[NFBMO] Washington Seminar and the Legislative Front

[sbwright95 at gmail.com]

Dear Members,

 

We had five Missourians travel to DC for our 2026 Washington Seminar despite
the snow and ice and ever-changing plans. However, our Missouri Delegation
was able to hold all ten of our meetings in person. We had some very good
meetings, and it is now time for our DC Delegation to follow-up with those
we met with and write Thank you notes.

 

I wanted to share with each of you the Fact Sheets for our 2026 Washington
Seminar. The Seminar is the beginning of our legislative year, and it will
require the work of all of us to get our 2026 Legislative Priorities across
the finish line by the end of the year. I urge you to read the attached fact
sheets which I am also including below my message. Please help by talking
with your members of Congress on the phone or by email, in district offices
or on their campaign trail. Let them know who we are and how they can help.

We have a good start; Let’s finish strong . 

 

Did you know that there are currently twelve (12) bills that we are working
on? If you receive an email alert calling members to action, know something
is happening, and that it is an important time for all of us to reach out.
Decide now, to participate in our legislative efforts. 

 

Thanks,

Shelia

 

WE URGE CONGRESS TO PROTECT CRITICAL EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND INDEPENDENT
LIVING PROGRAMS TO ENSURE THEIR CONTINUANCE NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. 

 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) initially became law
in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Congress
reauthorized this act in 1990 and officially changed its name to the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. For fifty years, this
law has ensured that all American students with a disability receive a free
and appropriate public education that is tailored to our individual needs.
Without appropriate funding and administration of IDEA programs, blind
students will be left behind. 

 

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 strengthened vocational rehabilitation,
prohibited discrimination in federally funded programs, and established the
Rehabilitation Services Administration. Later amendments to the Act also
included mandates for federal information technology accessibility. This
landmark legislation served as a precursor to the Americans with
Disabilities Act in 1990. Without appropriate funding and administration of
Rehab Act programs, blind Americans will not receive the skills training to
make us job ready. 

 

The Randolph-Sheppard Program was signed into law in 1936 to create
employment opportunities for blind entrepreneurs by establishing a priority
for the operation of blind vending facilities on all federal property. For
nearly ninety years, this program has served as a major boon to the
employment of blind Americans, who already suffer from an unemployment and
underemployment rate that is significantly higher than the national average.
Without appropriate administration of the Randolph-Sheppard program, blind
entrepreneurs will lose valuable employment opportunities. 

 

The Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program is a federal program that
was created by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as part of the Rehabilitation
Services Administration. The goal of OIB is to focus on independent living
for blind and low-vision Americans who are over the age of 55 and may need
help learning how to live with their vision loss. Critical aspects of OIB
include orientation and mobility training, learning Braille, cooking, and
training on access technology. Without appropriate funding and
administration of OIB programs, older blind Americans are at risk of living
sedentary and solitary lives in their golden years.

 

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) was founded in Louisville,
Kentucky in 1858, and is the oldest and largest nonprofit organization
making accessible materials for the blind. The APH first received federal
support in 1879 to become the national producer of Braille textbooks, maps,
and educational aids. Most recently, APH began distributing the Monarch, the
first dynamic tactile and multi-line Braille tablet. Without appropriate
funding, the APH will be unable to produce and distribute Braille textbooks
and education aids for blind students. 

 

 

Below are a few testimonies from real blind Americans who have greatly
benefitted from each of the above programs. 

 

 

“I attended public school in Durant, Iowa–a very rural school district. I
was incredibly blessed to begin learning Braille and how to use accessible
technology tools to access a computer at a young age. As a result of my
terrific elementary school education, I thrived in high school and was able
to go to college, where I earned dual degrees in English and Theatre. I am
now employed and can proudly share that I pay both federal and FICA taxes.”
– Elizabeth, from Durant, Iowa 

 

“I was able to go to a training center in Ruston, Louisiana, where I learned
independent living skills and how to be a productive citizen. Because of my
training, I have been a small business owner in the tech sector for more
than thirty years.” – Karl, a blind business owner in Taylorsville, Utah

 

“For twenty-one years, I have owned and operated a successful dining food
facility and housekeeping service at the US Coast Guard Aviation Training
Center because of the Randolph-Sheppard program. My business employs twenty
employees while providing our Coast Guard personnel with the food and
accommodations they need to defend our nation.” – Barbara, a blind business
owner in Mobile, Alabama

 

“I lost my sight in my late fifties from glaucoma. The older blind
specialist was by my side at the beginning, thirteen years ago. She taught
me blind skills so I could keep my home and be active in my kids’ and
grandkids’ lives.” – Greg, from West Fargo, North Dakota

 

“The Monarch has been life-changing for our daughter, Kennedy. As a blind
elementary student, she has always loved reading and writing, but access to
Braille materials was often limited and slow to obtain. With the Monarch,
she can independently read consistent, high-quality, tactile Braille content
and navigate her learning with confidence. . . . Most importantly, the
Monarch has opened doors that once seemed inaccessible. Through the
innovation and support of the American Printing House for the Blind, she has
the tools needed to thrive both in school and beyond. We are truly
grateful.” – Katie, a parent of a blind child in Porterdale, Georgia

 

 

Ensure that these critical programs for blind Americans will be able to
function by committing to support funding to keep the above programs
operating effectively and efficiently. 

 

 

ACCESS TECHNOLOGY AFFORDABILITY ACT (H.R. 1529/S. 1918)

Issue—The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for
most blind Americans.

 

Access technology enables blind Americans to participate in today’s
workforce. Blindness is well-defined and measurable,[1]
<https://d.docs.live.net/83d9b2a8af0c5d24/Documents/2026%20Washington%20Semi
nar/2026%20Access%20Technology%20Affordability%20Act%20Fact%20Sheet.docx#_bo
okmark14>  but affects each person differently and at different ages. Since
individuals’ needs differ, manufacturers have designed various tools that
enable each blind American to perform tasks that they were once unable to
accomplish themselves due to their blindness. Braille note takers are
frequently used in schools, screen reading software allows workers to check
their email in the office, and screen magnification software can help
seniors losing vision learn about community activities. Access technology
equips blind Americans to seek employment and stay employed. For the 61.9
percent of blind Americans who are either unemployed or underemployed, it is
a vehicle that facilitates the job seeking process. 

 

The high cost of access technology creates a difficult economic reality.
Most access technology ranges in cost from $1,000 to $6,000. For example, a
leading screen reader is $900, a popular Braille note taker is $5,495, one
model of a refreshable Braille display is $2,795, and a moderately priced
Braille embosser is $3,695. According to the United States Census Bureau,
61.9 percent of working age blind Americans are either unemployed or
underemployed.[2]
<https://d.docs.live.net/83d9b2a8af0c5d24/Documents/2026%20Washington%20Semi
nar/2026%20Access%20Technology%20Affordability%20Act%20Fact%20Sheet.docx#_bo
okmark7>  Furthermore, one in four blind Americans live below the poverty
line and therefore likely do not have sufficient financial resources needed
to purchase these items.[3]
<https://d.docs.live.net/83d9b2a8af0c5d24/Documents/2026%20Washington%20Semi
nar/2026%20Access%20Technology%20Affordability%20Act%20Fact%20Sheet.docx#_bo
okmark8>  These financial barriers can ultimately lead to a loss of
employment, insufficient education, or even isolation from community
activities.

 

Medical insurance will not cover the cost of access technology. Current
definitions of "medical care," "medical necessity," and "durable medical
equipment" within common insurance policies do not include access
technology. These definitions were adopted in the 1960s “when medical care
was viewed primarily as curative and palliative, with little or no
consideration given to increasing an individual's functional status.”[4]
<https://d.docs.live.net/83d9b2a8af0c5d24/Documents/2026%20Washington%20Semi
nar/2026%20Access%20Technology%20Affordability%20Act%20Fact%20Sheet.docx#_bo
okmark10>  Many states’ Medicaid programs and individual health insurance
plans have adopted similar definitions and likewise will not cover the cost
of access technology.[5] 

 




 

Solution—Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA):

Makes access technology more affordable so that blind Americans can procure
these items for themselves. It establishes a refundable tax credit for blind
Americans in the amount of $2,000 to be used over a three-year period to
offset the cost of qualified access technology. The credit created by ATAA
will sunset after five years and will be indexed for inflation.

 

Provides flexibility for individuals to obtain access technology based upon
their specific needs. Accessibility requires an individualized assessment of
one’s own skills and needs. Therefore, blind Americans should be given the
opportunity to procure access technology on their own to ensure that they
are receiving the tools that are most useful for them.

 

Will save the government $315 million through increased federal income and
FICA tax revenue. More blind Americans working means more people paying
federal income taxes. It also means that those blind Americans who obtain
gainful employment through this tax credit will no longer need to draw from
federal programs such as Supplemental Security Income or Social Security
Disability Insurance and will instead be paying into the Social Security
Program through FICA taxes. This was demonstrated by a dynamic score
calculated by Mathematica showing a $315 million cost savings over the
lifetime of this legislation.[6] 

 

GOAL—IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY OF CRITICALLY NEEDED ACCESS TECHNOLOGY NECESSARY
FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING.

 

To cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act in the House (H.R.
1529), contact: 

Quinn Ritchie, Legislative Director for Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)
Phone: 202-225-5406 Email: Quinn.Ritchie at mail.house.gov
<mailto:Quinn.Ritchie at mail.house.gov> . 

 

To cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act in the Senate (S.
1918), contact: 

Kathleen Bochow, Legislative Assistant for Senator John Boozman (R-AR)
Phone: 202-224-4843 Email: Kathleen_Bochow at boozman.senate.gov
<mailto:Kathleen_Bochow at boozman.senate.gov> .

 

For more information, contact:

Jesse Shirek, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the
Blind

Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2348, Email: jshirek at nfb.org
<mailto:jshirek at nfb.org> , or visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org> 

 

 

BLIND AMERICANS RETURN TO WORK ACT (H.R. 1175)

Issue—The Social Security Disability Insurance benefits program contains an
earnings cliff that hinders blind individuals from achieving the American
dream.

 

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program has a built-in
“earnings cliff.” 

 

Title II of the Social Security Act provides that disability benefits paid
to blind beneficiaries are eliminated if the beneficiary exceeds a monthly
earnings limit.[7] This earnings limit, often called the “earnings cliff,”
is in effect a penalty imposed on blind Americans when they work or earn too
much. For example, the earnings limit in 2026 for a blind person is $2,830
per month.[8] If a blind individual earns more than that threshold, even by
just one dollar, they are engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA).
Under the current law, any individual engaged in SGA is not entitled to any
SSDI benefits. This means that if a blind person earns just one dollar over
the earnings limit, all benefits are lost. 

 

The earnings cliff incentivizes blind people to choose to remain unemployed
or underemployed, despite their desire to work.

In a 2018 survey, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) found that 21
percent of respondents from thirty-four of their non-profit associations had
turned down a raise or promotion to retain their SSDI benefits.[9] The
survey also found that 37 percent of respondents had turned down additional
hours or even asked to reduce their hours in order to retain their SSDI
benefits.[10] Blind Americans who are willing and able to work are
intentionally limiting themselves out of fear of losing the entirety of
their SSDI benefits and falling off the earnings cliff. For example,
according to the Social Security Administration, the average SSDI benefit
check in 2025 was $1,582,[11] which equates to $18,984 annually. Under this
circumstance, a blind person would lose $18,984 just by earning an
additional $12 in a calendar year. This is a trade-off no one wants to
accept.

 

The current work incentive in the form of the trial work period is
needlessly complicated and counterintuitive. 

Under the current SSDI program, if a blind worker wants to try and earn more
money, they will likely trigger a nine-month trial work period. These nine
months do not have to be consecutive, but instead are any nine months during
a rolling sixty-month period in which the worker earned more than a certain
amount (for 2026 this amount is $1,210 per month). When all of those nine
months are exhausted, the worker is once again subject to the earnings cliff
if they cross the SGA threshold. This is supposed to act as an incentive for
blind recipients to determine if they are ready to work, but the complexity
of the rules and the difference between the trial work period amount and the
SGA threshold result in many blind Americans not receiving the benefit the
process is intended to provide. 




Solution—Blind Americans Return to Work Act (H.R. 1175) will:

 

Eliminate the earnings cliff by instituting a ten-year demonstration program
establishing a gradual two-for-one phase-out of SSDI benefits with earnings
over the SGA limit. 

 For every two dollars a blind worker earns above the SGA threshold, their
benefits amount will be reduced by one dollar. This ten-year program will
start in 2027 and conclude in 2036, demonstrating that blind Americans can
and will achieve their highest earning potential.

 

Create a genuine work incentive for SSDI recipients. 

With a phase-out model, blind workers will always be better off striving to
earn as much as possible, which will facilitate the transition of those
workers out of the SSDI system as benefits are gradually reduced. With this
model, blind Americans will never lose by working. As an added benefit,
fewer workers will be earning SSDI benefits and instead be paying into the
Social Security Trust Fund, which means a more balanced Trust Fund in time.


 

Simplify the SSDI system by eliminating the trial work period and grace
period, making the rules more consistent with the Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) program. 

Under the proposed system, the SSDI program will become less complicated.
With both the SSI and SSDI programs using similar rules, there will be less
confusion, and the incentive for blind people to return to work and maximize
their earning potential will be consistent and clear.

 

 

GOAL— ELIMINATE THE EARNINGS CLIFF BY ADOPTING A SOLUTION USED IN OTHER
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS.

 

 

Cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act.

 

To cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act in the House (H.R.
1175), contact:

Sloan Hamill, Legislative Correspondent for Representative Pete Sessions
(R-TX-17)

Phone: 202-225-6105 Email: sloan.hamill at mail.house.gov
<mailto:sloan.hamill at mail.house.gov>  

 

For more information, contact:

Jesse Shirek, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the
Blind

Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2348, Email: jshirek at nfb.org
<mailto:jshirek at nfb.org>  or visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org> 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelia Wright, President

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

7928 NW Milrey Drive, Kansas City, MO 64152

816-679-5258

Sbwright95 at gmail.com <mailto:Sbwright95 at gmail.com> 

President at nfbmo.org <mailto:President at nfbmo.org> 

www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org/> 

 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

 


  _____  

[1] 26 U.S.C § 63(f)(4).

[2] United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, “Percentage of
non-institutionalized persons, ages 21-64 years, with visual disability, in
the United States, who were employed full-time/full-year in 2023.”
www.disabilitystatistics.org.

[3] United States Census Bureau, American Community Survey, “Percentage of
non-institutionalized persons, ages 21-64 years, with visual disability, in
the United States, who were living below the poverty line in 2023.”
www.disabilitystatistics.org.

[4] National Council on Disability, “Federal Policy Barriers to Assistive
Technology,” (May 31, 2000) 8,
http://www.ncd.gov/rawmedia_repository/c9e48e89_261b_4dda_bc74_203d5915519f.
pdf.

[5] Assistive Technology Industry Associates, “AT Resources Funding Guide,”
https://www.atia.org/at-resources/what-is-at/resources- funding-guide/ (last
accessed December 10, 2018).

[6] Mathematica, “Dynamic Score of the Access Technology Affordability Act,”
(November 19, 2024) 1. 

[7] 42 U.S.C. Sec. 423.

[8] Social Security Administration, “Substantial Gainful Activity”,
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html.

[9] Commitment to Serve, A presentation given at the 2018 NIB/NAEPB Training
Conference and Expo.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Social Security Administration, “Selected Data From Social Security’s
Disability Program”, Average monthly benefit amounts from January-September
2025, https://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/dib-g3.html.

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