[NFBAZ-EastValleyChapter] National Federation of the Blind Applauds Issuance of "508 Refresh" Regulations

[Megan Homrighausen]

Hello East Valley,
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>From Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.orgNational Federation of the Blind Applauds Issuance of"508 Refresh" Regulations
 
Baltimore, Maryland (January 9, 2017): The National Federation of theBlind, the nation's leading advocate for blind Americans to gain equalaccess to information and technology, today applauded the publication ofnew technical standards to bring information and communication technology(ICT)  into compliance with section 508 of the Rehabilitation act of1973, which requires government agencies and contractors to make theirelectronic information and technology accessible to the blind and otherswith disabilities.
 
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,said: "Information and communication Technology has changed a greatdeal since the last Section 508 regulations were issued, and has becomean even more integral part of everyday life. Yet blind people,particularly blind federal employees, continue to struggle with accessbarriers when interacting with electronic and information technology usedor procured by federal agencies. For these reasons, we are extremelypleased that the new Section 508 standards have finally been published.Government agencies and contractors should now understand how to makeinformation and services accessible to the blind, allowing federalemployees to perform their job functions effectively and other blindAmericans to exercise our rights and responsibilities ascitizens."
 
In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to requireFederal agencies to make their ICT accessible to people withdisabilities. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers ininformation technology, open new opportunities for people withdisabilities, and encourage development of technologies that will helpachieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when theydevelop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and informationtechnology. 
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Sincerely, 
Megan Homrighausen 
East Valley Chapter President
National Federation Of The Blind Of Arizona   
480-510-6196

National Federation Of The Blind Principles

1. Itis respectable to be blind. It’s okay to be blind. Being blind issomething that we need not feel troubled or embarrassed about, concerned aboutor emotionally exhausted over. It’s okay to be blind.
2. The real problem of blindness is not the absence of vision but isthe social misconceptions and stereotypes that exist about blindness. It is not the physical absence of eye sight but it is what society has come tobelieve about our blindness. We reject the misconceptions that society has andwe accept that the physical absence of our sight is not the big problem.
3. With proper training and opportunity the average blind person cando the average job in the average place of work.
4. Blindnessis simply one of many human characteristics, like being tall or being short,being big or small, being bright or average. Blindness is simply one of many
characteristics.
5. Blindnesscan be reduced to the level of an inconvenience or physical nuisance. 
6. Webelieve in the effectiveness of alternative non visual techniques.
7. Ifwe want equal rights we need to accept equal responsibility.
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