[NFBV-Announce] 2024 Legislative Priorities of the Blind of Virginia - Richmond Seminar Fact Sheet

Thu Jan 11 19:36:55 UTC 2024

Please find a PDF attached and the text below.

We will also post to our web site.

2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FROM THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA

Priority 1: Modernize governmental procurement of accessible technology.

Action: Co-Sponsor H.B. ___ (Del. Kathy Tran)

Issue: Virginia school districts and colleges often fail to provide and
implement technology that accommodates the accessibility needs of students
with disabilities. Despite a robust market for inclusive education
technology and established accessibility standards for over two decades,
Virginia school boards do not prioritize accessibility when selecting
technology products. This oversight, in violation of federal and state laws
mandating accessibility, leads to the procurement of technology that is
unusable for students with disabilities making it impossible for students
with disabilities to compete on terms of equality.

While Virginia colleges and other Commonwealth entities are explicitly
required to consider accessibility in their procurement process under the
Virginia Information Technology Accessibility Act (ITAA), the law is
outdated, having not been substantially updated since 1999. Consequently, it
fails to address the evolving landscape of technology and accessibility
requirements. For example, since 2013, the federal Department of Education's
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has signed resolution agreements with 173
Commonwealth entities due to disability discrimination, many of which
involve inaccessible technology-imposing substantial negative budgetary
impacts on state and local governments.

Finally, other Virginia governmental entities' technology, including
websites and apps, is often inaccessible. This creates challenges for
citizens with disabilities in activities such as voting, obtaining crucial
information during weather or health crises, and even finding someone in the
government to speak to about accessibility issues.

Solution: This bill modernizes the ITAA, equipping Virginia governmental
entities with the necessary tools to comply with federal and state laws
mandating accessible technology, including Section 504 of the federal
Rehabilitation Act, the Virginia and Americans with Disabilities Acts, the
Virginia Human Rights Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act. This bill does not create additional legal requirements beyond those
found in other laws but provides Virginia governmental entities and school
systems practical guidance to ensure compliance with current access
requirements. Importantly, the bill extends coverage to all individuals with
disabilities, not just those who are blind or have low vision, and includes
K-12 education given the growing role of technology in the student
experience. Finally, the updates in this bill not only modernize the
outdated technological language found in the current version of the ITAA but
also provide the public with a mechanism to give feedback, as required under
other applicable laws.

Priority 2: Enable blind and low vision people to access prescription drug
labeling. 

Action: Co-Sponsor H.B. 516 (Del. Patrick Hope)

Issue: Over 160,000 individuals in Virginia, reporting blindness or severe
difficulty seeing, face challenges reading information on prescription
medication labels and the other information provided by the pharmacist. This
particularly affects senior citizens who are more prone to prescription
medication use, leading to difficulties in understanding dosage, directions
for use, side effects, and interactions with other medications. 

People who are blind or have low vision currently manage their medication in
alternative ways, such as noting the size of the bottle or the shape of the
pill, or by placing a rubber band around the bottle or attaching some other
tactile identifier. However, the more types of medication that are taken,
the harder it becomes to remember the specifics of each one and label it
appropriately using these alternative methods. It is easy to imagine how
mistakes can happen, for example, if the pharmacist puts the medication in a
different size container or the manufacturer changes the shape of the pill.
We know many individuals who have made errors using these methods.
Accessible labeling will significantly help address these issues. While some
pharmacies offer accessible labeling, it is not universal. Individuals who
do not drive due to their limited vision must obtain their prescription from
the closest pharmacy, making it essential that all pharmacies provide
accessible medication services. Various states, including Nevada, Oregon,
Tennessee, Hawaii, Maryland, and Puerto Rico have already addressed this
issue through legislation or regulations. 

Solution: HB516 requires accessible labeling for prescription medication
containers, allowing individuals to choose their preferred format. Various
means, such as ScripTalk, enable pharmacists to create audible labels in
English and translated languages, making script information accessible for
those who are blind, have low vision, or face other reading challenges, all
at a minimal annual cost.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

The National Federation of the Blind is America's largest and most active
organization of blind people. With tens of thousands of members nationwide,
we are not an "agency" claiming to speak for the blind; we are blind people
speaking for ourselves. In Virginia, we are organized into 12 local chapters
throughout the Commonwealth, and into various special interest divisions.

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

 <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com

 <http://www.nfb.org> www.nfb.org

 <http://www.nfbv.org> www.nfbv.org

National Federation of the Blind. 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.

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