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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><span style='font-size:39.0pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal'>National Federation of the Blind Commends Senate Introduction of Medical Devices Nonvisual Accessibility Act<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing: border-box'><strong><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>Washington, D.C. (January 18, 2024): </span></strong><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the transformative advocacy organization of blind Americans, commends Senators Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Mike Braun of Indiana for their introduction of the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (S. 3621) in the United States Senate. This legislation will ensure that medical devices are designed and manufactured with nonvisual accessibility features, enabling blind and low-vision individuals to use and access these critical devices safely and independently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing: border-box'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>The bipartisan Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to promulgate regulations requiring manufacturers of Class II and Class III medical devices — such as insulin pumps, glucometers, heart monitors, and CPAP machines — to incorporate nonvisual accessibility features like audio output and tactilely distinguishable controls. These features will enable blind and low-vision people to use medical devices without assistance from a sighted person, allowing blind Americans to maintain their independence and promoting positive healthcare outcomes. Companion legislation (H.R. 1328) has been introduced in the House of Representatives.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing: border-box'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Accessibility is not a matter of mere convenience, but a moral imperative that, with respect to healthcare, can make the difference between good and poor health outcomes and even between life and death. Blind Americans must have nonvisual access to medical technology that is crucial to our well-being. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act will ensure that future medical devices are designed with nonvisual accessibility features, granting us full independence and control over our own healthcare. We commend Senator Hassan and Senator Braun for their bipartisan work on this critical legislation and urge their colleagues to join them in supporting it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing: border-box'><strong><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>###</span></strong><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing: border-box'><strong><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>About the National Federation of the Blind</span></strong><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'><br>The National Federation of the Blind, headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at<a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='color:#005AA3'> nfb.org</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>CONTACT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>410-659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'>410-262-1281 (cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lato",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='color:#005AA3'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:white'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>