[NFBV-Announce] 2026 Legislative Priorities from the blind of Virginia

Sat Jan 17 03:01:09 UTC 2026

Please find below and attached our 2026 fact sheet

Some of you will receive this message twice since I have blind carbon copied
Richmond Seminar registrants.

2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FROM THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA

Priority 1: Enable Use of Autonomous Vehicles in Virginia

Action: Co-Sponsor H.B. 1125 (Del. Reid) 

Issue: Blind people who wish to travel independently throughout their
communities face limited transportation options. Many rely on rideshare
services such as Lyft and Uber, yet discrimination against blind and
low-vision riders, especially those who use service dogs, is widespread. 

Nearly 100% of guide dog users and more than 50% of blind cane users report
being denied rides because of their blindness or service dog use, often
multiple times in a single week.

Fully autonomous vehicle technology offers a promising solution. These
vehicles operate without a human driver, using artificial intelligence,
specialized software, and sensors-including cameras, radar, and infrared
lasers-to safely navigate their surroundings. Twenty-five states have
already passed legislation allowing for the testing or commercial operation
of autonomous vehicles. Today, these vehicles are operating in cities
nationwide, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and
Austin, with additional deployments underway in San Diego, Las Vegas,
Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Detroit. 

In these cities, blind people can summon an autonomous vehicle as easily as
ordering a rideshare, without fear of discrimination, and many blind
individuals are already doing so. Autonomous vehicle service is not yet
available in Virginia.

Solution: HB 1125 would permit commercial operation of autonomous vehicles
in Virginia. Because these vehicles do not require a human driver, they
eliminate a key source of discrimination and provide blind and low-vision
individuals, as well as people with other disabilities, with equal,
independent access to transportation.

The National Federation of the Blind has been working closely with
autonomous vehicle developers to ensure nonvisual accessibility as this
technology is designed and deployed. Allowing autonomous vehicles in
Virginia would expand transportation options, support economic
participation, and position the Commonwealth to benefit from innovation that
is already improving access and mobility across the country.

Priority 2: Electronic Ballot Return for Uniformed & Overseas Citizens and
People with Print Disabilities

Action: Co-Sponsor H.B. 493 (Del. Hope)

Issue: Blind and low-vision Virginians can mark absentee ballots using the
same accessible ballot-marking tools available to Uniformed and Overseas
Citizens. These tools are compatible with screen reader software, enabling
voters to complete their ballots independently. However, once the ballot is
marked, it must still be printed, mailed to the registrar, and manually
transcribed onto an official ballot for tabulation. 

For many blind voters, this process creates a significant barrier. Many
blind people do not own or use printers, and printing and mailing ballots
often requires outside assistance, compromising both accessibility and
privacy. Uniformed and Overseas Citizens face similar challenges due to
distance and mail reliability.

Solution: H.B. 493 enables Uniformed and Overseas Citizens, as well as
voters with print disabilities with the option to return their ballots
electronically. These ballots would be printed at the registrar's office,
transcribed onto official ballots, and scanned alongside all other ballots.

Thirteen states currently allow electronic ballot return with no reported
problems. 

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 11 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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