<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">this is a critical Advocacy alert, and I would encourage all of you to participate as it is essential that we are able to protect section 504 as a rehabilitation act to maintain our civil rights as Blind and DeafBlind people. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Sincerely, Rocky Hart, President,, national Federation of the Blind. DeafBlind division.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind <web@nfb.org><br><b>Date:</b> March 19, 2026 at 2:01:25\u202fPM CDT<br><b>To:</b> Rocky Hart <rockyhart1221@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Advocacy Alert: Defend Section 504</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Bounces+r.26146.12401625.21fa040dc5c56e42@mailings.nfb.org<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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<td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42296&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:currentcolor; border-style:solid; border-width:0px; display:block; height:220px; margin:0px; width:200px" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>
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<h1><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; color:black;">Take Action Now to Protect Section 504 against <em>Texas v. Kennedy</em></span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">The National Federation of the Blind is calling on all members to take immediate action in response to the <em>Texas v. Kennedy</em> lawsuit, which poses a direct threat to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">For more than five decades, Section 504 has served as a fundamental civil rights protection, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities that receive federal funding.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">The <em>Texas v. Kennedy</em> lawsuit challenges the federal government\u2019s authority to enforce Section 504 and risks weakening or eliminating key protections that blind people in the United States rely on every day. This attack endangers our access to education, employment, public services, and other essential opportunities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">For more background on the case, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42297&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">please reference our recording from the NFB Information Call </a>on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Additional resources for background on this matter can be accessed in our <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42298&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Letter from nine NFB affiliates to their state attorneys general regarding Section 504 lawsuit | National Federation of the Blind</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Nine states are involved in this lawsuit: Texas, Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, and South Dakota. </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color:black;">Call to Action for Members in the Nine States</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Members in these states should immediately contact their governor and state attorney general and urge them to withdraw from the case. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Texas, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42299&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">kenneth.paxton@oag.texas.gov</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Alaska, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42300&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">attorney.general@alaska.gov</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Florida, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42301&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">james.uthmeier@eog.myflorida.com</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Indiana, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42302&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">info@atg.in.gov </a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Kansas, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42303&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">general@ag.ks.gov</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Louisiana, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42304&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">constituentservices@ag.louisiana.gov</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Montana, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42305&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">contactdoj@mt.gov</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Missouri, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42306&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">consumer.help@ago.mo.gov</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">South Dakota, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42307&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">atghelp@state.sd.us </a></span></p>
<h3 style="color:1b5633"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; "><font color="1b5633">Sample Message for Nine States</font></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Here is what to say when calling your governor or attorney general (for members in the nine affected states): </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent and a member of the National Federation of the Blind. I am calling to urge [Governor/Attorney General Name] to withdraw our state from the <em>Texas v. Kennedy </em>lawsuit. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">This lawsuit threatens Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a critical civil rights protection that ensures equal access for blind and disabled Americans. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Weakening Section 504 would have serious consequences for education, employment, and participation in public life. Please take immediate action to remove our state from this harmful lawsuit. Thank you.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color:black;">Call to Action for Members in Other States</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Members in the remaining forty-one states should contact the Governor of Texas and the Texas Attorney General to express opposition to the lawsuit and urge Texas to step away from this effort to undermine Section 504. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Here is the email for Texas, <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42299&qid=12401625" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">kenneth.paxton@oag.Texas.gov</a></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color:black;">Thank you for Taking Action</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Your voice is critical. Every message sent and every phone call made helps demonstrate that blind Americans will not stand by while our civil rights are threatened. Please take action today. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color:black;">Reach out to your state officials if you are in one of the nine participating states, or contact Texas state leadership if you reside elsewhere. Together, we can protect Section 504 and defend the right of blind people to live, learn, work, and participate fully in society.</span></p>
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