<div dir="ltr"><div>Hello all,</div><div><br></div><div>Please become familiar with our Annapolis issues so that you can participate in our zoom meetings. The meetings will be held on January 21, 26, 27, and 28. We will let you know more particulars about the meetings later. Read the first issue below. <br></div><div><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></b><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Subject: <span> </span>The Accountability Act for Accessible K-12 Education<span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></b>
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To:<span> </span>Members
of the Maryland General Assembly<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From:<span> </span>Members of the National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Contact:<span> </span>Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">9013 Nelson Way<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Columbia, MD 21045<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Phone: 410-715-9596<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Email: </span></b><a href="mailto:nfbmdsm@gmail.com" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">nfbmdsm@gmail.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Date: <span> </span>January 2021<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span> </span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">THE
PROBLEM<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Because
of COVID-19, most schools in Maryland have shifted from in-person to virtual
instruction. Blind students in grades K-12 cannot access their educational
content since local school systems use inaccessible instructional technologies.
Although federal and state laws <span> </span>require
the accessibility of information and communication technology (ICT), digital
content <span> </span>and services such as educational
apps and websites, local school systems and the Maryland State Department of
Education (MSDE) have not enforced the requirement for developers to ensure
accessibility before purchasing and implementing technologies and have not
prohibited staff members from using inaccessible materials that they find on
their own. Local school systems and MSDE have no accountability for accessibility.
Consequently, blind students are denied the opportunity to fully participate in
their education. <span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">PROPOSED
ACTION<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The
Maryland General Assembly should enact legislation that provides accountability
for accessibility by both local school systems and the MSDE. This legislation must
include procurement procedures that force local school systems to comply with
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. There should be a penalty for
non-compliance by developers. The MSDE must annually publicize the record of accessibility
compliance by all jurisdictions on its website. The need for action is urgent.
Barriers to full participation in education that blind students face must be
eliminated. <span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">BACKGROUND<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Blind
students encountered accessibility problems when they were able to have
in-person instruction. However, virtual instruction necessitated by COVID-19
has exacerbated these problems. 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. In
other words, inaccessible technologies shut blind students out of their
education. Additionally, blind parents and blind teachers cannot help students
who use these technologies. Federal laws such as the Americans with
Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act have required
elementary and secondary schools to use accessible ICT to provide students with
disabilities full and equal access to programs. Since 2002, Maryland law has
also required that online instruction must be accessible to students with
disabilities. Since these laws have existed for decades, why does this problem
remain? <span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Screen
access software makes electronic information accessible by rendering
information in either a text-to-speech, magnified, or refreshable Braille
format. These screen access devices will work only if websites, document
formats, or other hardware and software are designed and coded to accommodate
nonvisual access. The methods for nonvisual access are well known and well
documented. The first publicly available accessibility guidelines were
published in 1995 and have been updated periodically. These guidelines have
been incorporated into Section 508 requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973. The law requires accessibility, and developers already know how to
provide accessibility. What is missing is accountability and enforcement. <span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">BENEFITS
OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span>1.<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By
ensuring accountability, the proposed legislation will prevent local school
systems and the MSDE <span> </span>from overlooking or
ignoring accessibility requirements. </span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Making
a member of the vision department part of the local school system’s procurement
team – as stipulated by this legislation – will ensure that accessibility
requirements are part of every request for proposals for educational ICT. The
legislation also requires the MSDE to annually publish the progress of all
local school systems concerning accessibility on its website. Making this
information publicly available demonstrates that accessibility is a priority
for the MSDE. Publishing this information on the website is also a valuable
accountability tool because it allows the public to demand explanations. <span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span>2.<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The
proposed legislation introduces vendor accountability at the beginning of the
procurement process.</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
The proposed legislation will spell out accessibility requirements at the
beginning of the procurement process by requiring vendors to submit a Voluntary
Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) as part of their ICT proposals. The VPAT <span> </span>is a document that explains how ICT products
such as software, hardware, electronic content, and support documentation meet
(conform to) the Revised Section 508 Standards for ICT accessibility. Vendors
are familiar with VPATs since they are already required by many federal
government entities. Accessibility is less expensive and more effective if it
is designed during the initial development of ICT. Thus, requiring a VPAT will
help the developers in the long run.<span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span>3.<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The
proposed legislation enhances vendor accountability for accessibility by creating
consequences.</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
Currently, a vendor has no incentive to comply with procurement accessibility
requirements. Strengthening the procurement law by providing for vendor
penalties will demonstrate the importance of the requirement to the vendor.
Charging any vendor to remediate the product so it contains nonvisual access
components will also save money for the local school systems. The proposed
legislation states that local school systems shall notify vendors of any access
barriers found upon a determination within eighteen months from procurement or
latest upgrade. The vendor will be required to remediate said barriers at its
own expense. Should that vendor fail to remediate the access barrier within
twelve months from the date of notice, a civil penalty shall be applied. For
the first offense, the fine shall not exceed $5,000. For a subsequent offense,
the fine shall not exceed $10,000. No vendor should object to this requirement
because it has a year to fix the problem before any penalty is invoked. The vendor
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">shall
indemnify the local school system for liability resulting from the use of
information technology that does not meet the nonvisual access standards. </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In the long run, such a penalty
will allow full accountability and enforcement of the contract while saving local
school systems money.<span> </span><span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span>4.<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;font-stretch:normal;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Precedent
for a civil penalty against vendors for noncompliance with accessibility laws
already exists<span> </span>in Maryland with the
enactment of HB1088/SB286 in 2018.</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span><span> </span>Assessing
a civil penalty on vendors for noncompliance with accessibility requirements has
not had a detrimental effect on other agencies in the executive branch of
government.<span> </span>The legislature should
demand the same accountability for accessible education that it demands from
the rest of the executive branch.<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">CONCLUSION<span></span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></b></font></p><font size="2">
</font><p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The
use of virtual instruction by local school systems has denied full and equal
participation to blind students in K-12 education. Although accessibility to
ICT is required by state and federal laws, it does not occur because there is
no accountability or enforcement by local school systems and the MSDE. There
are no consequences for vendors who fail to deliver accessible ICT. The
proposed legislation will reduce accessibility barriers by establishing methods
of enforcement and accountability. Blind students deserve the same
opportunities for full participation in education that are afforded to
non-disabled students. This legislation will fulfill the demand that
accessibility must become a reality. If blind students have the opportunity to
obtain a quality education, they will be able to become successful tax payers
and productive members of society.<span></span></span></font></p><font size="2">
</font></div><div><font size="2"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span></span></span>
</font><br><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span></span></span></b>
</div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font size="2">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</font></b></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">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.<br></font></div><div><b><font size="2"></font></b></div><div><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div>