[Tall-Corn] Legislative Alert: Action Required

Sat Feb 15 14:37:32 UTC 2025

Thanks Jonathan for sharing this solid example! 

Helen Mejia, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
hmejia at nfbi.org
(570) 983-7867

On Feb 14, 2025, at 9:48 PM, iceje89--- via Tall-Corn <tall-corn at nfbnet.org> wrote:

For what it’s worth this is what I wrote yesterday in my letter to the Bird:

13 February 2025

Attorney General Bird:

I am a long-time Iowan (22 years) who also happens to be blind.  I am very aware of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its importance to Americans with disabilities (AWD).  Until it was enacted in 1977 AWD had no protection against discrimination due to disability.  Though I received most of my schooling before 504 even existed I undoubtedly benefited from it during my later educational pursuits.  It also was instrumental in procuring costly equipment I needed to successfully pursue a 21-year career in blindness rehabilitation here in Iowa and in New Mexico.  If not for 504 (or the Americans with Disabilities Act) my employers could have just said, “tough, kid, but you’ll have to buy that $1500 notetaker yourself, even though we know you don’t have the money to pay for it.”  So I would have remained unemployed or underemployed.

I also am aware of the bravery displayed by thousands of Americans with a wide range of disabilities in 1977 when they refused to sit back and remain second-class citizens, and insisted that 504 be signed unamended, despite the sustained opposition of Health, Education, and Welfare secretary Joe Califano (a Democrat, by the way).  It would be unconscionable if 504 were to be wiped out in what seems to be a cavalier and spiteful lawsuit.  Please withdraw your support for it.

Sincerely,
<image001.png>
Jonathan E. Ice
1650 Koehler Dr NW, Unit 346
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405-1582
319-298-2919
iceje89 at gmail.com <mailto:iceje89 at gmail.com>

From: Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:tall-corn-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Helen Mejia via Tall-Corn
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 9:07 PM
To: NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List <tall-corn at nfbnet.org <mailto:tall-corn at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Helen Mejia <hmejia at nfbi.org <mailto:hmejia at nfbi.org>>
Subject: [Tall-Corn] Fwd: Legislative Alert: Action Required

Hi All,
Please see below. To be clear, this issue is not about whether or not we believe gender dysphoria is a disability, it is about an attack on all of section 504. More information, including how to contact our attorney general, will be coming out in the near future.
Helen
Helen Mejia, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
hmejia at nfbi.org <mailto:hmejia at nfbi.org>
(570) 983-7867

Begin forwarded message:

From: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org <mailto:webmaster at nfb.org>>
Subject: Legislative Alert: Action Required
Date: February 13, 2025 at 4:03:13 PM CST

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<~WRD0000.jpg> <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=37549&qid=10954002>
Immediate Action Required Regarding Section 504

Dear Federation Members,
A number of you have asked about the below matter. The National Federation of the Blind is deeply concerned about the Texas v. Becerra case that has been brought by seventeen states’ attorney generals. These seventeen states (Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia) have sued the federal government regarding updated rules which add “gender dysphoria” to the federal definition of “disability” under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
As a result, these states have charged that this addition to the regulations renders Section 504 unconstitutional. As a reminder, Section 504 requires that entities which receive federal funding, like schools and hospitals, cannot discriminate on the basis of disability. 
Fortunately, we are not alone in our concerns. Other organizations, such as the National Disability Rights Network, the National Council on Independent Living, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and many, many more have also voiced their displeasure with this lawsuit. 
You can help in this cause! If you live in one of the states listed above, you can contact your state’s attorney general and/or the Governor and ask that the state drop the lawsuit. Be sure to tell them who you are and why Section 504 is important to you so they can fully understand the gravity of the situation. Remind them that Section 504 protects blind and other disabled people from discrimination by entities that receive federal funds. We are carefully monitoring this situation and will keep everyone advised of any new developments. 
Sincerely,
Mark A. Riccobono, President

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