[NFB-Utah] Military Space Available Accommodation Expanded to More Veterans with Disabilities

[Nfb of Utah]

Fellow Federationists and Friends of the NFB of Utah;

 

The below announcement from our National Communications Team is an
accomplishment that our affiliate helped make happen. I want to personally
thank Nathan Ostergard, Sachin Pavithran, and many others who went to DC to
meet with Congress, made phone calls, and sent emails. This is another
change for blind people, especially our great veterans, that we can be proud
of!

 

Yours in the Movement,

 

                Everette Bacon

President

Military Space Available Accommodation Expanded to More Veterans with
Disabilities

National Federation of the Blind Commends Congress and the President

Baltimore, Maryland (August 20, 2018):The National Federation of the Blind
commented today on the inclusion of language expanding eligibility for the
Space Available program in the John McCain National Defense Authorization
Act that was recently signed into law by President Donald J. Trump. The
Space Available Program allows certain categories of individuals to travel
on military flights if space is available.

"The National Federation of the Blind has long fought for all veterans with
service-connected disabilities to be granted equal access to the Space
Available program," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. "Thanks to the hard work of our membership and our
allies in the United States Congress, an oversight which excluded many
Vietnam-era veterans who are blind or have other disabilities from
participation in this program has now been corrected. This is a great
victory for the National Federation of the Blind, but more importantly, for
thousands of blind and otherwise disabled veterans who earned this privilege
by their honorable service to our nation."

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded
in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the
fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of
blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families
with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We
believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to
transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and
initiatives at www.nfb.org. 

 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org