<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Thanks Curtis!! I just did this.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; line-height: 15.4px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Maureen Nietfeld<br>Director of Student Services<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pronouns: she/her/hers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; line-height: 15.4px;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><span lang="EN">Colorado Center for the Blind</span></b><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Phone: <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">303.778.1130 Ext: 233</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Fax: <span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">303.778.1598</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">2233 W. Shepperd Ave.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline;">Littleton, CO 80120</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Colorado Center for the Blind is a training center and community of blind and low vision people, proudly affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We believe blind people can do anything. Every day, we encourage and challenge each student—and they come to understand their potential as they build the skills and confidence to live the life they want. Because when you believe in yourself and experience a thriving community of positive blind people, nothing can hold you back from pursuing your dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://cocenter.org/">cocenter.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/coloradocenterfortheblind">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cocenter4blind">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/cocenterorg">YouTube</a></span></p></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Jan 18, 2024, at 1:09 PM, Curtis Chong via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Hello everyone:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">As it turns out, we, the public, are still going to be allowed to submit written (emailed) comments about technology accessibility rules that are being developed by the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It is important that OIT hears from people who are in the blind/disability community about these technology accessibility rules—rules that have never before existed in Colorado. I am told that there are lots of comments being submitted from governmental officials at the local level. There are fewer comments from advocates and activists in our community. We need to do something about this.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>How Can You Help<o:p></o:p></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here is what you can do to support our work in this important area.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">Send a supportive email to <a href="mailto:oit_rules@state.co.us">oit_rules@state.co.us</a>.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">In the subject, enter "Comments on Technology Accessibility Rules Draft".<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">In the body of the email, say that you are in support of the comments made by the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado about the proposed rules and that you hope that the final rules reflect the changes recommended by the Federation.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>What is The NFB of Colorado's Position?<o:p></o:p></h2><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">Governmental agencies do not need two years in order to comply with the most recently-published Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). One year to comply is a more reasonable timeline.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">The rule itself does not need to have an exhaustive list of examples that might constitute undue burdens for governmental agencies. Such examples are better listed in a guidance document published outside of the context of the rule itself.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have any questions or concerns about this, please feel free to call me. My mobile number is 515-306-1654.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Let us not be outnumbered by local government officials who may not be as strongly committed to accessibility as we are.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Curtis Chong<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Colorado-Talk mailing list</span><br><span>Colorado-Talk@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/colorado-talk_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Colorado-Talk:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/colorado-talk_nfbnet.org/maureenbassmaster%40gmail.com</span><br><span>List archives can be found at <http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/colorado-talk_nfbnet.org></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>