[NFB-NM] FW: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] Public Access Under Attack

[Tonia Trapp]

From: Don Burns [mailto:dlburns2338 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2017 8:50 AM
To: tltrapp.7.467 at gmail.com
Subject: FW: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] Public Access Under Attack

 

Hi Tonia:  Would you please post this.  I will try to track bills in Santa Fe, but will take any help I can get.  Thanks, Don

 

From: NFB-Legislative-Directors [mailto:nfb-legislative-directors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Diggs, Parnell via NFB-Legislative-Directors
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2017 7:10 AM
To: NFB Legislative Directors List
Cc: Diggs, Parnell; President, National Federation of the Blind
Subject: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] Public Access Under Attack

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

As President Riccobono reminded us at the Washington Seminar, we work on a variety of bills every day, not just those which are front and center during a week on Capitol Hill.  One example of our advocacy at the federal level has been our opposition to a number of bills which (if passed) would weaken enforcement mechanisms under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) related to access to public facilities for people with all types of disabilities, including blind people.

 

  It has come to our attention that opponents of the ADA are also pursuing legislation at the state level.  Here is a link to one such bill pending in Arizona.  https://legiscan.com/AZ/text/SB1198/2017

 

These bills often claim simply to clarify the rights of property owners and people with disabilities and to promote access to public accommodations; but in reality, this terrible legislation allows public accommodations to ignore the ADA until someone with a disability actually suffers the indignity of trying to use a public accommodation only to find out that it is not accessible.  Remember that the ADA was adopted nearly thirty years ago, and assertions that people still don’t understand the requirements under the ADA at this late date are absurd.

 

It is crucial that all affiliates track legislative activity in state capitols across the nation and be aware that bills which may be detrimental to blind people could be introduced at any time.  Generally, it is easier to defeat legislation than it is to enact it.  But we must activate when necessary to demonstrate to Congress and state legislatures that we do care about issues affecting our lives and that we will speak up when bills which diminish our rights are introduced.

 

In the meantime, you should make it a habit to search online periodically for legislation containing words such as “blind” or “disability” in your state. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time for assistance in developing strategies for legislative advocacy at the federal or state level; and as always, thanks for all you do.

 

Parnell

Parnell Diggs, Esq.

Director of Government Affairs

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314, extension 2222 | pdiggs at nfb.org 

Twitter: ParnellDiggs

 

 <https://nfb.org/> National Federation of the Blind

 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind> Facebook     <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice> Twitter     <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> Youtube

 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. 

 

 

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