[NHLakesChapter] Info on Web Accessibility Act: Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act - 10/7/2022

[Andrew Harmon]

Hello
I am attempting to forward a letter sent out by John Pare from
National headquarters in Baltimore regarding the Web Accesibility act.
In case it doesn't capture properly, the bottom line info is:
Name: Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act
House bill number: H.R. 9021
Senate bill number: S4998
Switchboard number for DC offices: 202-224-3121

If the email copies properly, there's some great info about sample
thoughts and links to the press releases from the sponsors's sites.
Hope this helps everyone and if the info doesn't get through properly,
let me know and I'll try to put together something a little more
list-serve friendly.

Sincerely

Andrew Harmon

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2022 14:01:26 +0000
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - Websites and
Software Applications Accessibility Act - 10/7/2022
To: "nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>

Dear Federation Family:

Since the 2021 Washington Seminar, one of our premier legislative
priorities has been a website and application accessibility bill. On
Wednesday, September 28, the Websites and Software Applications
Accessibility Act (S. 4998/H.R. 9021) was introduced in both the
Senate the House of Representatives. The Senate bill was introduced by
Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and the House bill was introduced
by Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland. You can read more about
the introduction of the bill in Senator Duckworth's official press
release<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-sarbanes-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-help-make-websites-and-software-applications-accessible-for-americans-with-disabilities>,
which contains helpful links for a section-by-section analysis of the
bill<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.27%20SxS%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20FINAL.pdf>,
a one-pager that briefly explains the
bill<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.28%20ONE%20PAGER%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20-%20FINAL.pdf>,
and a set of frequently asked
questions<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.29%20FAQ%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20FINAL.pdf>.

After nearly two full years of advocacy, we are proud to have
champions like Senator Duckworth and Representative Sarbanes, but the
real challenge has only just begun. Now we have to shift our focus
toward building support for the legislation in order to get it through
the committees, onto the floor of the Senate and the House, and
ultimately passed by both Chambers to the desk of the president. This
is where your advocacy, as blind constituents from every state in the
Union who will benefit from the requirements of this legislation, is
more important than ever. Please call and email your senators and
representative and ask them to cosponsor the Websites and Software
Applications Accessibility Act today!

When you call or email you might say something like:

"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of
[SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like
to urge [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to cosponsor the Websites and
Software Applications Accessibility Act, [S. 4998/H.R. 9021]. This
legislation would ensure that blind and disabled Americans can have
the same opportunity to independently access websites and applications
as our non-disabled peers.
Thanks."

You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol
Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is
202-224-3121. We have also attached a contact list for Senate and
House offices to this email. The lists are organized alphabetically by
state, followed by the name of the member of Congress, then the staff
member name, then the staff member contact email. If you contact your
senator or representative via email, please copy Jeff Kaloc at
jkaloc at nfb.org<mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org>. Your calls and emails do make a
difference.

Inaccessible websites and applications are a barrier and prevent us
from living the lives we want. They prevent us from getting the
education, employment, and independence that we desire. This is why
our advocacy for this bill is so important.

Warm Regards,
John

John G. Paré Jr.
Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, extension 2218 | Jpare at nfb.org<mailto:Jpare at nfb.org>


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