[nabs-l] Any thoughts on Washington seminar?

Tue Feb 22 00:31:38 UTC 2011

A couple questions: 

1. Is the NFB planning on doing anything to reinforce or enhance the 21st
Century Accessibility Act?  I would have thought much of what is requested
in the Technology Bill of Rights can already be covered in the former.

2. How will the NFB battle states' rights mentality when it comes to setting
this national standard?  I think it's a great idea in theory, but how
feasible is it for states to give up their flexibility in favor of a
national benchmark?

I think the third legislative priority is an excellent one.  I'm already an
ethnic minority and can enjoy the tax benefits of owning a business, but
hopefully the expansion of coverage to disabilities will motivate more
people to venture out and start their own operations.

Thanks for any information on the first two points.

Joe

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves,
some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam Ewing
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Arielle Silverman
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 7:01 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Any thoughts on Washington seminar?

Hi Angelina and all,

There will be more thorough updates about the Washington Seminar
published soon in the Braille Monitor and NABS publications, but I'll
briefly summarize the three legislative issues we pursued this year.
If I inadvertently quote the details of our proposals incorrectly,
someone please correct me:
(1) The technology bill of rights: We would like to introduce
legislation requiring manufacturers of consumer electronics to build
accessibility into their designs. This bill was introduced into the
House of Representatives last year, but failed to gain co-sponsorship,
so we would like to re-introduce it this year.
(2) Educational standards for blind children: We would like to propose
legislation setting up a commission to develop nationwide standards
for the education of blind children. Currently there is no national
standard, so educational goals and benchmarks are set by the
individual IEP team. As many of us know from personal experience, all
too often IEP teams, if dominated by people who have low expectations
for blind children, end up setting goals that dumb down the quality of
education the blind child receives (such as not requiring the child
to be able to read or do math on grade level), or that neglect
teaching of essential skills like Braille. This national standard
would hold teachers of blind children accountable and ensure that we
are being taught appropriate skills on the same level as our sighted
peers.
(3) The Americans with Disabilities Business Opportunities Act
(ADBOA): This proposed legislation would enable business owners with
disabilities (including blind merchants) to utilize advantages similar
to those given to female and minority business owners, such as tax
credits and incentives to businesses that conduct transactions with
them.

Arielle

On 2/19/11, anjelinac26 at gmail.com <anjelinac26 at gmail.com> wrote:
> What were the main issues discussed? I'm not sure if I'll be able to make
> the conference call.
> Thanks
>
> Anjelina
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 19, 2011, at 3:45 PM, Arielle Silverman <nabs.president at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I can pop in to talk about the NABS meeting and give a summary of the
>> three issues we discussed with our legislators. I was not able to stay
>> through the end of the seminar so I am not sure how much progress we
>> made legislatively, so it'd be great if someone who was there through
>> the end could comment as well.
>>
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 2/19/11, Koby Cox <kobycox at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I think that it would be useful
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Feb 19, 2011, at 12:56 PM, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> hey Listers,
>>>>  Would   it be useful to you if   at some point  during the
>>>> up-coming call on youth slam, that someone  does a quick recap on
>>>> Washington Legislative Seminar?
>>>> Let me  know what you think, and  we'll make it happen!
>>>> Darian Smith
>>>> Board Member/Membership Chair
>>>> National Association of Blind Students.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2/19/11, Anjelina <anjelinac26 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>> I haven't heard much about Washington seminar. How were the sessions?
>>>>>
>>>>> Anjelina
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
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m
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Darian Smith
>>>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>>>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>>>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>>>>
>>>> "You could be shown the road, given the vehicle, even handed the key.
>>>> But only you can have the drive."
>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Arielle Silverman
>> President, National Association of Blind Students
>> Phone:  602-502-2255
>> Email:
>> nabs.president at gmail.com
>> Website:
>> www.nabslink.org
>>
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-- 
Arielle Silverman
President, National Association of Blind Students
Phone:  602-502-2255
Email:
nabs.president at gmail.com
Website:
www.nabslink.org

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