[NFBMT] From Twitter

[BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER]

Disability rights advocates have opposed a U.S. House bill, passed Thursday,
which would weaken the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

 

In a "shameful" move that disability rights advocates say "further
marginalizes one of the most excluded communities in society," a dozen
Democrats joined with House Republicans on Thursday to pass a bill that would
erode key protections for Americans with disabilities.

 

"Congress should be making it easier, not more difficult, for people with
disabilities to lead independent lives."

-Vanita Gupta, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights 

 

The legislation, which now advances to the Senate, would create a "notice and
cure" requirement before any legal action could be taken against a business
on the grounds that it has failed to comply with federal standards
established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) nearly three decades
ago.

 

In other words, before filing a lawsuit, people with disabilities would have
to notify a business in writing of an accessibility violation, then wait six
months to see if it had made "substantial progress" toward becoming
compliant.

 

The measure was fiercely opposed by disability rights advocates. The
grassroots group ADAPT said at least 17 protesters were arrested in the House
today. Many other opponents turned to Twitter to denounce the bill and shame
the "lobbyists for shopping malls and hotels" who have pushed for it, as well
as House lawmakers who voted in favor of it.

 

Joy Breslauer, President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

 

Live the life you want

 

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.