on the movement, ask questions, and
hear important perspectives on the organized blind movement. Submit
questions or suggestions to  <mailto:communications at nfb.org>
communications at nfb.org.

Presidential Release Live Zoom: https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96380567586

One Tap Mobile: +13017158592,,96380567586# US

Zoom ID: 96380567586

Note: The
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases>
Presidential Release chapter recordings are available by the first Friday of
each month. Please share the chapter recording as part of your chapter
meeting agenda and discuss among members.  

National Convention:

Reminder: Register and Book Hotel for National Convention:

Promote registration for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind
<https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention> National Convention, July
8-13, in New Orleans. Let members know to register early because prices go
up if you register on site in New Orleans. Registration includes the biggest
event of the year, access to the event app, and communications on the latest
news and events. Reserve your room by calling 888-236-2427 for the Marriott
or 855-516-1090 for the Sheraton New Orleans. Ask for the "National
Federation of the Blind 2025 Convention" block. 

News:

Letter to the Social Security Administration:

On March 26 we sent a
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-social-
security-administration-regarding-recent> letter to the Acting Commissioner
of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Leland Dudek, in response to
several proposed policy changes that had recently been announced by the SSA.
Most notably, this letter was in response to announced planned reductions in
the number of employees who work for SSA, and the closing of dozens of
Social Security field offices across the country. This letter can be read in
full on the  <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements>
Policy Statements page of our website. After we sent our letter, there were
further developments to this situation. See the next item for details. 

Legal News: Disability Advocates Sue to Stop Unlawful Cuts to Social
Security Services:

We filed a federal lawsuit on April 2, 2025, with several disability
advocacy organizations and individual plaintiffs. As shared in the press
release, "Many blind Americans rely on Social Security benefits for their
survival and for the support of their families...In the most severe cases,
these cuts could endanger people's very lives. The National Federation of
the Blind supports greater government efficiency and recognizes that much
can be done to improve the SSA, but careful planning and collaboration with
blind Americans and other disability advocates are the right ways to handle
reform."
<https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/disability-advocates-sue-social-securit
y-administration-and-doge-stop-unlawful?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqpNdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAA
BHosh9nhSbHJoKZv9v45x_e8tapICdaQ5cZy3IWHIN1ALUFxQGrLF0guWKQF1_aem_VaqOVDHjJN
8BrkC0nndy2Q> Read and share the full press release. 

Federal Workers Impacted by Recent Layoffs:

We know that federal employees with disabilities have been disproportionally
affected by recent reductions in the federal employment workforce, and we
are doing all we can to help our blind colleagues. If you are a federal
worker impacted by the government layoffs and are interested in information
on career opportunities through the National Federation of the Blind
Employment Initiatives, please submit the
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/employment/general-interest-form>
Employment Interest Form to receive announcements about career opportunities
and to receive notices about potential financial support to attend the NFB
National Convention to explore additional employment opportunities. 

Jesse Shirek Testimony to the House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee
on the Legislative Branch:

On April 9, Jesse Shirek, one of our government affairs specialists,
testified in front of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch regarding
the importance of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print
Disabled (NLS). Jesse emphasized how critical it was that the subcommittee
maintain at least the current level of funding for the NLS. The testimony
can be found in full, beginning at 14:10, on the
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxf9vGtDAOU> House Appropriations Committee
YouTube channel. You can also
<https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/legislative-branch-publi
c-witness-day?fbclid=IwY2xjawJqpgdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHh8n73G_ZktPBfzHdkkcx94R6
LDzkeZWdJAqDHD8BJlmVCLshrgOw9pjN5Yp_aem_-j4eXu3V6b0EZtwRSqXbMA> read and
share the full written and verbal testimony from the hearing.

Letter to the Secretary of Education Regarding the Executive Order to Close
the Department of Education:

On March 20, 2025, the White House issued an executive order to close the
United States Department of Education. Just a few days later, on March 25,
we sent a
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-secreta
ry-education-regarding-executive-order> letter to the Secretary of
Education, Linda McMahon, reminding her of the importance of many programs
for blind and disabled Americans that are currently administered by the
Department of Education, and urging her to maintain those programs. Our
letter can be read in full on the
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> Policy
Statements page of our website. On April 11, we received a response from
Diana Diaz, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, which states in part, "No employees in the Office
of Special Education Programs or the Rehabilitation Services Administration
were part of the reduction in force. The Department is committed to ensuring
uninterrupted services to meet the needs and develop the potential of
children and youth with disabilities, while also supporting states and other
agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation and other services."

Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1529):

Last week, the United States House of Representatives passed the FY25
Concurrent Budget Resolution. Now that both chambers of Congress have passed
this resolution, the work begins on the comprehensive tax bill, part of the
reconciliation process that is frequently mentioned in the news. This is the
ideal opportunity that members of the National Federation of the Blind have
been waiting for to get the Access Technology Affordability Act included as
part of the larger tax legislation. A legislative alert was sent out by
Jesse Shirekon Monday, April 14, on this very topic, so please check your
inboxes and review it carefully to understand the next steps that we need to
take in order to get the Access Technology Affordability Act passed into
law!

New State Legislation Harmful to Blind Merchants:

The respective state legislatures in North Dakota and Tennessee are
considering statutory changes that would dramatically restrict or eliminate
opportunities for blind merchants to continue to operate vending facilities
in these states. We are coordinating with affiliates and the National
Association of Blind Merchants to defeat this harmful legislation. If you
learn of similar legislation in your state, please reach out immediately to
Jesse Shirek, government affairs specialist, by emailing
<mailto:jshirek at nfb.org> jshirek at nfb.org or calling 410-659-9314, extension
2348.

A Breakfast Response to Low Expectations:

Every day, the National Federation of the Blind raises the expectations of
blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people
and our dreams. An example of low expectations was displayed in a segment of
The Breakfast Club radio show regarding a news story of a blind man named
Terry Sutherland, from Indiana, who acquired a gun license but felt that he
shouldn't have been because he is blind. The Breakfast Club agreed with him
and began to perpetuate misconceptions about blind people. We address those
misconceptions in a video featuring national board members, Jim Marks and
Shawn Callaway, and Federationists, Danielle McCann and Anil Lewis.
<https://youtu.be/V8HwahweBJI?si=FFWzzB_oBtomMNqZ> Watch and share the
video, "Serving Up the Truth: A Breakfast Response on What It Really Means
to Be Blind."

Catch up on Content and Share on Social Media:

Highlights, news, and stories are available in our most recent publications.
Access and share articles and episodes with Federationists on affiliate and
division social media to create discussions on various topics. 

*
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm25/bm2504/bm2504tc.htm> April
Braille Monitor
*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/access-on-podcast> Access
On podcast episodes with transcripts available
*
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast>
Nation's Blind Podcast episodes with transcripts available

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	May 1: Deadline for applications for the
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/blind-educator-ye
ar-award> Blind Educator of the Year Award. 
*	May 1: Deadline for applications for the
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/scholarships-and-awards/distinguished-edu
cator-blind-students-award> Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award. 
*	May 16-17: Diabetes Action Network; Baltimore, Maryland;
registration coming soon.
*	July 8-13: National Convention; New Orleans, Louisiana

Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement

*	Wednesday, May 7
*	Wednesday, August 6
*	Wednesday, November 5

Chapter Presidents Calls

*	Thursday, June 12 and Sunday, June 15
*	Thursday, September 11 and Sunday, September 14
*	Thursday, December 11 and Sunday, December 14

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

312-343-8396

 <mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> president at nfbofillinois.org

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

Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 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.