[NationalHarbor] Third Annapolis Issue

[Elizabeth Norman]

Hi Sharon and thank you and NFB for all that you have done.  I was on
the call tonight and ould like to sit on one of the meetings.  I am
flexible so you can choose one that may be under-represented.

Thanks, and may GOD bless,
Elizabeth

On 1/15/21, Sharon Maneki via NationalHarbor <nationalharbor at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello all,
> Read below for the third Annapolis issue. Thank you for all of your
> efforts. Together we will convince the general assembly to enact these
> issues.
>
> *Subject:          Appropriation for the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual
> Access (CENA) to Education, Public Information, and Commerce *
>
> *To:                  Members of the Maryland General Assembly*
>
> *From:             Members of the National Federation of the Blind of
> Maryland*
>
> *Contact:         Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy*
>
> *National Federation of the Blind of Maryland*
>
> *9013 Nelson Way*
>
> *Columbia, MD 21045*
>
> *Phone: 410-715-9596*
>
> *Email: **nfbmdsm at gmail.com* <nfbmdsm at gmail.com>
>
>
>
> *Date:               January 2021*
>
>
>
> *PROPOSED ACTION*
>
> The Maryland General Assembly should keep the $250,000 appropriation in the
> Governor’s Budget for the CENA to Education, Public Information, and
> Commerce.
>
>
>
> *BACKGROUND*
> In 2014, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) founded the NFB Center
> of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA). The CENA is a center of
> expertise, best practices, and resources that enables business, government,
> and educational institutions to more effectively provide accessible
> information and services to blind citizens. The State of Maryland, through
> the Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD), partners with the CENA to
> support a series of projects under the Nonvisual Accessibility Initiative
> (NVAI) with an aim to establish Maryland as a leader in nonvisual
> accessibility.
>
>
>
> The public-private partnership between MDOD and the NFB has improved the
> standard of accessibility throughout the state. Through the development and
> implementation of a variety of projects within the following six focus
> areas, we will continue to build a more accessible Maryland.
>
>
>
> *I.               **Enhancing Access to Education Technology and
> Strategies*
>
> Inaccessible instructional materials prevent blind and low-vision students
> from accessing the fundamental tools of education, leaving them woefully
> unprepared for their futures. Under the NVAI the NFB will continue to
> address the lack of accessible digital publications and instructional
> materials by conducting trainings on tools, strategies, and best practices
> in the creation and dissemination of materials that are “born accessible.”
> Through our continued partnership with the Maryland Open Source Textbook
> initiative, the HathiTrust, the DAISY Consortium, major publishing
> companies, and education technology developers, the NFB will continue to
> assist in the development and implementation of innovative accessible
> technologies and strategies.
>
>
>
> *II.            **Enhance Access to Employment-Related Tools and Services*
>
> The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) sought to create system
> change to address the significant unemployment of people with disabilities
> by defining the relationship between state Departments of Labor and
> Division of Rehabilitation Services. Yet, there remains a 70 percent
> unemployment/underemployment rate for blind people in this country. One of
> the contributing factors is that many employers are using online
> applications, training tools, as well as workplace technology that is
> inaccessible and makes it impossible for a blind or low-vision job seeker
> to obtain, retain, or advance in employment. Under the NVAI, the NFB will
> collaborate with the Maryland Department of Labor and the Maryland Division
> of Rehabilitation Services, ensuring greater access to the American Job
> Centers in an effort to improve access to employment systems and services.
> In addition, the NFB will conduct outreach to employers in an effort to
> provide them with the training and support required to eliminate the
> employment barriers faced by blind and low-vision Maryland citizens.
>
>
>
> *III.          **Offering Accessibility Boutiques and Other Training
> Seminars*
>
> The CENA will host informal accessibility-specific Accessibility Boutiques
> and other training seminars. The Accessibility Boutiques are usually one or
> two hours long, and are free and open to the public, and are designed to
> create public awareness about accessibility and provide a brief orientation
> about specific accessibility tools and strategies. Other larger trainings
> will offer a more substantive exposure and training experience to the
> participants and address major issues related to nonvisual accessibility.
>
>
>
> *IV.          **Maintaining the Accessibility Switchboard and Community of
> Practice  *
>
> The NFB will continue to develop and market the Accessibility Switchboard,
> a dynamic online portal consisting of an accessibility information resource
> for consumers and a compliance information portal for organizations. This
> work will be informed by the Accessibility Community of Practice, a
> volunteer group of accessibility experts from educational institutions,
> corporations, and the public sector.
>
>
>
> *V.             **Assisting with the Integration of Smart Technologies for
> Accessible Cities        *
>
> In order to facilitate the integration of innovative technologies and
> strategies toward the creation of an accessible city that will provide the
> opportunity for blind people to have equal access to essential information,
> resources, and services, the NFB will:
>
> ·       Continue to participate in partnerships with technology developers
> and city planners in the evaluation and implementation of various
> transportation and wayfinding strategies. We will host quarterly meetings
> with our partners in order to share information across disciplines.
>
> ·       Continue to investigate and evaluate the various tools being used
> for wayfinding and the strategies for creating accessible public spaces. A
> summit will highlight the work being done to create more accessible public
> and private programs and services by bringing representatives from
> academic, public, and private organizations together to share best
> practices and network.
>
>
>
> *VI.          **Coordinating the Accessibility Inclusion Fellowship
> Program*
>
> The “Final Report of the Study on Accessibility Concepts in Computer
> Science, Information Systems and Information Technology Programs in Higher
> Education” recommended that three annual fellowships be awarded to help
> instructors begin to include accessibility concepts contained within the
> minimum areas of instruction in at least one course offering in their
> institution. The CENA will continue to recruit and support these fellows in
> the coming year.
>
>
> CONCLUSION
>
> Access to information remains one of the greatest barriers faced by blind
> persons. To reduce these barriers the National Federation of the Blind
> established the CENA to provide information about best practices and to
> develop innovative techniques for achieving nonvisual access. The Maryland
> General Assembly should allow this state-of-the-art program to continue by
> approving the $250,000 appropriation in the Governor’s Budget under the
> Maryland Department of Disabilities.
>
> *Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy*
> National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
> 410-715-9596
>
> 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.
>


-- 
?"I don't know how, all I know is any day now...God is gonna do-
just what HE said"