[MD-AtLarge] Sample Letter for HB1181

[Sharon Maneki]

Please feel free to add personal stories or other thoughts to this sample
letter.

Dear Delegate,
Please vote in favor of HB1181, a bill that will provide accountability
measures to ensure that K-12 education is accessible to blind students.
Even though accessibility is required by law, local school systems and the
Maryland State Department of Education are not enforcing the law. Blind
students cannot access their instruction and digital content, complete and
submit their homework, participate in virtual class discussions, complete
pop quizzes and tests, or check their grades because platforms, programs,
and apps are not accessible. Vendors should know how to make their products
accessible because accessibility standards have been available since 1995.

HB1181 is a common sense bill. It requires local school systems to consult
with their vision department before purchasing information and
communication technology so that they can discuss accessibility. Vendors
will be required to include an accessibility conformance report in their
reports to the local school system. The local school system must annually
send in an accessibility progress report to the Maryland State Department
of Education. The Maryland State Department of Education must annually
publish a statewide accessibility progress report on its website.

Blind students deserve a quality education. Please make sure they receive
it by voting in favor of HB1181.

Name
Address

*Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy*
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
410-715-9596

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is
not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday we raise
the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.
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