[Ohio-Talk] Fw: [Nfbnet-members-list] Regulatory Alert: September 27, 2023 - Website Accessibility

Wed Sep 27 21:34:49 UTC 2023

Forwarded on behalf of Kyle Walls.

Shane Popplestone
President of the Ohio Association of blind students
Co-chair of the ohio newsline committee
member of the Grater Akron Chapter
member of Ohio Association of Guide Dog users
spopplestone.nfb at gmail.com
234-716-2208
You can live the life you want!

------ Forwarded Message ------
>From "Walls, Kyle via NFBNet-Members-List" 
<nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
To "nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date 9/27/2023 4:42:12 PM
Subject [Nfbnet-members-list] Regulatory Alert: September 27, 2023 - 
Website Accessibility

Dear Federation Family:

As many of you likely know, on August 4, due in large part to the 
advocacy of the National Federation of the Blind, the United States 
Department of Justice (DOJ) published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) regarding ADA Title II website and mobile app accessibility 
regulations 
<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/04/2023-15823/nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web-information-and-services-of-state>. 
After thirteen years of waiting we were pleased to see the Department of 
Justice release this long-anticipated proposed rule. However, the 
introduction of seven new exceptions to the proposed accessibility 
standard, which go far beyond the current defenses of undue burden and 
fundamental alteration, was gravely concerning.

The National Federation of the Blind submitted our official comments 
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/comments-ada-title-ii-website-and-mobile-app-notice> 
on September 19, but we believe the Department of Justice needs to hear 
from as many blind Americans as possible to fully understand how 
detrimental this proposed rule will be for the nation’s blind. That’s 
why we’re urging you to submit your own response to the NPRM. Include a 
story about how you, or someone you know, was negatively affected by an 
inaccessible state or local government-maintained website (this includes 
any website for the state or local government, public school, public 
college or university, city/county/state parks, public pool, public 
community centers, etc.). A suggested template for your response is:

“I am writing in regard to RIN 1190-AA79, Nondiscrimination on the Basis 
of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State 
and Local Government Entities.

[TELL YOUR PERSONAL STORY ABOUT STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE 
INACCESSIBILITY]

If the proposed rule is published as is, with the seven new exceptions, 
I may not be able to access vital information about my community or 
education. It is almost certain that I will not be able to access 
government programs and services. Therefore, I oppose any rule that may 
be published containing any exceptions to accessibility other than the 
current defenses of undue burden and fundamental alteration that were 
codified in the original Americans with Disabilities Act.”

You can post your comments to the DOJ by visiting 
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOJ-CRT-2023-0007-0001 
<https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOJ-CRT-2023-0007-0001>. That is 
a link directly to the comment page for the Title II website NPRM. Once 
there, you will have to enter your comment in the text box then select 
that you are an individual, which will bring up a place for you to enter 
your first and last name. Then you can click “Submit.” No other 
information is required. One suggestion is to formulate your comments 
ahead of time in a word processor program, then simply cut and paste 
them into the text box on the comment submission page. For those wanting 
to submit longer comments, the system also offers the opportunity to 
upload documents in docx, pdf, txt, rtf, and several other formats.

Comments are due prior to midnight Eastern time on Tuesday, October 3, 
2023.

If you have any questions, please contact me at kwalls at nfb.org 
<mailto:kwalls at nfb.org>. Thank you for all that you do.

Be great!

Kyle Walls

Research and Regulatory Specialist

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

410-659-9314, extension 2223 | kwalls at nfb.org <mailto:kwalls at nfb.org>

National Federation of the Blind
<https://nfb.org/>

Facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>
Twitter
<https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>
Youtube
<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and 
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every 
day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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