<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Hello Friends,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Thank you very much for contacting your state legislators and letting us help you write letters. Now that we have taken care of the state issues, it is time to ask our congressmen and senators to pass the Access Technology Affordability Act. Please read the email below and take action. </div><br clear="all"></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><br></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">National Federation of the Blind</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:web@nfb.org" target="_blank">web@nfb.org</a>></span><br>Date: Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 10:00\u202fAM<br>Subject: Legislative Alert: Access Technology Affordability Act<br>To: Sharon Maneki <<a href="mailto:nfbmdsm@gmail.com" target="_blank">nfbmdsm@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br>
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<h1><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:24pt;color:black">Pass the Access Technology Affordability Act</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind urges both the House and Senate to pass the Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA), H.R. 1529/S. 1918. This legislation would create a refundable tax credit of $2,000 for use over a three-year period to help blind Americans afford the high cost of qualified access technology. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Since 2017, we have worked to secure this tax credit because we believe it will help blind Americans obtain the access technology needed to search for jobs, apply for work, and maintain steady, fulfilling employment. With more of us working, we would contribute more to the federal government through income and payroll taxes while becoming less dependent on government benefits.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Our advocacy during the Washington Seminar has already secured multiple cosponsors, and we are committed to building on that momentum. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot and push for passage, especially given the major emphasis on government savings, which we are confident the ATAA will help facilitate. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Your involvement is essential to advancing this legislation. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42021&qid=12314984" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Please call or email your representative today and urge them to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act.</a></span></p>
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