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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>See below, I wonder how this got by all of us in September of 2024 without our knowledge?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> [Announce] lawsuit brought against Section 504<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a pivotal law to uphold the rights of people with disabilities. The law says that all programs receiving federal funding, which is a substantial portion of programs, must provide accommodations for persons with disabilities. We believe that the law is extremely vulnerable at this time. In September of 2024, a lawsuit was brought by 17 states against the U.S. government to overturn the law; this would enable services receiving federal dollars to stop providing the necessary accommodations our community so greatly needs. For instance, medical providers could simply choose to make their online services inaccessible for blind and low-vision patients, and our population would have no legal recourse to fight back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The first round of regulations for Section 504 was implemented by the government in 1977, four years after the adoption of the law. A new and greatly needed update to the regulations was not adopted until 2024. ACB played a role in drafting comments for the Notice of Proposed Rule-Making that was used to develop the eventual updated regulations. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The lawsuit, Texas v. Becerra, was brought by the following states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia. Advocates urge residents of the 17 states to contact their state attorneys general and explain why the elimination of Section 504 would be so detrimental for people with disabilities. If your state is not one of the listed 17 states, you can also contact your state’s attorney general and encourage them to draft an amicus brief for the pending lawsuit.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Claire Stanley, J.D.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>president--- via NFBF-L<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 13, 2025 6:42 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbf-l@nfbnet.org; 'NFB of Florida List for Leaders' <nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> president@nfbflorida.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-L] FW: Legislative Alert: Action Required<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Florida: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many of you have received the below email, which advises of an attack on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. We are crafting a template email that you can use to contact the Office of the Attorney General in Florida. We are, of course, in opposition to this attempt to deem Section 504 as unconstitutional. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'> Camille Tate, president<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><a href="http://www.nfbflorida.org/">www.nfbflorida.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>Tel: 321.372.4899<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'>With love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> camille.tate320@gmail.com <camille.tate320@gmail.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 13, 2025 6:38 PM<br><b>To:</b> president@nfbflorida.org<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: Legislative Alert: Action Required<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Together,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Camille Tate, Treasurer <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Mmelbourne Space Coast Chapter <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>E: </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:camille.tate320@gmail.com"><span lang=PT-BR>camille.tate320@gmail.com</span></a></span><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>C: 321372 4899<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=PT-BR><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> National Federation of the Blind <<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org">webmaster@nfb.org</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 13, 2025 5:03 PM<br><b>To:</b> Camille Tate <<a href="mailto:camille.tate320@gmail.com">camille.tate320@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Legislative Alert: Action Required<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#0075C9;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img border=0 width=600 height=28 style='width:6.25in;height:.2916in' id="Picture_x0020_10" src="cid:image006.jpg@01DB7E4A.BE3DC340" alt="Image removed by sender."></span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:12.0pt 12.0pt 12.0pt 12.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37549&qid=10953684"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=240 height=264 style='width:2.5in;height:2.75in' id="Picture_x0020_9" src="cid:image007.jpg@01DB7E4A.BE3DC340" alt="Image removed by sender. National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;border-color:initial'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><h1><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Immediate Action Required Regarding Section 504</span><o:p></o:p></h1><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear Federation Members,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>A number of you have asked about the below matter. The National Federation of the Blind is deeply concerned about the Texas v. Becerra case that has been brought by seventeen states’ attorney generals. These seventeen states (Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia) have sued the federal government regarding updated rules which add “gender dysphoria” to the federal definition of “disability” under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>As a result, these states have charged that this addition to the regulations renders Section 504 unconstitutional. As a reminder, Section 504 requires that entities which receive federal funding, like schools and hospitals, cannot discriminate on the basis of disability. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Fortunately, we are not alone in our concerns. Other organizations, such as the National Disability Rights Network, the National Council on Independent Living, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and many, many more have also voiced their displeasure with this lawsuit. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>You can help in this cause! If you live in one of the states listed above, you can contact your state’s attorney general and/or the Governor and ask that the state drop the lawsuit. Be sure to tell them who you are and why Section 504 is important to you so they can fully understand the gravity of the situation. Remind them that Section 504 protects blind and other disabled people from discrimination by entities that receive federal funds. We are carefully monitoring this situation and will keep everyone advised of any new developments. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Sincerely,<br>Mark A. Riccobono, President</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr style='height:6.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:6.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;background:#002F6D'><tr style='height:45.0pt'><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37550&qid=10953684"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="Picture_x0020_8" src="cid:image008.jpg@01DB7E4A.BE3DC340" alt="Image removed by sender. 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Instagram Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37553&qid=10953684"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=51 height=35 style='width:.5312in;height:.3645in' id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image009.jpg@01DB7E4A.BE3DC340" alt="Image removed by sender. YouTube Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37554&qid=10953684"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image008.jpg@01DB7E4A.BE3DC340" alt="Image removed by sender. Email Icon Image"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37555&qid=10953684"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image008.jpg@01DB7E4A.BE3DC340" alt="Image removed by sender. Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=24488&qid=10953684&h=440b538a3e5b5f71" title=Unsubscribe><span style='color:white'>Unsubscribe from this mailing list</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=24488&qid=10953684&h=440b538a3e5b5f71" title="Opt Out"><span style='color:white'>Opt out of all mailing lists</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37556&qid=10953684" title="Sign up for email newsletter"><span style='color:white'>Sign up for our newsletter</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=street-address><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><br><span class=locality>Baltimore</span><span class=adr>, </span><span class=region>MD</span><span class=adr> </span><span class=postal-code>21230</span><br><span class=country-name>United States</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>.. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="Picture_x0020_11" src="cid:image005.gif@01DB7E4A.BE0D3D60"><img border=0 width=1 height=1 style='width:.0104in;height:.0104in' id="Picture_x0020_12" src="cid:image005.gif@01DB7E4A.BE0D3D60"></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>