<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Hi, Federation Family,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Please see the below announcement from our National Office. This bill is really, really important, so please contact your members of congress to encourage their support.</div><div class=""><br class=""><div class="">
<div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div>Sarah K Massengale</div><div>Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, CPACC</div><div>District 6 Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina</div><div>(803) 410-2735</div><div><a href="mailto:skmassengale@gmail.com" class="">skmassengale@gmail.com</a></div><div><br class=""></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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<div><br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class="">Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">From: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">"Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List" <<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org" class="">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class="">[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act - 10/7/2022</b><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">Date: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">October 7, 2022 at 10:01:26 AM EDT<br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">"<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org" class="">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org" class="">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">Reply-To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">"Pare, John" <<a href="mailto:JPare@nfb.org" class="">JPare@nfb.org</a>><br class=""></span></div><br class=""><div class=""><meta charset="UTF-8" class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Dear Federation Family:<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Since the 2021 Washington Seminar, one of our premier legislative priorities has been a website and application accessibility bill. On Wednesday, September 28, the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (S. 4998/H.R. 9021) was introduced in both the Senate the House of Representatives. The Senate bill was introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and the House bill was introduced by Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland. You can read more about the introduction of the bill in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-sarbanes-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-help-make-websites-and-software-applications-accessible-for-americans-with-disabilities" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class="">Senator Duckworth’s official press release</a>, which contains helpful links for a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.27%20SxS%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20FINAL.pdf" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class="">section-by-section analysis of the bill</a>, a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.28%20ONE%20PAGER%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20-%20FINAL.pdf" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class="">one-pager that briefly explains the bill</a>, and a set of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.29%20FAQ%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20FINAL.pdf" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class="">frequently asked questions</a>.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">After nearly two full years of advocacy, we are proud to have champions like Senator Duckworth and Representative Sarbanes, but the real challenge has only just begun. Now we have to shift our focus toward building support for the legislation in order to get it through the committees, onto the floor of the Senate and the House, and ultimately passed by both Chambers to the desk of the president. This is where your advocacy, as blind constituents from every state in the Union who will benefit from the requirements of this legislation, is more important than ever. Please call and email your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act today!<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">When you call or email you might say something like:<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, [S. 4998/H.R. 9021]. This legislation would ensure that blind and disabled Americans can have the same opportunity to independently access websites and applications as our non-disabled peers.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Thanks."<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. We have also attached a contact list for Senate and House offices to this email. The lists are organized alphabetically by state, followed by the name of the member of Congress, then the staff member name, then the staff member contact email. If you contact your senator or representative via email, please copy Jeff Kaloc at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class="">jkaloc@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Inaccessible websites and applications are a barrier and prevent us from living the lives we want. They prevent us from getting the education, employment, and independence that we desire. This is why our advocacy for this bill is so important.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Warm Regards,<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">John<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">John G. Paré Jr.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">(410) 659-9314, extension 2218 |<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:Jpare@nfb.org" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class="">Jpare@nfb.org</a><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="https://nfb.org/" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;" class=""><img border="0" width="210" height="76" id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind" style="width: 2.1875in; height: 0.7916in;" class=""></span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;" class=""><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;" class=""></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;" class=""><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;" class=""></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline;" class=""><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;" class=""><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;" class=""></span></a><o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">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.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><o:p class=""> </o:p></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></body></html>