[Mdabs] Action Needed

[nfbmd]

Hello all,

 

As you know, we have been waiting for President Obama to issue regulations
making the internet a public accommodation since 2010. Did you sign the
petition yet? I did. Read Gabe's message below and sign quickly. Spread the
word to your friends and relatives. Anyone can do this, and we need everyone
to do it.

 

Thanks, 

 

Sharon Maneki, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

410-715-9596

 

Howdy Federation Family,

 

On July 26, 2010, the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the historic
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an Advance Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (ANPRM) addressing the obligation of public accommodations to
provide websites that are accessible to individuals with disabilities was
issued by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). At the time,
President Obama  correctly observed that these proposed rules would be "the
most important updates to the ADA since its original enactment." Yet the
release date of the actual rule proposal for revising the Title III
regulations of the ADA, originally scheduled for January of 2012, has been
extended until sometime in 2018, eight years beyond the issuance of the
original ANPRM and at least a year after the end of his administration.
Having originally taken a strong stance on the importance of these
regulations, it now seems like the Obama administration is wishing to wash
its hands of them entirely.

 

As blind Americans, we know first-hand that equal access to the internet is
paramount for education, to obtain and retain employment, and for everyday
tasks such as paying bills, online shopping, booking travel, etc. We will
not sit idly by as the administration attempts to sideline this critical
access issue, so we have launched a  <http://wh.gov/iwm9o> petition
demanding, in the strongest terms possible, that the administration issue
these regulations immediately.

 

Upon reaching 100,000 signatures, the Obama administration is required to
respond, so in addition to sharing our  <http://wh.gov/iwm9o> we the people
petition via Email and your social media outlets, please personally ask 10
family members, friends, and colleagues to sign it and share it as well. A
little personal contact goes a long way!

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me; with your
help, we will bring this critical issue for blind Americans to the forefront
of the Obama administration's list of priorities. Let's go build the
Federation!

 

...Gabe

 

Gabe Cazares

Government Affairs Specialist

National Federation of the Blind

200 East Wells Street

At Jernigan Place

Baltimore, MD 21230

E:  <mailto:gcazares at nfb.org> gcazares at nfb.org

P: 410-659-9314 Ext. 2206

T: @gmcazares

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day 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.

 

To make a donation to the National Federation of the Blind Imagination Fund
campaign, please visit  <http://www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture>
www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture

 

 

Sharon Maneki, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

410-715-9596

 

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