[NFBOH-Cleveland] A Special Guest AT Our Cleveland Chapter Meeting

[Suzanne Turner]

Cleveland,

 

On Friday, July 20, 2018 at our Chapter meeting,  Ohio Senator, Michael
Skindell from the 23rd district, will join us. We will discuss information
that the NFB of Ohio Legislature Committee addressed in a letter opposing
bill HB271. I am so pleased to have the Senator join our meeting. He has
been gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule to spend time to
communicate with Cleveland. Let's show him our appreciation. We want to
bring forth awareness and provide our thoughts in a positive manner. So,
please be on time for this important meeting. We will have refreshments and
talk about this  bill.

 

If you have questions, let me know. 

/////

 

 

June 4, 2018

 

Dear Chairman Bacon, Vice Chairman Dolan, Ranking Member Thomas and members
of the Senate Judiciary Committee,

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, the leading membership
organization of blind Ohioans, opposes H.B.  271 Short Title: Give notice
before action for access; allow attorney's fees as passed by the House. In
fact, we unalterably oppose  any legislation that will weaken the already
fragile rights of people with disabilities.  We believe that this bill will
radically undermine the rights of people with disabilities while not
effectively protecting businesses from frivolous litigation. The current
evidence regarding the problems this bill seeks to address is, at best,
sparse and anecdotal and does not justify such a radical change to state
law.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990.
Twenty-eight years later all business owners should be aware of their
obligations under the law. Although this is certainly not always the case,
experience demonstrates that those  with disabilities covered under the ADA
do not file  frivolous litigation. Out of ignorance or inexperience people
who do not understand disability or the law addressing it  sometimes
interpret an initial filing as frivolous. This is how the myth has grown up
that disabled people are likely to file frivolous lawsuits. Rather than
placing additional burdens on people with disabilities, why not punish those
who bring frivolous law suits to the courts?

A civil rights law such as the ADA is effective only in so far as it is
understood by the general public. To that end the National Federation of the
Blind of Ohio stands ready to educate business owners about accessibility.
Ohio has a network of Independent Living Centers that often (if resources
permit) can provide technical assistance and guidance on accessibility to
businesses. The Great Lakes ADA Center also provides webinars and toolkits
for businesses interested in coming into compliance with accessibility
requirements of the law. 

Rather than eliminate the stick of enforcement, we would hope that the
Legislature would look at how to provide some carrots of encouragement and
other supports to help businesses to come into compliance, without
undermining the legal rights of individuals with disabilities. Our struggle
for equal access has been long and hard. Please don't push us back into
inequality.

Many organizations representing people with disabilities have chosen to
remain neutral because they see this legislation as permissive rather than
prescriptive.  Also many organizations are neutral because this legislation
applies only to civil litigation filed in state court and does not affect
one's ability to file in Federal court.

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio believes that the Ohio
Legislature and the general public are taking a dangerous ride down a
slippery slope if we start to weaken individual protections. We urge you to
work with us to improve public education about accessibility and to provide
stronger penalties against attorneys who file frivolous acts.

 

Sincerely,

Richard Payne,  President

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

937-396-5573 or 937-829-3368

Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com> 

 

 

 

 

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