[NFBSea] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert Regarding Accessibility Features in Public Buildings

[Humberto Avila]

Marci,


Thank you for sending out this information regarding the comments that 
we can submit to the department of Energy.

As you know, this is a U.S. Government web page, and John Pare clearly 
states that names and comments of people will be publicly available for 
vewing. I would love to give my feedback, but I am concerned about what 
information the government can view about me if they find out I 
submitted a comment against their latest ruling, which I find stupid, 
but, anyways, just my question here.


Thank you so much!


On 6/12/2025 5:13 PM, Marci Carpenter via NFBSea wrote:
> I encourage all our members to send comments. The number of comments 
> they receive makes a difference. John Pare provides a sample that you 
> can use.
>
> Marci
>> ---------- Original Message ----------
>> From: "Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List" 
>> <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
>> To: David Andrews via NFBNet-Members-List 
>> <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: 06/11/2025 12:19 PM PDT
>> Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert Regarding 
>> Accessibility Features in Public Buildings
>>
>> Dear Federation Family:
>>
>> On May 16, 2025, the United States Department of Energy released a 
>> direct final rule that “rescinds certain new construction 
>> requirements related to disability nondiscrimination in federally 
>> assisted programs or activities.” A direct final rule is slightly 
>> different from the typical rulemaking process, it’s a kind of 
>> fast-track effort to put a new rule in place unless there are 
>> “significant adverse comments” which oppose the rule by June 16, 2025.
>>
>> As you may expect, we are adamantly opposed to any attempt to roll 
>> back any accessibility requirements in the construction of buildings 
>> for federally assisted programs or activities. Just last week, 
>> President Riccobono submitted the official comments of the National 
>> Federation of the Blind to the Department of Energy 
>> <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-united-states-department-energy-regarding> 
>> opposing the rescinding of the requirements. These comments are 
>> posted on the policy statements page of our website, and we encourage 
>> you to read them. But, more important than that, we urge you to 
>> submit your own comments to the Department of Energy to ensure they 
>> understand just how important accessibility is to us. Tell them how 
>> important Braille signage is in buildings, or how vital nonvisually 
>> accessible information is in an elevator.
>>
>> When writing your comments, you might say something like:
>>
>> “My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE]. I urge you to 
>> withdraw the direct final rule. As a blind person myself, I know the 
>> importance of accessible public buildings and architecture. Without 
>> accessible features such as Braille signage on doors and Braille and 
>> audio announcements in elevators, blind people are unable to 
>> independently navigate these facilities. Again, I urge you to 
>> withdraw the direct final rule.”
>>
>> You can submit your comments online through the Federal Register page 
>> at: 
>> https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment 
>> <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment>
>>
>> The link will take you directly to the submission page where you will 
>> be able to type in your comment, selecting the option to confirm that 
>> you are an individual, and verifying that you understand your 
>> comments may be publicly viewed on the website. Remember, time is of 
>> the essence because the comment submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. 
>> Eastern on Monday, June 16, 2025. We apologize that we did not get 
>> this information to you sooner, but there is still time to leave your 
>> comment.
>>
>> Thank you for all that you do,
>>
>> John
>>
>> John Paré
>>
>> Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
>>
>> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>>
>> 410-659-9314 <tel:410-659-9314>, extension 2218 | _jpare at nfb.org_
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind <https://nfb.org/>
>>
>> Facebook 
>> <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>Twitter 
>> <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>Youtube 
>> <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>>
>> 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.
>>
>
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