[NFB_of_Georgia] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Regulatory Alert: September 27, 2023 - Website Accessibility

[Dorothy Griffin]

Please read in its entirety and respond now!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Walls, Kyle via NFBNet-Members-List <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2023 at 4:58 PM
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Regulatory Alert: September 27, 2023 -
Website Accessibility
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>


Dear Federation Family:



As many of you likely know, on August 4, due in large part to the advocacy
of the National Federation of the Blind, the United States Department of
Justice (DOJ) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding
ADA Title II website and mobile app accessibility regulations
<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/04/2023-15823/nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web-information-and-services-of-state>.
After thirteen years of waiting we were pleased to see the Department of
Justice release this long-anticipated proposed rule. However, the
introduction of seven new exceptions to the proposed accessibility
standard, which go far beyond the current defenses of undue burden and
fundamental alteration, was gravely concerning.



The National Federation of the Blind submitted our official comments
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/comments-ada-title-ii-website-and-mobile-app-notice>
on September 19, but we believe the Department of Justice needs to hear
from as many blind Americans as possible to fully understand how
detrimental this proposed rule will be for the nation’s blind. That’s why
we’re urging you to submit your own response to the NPRM. Include a story
about how you, or someone you know, was negatively affected by an
inaccessible state or local government-maintained website (this includes
any website for the state or local government, public school, public
college or university, city/county/state parks, public pool, public
community centers, etc.). A suggested template for your response is:



“I am writing in regard to RIN 1190-AA79, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of
Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and
Local Government Entities.



[TELL YOUR PERSONAL STORY ABOUT STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE
INACCESSIBILITY]



If the proposed rule is published as is, with the seven new exceptions, I
may not be able to access vital information about my community or
education. It is almost certain that I will not be able to access
government programs and services. Therefore, I oppose any rule that may be
published containing any exceptions to accessibility other than the current
defenses of undue burden and fundamental alteration that were codified in
the original Americans with Disabilities Act.”



You can post your comments to the DOJ by visiting
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOJ-CRT-2023-0007-0001. That is a
link directly to the comment page for the Title II website NPRM. Once
there, you will have to enter your comment in the text box then select that
you are an individual, which will bring up a place for you to enter your
first and last name. Then you can click “Submit.” No other information is
required. One suggestion is to formulate your comments ahead of time in a
word processor program, then simply cut and paste them into the text box on
the comment submission page. For those wanting to submit longer comments,
the system also offers the opportunity to upload documents in docx, pdf,
txt, rtf, and several other formats.



Comments are due prior to midnight Eastern time on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.



If you have any questions, please contact me at kwalls at nfb.org. Thank you
for all that you do.



Be great!



Kyle Walls

Research and Regulatory Specialist

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g>

410-659-9314, extension 2223 | kwalls at nfb.org



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