[NFBF-Daytona] Accessible Technology Tax Credit Legislation

[Brian Norton]

Dear Caitriona,
caitriona.rafferty at mail.house.gov<mailto:caitriona.rafferty at mail.house.gov>

My name is Brian Norton. I am a registered voter in Daytona Beach, and have been  a voting Florida citizen since 1972. I am the President of the Greater Daytona Beach Chapter of the Florida National Federation of the Blind. I am also an  active older returning student at the Daytona State College, and an active member of the First Christian Church in Daytona   Beach. I am a constituent of Congressman Waltz. Thank you for taking the time to meet with Bill Outman (my Daytona Beach NFB chapter secretary), Russ Davis from NFBF Jacksonville Chapter, and  Doug Ingram , NFBF Tallahassee Chapter, on Tuesday, February 11th, 2020.
I am writing to urge Congressman Waltz to cosponsor H.R. 2086 the Access Technology Affordability Act. This legislation removes an employment barrier commonly experienced by blind Americans who cannot afford the high cost of access technology by creating a refundable tax credit in the amount of $2,000 to offset the cost of these technologies.
I returned to Daytona State College as an older 60+  student to learn new blind accessible technology needed to return to my long time professional work after I had become totally blind. Although I also received financial assistance from the Florida Division of Blind Services for tuition and digital textbooks, I needed to borrow money from my retirement savings to pay for several thousands of new computer hardware and software in pursuit of my necessary accessible blind technology knowledge and training. I was fortunately financially able to afford this extra expense to  competently and independently return    to substantial work in the legal field.
I am respectfully urging Congressman Waltz to cosponsor the ACAA Bill. Although this legislation may no longer personally benefit me, I know other blind potential workers who  might be able to return to needed training and gainful employment if this tax credit becomes law. The extra cost for the blind accessible technology is substantially greater than those costs incurred by sighted citizens.
I would enjoy meeting with Congressman  Waltz to further discuss this and other pending legislation when he is next available in Volusia County.

Gratefully,
 Brian Norton
National Federation of the Bllind
Greater Daytona Beach President
386.871.3359
brian.edward.norton at outlook.com

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