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Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access
Technology Act
*Issue—*Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent
blind individuals from independently operating essential devices
that enhance quality of life.
Home use medical devices, home appliances, and fitness equipment
are becoming less and less accessible for blind Americans.
The rapid proliferation of advanced technology is undeniable. Most new
stoves, glucose monitors, and treadmills now require that consumers
interact with a digital display, flat panels, and other user interfaces.
This new technology is inaccessible to blind individuals and creates a
modern-day barrier. Inaccessibility is not a mere inconvenience; it can
threaten the safety, health, and independence of blind Americans.
Advancements in technology have the potential to transform how people
live in a society but are designed for those with no functional
limitations.[1] This flaw in product design limits options for blind
Americans who need nonvisual access to important devices that are
available to people without disabilities.[2]
Nonvisual access is achievable, as demonstrated by a number of
mainstream products.
Apple has incorporated VoiceOver (a text-to-speech function) into its
touch-screen products, making the iPhone, iPod, and iPad fully
accessible to blind people right out of the box. Virtually all ATMs
manufactured in the United States are accessible, and every polling
place provides a nonvisually accessible voting machine. Frequently, a
simple audio output or vibrotactile feature can make a product fully
accessible at minimal cost.
Current disability laws are not able to keep up with advancements
in technology.
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws require
physical accessibility for people with disabilities (e.g., wheelchair
ramps, Braille in public buildings), no laws protect blind consumers’
right to access technology such as home use medical devices, home
appliances, or fitness equipment. The National Council on Disability
concluded that accessibility standards lag behind the rapid pace of
technology, which can interfere with technology access.[3] This trend of
inaccessibility will continue if accessibility solutions are ignored.
Only a fraction of manufacturers have incorporated nonvisual access
standards into their product design while others continue to resist
these solutions.
*Solution—*The Greater Accessibility and Independence through
Nonvisual Access Technology Act:
Calls on the Access Board to conduct a nonvisual access standard
review.
The Access Board (an independent federal agency and leading source of
information on accessible design) will review the current marketplace,
consult with stakeholders and manufacturers, and will issue a report
with findings and recommendations for a minimum nonvisual access
standard for home use medical devices, home appliances, and fitness
equipment.
Establishes a minimum nonvisual access standard for home use
medical devices, home appliances, and fitness equipment.
Six months after the Access Board publishes the above-mentioned report,
the Board will begin a rulemaking period, not to exceed 36 months, to
establish a minimum nonvisual access standard for home use medical
devices, home appliances, and fitness equipment. The final standard will
go into effect three years after the final rule.
Authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prosecute the
nonvisual access standards for home use medical devices.
Under its authority to ensure the safety, efficacy, and security of
medical devices, the FDA will investigate and prosecute violations of
manufacturers who fail to comply with the standard.
Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prosecute the
nonvisual accessibility standards for home appliances and fitness
equipment.
Under its authority to investigate and prosecute consumer protection
matters, the FTC will investigate and prosecute violations of
manufacturers who fail to comply with the standard.
*Goal—*End the digital divide for blind Americans. Sponsor the
Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access
Technology Act.
More Information
For more information on the Greater Accessibility and Independence
through Nonvisual Access Technology Act, contact:
Stephanie Flynt, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of
the Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2210
Email: sflynt@nfb.org <mailto:sflynt@nfb.org>
Learn more about the National Federation of the Blind's 2019 legislative
agenda <https://nfb.org/2019-legislative-agenda/>.
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[1] See National Council on Disabilities, National Disability Policy
Progress Report: Technology that enables access to the full
opportunities of citizenship under the Constitution is a right at 19
(October 7, 2016), available at
https://ncd.gov/progressreport/2016/progress-report-october-2016.
[2] See Id.
[3] See Id.
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