[NFBWATlk] On ADA Anniversary, Republican Lawmakers Mock Disability Accommodation - Disability Scoop - July 28, 2022

[kkipp123 at gmail.com]

I know now people sometimes say their pronouns, but if I want to know what
someone looks like, I'll ask someone next to me, but to me it doesn't matter
what they look like.  

Kaye

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From: NFBWATlk <nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Nightingale, Noel
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Sent: Friday, July 29, 2022 10:54 AM
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Cc: Nightingale, Noel <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
Subject: [NFBWATlk] On ADA Anniversary, Republican Lawmakers Mock Disability
Accommodation - Disability Scoop - July 28, 2022

For those interested in visual descriptions of presenters.

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2022/07/28/on-ada-anniversary-republican-law
makers-mock-disability-accommodation/29966/
On ADA Anniversary, Republican Lawmakers Mock Disability Accommodation By
Michelle Diament Disability Scoop July 28, 2022

An effort by Vice President Kamala Harris to be accommodating toward people
with disabilities is sparking backlash from Republicans.
The vice president began a meeting with disability advocates this week
marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act by describing
herself.
"I am Kamala Harris. My pronouns are 'she' and 'her.' I am a woman sitting
at the table wearing a blue suit," she said.
Visual descriptions of this nature are often employed as a way to include
people who are blind or visually impaired. The introduction, however, was
derided by multiple GOP lawmakers.
"Just when you think it can't get any sillier," tweeted U.S. Sen. Lindsey
Graham, R-S.C. "The American people are caring but not generally confused by
the difference between a man and a woman. Political correctness is
dominating the Biden Administration."
"But what is a woman?" tweeted Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
"If you ever wonder why the left still can't win elections despite the
insanity of Trumpism, save stuff like this for reference later," tweeted
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. "You can get mad at me, but I'm not wrong."
Video of Harris's introduction was also shared on Twitter by a Republican
National Committee account generating a flurry of replies.
But, the American Association of People with Disabilities applauded the
broadening use of visual descriptions.
"Visual descriptions are an accessibility practice for blind and low-vision
people. We do them to ensure that everyone can have context that sighted
people may take in visually," the group tweeted. "We are glad to see this
accessibility practice expanded in government, and hope to see more
government leaders give visual self-descriptions in the future!"
Harris made the comments during a meeting with five disability advocates on
the 32nd anniversary of the ADA where the group discussed reproductive
health care.


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