[NationalHarbor] Support HB1181 Before Monday, March 22, 2021

[Amber Woods]

Dear National Harbor Chapter Members and Friends

The HB1181 bill needs to get to the Senate by Monday, March 22. Here is a
sample

message followed by the list of committee members.



Please call or email and customize with supporting experiences or other
supportive information when practical.

 The number to call is:

410-841 or 301-858 with the appropriate ext listed below:

Everyone should write to the chairman of the committee, Anne Kaiser ext.

3036, and ask her to move this bill out of committee.

 If you live in Charles County, write to Delegate Edith Patterson ext. 3247.

If you live in Montgomery County, write to Delegates Eric Luedtke ext.

3110, Julie Palakovich Carr (julie.palakovichcarr at house.state.md.us) ext.

3003, and Jheanelle Wilkins ext. 3445.



If you live in Prince George's County, write to Delegates Alonzo Washington

(Vice Chair) ext. 3699

 Darryl Barnes ext. 3557

 Julian Ivey ext. 3326

Call example



Hello my name is … I live in (state your county or address) I am calling to
ask delegate …. to support by vote in favor of HB1181, the Accountability
Act for Accessible K-12Education. This bill will give blind students their
best chance to achieving quality education.

Additional information:

HB1181 is a common-sense bill. The bill will require local school systems
to consult with their vision department before purchasing information and
communication technology so that they can discuss accessibility. Vendors
will be required to include an accessibility conformance report in their
reports to the local school system. The local school system must annually
send in an accessibility progress report to the Maryland State Department
of Education. The Maryland State Department of Education must annually
publish a statewide accessibility progress report on its website.



Email Delegates example note will provide email if different from tradition
format:

firstname.lastname at house.state.md.us

Chairwoman

Anne.Kaiser at house.state.md.us

Prince George’s

Alonzo.Washington at house.state.md.us

Darryl.Barnes at house.state.md.us

Julian.Ivey at house.state.md.us

Charles

Edith.Patterson at house.state.md.us

ext. 3247.



 Montgomery

 Eric.Luedtke at house.state.md.us

ext.3110,

 Julie Palakovich Carr  (julie.palakovichcarr at house.state.md.us)

ext.3003

Jheanelle.Wilkins at house.state.md.us

ext. 3445.

Email Example:

Dear Delegate,





Please vote in favor of HB1181, a bill that will provide accountability
measures to ensure that K-12 education is accessible to blind students.
Even though accessibility is required by law, local school systems and the
Maryland State Department of Education are not enforcing the law. 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 because platforms, programs,
and apps are not accessible. Vendors should know how to make their products
accessible because accessibility standards have been available since 1995.



HB1181 is a common-sense bill. The bill will require local school systems
to consult with their vision department before purchasing information and
communication technology so that they can discuss accessibility. Vendors
will be required to include an accessibility conformance report in their
reports to the local school system. The local school system must annually
send in an accessibility progress report to the Maryland State Department
of Education. The Maryland State Department of Education must annually
publish a statewide accessibility progress report on its website.



Blind students deserve a quality education. Please make sure they receive
it by voting in favor of HB1181.





(Enclosure),

Your Name and Last name

Address,State,zip code

Optional phone number

If you have any additional questions, please contact me or

Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

410-715-9596



Respectfully,



Amber Woods

President

National Harbor Chapter

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

301-978-6686
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