From dandrews at visi.com Tue Jan 6 03:38:56 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:38:56 -0600 Subject: [Blindvet-talk] =?iso-8859-1?q?Washington_Seminar_Announcement_-_?= =?iso-8859-1?q?K-NFB_Reader_=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Mobile_Drawing?= Message-ID: National Federation of the Blind logo Graphic Photo boy with cane on the beach March for Independence logo On behalf of the chairman of the Imagination Fund and the March for Independence, I would like to ask everyone to register, register, register now for our third annual march that will take place on Monday, July 6, at our national convention in Detroit. It is important that we have well over one thousand Federationists registered by the time we gather for our winter legislative "march on Washington." Time is of the essence...don't delay, register now. Everyone who is registered to participate in the march by 4:00 p.m. on February 8, 2009, will be placed in a drawing to win a K-NFB Reader Mobile. The drawing will be held during Washington Seminar at the Great Gathering-In; you need not be present to win, but you do need to be registered to win! If you are already registered, help us now by reaching out to others to get them registered. You can register by going online to http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=C7GtaSzY4WQ2HBQblDsP _A.. , or by contacting Kristi Bowman at (410) 659-9314, extension 2406, or kbowman at nfb.org. Unsubscribe | Update Preferences | Visit Our Web Site | Tell-A-Friend http://nfb.convio.net/site/CO?i=8UeaqXN3XpDUrb6x2xAdz4MZyY4qHsgz& cid=0 http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=inMr9X6HnFiJSPnIZRgp pA.. http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=RVrRP1B0TxeX1ErQa1po CA.. http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=oTp55u-XaDlauB-Sk6hq Kg.. 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, MD 21230 410-659-9314 From dandrews at visi.com Sun Jan 11 04:59:52 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:59:52 -0600 Subject: [Blindvet-talk] National Federation of the Blind to Award $50, 000 in 2009 Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen at nfb.org National Federation of the Blind Announces Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards National Federation of the Blind to Award $50,000 in 2009 Baltimore, Maryland (January 7, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind today announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Program. Each year the National Federation of the Blind presents cash awards to individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions toward achieving the full integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality. Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a blind physician who lived and practiced in Chicago in the early twentieth century. He was widely known and respected in Chicago and throughout the Midwest during his career, which spanned the period from 1912 until his untimely death at the age of thirty-six in 1924. He was particularly recognized for his expertise on diseases of the heart and lungs. Bolotin used his many public speaking engagements to advocate for the employment of the blind and their full integration into society. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a pioneer who overcame low expectations and discrimination to become a renowned member of the medical profession without the benefit of the support services and civil rights protections available to blind people today. He was also a fierce advocate for greater opportunity for the blind in his time, and doubtless would have been a leader in the organized blind movement had he lived to see it come into being. The Jacob Bolotin Award Program celebrates his pioneering spirit by recognizing and supporting outstanding programs, technologies, and individual efforts that promote independence and opportunity for blind Americans." Recipients of the 2009 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards will be determined by the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee of the National Federation of the Blind. Online applications are due by April 15, 2009. Individuals or organizations are encouraged to apply on behalf of themselves or others. The award recipients will be announced at the 2009 National Federation of the Blind Convention in Detroit. A total of $50,000 will be distributed to the award recipients. The Jacob Bolotin Award Program is funded through the generosity of Dr. Bolotin's nephew and niece, Alfred and Rosalind Pearlman. In addition to establishing the Alfred and Rosalind Pearlman Trust to endow the awards, the late Mrs. Pearlman also wrote The Blind Doctor: The Jacob Bolotin Story. The book has been published by Blue Point Books and can be ordered directly from the publisher at www.bluepointbooks.com . Proceeds from book sales will also benefit the award program. For more information or to fill out the online application, please visit www.nfb.org. ### About the National Federation of the Blind With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. Please visit our Web site: www.nfb.org. _______________________________________________ From NABlindVets at aol.com Mon Jan 12 00:34:56 2009 From: NABlindVets at aol.com (NABlindVets at aol.com) Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:34:56 EST Subject: [Blindvet-talk] (no subject) Message-ID: Hello Fellow Blind Vets, The next national meeting of the National Association of Blind Veterans will be held in Detroit Michigan at the Marriott Detroit Renaissance Hotel. The dates are July 3 thru July 8 , with the banquet on the 8th. Most folks will be checking out on the 9th of July if they are staying for the banquet. Rooms are going fast so you should call early and reserve your room. Call 1-800-266-9432 and ask for reservations for the NFB National Convention. Dwight Dwight D. Sayer President, The National Association of Blind Veterans A Division of the NFB Email - presidentnabv at aol.com or president at nabv.org **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026) From donaldgrier at yahoo.com Fri Jan 16 15:08:36 2009 From: donaldgrier at yahoo.com (Donald Grier) Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:08:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Fw: DisabilityInfo.gov Employment News & Events Update: Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Announces Initiatives to Advance Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities Message-ID: <6495.97243.qm@web38808.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Donald Grier donaldgrier at yahoo.com --- On Thu, 1/15/09, DisabilityInfo.gov wrote: From: DisabilityInfo.gov Subject: DisabilityInfo.gov Employment News & Events Update: Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Announces Initiatives to Advance Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities To: donaldgrier at yahoo.com Date: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 7:57 PM DisabilityInfo.gov Employment News & Events Update: Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Announces Initiatives to Advance Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities #yiv464537218 { font-size:12px;font-family:arial, verdana, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;} #yiv464537218 .physicalAddress { color:gray;font-size:10px;font-family:arial, verdana, sans-serif;font-weight:100;} The Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has announced initiatives to?create quality work environments for more than 40,000 Americans employed through the AbilityOne program; advance the employment of people with intellectual disabilities; and provide?members of the National Association of Governors? Committees on People with Disabilities (NAGC)?with information and resources to help them advance employment opportunities for?people?with disabilities nationwide. You are subscribed to Employment News & Events for DisabilityInfo.gov. This information has recently been updated, and?can be read by visiting this link:? http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=10. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscription Preferences Page. All you will need are your e-mail address and password, if you use one. This service is provided to you at no charge by DisabilityInfo.gov. If you have any questions or problems e-mail support at govdelivery.com for assistance. Thank you for your interest in DisabilityInfo.gov. GovDelivery, Inc. sending on behalf of DisabilityInfo.gov ? U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy ? 200 Constitution Avenue, NW ? Washington DC 20210 ? 1-800-439-1420 From JFreeh at nfb.org Wed Jan 28 18:53:38 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:53:38 -0600 Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act Introduced Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Christopher S. Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen at nfb.org U.S. Representatives Edolphus Towns and Cliff Stearns Introduce Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act National Federation of the Blind Applauds Measure to Protect Lives and Preserve Independence of Blind Americans Washington, DC (January 28, 2009): Representatives Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL) today introduced H.R. 734, a bill intended to protect the blind and other pedestrians from injury or death as a result of silent vehicle technology. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on how to protect the blind and others from being injured or killed by vehicles using hybrid, electric, and other silent engine technologies. Thirty-two original co-sponsors have already signed on to the bill. Because blind pedestrians cannot locate and evaluate traffic using their vision, they must listen to traffic to discern its speed, direction, and other attributes in order to travel safely and independently. Other people, including pedestrians who are not blind, bicyclists, runners, and small children, also benefit from hearing the sound of vehicle engines. New vehicles that employ hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent, rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come into proximity with each other. "The National Federation of the Blind appreciates the wise and decisive action taken today by Congressmen Towns and Stearns to preserve the right to safe and independent travel for the blind," said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "The blind, like all pedestrians, must be able to travel to work, to school, to church, and to other places in our communities without being injured or killed. This bill will benefit all pedestrians for generations to come as new vehicle technologies become more prevalent. The blind of America will do everything in our power to ensure its swift passage." "The beneficial trend toward more environmentally friendly vehicles has had the unintended effect of placing the blind and other pedestrians in danger," said Representative Towns. "As someone who taught travel with a white cane to the blind for many years, I understand that the sound of traffic is critically important in order for them to travel safely and independently. This bill will prevent many injuries and fatalities while still allowing more clean vehicles on our nation's roads." "I understand the safety concerns of blind pedestrians with these quiet automobiles; I have heard the same concerns from senior citizens in my district, and I appreciate the threat to children, bicyclists, and runners," said Representative Stearns. "I deeply appreciate the support of all parties in supporting this important safety legislation." The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation, within ninety days of its enactment, to commence a two-year study to determine the best means to provide the blind and other pedestrians with information about the location, motion, speed, and direction of vehicles. Upon completion of the study, the Secretary will report the findings of the study to Congress and, within ninety days, establish a minimum vehicle safety standard for all new vehicles sold in the United States. Automobile manufacturers will have two years to comply with the vehicle safety standard. ### About the National Federation of the Blind With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. From dandrews at visi.com Wed Jan 28 19:39:21 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:39:21 -0600 Subject: [Blindvet-talk] 2009 Washington Seminar Materials Message-ID: Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans: Priorities for the 111th Congress, FIRST Session The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the United States. As the Voice of the Nation?s Blind, we present the collective views of blind people throughout society. All of our leaders and the vast majority of our members are blind, but anyone can participate in our movement. There are an estimated 1.3 million blind people in the United States, and every year approximately 75,000 Americans become blind. The social and economic consequences of blindness affect not only blind people, but also our families, our friends, and our coworkers. Three legislative initiatives demand the immediate attention of the 111th Congress in its first session: 1. We urge Congress to ensure the safety of blind and other pedestrians by passing the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act. This legislation would require the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to: ? Begin a study within ninety days of its enactment to determine the most practical means of assuring that blind and other pedestrians receive essentially similar information to what they now receive from sound emitted by internal combustion engines; ? Determine the minimum amount of sound necessary to offer sufficient information for blind pedestrians to make safe travel judgments based on appropriate scientific research and consultation with blind Americans and other affected groups; ? Within two years of beginning the study, promulgate a motor vehicle safety standard to address the needs of blind and other pedestrians by requiring either a minimum level of sound or an equally effective means of providing the same information as is available from hearing internal combustion engines; and ? Apply the standard to all motor vehicles manufactured or sold in the United States beginning no later than two years after the date it is promulgated. 2. We urge Congress to work with blind Americans to create a Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind that mandates consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment to provide user interfaces that are accessible through nonvisual means. This legislation should: ? Mandate that all consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment be designed so that blind people can access the same functions as sighted people through nonvisual means and with substantially equivalent ease of use; ? Create a commission comprised of essential stakeholders to establish standards for nonvisual accessibility of electronic devices intended for use in the home or office; ? Endow the commission with enforcement powers or locate it within a government agency having such powers; and ? Authorize it to reexamine and rewrite standards to keep pace with the evolution of consumer electronic technology. 3. We urge Congress to promote and facilitate the transition by blind Americans from recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to income-earning, taxpaying, productive members of the American workforce by enacting legislation to: ? Replace the monthly earnings penalty with a graduated 3-for-1 phase-out (i.e., a $1 reduction in benefits for each $3 earned above the limit); ? Replace the monthly earnings test with an annualized earnings test with an amount equal to twelve times. Substantial Gainful Activity amount; and ? Establish an impairment-related work expense deduction for blind Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries equal to the amount applicable for this deduction when determining an appropriate income subsidy under Medicare Part D or 16.3 percent of earnings, whichever is greater. For more information about these priorities, please see below or consult the attached fact sheets. Blind Americans need your help to achieve our goals of economic security, increased opportunity, and full integration into American society on a basis of equality. Enactment of these legislative proposals will represent important steps toward reaching these goals. We need the help and support of each member of Congress. Our success benefits not only us, but the whole of America as well. In this time of national economic insecurity, these measures will contribute to increasing the tax base and encouraging the purchase of consumer goods. ENHANCING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY: ENSURING THE BLIND CAN CONTINUE TO TRAVEL SAFELY AND INDEPENDENTLY Purpose: To require hybrid, electric, and other vehicles to emit a minimum level of sound to alert blind and other pedestrians of their presence. Background: Until recently independent travel for the blind has been a relatively simple matter, once a blind person has been trained in travel techniques and has learned to use a white cane or travel with a guide dog. Blind people listen to the sounds of automobile engines to determine the direction, speed, and pattern of traffic. Sounds from traffic tell blind pedestrians how many vehicles are near them and how fast they are moving, whether the vehicles are accelerating or decelerating, and whether the vehicles are traveling toward, away from, or parallel to them. With all of this information, blind people can accurately determine when it is safe to advance into an intersection or across a driveway or parking lot. The information obtained from listening to traffic sounds allows blind people to travel with complete confidence and without assistance. Studies have shown that sighted pedestrians also use this information when traveling. Over the past few years, however, vehicles that are completely silent in certain modes of operation have come on the market, and many more silent vehicles are expected in the near future. These vehicles are designed to have many benefits, including improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, but they do not need to be silent in order to achieve these intended benefits. An unintended consequence of these vehicles as they are currently designed is that they will reduce the independence of blind Americans and endanger the lives, not only of blind people, but also of small children, seniors, cyclists, and runners. Currently the most popular of these vehicles is the gasoline-electric hybrid, which alternates between running on a gasoline engine and on battery power (although a few electric automobiles are already on America?s roads and new all-electric models are planned). The blind of America do not oppose the proliferation of vehicles intended to reduce damage to the environment, but for safety these vehicles must meet a minimum sound standard. On April 9, 2008, Congressmen Ed Towns and Cliff Stearns introduced H.R. 5734 (the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008). This legislation sought to solve the problem of silent cars by authorizing a two-year study to determine the best method for allowing blind individuals to recognize the presence of silent cars, and by requiring that, two years after the study was completed, all new vehicles sold in the United States must comply with the solution determined by the study. In the 110th Congress, eighty-eight members of the House cosponsored this legislation. Need for Congressional Action: For several years the National Federation of the Blind has been concerned about the proliferation of silent vehicles. Recently automobile manufacturers have acknowledged the problems posed to blind pedestrians by silent vehicle technology and have begun to work with the National Federation of the Blind to seek solutions. However, federal regulators have indicated that, in the absence of statistics on injuries or deaths caused by hybrid vehicles, nothing can be done. Congress must therefore direct the Department of Transportation to take action. It is crucial that this problem be addressed before the inevitable avalanche of tragedies involving blind people, small children, seniors, cyclists, runners, and newly blinded veterans shocks the nation. Proposed Legislation: Congressmen Towns and Stearns have reintroduced the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act to direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study and establish a motor vehicle safety standard that provides a means of alerting blind and other pedestrians of motor vehicle operation, based on appropriate scientific research and consultation with blind Americans and other affected groups. This national motor vehicle safety standard must have the following characteristics: * In all phases of operation (including times when the vehicle is at a full stop) vehicles shall be required to emit an omni-directional sound with similar spectral characteristics to those of a modern internal combustion engine. * The sound should vary in a way that is consistent with the sound of vehicles with combustion engines to indicate whether the vehicle is idling, maintaining a constant speed, accelerating, or decelerating. The standard need not prescribe the apparatus, technology, or method to be used by vehicle manufacturers to achieve the required minimum sound level. This approach will encourage manufacturers to use innovative and cost-effective techniques to achieve the minimum sound standard. The addition of components to emit a minimum sound discernible by blind and other pedestrians will not negatively affect environmental benefits of gasoline-electric hybrids and other automobiles running on alternate power sources, and the emitted sound need not be loud enough to contribute to noise pollution. Automobiles that operate in complete silence, however, endanger the safety of all of us; silent operation should be viewed as a design flaw comparable to the lack of seat belts or air bags. Requested Action: Please support blind Americans by cosponsoring the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act to authorize the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish and promulgate regulations specifying a minimum sound standard for all new automobiles sold in the United States. In the House of Representatives, members can be added by contacting Emily Khoury in Congressman Towns?s office, or James Thomas in Congressman Stearns?s office. In the Senate members can support independence for blind Americans by sponsoring companion legislation. Contact Information: Jesse Hartle Government Programs Specialist NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2233 Email: jhartle at nfb.org A TECHNOLOGY BILL OF RIGHTS FOR THE BLIND Purpose: To create a Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind that mandates consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment to provide user interfaces that are accessible through nonvisual means. Background: In recent years rapid advances in microchip and digital technology have led to increasingly complex user interfaces for everyday products like consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment. Many new devices in these categories require user interaction with visual displays, on-screen menus, touch screens, and other user interfaces that are inaccessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision. No longer are settings on the television, home stereo system, or dishwasher controlled by knobs, switches, and buttons that can be readily identified and whose settings can be easily discerned, with or without the addition of tactile markings by the user. Moreover, the use of inaccessible interfaces on office equipment such as copiers and fax machines makes these devices unusable by the blind and therefore a potential threat to a blind person?s existing job or a barrier to obtaining new employment. This growing threat to the independence and productivity of blind people is unnecessary since digital devices can function without inaccessible interfaces. Today text-to-speech technology is inexpensive and more nearly ubiquitous than it has ever been; it is used in everything from automated telephone systems to the weather forecasting service broadcast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Indeed, a few manufacturers have incorporated this technology into their products to create talking menus or to articulate what is on the display; there is no reason why other manufacturers cannot do so as well. And text-to-speech technology is not the only mechanism by which consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment can be made accessible to blind people. Need for Legislation: Currently there are no enforceable mandates for manufacturers of consumer electronics, home appliances, or office equipment to make their devices accessible and no accessibility standards to provide guidance to manufacturers on how to avoid creating barriers to access by the blind. Congress should therefore enact a Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind, which clearly establishes that manufacturers must create accessible user interfaces for their products, provide a means for enforcement, and establish standards that will provide meaningful benchmarks that manufacturers can use to make their products accessible. Congress need not mandate a single, one-size-fits-all solution for all consumer technology. Rather any such legislation should mandate regulations that set meaningful accessibility standards, while at the same time allowing manufacturers to select from a menu of potential solutions that, singly or in combination, will allow blind users to operate the technology easily and successfully. This will not only give manufacturers the freedom and flexibility they desire, but encourage innovations that make consumer technology more usable for everyone. Proposed Legislation: Congress should enact a Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind that: * Mandates that all consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment be designed so that blind people are able to access the same functions as sighted people by nonvisual means and with substantially equivalent ease of use; and * Creates a commission to establish standards for nonvisual accessibility of electronic devices intended for use in the home or office. Such a commission should represent all stakeholders, including organizations of the blind; manufacturers of consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment or associations representing such manufacturers; and experts on universal design, electronic engineering, and related fields. This commission should have enforcement powers or be housed within a government agency having such powers (e.g., U.S. Department of Commerce), and should be authorized to reexamine and rewrite standards periodically, as consumer electronic technology continues to evolve. Requested Action: Please support blind Americans by introducing legislation to create a Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind (or by cosponsoring once legislation has been introduced) so that blind people will be able to participate fully in all aspects of American society. Increased access leads to increased independence, increased employment, and increased tax revenue. Contact Information: James McCarthy Government Programs Specialist NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2240 Email: jmccarthy at nfb.org REMOVING THE EARNINGS PENALTY: A COMMON SENSE WORK INCENTIVE FOR BLIND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES Purpose: To promote and facilitate the transition by blind Americans from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries to income-earning, taxpaying, productive members of the American workforce. Background: The unemployment rate for working-age blind people is over 70 percent. Part of the reason for this disproportionately high statistic is the myths and misconceptions about the true capacities of blind people. These erroneous perceptions are manifested when employers refuse to hire the blind. In addition, governmental programs intended to help blind people meet their basic economic needs, especially the SSDI program, have had the unintended consequence of creating an incentive for blind people to remain unemployed or underemployed despite their desire to work. Low societal expectations result in low representation of the blind in the workforce. This low representation of the blind reinforces low societal expectations?it is a vicious circle that perpetuates systemic employment discrimination against the blind. Despite the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind, blindness still has profound social and economic consequences. Governmental programs should encourage blind people to reach their full employment potential; they should not encourage economic dependence. Existing Law: Title II of the Social Security Act provides that disability benefits paid to blind beneficiaries are eliminated if the beneficiary exceeds a monthly earnings limit. This earnings limit is in effect a penalty imposed on blind Americans when they work. This penalty imposed by the SSDI program means that, if a blind person earns just $1 over $1,640 (the monthly limit in 2009 following a Trial Work Period), all benefits are lost. Section 216(i)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act defines blindness as a disability based on objective measurement of acuity and visual field, as opposed to the subjective criterion of inability to perform Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). For blind people, doing work valued at the SGA earnings limit terminates benefits but does not terminate disability. Only blind people not working or those with work earnings below an annually adjusted statutory earnings limit receive benefits. Need for Legislation: When a blind person enters the workforce, there is no guarantee that wages earned will replace SSDI benefits after taxes are paid and work expenses are deducted. For example, Jane worked as a customer service representative with an annual income of $35,000 until she became blind from diabetic retinopathy. Jane meets the criteria for SSDI benefits, which provide income of $1,060 a month (or $12,720 a year) tax-free while she is not working. Jane wants additional income to meet her financial needs. After an adjustment period and blindness skills training, she finds employment as a part-time representative making $10 an hour for 35 hours a week. Jane grosses $350 a week for an average of $1,517 a month. Using a conservative 25 percent withholding tax, Jane nets $1,137.50 from her work, combined with her $1,060 disability benefit, for a net total of $2,197.50 a month. If Jane should have the opportunity to work full time (40 hours), her weekly salary would go up to $400 a week for a monthly average of $1,733. This amount is over the 2009 earnings limit, so Jane loses all of her disability benefits. Using the same 25 percent tax level, Jane nets only $1,300 a month?working an extra five hours a week has cost Jane $897.50 net income (over $10,500 a year). This example illustrates the work disincentive contained in current law. A gradual reduction of $1 in benefits for every $3 earned over the earnings limit would remove the earnings penalty and provide a financial incentive to work. The benefit amount paid to an individual will gradually decrease, while the individual?s contribution to the Social Security trust fund increases over time. Under this approach, as Jane earns more, she pays more into the trust fund, and her dependence on benefits decreases. Monthly earnings evaluations are unnecessarily complicated for both the beneficiaries and the Social Security Administration. Since the medical prognosis for blind people rarely changes, and because blindness is objectively measurable, blind people should be subject to an annual earnings test with the limit equal to the twelve times applicable monthly SGA amount. Under current law blind workers frequently pay for items and services related to their disabilities that are necessary for them to work, and they are permitted to subtract these Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) from monthly earnings when determining monthly income. Properly crediting IRWE poses a serious challenge to the SSDI program and creates a lack of predictability for the blind person trying to determine whether benefits will be available. To address both issues, Congress should permit SSDI recipients to claim the same amount used when determining an income subsidy under the Medicare prescription drug program, currently 16.3 percent. Congress should enact legislation to: ? Provide that earnings of blind SSDI beneficiaries in excess of the annual earnings limit result in a gradual benefit reduction of $1 for each $3 earned over the limit; ? Establish an annual earnings test for blind SSDI beneficiaries; and ? Establish one standard IRWE deduction for blind SSDI beneficiaries equal to the amount presently applicable for this deduction when determining an appropriate income subsidy under the Medicare prescription drug program or 16.3 percent of earnings, whichever is greater. Requested Action: Please support blind Americans by cosponsoring legislation that provides a common sense work incentive for blind Social Security beneficiaries. Contact Information: James McCarthy Government Programs Specialist NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2240 Email: jmccarthy at nfb.org The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: 2009-Washington-Seminar-Legislative-Agenda-and-FactSheets.doc Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types of file attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2009-Washington-Seminar-Legislative-Agenda-and-FactSheets1.doc Type: application/msword Size: 131072 bytes Desc: not available URL: From dandrews at visi.com Wed Jan 28 23:49:54 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:49:54 -0600 Subject: [Blindvet-talk] New Lists on nfbnet.org Message-ID: I am pleased to be able to tell you about six new lists now hosted on nfbnet.org. They include: * NFB of Maryland list * North Dakota Talk * South Dakota Talk * Tidewater Virginia chapter list * Missouri Parents Network * youth-outreach Below is information on all the lists with instructions on how to subscribe to each. Dave nfbmd: NFBMD is the e-mail list of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. The purpose of this group is to provide information to anyone interested in events and issues effecting blind people in Maryland. This group will facilitate discussion on topics related to blindness, chapter and state activities, and state and local resources. There will also be occasional posts concerning issues of major importance to the blind as well as announcements concerning activities of the National Federation of the Blind on the national level. To subscribe either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmd_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to nfbmd-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line by itself. nd-talk: ND-Talk is the e-mail list of the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota. The purpose of this group is to provide information to anyone interested in events and issues effecting blind people in North Dakota. This group will facilitate discussion on topics related to blindness. There will also be occasional posts concerning issues of major importance to the blind as well as announcements concerning activities of the National Federation of the Blind on the national, state, and local levels. To subscribe to this list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nd-talk_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to nd-talk-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line by itself. sd-talk: SD-Talk is the e-mail list of the National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota. The purpose of this group is to provide information to anyone interested in events and issues effecting blind people in South Dakota. This group will facilitate discussion on topics related to blindness. There will also be occasional posts concerning issues of major importance to the blind as well as announcements concerning activities of the National Federation of the Blind on the national, state, and local levels. To subscribe to this list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/sd-talk_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to sd-talk-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject field by itself. Tidewater-chapter: We are the NFB of Virginia Tidewater Chapter and we are growing. Our President is Stewart Prost. We cover the Norfolk and Portsmouth areas as well as parts of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. We meet every 3rd Saturday at Orapax Greek Restaurant in the Ghent. To subscribe to this list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/tidewater-chapter_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to tidewater-chapter-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line by itself. missouri-parents-network: This list is for parents of blind and visually impaired children from Missouri and is designed to provide an opportunity for Missouri parents to network and share ideas with other parents as they seek to find solutions and resources. To subscribe to this list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/missouri-parents-network_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to missouri-parents-network-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject field by itself. youth-outreach: The purpose of the Youth-Outreach listserv is to facilitate discussions among NFB members interested in building youth outreach programs in their chapters and affiliates. The listserve will be used as a forum for sharing information, resources, and ideas. This listserv will help generate innovative approaches to inspiring and engaging blind youth and will build a community of those interested in improving opportunities for youth through the NFB. To subscribe to this list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/youth-outreach_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to youth-outreach-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe on the subject line by itself. From MisterAdvocate at aol.com Thu Jan 29 01:33:40 2009 From: MisterAdvocate at aol.com (MisterAdvocate at aol.com) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:33:40 EST Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Fwd: Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act Introduced Message-ID: ____________________________________ From: JFreeh at nfb.org Reply-to: blindvet-talk at nfbnet.org To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org Sent: 1/28/2009 1:54:31 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Subj: [Blindvet-talk] Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act Introduced FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Christopher S. Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen at nfb.org U.S. Representatives Edolphus Towns and Cliff Stearns Introduce Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act National Federation of the Blind Applauds Measure to Protect Lives and Preserve Independence of Blind Americans Washington, DC (January 28, 2009): Representatives Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL) today introduced H.R. 734, a bill intended to protect the blind and other pedestrians from injury or death as a result of silent vehicle technology. The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on how to protect the blind and others from being injured or killed by vehicles using hybrid, electric, and other silent engine technologies. Thirty-two original co-sponsors have already signed on to the bill. Because blind pedestrians cannot locate and evaluate traffic using their vision, they must listen to traffic to discern its speed, direction, and other attributes in order to travel safely and independently. Other people, including pedestrians who are not blind, bicyclists, runners, and small children, also benefit from hearing the sound of vehicle engines. New vehicles that employ hybrid or electric engine technology can be silent, rendering them extremely dangerous in situations where vehicles and pedestrians come into proximity with each other. "The National Federation of the Blind appreciates the wise and decisive action taken today by Congressmen Towns and Stearns to preserve the right to safe and independent travel for the blind," said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "The blind, like all pedestrians, must be able to travel to work, to school, to church, and to other places in our communities without being injured or killed. This bill will benefit all pedestrians for generations to come as new vehicle technologies become more prevalent. The blind of America will do everything in our power to ensure its swift passage." "The beneficial trend toward more environmentally friendly vehicles has had the unintended effect of placing the blind and other pedestrians in danger," said Representative Towns. "As someone who taught travel with a white cane to the blind for many years, I understand that the sound of traffic is critically important in order for them to travel safely and independently. This bill will prevent many injuries and fatalities while still allowing more clean vehicles on our nation's roads." "I understand the safety concerns of blind pedestrians with these quiet automobiles; I have heard the same concerns from senior citizens in my district, and I appreciate the threat to children, bicyclists, and runners," said Representative Stearns. "I deeply appreciate the support of all parties in supporting this important safety legislation." The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation, within ninety days of its enactment, to commence a two-year study to determine the best means to provide the blind and other pedestrians with information about the location, motion, speed, and direction of vehicles. Upon completion of the study, the Secretary will report the findings of the study to Congress and, within ninety days, establish a minimum vehicle safety standard for all new vehicles sold in the United States. Automobile manufacturers will have two years to comply with the vehicle safety standard. ### About the National Federation of the Blind With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. _______________________________________________ Blindvet-talk mailing list Blindvet-talk at nfbnet.org http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindvet-talk_nfbnet.org **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De cemailfooterNO62) From KBowman at nfb.org Fri Jan 30 04:26:22 2009 From: KBowman at nfb.org (Bowman, Kristi) Date: Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:26:22 -0600 Subject: [Blindvet-talk] One Million for Literacy Message-ID: 2008-09 Imagination Fund Campaign One Million for Literacy This year's NFB Imagination Fund campaign will continue to build on our past success and will expand our effort to the largest campaign yet. During this campaign cycle our focus is on continuing to give our Imaginators a variety of tools to solicit contributions and promote the ongoing work of the Federation. Additionally, we want to leverage our Imagination Fund work as an opportunity to promote the NFB's leadership in Braille literacy. The NFB has launched the largest campaign for Braille literacy ever undertaken, and the NFB Imagination Fund is an important way for you to encourage friends, family, business associates, and members of the public to contribute to new opportunities by giving to the Imagination Fund. Some members have asked about the distinction between our work in the Imagination Fund and our work in 2009 around the Braille literacy campaign. Think of it in this way: - Imagination Fund: Widening our circle of support by encouraging those outside the Federation to support the important work we are doing by giving financial contributions. - Braille literacy campaign: Creating widespread public awareness about Braille, encouraging people to purchase the U.S. Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar, and building awareness of the leadership of the Federation. In other words, in terms of fundraising we want NFB members to focus on securing support for the Imagination Fund. And, of course, the dollars contributed to the NFB Imagination Fund will support our Braille literacy effort by building: - the initiatives of the NFB Jernigan Institute, including innovative research, education, and technology development related to Braille literacy; - Braille outreach programs developed by NFB affiliates to address specific Braille literacy concerns in local communities; - leadership and support in local chapters to provide mentoring to newly blind individuals and families with blind children; and - previously unimagined programs to change what it means to be blind. Yes, you are right, the NFB does need to provide matching funds in order to secure funds generated from the sale of the Louis Braille coin. However, we are making specific outreach efforts to corporations, foundations, and other large donors to secure those funds. This is largely being managed by the national office and the Braille literacy team headed by Fred Schroeder. If you know of funding sources that you can secure to support the Braille literacy initiative, you should contact Dr. Schroeder so he can work with you to follow up. Otherwise, NFB members should focus their individual fundraising efforts on the Imagination Fund culminating in our Motor City March for Independence in Detroit. The pending release of the U.S. Louis Braille commemorative coin, and our public outreach around Braille literacy provides a perfect vehicle to talk to members of the public about Braille literacy and encourage them to support us. Thus, NFB members should continue to see the NFB Imagination Fund as our primary way to bring new dollars of support to our movement. This year we will raise one million dollars and at the same time we will forever change Braille literacy in this country. From MisterAdvocate at aol.com Sat Jan 31 03:39:58 2009 From: MisterAdvocate at aol.com (MisterAdvocate at aol.com) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:39:58 EST Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Fwd: FW: FSU's O&M Program Message-ID: ____________________________________ From: Phyllis.Dill at dbs.fldoe.org To: ab4zq at juno.com, Yesunited2 at msn.com, RehabMgr at tampalighthouse.org, BrokerBruc at aol.com, hullted at verizon.net, jnaiman at bellsouth.net, lammj at mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us, jodinkeith at cox.net, brianj at advocacycenter.org, kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com, robert at conklincenter.org, sckiser55 at earthlink.net, pedwards at mdc.edu, edwpaul at bellsouth.net, pkaminsky at bellsouth.net, rufbrown19 at verizon.net, dawn.saunders at fldoe.org, misteradvocate at aol.com, Town111 at bellsouth.net CC: Joyce.Hildreth at dbs.fldoe.org Sent: 1/29/2009 1:17:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Subj: FW: FSU's O&M Program FYI Refer to the following e-mail Joyce received from Sandy Lewis. ____________________________________ From: Sandra Lewis [mailto:lewis at mail.coe.fsu.edu] Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 7:55 AM To: Hildreth, Joyce Subject: FSU's O&M Program Dear Joyce, The Visual Disabilities Program at FSU was officially informed today that the funding for the O&M position will not be renewed by the College of Education after April because of the budget cuts facing the state. Unless something happens to change the Dean?s mind (or we get an infusion of $80,000), we will no longer be preparing O&M specialists who can teach Florida?s children and adults with visual impairments how to travel (and will be returning approximately $300,000 in RSA and OSEP grant money). This position was easy to eliminate, since it is held by someone who is not on a tenure track line. While expedient because of the dire state of the budget, the history of such programs is that once they are abolished, they are not refunded. The O&M Program at FSU has run continuously since 1966. Summaries of national data reveal that FSU has produced approximately 9% of all of the nation?s O&M specialists over the past 10 years. This program is important to the state?s citizens?children and adults?who are bind. The O&M specialization is important to the overall well-being of the Visual Disabilities program; without it, our student numbers , especially our graduate student numbers, will no doubt drop, putting the entire program at risk. If there is anything that you or DBS can do to help advocate for the continuation of this position, I would be most grateful for the support. Best, Sandy please note new e-mail address as of February 1st below: Sandra Lewis, Ed.D. Associate Professor and Coordinator Program in Visual Impairment Florida State University 205 Stone Building Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4459 850-644-8409 850-644-8715 (fax) slewis at fsu.edu -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by _MailScanner_ (http://www.mailscanner.info/) , and is believed to be clean. **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215855013x1201028747/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=De cemailfooterNO62)