[Njtechdiv] Mailing Free Matter, Have Answered My Own Question.

Fri May 24 20:58:44 UTC 2019

I think you shouldn't have to fill out any form, but some acceptable 
identification that you are disabled would suffice just in case the post 
office wants proof. I think then the issues to consider would be what is 
the size and weight of the entire shipment as defined in 4.1 "b. Must 
meet the minimum and maximum dimensions in C010 and C700 , respectively, 
and c. Is subject to the mailability standards in C020 and C030.

-------- Original Message --------
From: Eileen Scrivani via Njtechdiv [mailto:njtechdiv at nfbnet.org]
To: New Jersey Technology Division List <njtechdiv at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Eileen Scrivani <etscrivani at verizon.net>
Date: Friday, May 24, 2019, 4:03 PM
Subject: [Njtechdiv] Mailing Free Matter, Have Answered My Own Question.

I just did a Google search on Shipping Free Matter and found the below. 
Given the below is current and up to date, I think its saying I can ship 
Free Matter without needing a special cert and I should not have been 
questioned the way I was. What do you folks think?

Link & text are below ...

https://pe.usps.com/archive/html/dmmarchive20030810/E040.htm

Domestic Mail Manual E040 Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically 
Handicapped Persons
ARCHIVED DMM
Contents  Index

E000 Special Eligibility Standards

E040 Free Matter for the Blind and Other Physically Handicapped Persons

Summary

E040 describes the standards under which mail may be sent to or from 
blind or physically handicapped persons free of postage.

1.0 Basic Information

1.1General

[8-8-02] Subject to the standards below, matter may be entered free of 
postage if mailed by or for the use of blind or other persons who cannot 
read or
use conventionally printed materials due to a physical handicap. The 
provisions of
E040 apply to domestic mail only.

1.2Mail Classification

Matter mailed free under this standard is not considered part of any 
particular class of mail and is not protected against postal inspection. 
This matter
is treated as First-Class Mail for the exclusive purposes of determining 
appropriate standards for processing and delivery and for handling if 
undeliverable.

1.3Eligibility

[8-8-02] The following persons are considered to be blind or unable to 
read or use conventionally printed material due to a physical handicap 
for purposes
of this section:

a. Certified participants in the Library of Congress National Library 
Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS).

b. Blind persons whose visual acuity, as determined by competent 
authority, is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, 
or whose widest
diameter of visual field subtends angular distance no greater than 20 
degrees.

c. Other physically handicapped persons certified by competent authority 
as meeting one or more of the following conditions:

(1) Having a visual disability, with correction and regardless of 
optical measurement, that prevents the reading of standard printed material.

(2) Being unable to read or unable to use standard printed material as a 
result of physical limitations.

(3) Having a reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and 
of sufficient severity to prevent their reading printed material in a 
normal manner.

(4) Meeting the requirements of eligibility resulting from a 
degenerative, variable disease that renders them unable to read or use 
conventional printed
material because of impaired eyesight or other physical factors. These 
persons are eligible during the time in which they are certified by a 
competent
authority as unable to read or use conventional materials.

d. Eligible participants must be residents of the United States, 
including the several states, territories, insular possessions, and the 
District of Columbia,
or American citizens domiciled abroad.

1.4Certifying Authority

[8-8-02] For purposes of this standard:

a. The postmaster may extend the free matter privilege to an individual 
recipient based on personal knowledge of the individual’s eligibility.

b. In cases of blindness, visual impairment, or physical limitations, 
“competent authority” is defined to include doctors of medicine; doctors 
of osteopathy;
ophthalmologists; optometrists; registered nurses; therapists; and 
professional staff of hospitals, institutions, and public or private 
welfare agencies
(e.g., social workers, caseworkers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, 
and superintendents). In the absence of any of these, certification may 
be made
by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under 
specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress (see 36 
CFR 701.10(b)(2)(i)).

c. In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, 
“competent authority” is defined as doctors of medicine and doctors of 
osteopathy.

1.5Qualifying Individuals

[8-8-02] The USPS may require individuals claiming entitlement to the 
free matter privilege to furnish evidence of eligibility consistent with 
the standards
in 1.3 and 1.4
, or verify by other means that the recipients are eligible to receive 
free matter.

2.0 Matter Sent to Blind or Other physically Handicapped Persons

2.1Acceptable Matter

Subject to 2.2 , this matter may be mailed free:

a. [8-8-02] Reading matter in braille or 14-point or larger sightsaving 
type and musical scores.

b. Sound reproductions.

c. Paper, records, tapes, and other material for the production of 
reading matter, musical scores, or sound reproductions.

d. Reproducers or parts of them for sound reproductions.

e. Braille writers, typewriters, educational or other materials or 
devices, or parts thereof, used for writing by, or designed or adapted 
for use of, a
blind person or a person who has a physical impairment as described in
1.3 .

2.2Conditions

The matter listed in 2.1 must meet these conditions:

a. The matter must be for the use of a blind or other physically 
handicapped person.

b. Either no charge, rental, subscription, or other fee is required for 
this matter; or, if required, may not exceed the cost of the item.

c. The matter may be opened and inspected by the USPS.

d. [8-8-02] The matter contains no advertising. Advertising is defined as:

(1) All material of which a valuable consideration is paid, accepted, or 
promised, that calls attention to something to get people to buy it, 
sell it,
seek it, or support it.

(2) Reading matter or other material of which an advertising rate is 
charged.

(3) Articles, items, and notices in the form of reading matter inserted 
by custom or understanding that textual matter is to be inserted for the 
advertiser
or the advertiser’s products in which a display advertisement appears.

(4) An organization’s advertisement of its own services or issues, or 
any other business of the publisher, whether in display advertising or 
reading matter.

2.3Letters From Sighted

Letters prepared in any form by sighted individuals, to be sent to a 
blind or other physically handicapped person, or empty shipping 
materials for mailing
matter described in this section, may not be sent free and must bear the 
full applicable postage.

3.0 Matter Sent by Blind or Other physically Handicapped Persons

3.1Acceptable Letters

[8-8-02] Only letters in braille or in 14-point or larger sightsaving 
type or in the form of sound recordings, and containing no advertising, 
may be mailed
free, and only if unsealed and sent by a blind or other physically 
handicapped person as described in
1.3 .

3.2Other Letters

Letters that are handwritten, or printed or typed in a type size smaller 
than 14 points, may not be sent free. These letters must bear the full 
applicable
postage.

4.0 Preparation

4.1Basic Standards

All matter mailed under this standard:

a. Must be marked “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped” in the 
upper right corner of the address side.

b. Must meet the minimum and maximum dimensions in C010 and C700 , 
respectively.

c. Is subject to the mailability standards in C020 and C030 .

4.2Special Services

Insurance is the only special service that can be added to mail sent 
under this standard. The fee for insurance must be paid by the sender.

DMM Issue 58 (8-10-03)

ARCHIVED DMM

ARCHIVED DMM

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