[Nfbmt] National Federation of the Blind Condemns Delay of Web Accessibility Regulations

[Bruce&Joy Breslauer]

I don't remember whether I sent this out already.  Joy 

 

From: Danielsen, Chris 

Sent: Friday, April 29, 2016 2:26 PM
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Condemns Delay of Web Accessibility
Regulations

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind 
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org
 
National Federation of the Blind Condemns Delay of Web Accessibility
Regulations
 
Baltimore, Maryland (April 29, 2016): The National Federation of the Blind
<http://www.nfb.org/> , the nation's leading advocate for equal access by the
blind to information and technology, today condemned the announcement
<http://www.ada.gov/regs2016/sanprm_statement.html>  by the United States
Department of Justice (DOJ) that it will further delay issuing regulations
under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and instead seek
further comments from the public on what those regulations should contain.
The original Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking expressing the intent to
issue regulations was published on July 26, 2010. At that time, President
Obama said that the regulations would be "the most important updates to the
ADA since its original enactment." This is the DOJ's second recent
announcement
<http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/civil-rights/266943-inequality-and-in
difference>  of a delay relating to the issuance of ADA regulations on
internet access.
 
Mark A. Riccobono <https://nfb.org/mark-riccobono-bio> , President of the
National Federation of the Blind, said: "This deplorable announcement by the
Department of Justice is another example of inexcusable foot-dragging on the
issue of web accessibility, which is critical to the education, employment,
and daily life of blind Americans. Delaying the equal access of the blind to
American society by failing to provide clarity in technology accessibility is
inconsistent with the administration's goal of full participation by people
with disabilities. This failure also puts public entities seeking clear
guidance on how to meet their obligations to consumers and constituents with
disabilities at a severe disadvantage, with no direction on how to comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act in the provision of information and
services over the internet. The questions that DOJ raises in the Supplemental
Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking did not newly arise in the six years
since the original Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, nor is the
continuing evolution of technology an excuse for revisiting them. The
National Federation of the Blind unequivocally condemns today's action and
urges the administration to issue proposed rules with regard to equal access
under Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act without
further delay. We further urge all political and civic leaders to join with
us in calling on this administration to fulfill the promise made and bring
clarity to the accessibility of public information, commerce, and education
in the twenty-first century. Let's #UploadTheRegs
<https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/time-white-house-upload-internet-regs> ."
 
###
 
About the National Federation of the Blind
 
The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.
 

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