[Nfb-hi] FW: [Caps] Fw: NFB President Marc Maurer gives advice to PresidentElect Obama.

[Milton M. Ota]

-----Original Message-----
From: caps-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:caps-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Deborah Kent Stein
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:58 AM
To: Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety
Subject: [Caps] Fw: NFB President Marc Maurer gives advice to
PresidentElect Obama.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Rovig, Lorraine 
To: Deborah Kent Stein 
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 11:15 AM
Subject: FW: NFB President Marc Maurer gives advice to President Elect
Obama.


The whole magazine online is very interesting, Debra,
Lorraine



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From: LPovinelli at aol.com [mailto:LPovinelli at aol.com] 
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 6:01 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: NFB President Marc Maurer gives advice to President Elect
Obama.


Hi, everyone,
    After each Presidential election, Johns Hopkins University puts out
a magazine on the new President elect; this magazine is fairly well-read
on Capitol Hill and by the various think tanks and non-profits in DC
that want to learn a little more about our new President in a fun and
unique way.
    This election cycle, the magazine, which is entitled "America's 44th
President", features an article called "Advice To The New President".
This is one of the most popular features of the Johns Hopkins
Presidential magazines; students in the Master's in Government program
compile little snippets of advice from people they work or have
affiliations with and readers enjoy finding out what kind of advice
folks from various public, private, and non-profit sectors have for the
new Prez. I'm happy to say that this year, before readers get to the
advice from Senator Ben Cardin, Congresswoman Heather Wilson, and
others, the first section of this article is a blurb written by Marc
Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. Since this
appears at the top of the page, disability rights will be the very first
issue people read about when they turn to this popular feature.

I've pasted the article below and the entire magazine can be viewed
online at:
http://advanced.jhu.edu/academic/government/new-president/

Here is the direct link to the "Advice To The New President" article. 
http://advanced.jhu.edu/academic/government/new-president/advice-to-the-
new-president/

Advice To The New President
We asked our graduate students to compile advice to the new president
from the congressman, senators, policy experts and advocates that they
work with. Here is some of the advice compiled by our students. 
Marc Maurer
President,
National Federation of the Blind
Compiled by Stacy Cervenka, student

"One of the fastest growing populations in the United States consists of
people of all ages who have disabilities. Blindness is one of the
fastest growing of these disabilities. With proper training and
opportunity, blind people can be as productive as sighted people. This
training is hard to get and sometimes the opportunities are limited.

Recognition by the new administration that people with disabilities have
talent is a way to demonstrate leadership for this population.
Appointing a blind person to serve as Secretary of Education would be a
positive statement that people with disabilities are welcome in
decision-making councils. Similarly, appointing a disabled person to
head-up the Civil Rights division of the Department of Justice would be
a visible demonstration that the rights of the disabled matter in
America.

The Social Security Act penalizes disabled Americans who want to work
and earn a living. Modifying this law to eliminate these penalties would
generate jobs for disabled Americans.

The Library of Congress Books for the Blind Program is the primary
source of reading matter for blind Americans. It is currently being
under-funded. This program needs adequate support to ensure literacy for
the blind.

Disabled Americans have difficulty gaining access to educational
institutions and the commerce of the nation because the tools developed
to use for such access do not include specialized characteristics to
permit disabled individuals to use them. A legal right to equal access
to educational institutions and materials and to all of the
establishments (both physical and virtual) in which commerce is
conducted is vital to the future of the nation.

As technology is developed to protect the environment, automobiles
become quieter. Unless these vehicles produce sound adequate to be
heard, they pose a danger to blind people, pedestrians, children,
bicyclists, and others. A standard to make vehicles hearable is vital
for the protection of pedestrians.

Advancements in technology, such as mobile (cell phone) "reading
machines" can help to remove literacy barriers for people with blindness
and learning disabilities, and literacy leads to employment. Grants and
tax incentives to make these and other technologies more widely
available at affordable prices should be provided."

Andrew Selee
Director,
Mexico Institute,
Woodrow Wilson Center
Compiled by Adriana Vallejo

"I would recommend that the next President of the United States
demonstrate exceptional leadership by tackling one of the toughest and
most important issues for the future of the country: immigration. The
economic crisis will make it impossible to address immigration
immediately, but the President should set the agenda early by repeatedly
making clear the importance of immigrants to U.S. society and reducing
the number of federal immigration raids going on across the country.
Starting in his second year (not later, because the window of
opportunity is likely to close), he should make clear that he wants an
immigration reform that

(a) restructuring the visa system to increase the number of work-based
visas while reducing the number of family-based visas,

(b) provide residency to those currently living in the U.S. without
documents who do not have a criminal record and can show a proficiency
in English; and

(c) create a system for employer and border enforcement that forces
future migration flows into the new work-based visa system. The
President should lay down these principles and let Congress write the
actual legislation; however, he should be aware that it will take
courage and a herculean effort from the White House to get the
immigration reform legislation through Congress."

Ben Cardin
United States Senator,
State of Maryland
Compiled by Aaron Glaser

"There are many serious issues facing the next President-energy
security, health care, education and the War on Terror. I would urge the
next President to be bold in defining his vision so he can act quickly
in meeting the challenges at home and abroad. Americans are looking for
a change in direction and in leadership and the next president will have
a unique opportunity to prepare our nation to meet the economic, social
and security challenges of the future."

Bill Gradison
Board Member,
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB),
Former Congressman and ranking member of 
the House Budget Committee and 
the Health Subcommittee of the Committee on Ways and Means
Compiled by Mansoor Shams

"Entitlement reform should be high on the list of priorities for the new
President, especially in his first year or two in office. The recent
meltdown in the financial markets, especially as it relates to housing
finance, shows the risks of focusing on short term fixes. Commitments
made by past Congresses, in health care in particular, need to be
examined with an eye to reducing the long term deficits which are
currently projected."

Todd Stottlemyer, 
President and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business
Compiled by Caitlin McDevitt

"The candidates must recognize that small businesses create about
two-thirds of all net new jobs in this country. For 20 years, they've
been telling us that their number one problem is the cost of healthcare.
The status quo is no longer acceptable. Entrepreneurs need to hear
specific proposals that will address this issue, which in turn will help
them to grow their businesses and our economy."

Heather Wilson
United States Congresswoman,
New Mexico
Compiled by Megan Tyler

"Keep the curtain inside of the tub."