<div dir="ltr"><div>Hello All,</div><div><br></div><div>Below is the second issue for Annapolis. Please come to the meeting on SUnday, January 16 at 7:30 pm to discuss these issues. We will meet on Zoom. Read below. <br></div><div>
<p style="margin:0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:12pt">Join Zoom Meeting</span><span style="font-size:12pt"></span></p><p style="margin:0pt;padding:0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt"><a href="https://zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=eTZlYUgwR3ZQVVl1dXBLSHcrbml1QT09" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,255)">https://zoom.us/j/6248138327?pwd=eTZlYUgwR3ZQVVl1dXBLSHcrbml1QT09</span></u></a><span style="font-size:12pt"></span></p><p style="margin:0pt;padding:0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt">Meeting ID: 624 813 8327</span><span style="font-size:12pt"></span></p><p style="margin:0pt;padding:0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt">Passcode: 63263</span><span style="font-size:12pt"></span></p><p style="margin:0pt;padding:0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt">One tap mobile</span><span style="font-size:12pt"></span></p><p style="margin:0pt 0pt 8pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt">+13017158592,,6248138327# US (Washington D.C)</span><span style="font-size:12pt"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0pt 0pt 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;font-family:Calibri;font-size:10.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.5pt">
</span></p><h1 style="margin:0in;font-size:14pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Subject:<span> </span><span> </span></span><span style="font-size:11.5pt">Appropriation
for the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA) <br>
<span> </span>to Education,
Public Information, and Commerce<span></span></span></h1>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To:<span> </span>Members
of the Maryland General Assembly<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From:<span> </span>Members of the National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Contact:<span> </span>Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">National Federation of the Blind of
Maryland<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">9013 Nelson Way<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Columbia, MD 21045<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Phone: 410-715-9596<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Email: </span></b><a href="mailto:nfbmdsm@gmail.com" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">nfbmdsm@gmail.com</span></a><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;text-indent:0.5in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Date: <span> </span>January 2022<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Proposed Action: The Maryland General Assembly
should keep the $250,000 appropriation in the Governor’s Budget for the CENA to
Education, Public Information, and Commerce. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Background:<b>
</b>In 2014, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) founded the NFB Center
of Excellence in Nonvisual Access (CENA). The CENA is a center of expertise,
best practices, and resources that enables business, government, and educational
institutions to more effectively provide accessible information and services to
blind citizens. The State of Maryland, through the Maryland Department of
Disabilities (MDOD), partners with the CENA to support a series of projects under
the Nonvisual Accessibility Initiative (NVAI) maintaining the State of Maryland
as an ongoing leader in nonvisual accessibility. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The public-private partnership between the NFB CENA
and MDOD (CENA/MDOD) has improved the standard of accessibility throughout the
state, and through the development and implementation of a variety of projects
within the following six focus areas, we will continue to build a more
accessible Maryland. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.75in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span><span>I.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Enhancing Access to Education Technology and
Strategies<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Inaccessible instructional materials prevent blind
and low-vision students from accessing the fundamental tools of education,
leaving them woefully unprepared for their futures. The problem with the lack
of accessibility to education technology has been exacerbated during the COVID
crisis and created significant problems in the provision of effective virtual
instruction to Maryland’s blind and low-vision students. Under the NVAI the CENA/MDOD
has worked diligently to identify accessible education technology, while
seeking to work with developers to make other education technologies
nonvisually accessible. In the coming year, through the NVAI, the NFB will
continue to address the lack of accessible education technology, digital
publications, and instructional materials by conducting trainings on tools,
strategies, and best practices in the creation and dissemination of tools that
are “born accessible.” <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.75in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span><span>II.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Enhance Access to Employment-Related Tools and
Services<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The unemployment/underemployment rate for blind
people in this country continues to exceed 70 percent, and the need to utilize
more online, digital, and virtual means of providing employment services and
supports has created both problems and opportunities. Under the NVAI, the CENA/MDOD
will continue to work in coordination with the Maryland state Department of
Labor and Division of Rehabilitation Services to develop and implement the
training and tools that will enhance access to the network of employment
systems and services available through the American Job Centers. In addition,
the NFB will conduct outreach to employers in an effort to provide them with
the training and support required to eliminate the employment barriers faced by
blind and low-vision Maryland citizens.<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.75in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span><span>III.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Offering Accessibility Boutiques and Other
Training Seminars<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Accessibility Boutiques are one- to two-hour basic
overviews/trainings designed to create public awareness about accessible
software, products, services, and strategies. Quarterly Trainings are half-day
trainings that offer a more substantive training experience to the participants
and address major issues related to nonvisual accessibility. The CENA/MDOD will
continue to offer Accessibility Boutiques and Quarterly Trainings, at no cost
to Maryland citizens, on topics that assist both laymen and professionals to
remain knowledgeable of the evolving tools, strategies, and best practices to
build a more accessible Maryland. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.75in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span><span>IV.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Maintaining the Accessibility Switchboard and
Community of Practice<span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The NFB will continue to develop and market the
Accessibility Switchboard, a dynamic online portal consisting of an
accessibility information resource for consumers and a compliance information
portal for organizations. This work will be informed by the Accessibility
Community of Practice, a volunteer group of accessibility experts from
educational institutions, corporations, and the public sector.<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.75in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span><span>V.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Assisting with the Integration of Smart
Technologies for Accessible Cities<span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The development and implementation of accessible,
safe, affordable, efficient transportation allows blind and low-vision Maryland
citizens to independently travel throughout their communities. In addition,
emerging nonvisual access navigation or wayfinding technologies facilitate
independent access to a variety of public and commercial venues, including
college campuses, public and commercial buildings, and other environments. In
order to promote the integration of innovative technologies and strategies
toward the creation of accessible cities, the CENA/MDOD will continue to
participate in meetings and establish partnerships with technology developers
and city planners in the evaluation and implementation of various
transportation and wayfinding strategies. Our active involvement will assist in
the integration of accessibility features throughout public spaces that are seamless
and esthetically pleasing. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.75in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span><span>VI.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Coordinating the Accessibility Inclusion
Fellowship Program<span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The “Final Report of the Study on Accessibility
Concepts in Computer Science, Information Systems and Information Technology
Programs in Higher Education” recommended that three annual fellowships be
awarded to help instructors begin to include accessibility concepts contained
within the minimum areas of instruction in at least one course offering in
their institution. The CENA/MDOD has offered these fellowships for three years,
and will continue to recruit and support an additional cohort in the coming
year. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<h2 style="margin:0in;font-size:13pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif">Conclusion<span></span></h2>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Access to information remains one of the greatest
barriers faced by blind persons. The public-private partnership between the NFB
CENA and MDOD (CENA/MDOD) has proven to be an effective method of removing
these barriers by providing information about best practices and developing
innovative techniques for achieving nonvisual access. The Maryland General
Assembly should allow this state-of-the-art program to continue by approving
the $250,000 appropriation in the Governor’s Budget under the Maryland
Department of Disabilities. <span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in;font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
</div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font size="2">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</font></b></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<br></font></div><div><b><font size="2"></font></b></div><div><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div>