<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings all! I'm told some of you missed this post from Dan Burke our legislative chair. We encourage all to join us for our Washington seminar colorado caucus this Thursday, February 3<sup>rd</sup> at 5 pm. If you know students or teachers who have an interest in civics? Encourage them to join us as well. Next week is one of the most important weeks of the year for the blind of America. Learn how you can be a part of changing the world by meeting with our members of Congress and members of their staff. The zoom link follows Dan's announcement here. Everyone can join at least one or maybe two or three of next week's meetings with this nation's lawmakers. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subject: Colorado Mountain Time at Five Caucus, Feb 3<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It’s Washington Seminar time, and that means it’s time for our Colorado Caucus. Although we can’t be in the Holiday Inn Capitol this year, a Mountain Time at Five Zoom get-together on Thursday, February 3, 5:00 p.m., seems like a perfect alternative. So why don’t you join us!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At our caucus, you can learn about the issues we will be discussing with Colorado’s Congressional delegation and ask questions about any issue that you might not understand. We will go over the legislative priorities, the schedule of Washington Seminar events, break up into teams, and review our Congressional appointments. Since all of our Congressional meetings will be on Zoom, plan on slipping into one (or all nine) of them during the week of February 7. On February 7, join us at our Great Gathering-In starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have four legislative priorities this year:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 431/S. 212)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most blind Americans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals from independently and safely operating home-use medical devices that are essential to their daily healthcare needs. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act will end unequal access to home-use medical devices for blind Americans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twenty-First Century Website and Application Accessibility Act<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Websites are required by law to be accessible, but without implementing regulations most businesses and retailers have little understanding of what accessible means. The Twenty-First Century Websites and Applications Accessibility Act will end website and mobile application inaccessibility for blind Americans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 2373/S. 3238)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 authorizes employers to pay workers with disabilities subminimum wages while they perform mundane tasks that do not transfer into skills necessary to transition to other employment options. The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act will end this antiquated and discriminatory practice for all Americans with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We encourage you to study up on the issues before our Mountain Time at Five Caucus. You can find the Fact Sheets, with more detail than given here, on our Washington Seminar web page. Fact Sheets are available in HTML, Word, and Audio formats.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>See you at 5 on Thursday!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mountain Time at 5 Zoom information<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Join Zoom Meeting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://zoom.us/j/97417562247">https://zoom.us/j/97417562247.</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meeting ID: 974 1756 2247<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One tap mobile<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+17207072699,,97417562247#<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+17209289299,,97417562247#<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dial by your location<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+1 720 707 2699<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>+1 720 928 9299<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meeting ID: 974 1756 2247<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>