[nfbmi-talk] 2014 Resolutions

Sun Jul 13 02:10:30 UTC 2014

Here are the 2014 resolutions from Orlando.  Very techno-centric. There are
Deaf-Blind and minimum wage related resolutions, as well.

Warmest Regards,

Fred

National Federation of the Blind Resolutions for 2014

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Resolution 2014-01

Regarding Proposed Department of Justice Regulations on Access to the
Internet

WHEREAS, today access to the Internet is critical for successful
participation in employment, economic activity, education, social
interaction, and other pursuits, and this is no less true for the blind than
for our sighted peers; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of this reality the United States Department of
Justice issued an advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on July 26, 2010,
the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), proposing to issue regulations applying the ADA to public
accommodations, as defined by that law, that have a presence on the internet
and specifically on the World Wide Web; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Justice has taken no further action on this
rulemaking since it was issued and has now announced that no proposed rule
will be issued until March of 2015: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization demand that the Obama administration put forward a
proposed regulation without further delay; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind demand a
robust regulation ensuring blind Americans' full and equal access to the
products and services of all public accommodations, as defined by the ADA,
that are made available using the Internet.

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Resolution 2014-02

Regarding the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

WHEREAS, on July 31, 2013, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), S. 1356, was
reported favorably by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee, with language in Title V, Section 511 that would have allowed any
individual with a disability, regardless of age, to be placed in a
subminimum wage work environment by a vocational rehabilitation counselor;
and

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind adamantly opposes the payment
of subminimum wages to people with disabilities because we know that, with
the proper training and support, people with disabilities can be productive
employees, worthy of at least the minimum wage; and

WHEREAS, members of the Federation aggressively advocated for the removal of
Section 511, by calling, tweeting, emailing, and meeting with members of
Congress; and

WHEREAS, as a result of our advocacy the language regarding sheltered
subminimum wage employment was substantially changed so that it will reduce
the number of youth with disabilities being tracked into subminimum wage
employment, and other objectionable provisions of the WIA were removed,
including the transfer of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to the
Department of Labor and programs for the older blind to the Department of
Health and Human Services; and

WHEREAS, these changes resulted in new bipartisan, bicameral legislation
known as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA); and

WHEREAS, while we are disappointed in some provisions of the WIOA, such as
the lowering of standards for rehabilitation counselors and the reduction in
membership of the National Council on Disability, the National Federation of
the Blind supports this legislation because we believe that it represents a
significant improvement in policies designed to create and enhance
employment opportunities for American workers with disabilities: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that we urge the United States Congress to pass the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we applaud Congressman George Miller, ranking
member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, for consulting
with the National Federation of the Blind and for being a strong advocate
for people with disabilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, upon the passage of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act, we urge the Department of Education to work with the
National Federation of the Blind to ensure that the regulations enforcing
this legislation increase the quality of rehabilitation services and
employment opportunities provided to blind Americans and provide safeguards
that prohibit youth with disabilities from being tracked into subminimum
wage employment.

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Resolution 2014-03

Regarding Principles That Should Govern the Purchase of Screen-Access
Technology for Vocational Rehabilitation Clients

WHEREAS, on January 14, 2014, GW Micro Inc., the maker of the well-known
Window-Eyes screen-access program, issued a press release announcing that GW
Micro Inc. and Microsoft Corporation had "partnered to make Window-Eyes
available to users of Microsoft Office at no cost"; and according to the
press release, this "global initiative," available in over fifteen
languages, will "enable anyone using Microsoft Office 2010 or later also to
use Window-Eyes free"; and

WHEREAS, the sophisticated screen-access technology used by the blind to
compete in school and at work has typically cost around a thousand dollars
per copy; and

WHEREAS, for blind vocational rehabilitation clients this high cost has
usually been covered by the state vocational rehabilitation agency serving
the blind in the state where the client resides; and

WHEREAS, although it is true that Window-Eyes is a powerful screen-access
program that has enabled thousands of blind people to use Windows and
Windows programs independently, and although GW Micro Inc. is a
well-established company with a positive reputation among the blind, it is
equally true that other screen-access programs (including JAWS for Windows,
System Access, and Guide), which are not offered free of charge and which
cost several hundred dollars, offer the best solution in specific cases and
for specific individuals; and 

WHEREAS, for governmental organizations struggling to obtain adequate
funding, the ability to acquire Window-Eyes at no cost is a powerful
incentive for them to compel individual clients to accept the free
Window-Eyes even though, in specific situations, a costlier screen access
program would result in greater productivity, success, and independence; and

WHEREAS, another factor to consider is that users of the free version of
Window-Eyes must pay for technical support from GW Micro Inc. while users of
more expensive screen-access programs (including users of the full-priced
version of Window-Eyes) receive technical support at no extra charge: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization urge all vocational rehabilitation agencies serving
the blind in the United States to incorporate the following principles in
their policies for determining which screen access software counselors and
supervisors purchase on behalf of specific clients: (1) decisions must be
based on which software most effectively meets the access requirements of
each individual client; (2) decisions must not be based solely on cost; (3)
each client's knowledge and experience with specific software must govern
the decision, avoiding the need for the client to learn a completely new
program; and (4) the decision must incorporate the principle of informed
choice, a key principle in the federal Rehabilitation Act.

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Resolution 2014-04

Regarding SharePoint Accessibility

WHEREAS, SharePoint unites content management, document management, and
intranet management, as well as offering business intelligence and business
solutions functionality; and

WHEREAS, SharePoint is both unique in its scope and widely used in business
and government; and

WHEREAS, most SharePoint features are not accessible, hampering its blind
users: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization urge Microsoft Corporation to make SharePoint fully
accessible to its blind users.

----------

Resolution 2014-05

Regarding President Obama's Executive Order that Raised the Minimum Wage for
Federal Contract Workers

WHEREAS, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) established a federal
minimum wage to be paid to all American workers; and

WHEREAS, although there are exceptions to the mandatory minimum wage based
on type of work performed, only workers with disabilities as a class are
excluded from this federal wage protection; and

WHEREAS, over the years workers without disabilities have received periodic
increases to the federal minimum wage, which currently stands at $7.25 per
hour, but workers with disabilities have seen the statutory floor for their
subminimum wages fall and then disappear completely, with the result that
some are now paid pennies per hour; and

WHEREAS, the practice of paying workers with disabilities subminimum wages
stems from the public misconception that people with disabilities cannot be
productive employees; and

WHEREAS, at the beginning of 2014 President Obama proposed an executive
order to raise the minimum wage for federal service contract workers to
$10.10 per hour, but did not initially include increasing the wages of
service contract workers with disabilities employed under Special Wage
Certificates in the order; and

WHEREAS, members of the National Federation of the Blind, along with partner
organizations of people with disabilities, actively advocated through phone
calls, social media, and written correspondence that workers with
disabilities be included in the executive order wage increase; and

WHEREAS, as a result of our advocacy, on February 12, 2014, President  Obama
exhibited fairness and courage by signing a historic executive order that
provided the same wage protections to service contract workers both with and
without disabilities, stating: federal agencies must "ensure that new
contracts include a clause, specifying that the minimum wage to be paid to
workers, including workers whose wages are calculated pursuant to special
certificates issued under [Section 14(c)], in the performance of the
contract or any subcontract thereunder, shall be at least $10.10 per hour
beginning January 1, 2015"; and

WHEREAS, Section 14(c) of the FLSA remains a discriminatory, immoral, and
antiquated law that should be phased out and eventually repealed as outlined
by the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization highly commend President Barack Obama for including
people with disabilities in his executive order, ensuring that federal
contract workers with disabilities will be paid $10.10 an hour just like
their nondisabled peers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge all 14(c) certificate-holding entities
to follow the lead of the federal government and stop using 14(c)
certificates; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge Congress to finish the remaining work of
repealing the discriminatory policy found in Section 14(c) of the FLSA by
passing H.R. 831, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act.

----------

Resolution 2014-06

Regarding the Accessibility of the Internet of Things

WHEREAS, the Internet of Things is a scenario in which objects, animals, or
people are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data
automatically over a network without requiring human-to-human or
human-to-computer interaction; and

WHEREAS, this technology is rapidly gaining traction and may dramatically
affect how society collects information and how people interface with
devices; and

WHEREAS, companies such as General Electric Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc.,
Amazon Web Services Inc., Google Inc., the International Business Machines
Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Logitech Inc.,
Honeywell International Inc., and Smart Things (Physical Graph Corporation)
are laying the foundation of the Internet of Things; and

WHEREAS, devices, animals, and people can be connected to the Internet using
accessories that provide an Internet connection; and

WHEREAS, data collected by devices can be reviewed by websites and apps; and

WHEREAS, these devices can be controlled via those same apps and websites;
and

WHEREAS, most of these apps and websites are not currently accessible with
screen-access software; and

WHEREAS, most of the accessories provide no audible or tactile verification
of connection status, battery status, or any other critical functions: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization call upon the developers of connected and connecting
devices for the Internet of Things to extend their groundbreaking work to
all users by providing speech and tactile feedback to put all users,
including the blind, on an equal footing.

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Resolution 2014-07

Regarding Making Diabetes Tools and Technologies Accessible to Consumers Who
Are Blind or Have Low Vision

WHEREAS, Many advances in diabetes and diabetes-related technologies, such
as insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring devices, and home dialysis
systems offer great benefits, including more effective diabetes
self-management, independence, and an enhanced quality of life; and

WHEREAS, blind and low-vision people also have the right to benefit from
these advancements in diabetes technologies but are deprived of the health
benefits that they offer because manufacturers consistently fail to
integrate nonvisual and low-vision access features into them, even though
blind consumers have been requesting this access for nearly thirty years;
and

WHEREAS, federal regulators and policymakers perpetuate this blatant
discrimination and fail to protect the rights and needs of blind and
low-vision consumers who have diabetes by failing to develop accessibility
standards and by failing to require developers receiving federal funds to
add nonvisual and low-vision access to their diabetes-related products; and

WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves all medical devices
before they can be marketed in the United States, but lacks the authority to
ensure the accessibility of diabetes technologies; and 

WHEREAS, organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, the JDRF
(formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), the American
Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Association of Clinical
Endocrinologists, and the American Medical Association fail to advocate for
nonvisual and low-vision access to these lifesaving technologies: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization call for the end of discrimination against blind and
low-vision diabetics by insisting that Congress give the Food and Drug
Administration the authority to mandate full accessibility in
diabetes-related devices, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization urge the Food and Drug
Administration to work with the National Federation of the Blind to create
nonvisual and low-vision accessibility standards for all diabetes-related
devices, and then require manufacturers to include nonvisual and low-vision
accessibility in all new diabetes technology before receiving FDA approval;
and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization calls upon national
associations that advocate for people with diabetes to join with the
National Federation of the Blind to advocate for nonvisual and low-vision
accessibility in all future diabetes technologies so that all people with
diabetes, including those who are blind or have low vision, may benefit from
these technologies. 

----------

Resolution 2014-08

Regarding the Accessibility of Enterprise Software

WHEREAS, much of the business world is driven by large enterprise systems
that manage human resources, accounting, collaboration, and
business-to-business transactions; and

WHEREAS, many such enterprise products from companies such as SAP AG,
Salesforce.com Inc., Paychex Inc., and ADP Inc. are not accessible to or
usable by the blind; and

WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated by companies such as Oracle Corporation
that, even on a very large scale, it is possible to have and follow an
accessibility policy for a very diverse portfolio of enterprise products;
and

WHEREAS, many of these inaccessible enterprise solutions are deployed in
government and educational settings where access is mandated by law under
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sections 504 and/or 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable federal and state laws: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida that
this organization strongly urge the companies that develop and support
enterprise software to make their software accessible to the blind and
thereby level the playing field for blind professionals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demands that public entities
that procure enterprise solutions comply with the Americans with
Disabilities Act and other applicable laws by procuring and deploying only
enterprise solutions that are accessible to their blind employees.

----------

Resolution 2014-09

Regarding the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program

WHEREAS, interpersonal communication is one of the greatest barriers to full
participation in community life faced by deaf-blind people; and

WHEREAS, with the expansion of electronic communications such as Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, and other social media, barriers to interpersonal
communications are increasing for deaf-blind people; and

WHEREAS, to promote access to telecommunications for people with
disabilities, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
(CVAA) was enacted into law in 2010; and

WHEREAS, the CVAA "directs the allocation of up to $10 million per year from
the Interstate Telecommunication Relay Service Fund for the distribution of
specialized equipment to low-income people who are deaf-blind to enable them
to access telecommunications service, internet access service, and advanced
communications"; and 

WHEREAS, in response to the CVAA, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) created the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
(NDBEDP) as a three-year pilot program, scheduled to end on June 30, 2015,
to "ensure that every person with combined hearing and vision loss has
access to modern telecommunication tools and the training necessary to use
them"; and

WHEREAS, while the pilot program has been successful in providing
much-needed equipment, there have been lengthy delays in the delivery of
these devices; and

WHEREAS, there have been even lengthier delays in receiving the training on
using these devices, because qualified NDBEDP trainers are in extremely
short supply due to the specialized knowledge they must have of assistive
telecommunications technology, as well as knowledge of Tactile American Sign
Language and other communications methods used by deaf-blind individuals:
Now, therefore, 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization strongly urge the FCC to make the National Deaf-Blind
Equipment Distribution Program permanent and to do so before the June 30,
2015, deadline so that there is no interruption of service; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization insists that the FCC eliminate
the delays in purchasing and distributing equipment to deaf-blind persons
and adopt measures to ensure the availability of an adequate pool of
qualified trainers who can evaluate the needs of deaf-blind individuals and
train them in the use of appropriate equipment.

----------

Resolution 2014-10

Regarding the Omission of Accessibility Standards in the Office of the
National Coordinator for Health and Information Technology's Certification
Criteria for Electronic Health Records

WHEREAS, the transition from print-based medical records to electronic
health records (EHR) offers the opportunity to expand the circle of
participation in the healthcare industry by giving blind providers
mainstream access to systems and material that they need in order to do
their jobs without the need for alternative formats, specialized services,
and customized supports, and by giving blind patients private and equal
access to their health records; and

WHEREAS, most current EHR technology is inaccessible to blind people working
in or pursuing work in the healthcare industry, creating new barriers that
may ultimately drive blind people out of the industry altogether; and 

WHEREAS, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health and Information
Technology (ONC), which is housed in the Department of Health and Human
Services, drives the market for EHR technology by developing Certification
Criteria, allowing developers to know what specifications their EHR
technology must meet in order for providers to use it; and 

WHEREAS, in order to update the Certification Criteria, improve its
regulatory timeline, and more effectively respond to stakeholder feedback,
ONC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking unveiling the voluntary 2015
Edition of EHR in March of 2014; and 

WHEREAS, ONC's EHR Certification Criteria are a vehicle by which ONC can
break the systemic discrimination within the healthcare industry caused by
inaccessible EHR; and 

WHEREAS, ONC missed this remarkable opportunity and failed to integrate
accessibility into the Certification Criteria properly, calling only for
increased accessibility for blind patients and not requiring any
accessibility for blind workers who use the technology; and 

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind submitted comments in response
to the NPRM urging ONC to amend the Voluntary 2015 Certification Criteria to
include compliance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA; and

WHEREAS, in our filing the Federation noted that compliance must not only
include access for patients but must also meet the needs of blind people who
currently work or who wish to work in the healthcare industry; and 

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind supported our comments by
submitting letters on behalf of sixteen blind doctors, nurses, assistants,
therapists, and students who currently work in the healthcare industry or
are pursuing careers in the healthcare industry and who are facing extreme
discrimination as a result of inaccessible EHR technology: Now, therefore, 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that we strongly urge ONC to amend the Voluntary 2015 Certification Criteria
for EHR technology to include accessibility for all users of the technology;
and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we commend the sixteen blind healthcare
professionals for telling their stories, because the talents and careers of
many individuals are in jeopardy if those currently facing needless
discrimination because of inaccessible EHR technology do not make their
voices heard; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we strongly urge the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, and any
healthcare provider that deploys EHR technology proactively to demand
accessibility from developers, since all of these entities are stakeholders
in this matter and will never fully realize the benefits of EHR technology
unless that technology is accessible to users with disabilities.  

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Resolution 2014-11

Regarding Commending Vernier Software & Technology LLC for its Accessibility
Efforts

WHEREAS, science is considered an essential component of every student's
education; and

WHEREAS, for many years blind science students have been unable to
participate fully in laboratory research because of a lack of nonvisual
accessible equipment that performs such basic functions as weighing,
measuring, and obtaining test results; and

WHEREAS, these limitations have made it almost impossible for blind people
to pursue careers in the laboratory sciences; and

WHEREAS, Vernier Software & Technology LLC, the world's leading manufacturer
of school laboratory equipment, has recently introduced speech capability to
its LabQuest hardware, giving blind students access to information from
various types of sensors; and

WHEREAS, Vernier further opened the doors of opportunity to blind scientists
and students by modifying its LoggerPro software to provide data analysis in
accessible formats: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization commend Vernier Software & Technology LLC for its
willingness to listen to the advice of blind people and for its innovation
in providing access to the full laboratory experience for blind students and
scientists; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization strongly urge Vernier to
incorporate accessibility in all of its products by working in cooperation
with interested companies and the National Federation of the Blind; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon the appropriate
federal agencies, such as the Rehabilitation Services Administration, the
National Institutes of Health, the Department of Education, the Department
of Veterans Affairs, and the National Science Foundation, to cooperate in
funding further research and development so that the study of laboratory
sciences is possible for all students and scientists, including the blind.

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Resolution 2014-12

Regarding Policies, Standards, and Procedures to Ensure and Maintain
Accessibility of Apple Inc. Apps 

WHEREAS, Apple Inc. has made VoiceOver, a free and powerful screen-access
program, an integral part of many of its products, including the Apple Inc.
Macintosh, iPhone, iPod Touch, Apple Inc. TV, and iPad; and

WHEREAS, although VoiceOver has the ability to enable nonvisual access to
hundreds of thousands of applications that are available today through these
platforms, such access cannot be achieved unless the applications are
written to provide VoiceOver with the information it needs to tell the blind
user what he or she needs to know; and

WHEREAS, through presentations at developer conferences, specific guidance
issued in programming guides, and application programming interfaces that
are simple to implement, Apple Inc. has made it easy for application
developers to incorporate accessibility features for VoiceOver users into
their programs; and

WHEREAS, despite Apple Inc.'s efforts to encourage accessibility, too many
applications are still not accessible to VoiceOver users because buttons are
not properly labeled, images of text cannot be interpreted, and other
display elements cannot even be detected by VoiceOver; and

WHEREAS, although Apple Inc. has given VoiceOver users the tools to assign
labels to unlabeled elements on their own, a growing number of applications
that have been released cannot be made accessible using these tools; and

WHEREAS, even if the current version of an application is accessible to a
blind VoiceOver user, Apple Inc. has no policy, procedure, or mechanism in
place to ensure that this accessibility will be maintained when a subsequent
version is released; and

WHEREAS, not only are inaccessible applications inconvenient for the blind
VoiceOver user, but they can also prevent a blind person from independently
performing the duties of his/her job; and

WHEREAS, Apple Inc. is not reluctant to place requirements and prohibitions
on application developers, but has not seen fit to require that applications
be accessible to VoiceOver users; and

WHEREAS, making products accessible to users of VoiceOver should be as
important as any other requirement imposed on application developers: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization call upon Apple Inc. to work with the National
Federation of the Blind to create and enforce policies, standards, and
procedures to ensure the accessibility of all apps, including core apps
distributed by Apple in the base iOS distribution, and to ensure that
accessibility is not lost when an app is updated.

----------

Resolution 2014-13

Regarding Access to Cloud Storage Solutions

WHEREAS, storing files in the cloud is increasingly the norm for file
storage, collaboration, and backup purposes; and

WHEREAS, cloud storage services such as Dropbox, Box, SugarSync and Google
Drive provide users with an easy-to-use, free, or inexpensive way to keep
files; and

WHEREAS, services like these are actively being promoted in educational and
professional settings; and

WHEREAS, these large services have a checkered history with accessibility
and currently have many inaccessible features; and

WHEREAS, sharing files, file management, file viewing, and folder management
are critical functions in cloud services: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization strongly urge cloud storage services to commit to
making at a minimum folder management, file sharing, file viewing, and file
management accessible to blind consumers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization insists on a commitment from
such cloud storage providers to robust and reliable, rather than incidental,
partial, and intermittent accessibility.

----------

Resolution 2014-14

Regarding the Accessibility of Home Security Systems

WHEREAS, home security systems afford protection to homes and places of
business; and

WHEREAS, the increased reliance on digital, web, and mobile tools for
monitoring home and business security means that home security companies
have simpler, cheaper, and more powerful options for making their products
accessible; and

WHEREAS, accessible wall panels, websites, and apps have been produced,
tested, and used in the market in other areas of home automation, the Kelvin
and Talking thermostats being examples; and

WHEREAS, the available home security systems have deployed largely
inaccessible wall units, apps, and websites; and

WHEREAS, security companies such as Honeywell International Inc., Comcast
(Xfinity) Corporation, the ADT Corporation, Vivint Inc., and the LifeShield
Inc., as well as DIY (do it yourself) services such as SimpliSafe Inc. and
Protect America Inc. could make their offerings usable by blind consumers
without undue burden: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization strongly urge security system companies to make their
wall panels, apps, and websites fully and equally accessible to all
consumers so that having a secure home or business is not reserved only for
the sighted.

----------

Resolution 2014-15

Regarding JAWS and Unified English Braille

WHEREAS, for many years Freedom Scientific Inc.'s JAWS screen-reading
software, which provides access to computers using speech or refreshable
Braille output, has dominated the global market and has upheld a standard of
excellence in assistive technology; and 

WHEREAS, Freedom Scientific Inc. has further demonstrated its commitment to
Braille access by developing and producing several feature-rich refreshable
Braille displays, creating more opportunities for Braille to be an integral
part of computer use in the classroom, the workplace, and elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, JAWS boasts the capability of Braille output and input in Unified
English Braille (UEB), the Braille standard which was recently adopted for
use in the United States and which is used in many other countries where
JAWS is used; and

WHEREAS, unfortunately, the UEB that is displayed by JAWS currently contains
numerous errors, including incorrect use or nonuse of some contractions,
incorrect dot representation of some symbols, and inclusion of some
extraneous characters, as well as errors in backward translation from
Braille to print; and

WHEREAS, not only do these translation errors create ambiguity and
difficulty with reading the displayed Braille, but they are especially
detrimental because they propagate confusion and misinformation about UEB
while people are beginning to learn it; and

WHEREAS, well before the decision was made to adopt UEB in the United
States, details of these errors were brought to the attention of Freedom
Scientific Inc. personnel; and

WHEREAS, all updates to JAWS that have been released in the intervening time
show no improvements in Braille translation; and

WHEREAS, to date, Freedom Scientific Inc. has not taken advantage of offers
by the National Federation of the Blind to provide technical assistance in
correcting these errors; and 

WHEREAS, the UEB translators in other screen-reading programs, such as
Window-Eyes and VoiceOver, are much more accurate: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization urge Freedom Scientific Inc. to uphold its commitment
to quality assistive technology for Braille users by immediately correcting
the errors in the UEB translation tables for JAWS; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization calls upon Freedom Scientific
Inc. to work with us to ensure that users have access to Braille that
follows all of the rules in the UEB code.

----------

Resolution 2014-16

Regarding the Federal Communications Commission's Decision on the Coalition
of E-Reader Manufacturers' Petition for Waiver

WHEREAS, the Twenty-First Century Video and Communications Accessibility Act
(CVAA), which became law in 2010, requires all developers of consumer
products with advanced communications services (ACS) to make those services
accessible to users with disabilities when achievable; and

WHEREAS, the CVAA authorizes the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to
grant waivers of the ACS accessibility requirements to classes of
multipurpose equipment or services that are indeed capable of accessing ACS,
but are nonetheless designed primarily for purposes other than using ACS,
meaning that products with incidental ACS that is not the primary or
co-primary purpose of the device can be exempt from CVAA accessibility
requirements, if the FCC believes the product meets this general standard
for a waiver; and

WHEREAS, on May 16, 2013, the Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers, which is
comprised of Amazon.com Inc., Sony Corporation, and Kobo Inc. filed a
petition with the FCC requesting a waiver for a narrow class of basic
e-readers, claiming that basic e-readers meet the general standard for a
waiver because the advanced communications services in e-readers are
rudimentary and stripped down, that most e-reader users do not employ the
available advanced communications services, that Coalition members do not
advertise the ACS features of e-readers, and that making the ACS accessible
on e-readers would not provide benefit to people with disabilities or the
public interest because it would ultimately call for a transformation of
e-readers into tablets; and

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind and twenty-two other
organizations of and for people with disabilities filed joint comments in
opposition to the waiver, explaining that, not only is the ACS in e-readers
far from rudimentary or stripped down, but the ability to communicate is the
very function that sets e-readers apart from print books and enhances the
experience of the user, making ACS a co-primary purpose of the devices; and

WHEREAS, 125 members of the National Federation of the Blind sent letters to
the FCC urging it to reject the waiver petition and protect blind people's
right to access digital books; and

WHEREAS, Tom Wheeler, chairman of the FCC, has expressed an intent to weave
support for people with disabilities into his agenda as leader of a federal
agency and has shown a commitment to improving access for users with
disabilities by regularly engaging disability advocates; and

WHEREAS, upon Chairman Wheeler's urging and, as a result of the advocacy
efforts of the National Federation of the Blind in partnership with other
disability organizations, the FCC decided to deny the Coalition of E-Reader
Manufacturers' request for a permanent waiver for a narrow class of basic
e-readers and granted only a one-year waiver; and

WHEREAS, since their request for an indefinite waiver was denied, the
members of the Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers have a strong incentive
to incorporate readily available accessibility solutions in their e-readers
rather than seeking another waiver: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that we commend the FCC for listening to the National Federation of the
Blind and other stakeholders who have been denied access to e-readers,
digital books, and consumer electronics and rejecting the Coalition's
request for an indefinite waiver; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we strongly urge Amazon.com Inc., Sony
Corporation, and Kobo Inc.  to take advantage of this temporary reprieve
from accessibility requirements to incorporate readily available
accessibility solutions in their products so that the advanced
communications services and all other functions can be accessed by blind
people who want to buy their products to access digital books.

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Resolution 2014-17

Regarding Accessible Online Ballot-Marking Systems

WHEREAS, the right to cast a secret and anonymous ballot is a cornerstone of
our democracy that enables citizens to vote their conscience without fear;
and

WHEREAS, the passage of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) has enabled the
majority of blind voters and many others with disabilities to exercise their
right to vote privately and independently at polling places; and

WHEREAS, the accessible voting machines typically found in polling places do
not have the capability to allow some voters with disabilities, such as the
deaf-blind, to exercise their right to vote privately and independently as
guaranteed by HAVA; and

WHEREAS, accessible online ballot-marking systems will enable many voters
who cannot currently cast a secret ballot, such as the deaf-blind, to vote
privately and independently using their own personal access technology; and

WHEREAS, seventeen states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois,
Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South
Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) and counties in
California and Florida have implemented online ballot-marking systems that
enable voters to access and mark their ballot online and then email or print
and mail the ballot to their local board of elections, demonstrating that
these systems can be made secure; and

WHEREAS, only Alaska, Delaware, Utah, and Washington extend the use of their
online ballot-marking systems to voters with disabilities; Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization strongly urge the thirteen states that have online
ballot-marking systems, but do not make them available to voters with
disabilities, to make their systems accessible and to extend their use to
voters with disabilities; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind strongly
urges all remaining states and territories to implement accessible online
ballot-marking systems and to make these systems available to voters with
disabilities so that all citizens can exercise their right to cast a secret
ballot.

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Resolution 2014-19

Regarding Equal Access to Taxicabs and Emerging Transportation Services

WHEREAS, public transportation is extremely important to blind people
because we cannot yet independently operate our own motor vehicles; and

WHEREAS, technology is changing the way that the public requests and pays
for transportation from taxicabs and newly emerging transportation
providers; and

WHEREAS, fewer traditional taxicabs are taking cash, opting instead to
require passengers to pay electronically using systems that often do not
include nonvisual feedback; and

WHEREAS, newer service providers employ smartphone applications that can be
used to request rides, with the rider being notified when pickup is expected
and what car will be providing the transportation; and

WHEREAS, too many of these smartphone applications do not work with the
software that speaks the contents of the smartphone screen for blind people,
though standards for coding apps to provide this accessibility are readily
available and have been implemented by several companies throughout the
country; and

WHEREAS, there is both circumstantial and direct evidence that blind people
who use guide dogs have been denied service by drivers for emerging
transportation services: Now, therefore, 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization insist upon equal access to the systems used to
request, track, and pay for transportation, relying on existing law when we
can and working for additional laws and regulations when required to ensure
that all systems be as usable for the blind as they are for the sighted; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization insists upon the enforcement
of laws ensuring that blind people who use guide dogs are not denied the
benefits of these transportation services.

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Resolution 2014-20

Regarding Remote Access to Computers

WHEREAS, remote access to computers is often a professional necessity; and

WHEREAS, software such as Freedom Scientific's Tandem demonstrates that
remote access can be made accessible on the desktop; and

WHEREAS, screen-reading software access to apps and mobile websites is
routinely achieved by a variety of web and app development companies such as
Microsoft Corporation, which uses Outlook Web App (OWA); and

WHEREAS, despite the fact that accessibility is achievable, other commonly
used remote access tools from companies such as Citrix Systems; LogMeIn
Inc.; TeamViewer, Inc.; and Microsoft Corporation are inaccessible to
screen-access software in desktop, mobile site, and app versions: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization demand that makers of remote-access tools provide
equal access for blind users to all of the tools that they offer.

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Resolution 2014-21

Regarding Access to Airline Mobile Applications

WHEREAS, airlines are working to improve services provided to their
consumers through the development of mobile applications; and 

WHEREAS, such mobile applications are designed to enhance the ease with
which consumers can access airline services; and 

WHEREAS, mobile applications allow airline consumers to access a range of
features and services, including the ability to book flights, check the
status of flights, acquire gate locations, obtain boarding passes, research
lower fare rates, manage frequent flyer account information, access trip
related features such as seat selection and itineraries, and procure other
travel-related services provided by airline partners such as car rentals and
hotel accommodations; and

WHEREAS, blind and low-vision people are among the millions of Americans who
use air travel for business and personal travel; and

WHEREAS, while some features on mobile applications are accessible, many
remain unreadable or unresponsive to screen-reading technologies, thereby
excluding blind and low-vision people from using a variety of services; and 

WHEREAS, in 1986 Congress enacted the Air Carrier Access Act, which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability; and

WHEREAS, companies such as Apple, Inc. have provided mobile application
developers with guidelines for creating accessible applications; and 

WHEREAS, travel-related applications can be made fully accessible by
following accessibility guidelines: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the City of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization call upon all airline carriers to ensure that all
features of their mobile applications are accessible to blind air travelers.

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Resolution 2014-22

Regarding the Accessibility of Antivirus Software

WHEREAS, the threat of malicious software attacks on computers is constant
and the tactics of malefactors are increasingly sophisticated; and

WHEREAS, antivirus software has become a standard precaution against threats
to the computing environment; and

WHEREAS, specific design guidelines for creating accessible software exist
for the various operating systems; and

WHEREAS, a plethora of software products, including Microsoft Security
Essentials, demonstrate clearly that software accessibility is achievable
without significant additional investment; and

WHEREAS, some of the most popular companies in virus protection, such as
Symantec Corporation, Kaspersky Lab, McAfee Inc., Malware Bytes Corporation,
and Trend Micro Inc. all manufacture inaccessible antivirus software: Now,
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention
assembled this fifth day of July, 2014, in the city of Orlando, Florida,
that this organization strongly urge the makers of antivirus software to
make their products accessible to blind users.

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