[nabs-l] Write About Your Experiences of Inaccessibility in College for Washington Seminar by Weds, Jan. 22!

Tue Jan 21 05:43:50 UTC 2014

Hi Justin, for the stories to be used at Washington Seminar
appointments, I need them by this Wednesday, Jan. 22.

I will however, never say no to a story. after Washington Seminar,
they will be used to reinforce appointments that NFB staff have with
our congresspeople. All year they rely on our remote support such as
our calls, emails, and in this case, letters, to show that
constituents need legislation. The goal is that Lauren McLarney will
use these stories and we will contact people before staff appointments
so the constituent can call their rep and mention the appointment,
their story, and that they support the TEACH Act. This will further
reinforce the authenticity of the story during the appointment.

Cindy

On 1/20/14, Kathryn Webster <kathrynwebster at me.com> wrote:
> January 22, this Wednesday
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jan 21, 2014, at 12:05 AM, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> When do you need it by?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy
>> Bennett
>> Sent: Monday, January 20, 2014 8:20 PM
>> To: National Asociation of Blind Students
>> Subject: [nabs-l] Write About Your Experiences of Inaccessibility in
>> College
>> for Washington Seminar by Weds, Jan. 22!
>>
>> Dear Members,
>>
>> My name is Cindy Bennett. I am an NFB member and the secretary of the
>> National Association of Blind Students (NABS).
>>
>> NABS is excited to help with the recently introduced Technology,
>> Education,
>> and Accessibility in College and Higher Education (TEACH) act. I am
>> currently working with Lauren McLarney, a Government Affairs Specialist
>> for
>> the National Federation of the Blind, to collect stories about blind
>> student's experiences with higher education. We are contacting you
>> because
>> we want stories from constituents living in every congressional district
>> in
>> the U.S., and we can only do this with your help! Along with the ways you
>> can help listed below, submitting your story by Wednesday, January 22
>> will
>> insure that your story will make an appearance at the Washington Seminar
>> appointment with your district!
>>
>> In summary, the TEACH Act will create accessibility guidelines for
>> electronic instructional materials and related information technologies
>> used
>> by institutions of higher education. The TEACH Act will provide
>> guidelines
>> for manufacturers of educational technology and clarity for institutions
>> of
>> higher education to ensure that materials are usable by all students.
>> Earlier this year, Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) introduced the TEACH Act
>> (H.R. 3505). Click here to learn more about the TEACH Act.
>> https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/2013%20teach%20fact%20sheet.doc.
>>
>> Now that the bill has been introduced, we need to get it passed! And
>> that's
>> where you come in!
>>
>> We need stories from current and recent students who are and have been
>> affected by the lack of accessibility in the classroom, whether it be
>> through inaccessible software, lack of materials, or late or inadequate
>> accessible materials. Be sure to include a sentence of how accessibility
>> guidelines would/would have helped you.
>>
>> Compose your paragraph-long story and send it to me at clb5590 at gmail.com.
>> Please include the school you attend/attended, and any congressional
>> districts that you live in. for example, if your permanent address is in
>> a
>> different congressional district from the district in which you go to
>> school, list both. If you do not know this information, you can look it
>> up
>> here.
>> http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
>> There is a simple edit field where you can enter your zip code. On the
>> next
>> page, your zip code and the number district in which you reside are
>> listed
>> like this.
>>
>> Zip code: 98121
>> is located in the 7th Congressional district of Washington.
>>
>> The second way you can help is by reinforcing the appointments Lauren and
>> other NFB members have with congress. If someone has an appointment with
>> your congressperson, I will contact you with the date of the appointment,
>> and you can call your congressperson's office and tell your story. This
>> will
>> show your congressperson that one of their constituents is directly
>> affected
>> by inadequate accessibility and needs the TEACH Act. This part is very
>> important as members of congress work for their constituents!
>>
>> Of course, you do not have to wait for someone to have an appointment
>> with
>> your representative or senators; we encourage you to go ahead and contact
>> them on your own!
>>
>> Please pass this announcement on to all of the blind current and recent
>> students that you know!
>>
>> Finally, please feel free to contact me or Lauren McLarney with any
>> questions. you can reach me at clb5590 at gmail.com, and Lauren at
>> LMcLarney at nfb.org.
>>
>> We look forward to receiving your stories!
>>
>> Cindy Bennett and Lauren McLarney
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cindy Bennett
>> Secretary: National Association of Blind Students
>>
>> B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
>> clb5590 at gmail.com
>>
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-- 
Cindy Bennett
Secretary: National Association of Blind Students

B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
clb5590 at gmail.com