[NFBOH-Cleveland] Urgent! Urgent! Please Read This Email

[Suzanne Turner]

Cleveland,

 

The July 19, 2019 meeting has been changed to a conference call!

 

Again, The July 19, 2019 on Friday meeting has been changed to a conference
call!

 

Please Note!

 

The Friday, July 19, 2019 meeting has been changed to a conference call.

 

Cleveland, will hold a teleconference call on Friday in stead of meeting at
the Cleveland Sight Center. We will still celebrat the ADA by telephone.
This was not a decision by the NFB of Cleveland. However, the formalities
will be discussed at the meeting on Friday by conference call.

 

Date: Friday, July 19, 2019

Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Teleconference call no: 

605-313-4834

Code: 

246345

 

Agenda:

 

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio-Cleveland Chapter

 

July 19, 2019

 

Agenda:

 

Welcome and Role Call:

Cheryl Fields, 2nd Vice President

 

NFB Pledge:

Rebecca Russell, Member

 

President Remarks:

Suzanne Turner, President

 

June minutes are attached:

Ali Benmerzouga, Legislative Chair

 

Treasurer Report:

Natassha Ricks, Treasurer

 

Reflections:

2019 NFB National Convention

 

Celebrating the Americans with Disability Act (ADA)

Wilbert Turner, Legislative Committee Member

 

Introduction of Visitors:

Ali Benmerzouga, Cleveland Chapter Legislative Chair

 

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur: District 10 

Nichole Jones, Congressional Assistant to Congresswoman, Marcy Kaptur

Congresswoman Marcia Fudge: District 11 

Cameren Harris, Liaison/Field Representative to Congresswoman, Marcia Fudge

 

Q/A

 

Please read below the two National Initiatives:

 

Access Technology Affordability Act

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

The high cost of access technology creates a difficult economic reality.

Most access technology ranges 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 71 percent
of blind Americans are either unemployed or underemployed.[1] Consequently,
most blind Americans do not have sufficient financial resources needed to
purchase these items.[2] 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.”[3]
Many states’ Medicaid programs and individual health insurance plans have
adopted similar definitions and likewise will not cover the cost of access
technology.[4]

Access technology enables blind Americans to participate in today’s
workforce.

Blindness is well-defined and measurable,[5] 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 at home, 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 71percent of blind Americans who are either
unemployed or underemployed, it is a vehicle that facilitates the job
seeking process. Despite this critical need however, public and private
entities struggle to meet consumer demand.[6] This leads to untimely delays
in the delivery of necessary technology and ultimately harms the blind
consumer.

Solution—The Access Technology Affordability Act:

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 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.

Historically, Congress has implemented tax incentives (e.g., Disabled Access
Credit) for business owners required to make accommodations, including
access technology, for employees and patrons with disabilities.

Even though Congress created these tax incentives to increase accessibility
in the community, these incentives are underutilized.[7] Meanwhile, blind
Americans primarily depend on public and private entities to procure access
technology for them.

Goal—Improve affordability of critically needed access technology necessary
for employment and independent living. 

More Information

For more information on the Access Technology Affordability Act, contact:

Kimie Eacobacci, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2441
Email: keacobacci at nfb.org <mailto:keacobacci at nfb.org> 

Learn more about the National Federation of the Blind's 2019 legislative
agenda <https://nfb.org/2019-legislative-agenda/> . 

  _____  

[1] See 2016 American Community Survey, www.disabilitystatistics.org.

[2] Erickson, W., Lee, C., von Schrader, S. (2016). "Disability Statistics
from the 2014 American Community Survey (ACS)." Ithaca, NY: Cornell
University Employment and Disability Institute (EDI). Retrieved November 11,
2016, from www.disabilitystatistics.org.

[3] 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.

[4] 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).

[5] See 26 U.S.C § 63(f)(4).

[6] See e.g. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services and Disability
Research, “Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Request,”
https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget19/justifications/i-rehab.pd
f, p. I-63.

[7] U.S. Gen. Accounting Office, Business Tax Incentives: Incentives to
Employ Workers with Disabilities Receive Limited use and have an Uncertain
Impact 1, at 14, (Dec. 12, 2002)
http://www.unclefed.com/GAOReports/d0339_sum.pdf.

 

 

///

 

Disability Employment Act

Issue—An outdated approach to employment fails to adequately equip workers
with disabilities for the challenges of the twenty-first century.

The Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (JWOD) is a well-intentioned but obsolete law
intended to provide employment for people with disabilities through
specialized government contracts.

Enacted in 1938, the Wagner-O’Day Act required that government agencies
prioritize the procurement of products produced by blind people. In 1971 the
program was expanded to become the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act,[1] and to
include nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other
severe disabilities.[2],[3] While the originally intended goals of the
program are noble, the current structure falls short of those ideals by
failing to equip workers with the necessary skillsets to compete in the
twenty-first century workforce.

The work experience provided by the AbilityOne Program does not utilize or
teach the skills required for today’s fast-paced digital work environment.

Many workers with disabilities employed under the AbilityOne Program are
assigned menial, repetitive tasks, which do nothing to equip them with the
skills needed to succeed and advance in a modern workplace. As a result,
many of these individuals find themselves trapped in these jobs for years,
if not decades, with no real hope to advance or find new employment
opportunities elsewhere.

The AbilityOne Program thrives on specialized contracts while at the same
time paying employees with disabilities subminimum wages.

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act,[4] passed in 1938, authorizes
the Secretary of Labor to issue Special Wage Certificates to certain
entities, permitting them to pay workers with disabilities subminimum wages.
The vast majority of 14(c)-certificate-holding entities are nonprofit
“sheltered workshops” (segregated work environments)[5] that pay over
300,000 workers with disabilities,[6] some as little as pennies per hour.[7]
Additionally, the failure of the AbilityOne Commission to adequately manage
its own financial resources[8] and display an appropriate level of
transparency[9] has eroded public confidence in the program.

AbilityOne sheltered workshops create a segregated work environment that is
antithetical to competitive integrated employment.

The current structure requires that the majority of the work performed on
AbilityOne contracts is carried out by employees with disabilities at
specialized nonprofits.[10] These specialized nonprofits create an
artificially inclusive work environment. Additionally, the current structure
incentivizes excluding workers with disabilities from advancement to
administrative, managerial, or supervisory positions.[11] This results in
people with disabilities stagnating in the same job for years or decades
without creating opportunities for advancement to employers outside the
program. This model also fails by not sharing best practices to employers
outside the program in order to broaden its impact.

Solution—The Disability Employment Act:

Will expand bidding opportunities within the program.

The Disability Employment Act will allow for-profit as well as nonprofit
entities to bid on contracts through a newly created commission.

Will ensure that workers earn at least the prevailing wage.

The bill will prohibit the use of 14(c) certificates and will require
employers to pay workers with disabilities at least the minimum wage, or if
greater, the prevailing wage.

Will equip employers with the necessary tools and supports to integrate
workers with disabilities.

The bill establishes an Employment Integration Trust Fund to assist
employers to meet reasonable accommodation requirements under Title I of the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Employers will have access to financial
assistance to ensure that the technology they use is accessible; to train
design, development, and manufacturing teams on best practices; and to
provide the necessary supports required by individuals with other severe
disabilities. This will improve disability employment practices across all
sectors of employment.

Will better integrate with the Randolph-Sheppard Program.

The bill will honor the Randolph-Sheppard Priority for all military dining
contracts, including cafeterias.

Will eliminate the conflicts of interest and lack of accountability in the
current program.

The bill will change the composition of the commission, restructure the way
the contracts are awarded, and create a trust fund to support the organic
integration of workers with disabilities into the mainstream workforce.

Goal—Increase and enhance employment opportunities for people with
disabilities. Sponsor the Disability Employment Act.

More Information

For more information on the Disability Employment Act, contact:

Gabe Cazares, Manager of Government Affairs, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2206
Email: gcazares at nfb.org <mailto:gcazares at nfb.org> 

Learn more about the National Federation of the Blind's 2019 legislative
agenda <https://nfb.org/2019-legislative-agenda/> . 

  _____  

[1] 41 U.S.C. § 8501 – 8506.

[2] 41 U.S.C. § 8501(6).

[3] 41 U.S.C. § 8501(7).

[4] 29 U.S.C. § 214(c)(1).

[5] United States Department of Labor. “Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) List.” Last modified July 1, 2018.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/specialemployment/CRPlist.htm.

[6] National Council on Disability. “From the New Deal to the Real Deal:
Joining the Industries of the Future.” October 11, 2018.
https://ncd.gov/publications/2018/new-deal-real-deal.

[7] See http://www.nfb.org/time.

[8] Office of Inspector General. Committee for Purchase from People who are
Blind or Severely Disabled, Independent Auditor’s Report and Financial
Statements for the Years Ended September 30, 2018 And 2017. November 15,
2018.
https://www.oversight.gov/report/cppbsd/audit-us-abilityone-commissions-fina
ncial-statements-fiscal-years-2018-and-2017.

[9] Id.

[10] 41 U.S.C. § 8501(6)(C).

[11] 41 U.S.C. § 8501(3)(B).

 

Suzanne Hartfield-Turner, President

NFBOH-Cleveland Chapter

C: (216) 990-6199

P: (641) 715-3900

Ex: 582705

A: PO Box 141077

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

E: President.NFB.ClevelandOhio at Gmail.com
<mailto:President.NFB.ClevelandOhio at Gmail.com> 

 

Please visit and take a moment to like our Facebook Page!

https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/ 

 

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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