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

Sat May 25 22:49:05 UTC 2019

Hi Dave & All,

After further thought on the problem and after getting quite a few responses to the same type of post I sent to a knitting group for the blind I subscribe to, turns out that it appears to be a common problem in various post offices around the country. One of the people on my knitting list said she even paid for stuff she knew should have been eligible to ship for free because its a hasel to go back home and then have to return to get the stuff mailed.

So, I looked up the national phone number for The Post Master General and called them to complain about what happened.

The person I talked to said he’d take care of the problem so I hope that means he’ll send out a memo & explanation on how Free Matter for the Blind works. He told me should I go back and ever have the same problem to tell the workers at the post office to call the National number. 

If anyone ever has a problem at their local post office with shipping Braille material Free Matter for the Blind, you can call and submit a complaint or as I did ask them to educate the local office to how Free Matter works. The phone number I called with an automated system is:

US Post Office, call: (1-800-275-8777)

The automated system is difficult since its not clear which option to choose I called in twice before I located an option to speak with an agent, then it was busy so they do provide an option to be called back. Good thing I chose that one because it took them over an hour to call me back.

Hope this helps.

Eileen 

From: David Andrews via Njtechdiv 

Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2019 5:12 PM
To: New Jersey Technology Division List 
Cc: David Andrews 
Subject: Re: [Njtechdiv] Mailing Free Matter, Have Answered My Own Question.

I believe that you are correct.  It also doesn't matter how the pages are bound -- or not.

Libraries for the blind see individual post office differences all the time -- and there is no simple answer except education.

Dave

At 03:03 PM 5/24/2019, you wrote:

  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 individualâ€™s eligibility.

  b. In cases of blindness, visual impairment, or physical limitations, â€œcompetent authorityâ€ 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, â€œcompetent authorityâ€ 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 advertiserâ€™s products in which a display advertisement appears.

  (4) An organizationâ€™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 â€œFree Matter for the Blind or Handicappedâ€ 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

     Virus-free. www.avg.com  

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