[NFBMI-Wayne-County] FW: We Belong and Want to Contribute-Lend a Hand to Our Advocacy

Wed Feb 19 02:24:06 UTC 2025

From: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 6:00 PM
To: Donna Posont <dposont at umich.edu>
Subject: We Belong and Want to Contribute-Lend a Hand to Our Advocacy

  <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37585&qid=10994983> 

Advocacy News and Calls to Action

The National Federation of the Blind is busy defending the rights of blind
people, working to create opportunities for our greater participation, and
calling on elected officials to stop using stereotypes about us in political
discourse. We need your help to advance these important matters below. 

Blind Americans Return to Work Act Introduced

The National Federation of the Blind is excited to share that the Blind
Americans Return to Work Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Pete
Sessions (R-TX-17) and co-led by Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-7), has been introduced
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37586&qid=10994983>  in the 119th
Congress as H.R. 1175. Please call or email your members in the House of
Representatives and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 1175, the Blind Americans
Return to Work Act. If you send an email, please be sure to copy Jesse
Shirek at jshirek at nfb.org
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37587&qid=10994983> . 

Legislative Alert Reminder: Call State Representatives about Section 504

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is deeply concerned about the
Texas v. Becerra case, brought by the attorneys general of 17 states
(Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas,
Utah, and West Virginia). 

These states have sued the federal government regarding updated rules which
note that "gender dysphoria" may be within the definition of "disability"
under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and which make clear that people
at risk of institutionalization have a cause of action to prevent
unnecessary institutionalization. As a result, these states have charged
that this regulations renders the entire 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. 

The NFB is not alone in this opposition, with other organizations like the
National Disability Rights Network and the American Association of People
with Disabilities also expressing concern. The NFB urges individuals in the
affected states to contact their state's attorney general or governor to
oppose the lawsuit and emphasize the importance of Section 504 in protecting
all people with disabilities, including blind individuals, from
discrimination. There is early indication that our outreach is already
getting some states to reconsider their involvement in this harmful case.

Federal Workers Impacted by Recent Layoffs

We know that federal employees with disabilities have been disproportionally
affected by recent reductions in the federal employment work force and we
are doing all we can to help our blind colleagues. If you are a federal
worker impacted by the government layoffs and interested in information on
career opportunities through the National Federation of the Blind Employment
Initiatives, please submit the Employment Interest Form
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37588&qid=10994983>  to receive
announcements regarding career opportunities. 

Share Statement on Harmful Stereotyping of Blind People

Please read and share the Statement from the National Federation of the
Blind on the Harmful Stereotyping of Blind People in Political Discourse
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37589&qid=10994983> . Here is some
background information on the matter. Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, the director
of government affairs for the Project on Government Oversight and member of
the National Federation of the Blind, testified at a congressional hearing
regarding Delivering on Government Efficiency. Government officials, media
professionals, and social media users used his blindness to mock and
discredit his expertise.

We call on all elected leaders, policymakers, and media outlets to engage in
informed, respectful discourse that recognizes the capabilities of blind
individuals rather than exploiting ignorance for political gain. Please
share the video of President Riccobono regarding this matter on social
media. It is posted on Facebook
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37590&qid=10994983> , YouTube
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37591&qid=10994983> , Mastodon
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37592&qid=10994983> , LinkedIn
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37593&qid=10994983> , TikTok
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37594&qid=10994983> , Instagram
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37595&qid=10994983> , and X
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37596&qid=10994983> .

Who are We? NFB

As someone who values our advocacy efforts, please consider a contribution
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37597&qid=10994983> . Your help makes
a difference. The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its
members and all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is
not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people. Thank you for
your commitment to the nation's blind.

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37598&qid=10994983> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37599&qid=10994983> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37600&qid=10994983> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37601&qid=10994983> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37602&qid=10994983> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37597&qid=10994983> 

National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230
| 410-659-9314 

<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=24517&qid=10994983&
h=a409314d56a048d9> Unsubscribe from this mailing list |
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=24517&qid=10994983&h=a40
9314d56a048d9> Opt out of all mailing lists |
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37603&qid=10994983> Sign up for our
newsletter 

200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
United States

.. 

  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/open?qid=10994983>
<https://u32452178.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/open?upn=u001.WVPpNAQvvQEvUq8Qk16fx0xf
xwfQysWhBpneZ57haxDWRLDCiOhEIyoYg50U-2Fg-2FOyuOw4hvfvPc5Ae0OZOBOlbH24vyzdEjo
dAVL-2FhjrS4bOL7Nc6Xy8sVe7ukUF8Fm6iLCqOZi08WnRxnKWvvZpsDZfKDQJU7AB7HOxEAg-2F
qOuPjRGgTGCZON80SEze8R5E6C43MvrML3eaKjNFZTNkpA-3D-3D> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbmi-wayne-county_nfbnet.org/attachments/20250218/0d1afb5f/attachment-0001.htm>