- The below recap was submitted by Mary Ann following Monday’s session of the ACB Legislative Seminar.
Sunday:
While blind and other print impaired folks in the United States enjoy thousands and thousands of books in accessible format, this is quite untrue for the visually impaired and otherwise print impaired persons in other countries. For instance, in Nicaragua, there are probably only 400 books which have been made available in alternative formats. James Love, director of an organization called Knowledge Ecology International discussed a proposal for a treaty to provide for sharing books over borders which for now is not happening because of the road blocks erected by publishers, authors and copyright laws. As a reader, I find this concept so terribly sad.
In keeping with some of our own advocacy efforts, ACB in conjunction with NFB and other organizations have to their credit a victory against Arizona State regarding the use of the KindleII EBook reader which, while it provides text to speech output, currently has onboard controls which are not accessible to persons with limited vision. The university which heretofore refused to negotiate with the ACB or other organizations has been made to cease using this device in its classrooms until such time as it becomes accessible to those with limited vision. Following suit are several universities around the country who, without the necessity of legal action have decided on their own not to use this device in their classrooms until or unless it should be come accessible to the vision impaired. As a result, by summer it is expected that the KindleII will have onboard controls which will be fully accessible to persons with visual impairments.
For more information on structured negotiations, both ongoing and in the future, go to www.lflegal.com
Monday:
On Monday, we were introduced to a couple of different hill officials. The first of these was Lynnae Ruttledge, Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Education. Lynnae comes to us with a great deal of experience in the field of disabilities. She was a former director of the Washington State VR agency. It would appear that she intends to be accessible, a good listener and as such, ACB is cautiously optimistic that she will be a positive influence to officials in this administration. She spoke intelligently about the needs of persons with visual impairments, even regarding such issues as the vending program.
We heard from Congressman Edolphus Towns’ Legislative Aide who assures us that the Congressman continues to fight diligently to see that the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act (H.R.734) is passed. The consensus is that we should be requesting of our representatives that this matter be brought to hearing. We currently have 197 sponsors.
Our luncheon speaker was perhaps one of the most interesting of all. Kathy Martinez is the Secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. department of Labor. Kathy informed us of efforts being made within the Veteran’s Administration to increase the money available under section 503 of the rehabilitation act which deals with accessibility in the work place and to technology in the work place. The money has increased from an insufficient amount of $850 thousand to $8.5 Million to address this problem. She described a major effort that the federal government is making to find people with disabilities jobs. On April 26, 2010, there will be jobs listed from 28 federal employers with applications online in accessible formats and on the spot interviews. For more information on this and other efforts being made by this office, go to:
www.dol/odep.
Any of you who have read my email and last year’s blog post from this very seminar are already familiar with the two imperatives which, as last year are H.R. 734, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act and H.R.3101, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. Much of this year’s discussion was centered on how best to combat some of the common road blocks put to us by representatives.
For instance, with regard to H.R.3101, when speaking with a republican, remind them that first and foremost, it’s just the right thing to do, it is a non-partisan issue. Further, it will allow companies, large and small to compete for the business of the population interested in purchasing devices which are accessible to those with sensory impairments. When speaking democrats, who so far are the only co-sponsors of 3101, words like inclusion, a level playing field for higher education and opportunities for those who might be disadvantaged are the key phrases to use.
With regard to H.R.734, simply that it’s absolutely a necessity to keep pedestrians safe. Further, this effort does not directly cost the government anything at all.
Our last speaker was the engaging Mark Richert from the American Foundation for the Blind who spoke on healthcare reform as it relates to the blindness community. Unfortunately, of the three issues which most concern the blindness community, prescription labeling, funding by Medicare for low vision aids and funding for such services as rehab teaching and orientation and mobility, only funding for low vision aids is addressed at all and in this, there is such vague language as to almost be non-existent.
So there you have it, a legislative update in a nutshell.
- Mary Ann
No Comments »
Filed under: ACB Seminar, Advocacy, Affiliate Organizations, Quiet Cars, Telecommunications