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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'>Thank
you, David for allow this posting to go through.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'>Randy
Pope who is deaf-blind<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 color=blue face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>David Andrews<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, July 14, 2010
5:37 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> blindtlk@nfbnet.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [nfb-db] Fwd: Your
Support for Assistive Technology</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:17:18 -0800<br>
From: Haben Girma <habnkid@aol.com><br>
To: David Andrews <dandrews@visi.com><br>
Subject: Your Support for Assistive Technology<br>
<br>
David, would you forward this to the lists please? <br>
<br>
On June 30, 2010, the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the
Internet made an important and commendable move to advance the 21st Century
Communications and Video Accessibility Act (H.R. 3101) a step ahead. The bill
is aimed at making Internet, telephone and other types of communication
accessible to people with disabilities. We are grateful to the House for this
on behalf of Americans who struggle everyday to participate in American society
because of their disabilities. But we are extremely disappointed that the
voices of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
un-served and small population of persons with deaf-blindness were ignored by
the House when Section 105B of H.R. 3101 was removed.<br>
If Congress wants to ensure equal access to 21st century communications for all
Americans, then Section 105(B) should be restored because without funding for
technology development, training, and distribution, Americans who are
deaf-blind will simply have to be left behind and further isolated. Equal
access to communications technology cannot happen without access to special
equipment for people who are deaf-blind. But the technology they use is
extremely expensive, and because they cannot afford it the assistive technology
industry decided to ignore them, while the rest of Americans benefit from
better and more advanced communication technologies they can afford that enable
them to participate in the workplace and nearly all other aspects of American
life. Many of the same technologies may also benefit visually impaired and
blind Americans, in particular older Americans and blinded veterans who served
our nation -- it is a great way to reward our visually impaired and blind
service members. That is why we need Section 105(B) restored -- we want to
include, not exclude, deaf-blind Americans in H.R. 3101 so that the quality of
life for all Americans improves and deaf-blind people live independent and
productive lives and contribute to American society. But all Americans,
including members of Congress, will benefit from better communication with
their friends, colleagues, and fellow Americans who are deaf-blind.<br>
<br>
Please follow this link to sign an online petition that will send letters to
your congressional representatives. <a
href="http://www.petition2congress.com/2/3378/lend-your-voice-to-support-americas-forgotten-community/">http://www.petition2congress.com/2/3378/lend-your-voice-to-support-americas-forgotten-community/</a>
<br>
<br>
Thank you!<br>
<br>
DeafBlind Young Adults in Action<br>
American Association of the DeafBlind<br>
<br>
<br>
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature
database 5276 (20100713) __________<br>
<br>
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.eset.com">http://www.eset.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p></x-sigsep><x-tab><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><x-sigsep> </x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab>David Andrews:
dandrews@visi.com<br>
Follow me on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920"
eudora=autourl>http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920<br>
</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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