[blindLaw] Policy proposal—-federal and or state government giving grants or easy financing options for research and development of software and hardware for low vision and visually impaired

Tue Dec 30 17:44:59 UTC 2025

You'd need to be there in person or have someone there in person to advance it on your behalf. 

> On Dec 30, 2025, at 12:43 PM, omar duncan via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Got it. Sounds good. Thank you for informing me about this.
> 
> 
> Can one go about this through zoom without attending the conference in
> person because  I anticipate I will be in school around that time?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> 
> 
>> On Mon, Dec 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM Nightingale, Noel via BlindLaw <
>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Omar,
>> 
>> You could draft a resolution with your idea for consideration by the
>> National Federation of the Blind Resolutions Committee and submit it before
>> the deadline, which will probably be in early June, to the NFB resolutions
>> chair.  You or another sponsor will need to advocate for the resolution
>> before the resolutions committee at the national convention.  There will be
>> an announcement in the presidential release about the process.
>> 
>> Noel
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of omar duncan via
>> BlindLaw
>> Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2025 10:01 AM
>> To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: omar duncan <oduncan821 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [blindLaw] Policy proposal—-federal and or state government
>> giving grants or easy financing options for research and development of
>> software and hardware for low vision and visually impaired
>> 
>> 
>> Hello, all. I am emailing regarding an idea we can bring to the attention
>> of the lobbying people and legislative representatives at the NFB.
>> 
>> This idea centers on federal government or state government allocating
>> small portions od their budgets  like several hundred thousand Or a few
>> million , which are very nominal amounts, that are to be given to assistive
>> tech companies for the blind and visually impaired like freedom scientific
>> and Kurzweil to fund their research and development to enhance the quality
>> and features of their products, as well as address any bugs.
>> 
>> Reason: these assistive technologies are used by many of us at school
>> (k-12 through grad school) and work. The advancements in these software and
>> hardware of these companies from  these   Firms will allow us to perform
>> better in these endeavors, which will put less strain on various
>> organizations like schools, employers, and rehab organizations, allowing us
>> to operate more independently
>> 
>> #2 the economy and the government and society indirectly, if not directly,
>> benefit because the advancements in the software and hardware of these
>> companies from  the grant companies  will lead to advancements that can
>> allow us to perform better, which will Help with employment and success in
>> school, which puts less strain on the federal government and the states and
>> their resources.
>> 
>> 
>> As far as funding, it is not too much h to ask for. DOGE findings from the
>> past year from Elon Musk and findings and published reports from usually
>> libertarian  organizations detailing extensively specific instances  of
>> government waste and inefficiency  with money included situations where
>> government  allocates large outrageous amount of money at the most
>> ridiculous things—like research on how a certain animal reacts to cocaine
>> or how an animal primates sexuality is influenced by x y or Z and countless
>> ridiculous expenditures.
>> 
>> 
>> Let me give you an example of why this is necessary. Take Freedom
>> scientifics open book 9.0 for example. The current version was released in
>> like 2012 More than a decade ago. In between that decade, there’s been no
>> remarkable or noticeable advancement from the time it was released. Has the
>> most basic features. A Research and development (R&D) grant from the
>> federal government Can help modernize these tools by allowing them to, for
>> example, incorporate advanced study tools that are present in KURZWEIL
>> 1000. It can help them find ways to incorporate AI, artificial intelligence
>> into their products. Since Freedom scientifics team is allocating all of
>> their software developments, fire power, and manpower to working on Jaws –
>> – the bread-and-butter product of freedom scientific – – given limited
>> sources of funding and  a small customer base – – These funds from the
>> federal government will help overcome that deficit and will allow them to
>> acquire more manpower and resources to be able to research and funding
>> areas that are so under developed and deficient.  They can help modernize
>> these tools and make them more specific in tailored to the needs of today
>> into the growing demands and not just do the bare minimum
>> 
>> 
>> I do not want to come across as entitled but given what is at stake here
>> —access, independence and employment for visually impaired people — and how
>> much money the government wastes outright on the most stupid stuff, they
>> ought to have no excuse on why they can’t earmark or designate funds to
>> fund research and development for these assigned technology firms on the
>> front lines. It directly benefits our lives and indirectly benefits the
>> U.S. economy Through these advancement and for accessibility throughout the
>> world and helps us be more efficient.
>> 
>> On a side note, these assistive technology companies like Freedom
>> scientific in KURZWEIL need to be more aggressive and incorporating and
>> integrating, AI artificial intelligence into their products.
>> 
>> In addition to the federal government and state government budgets, you
>> can even go out and request funds for research and development from mega
>> billion dollar corporations and entities like Elon Musk, Facebook,
>> Microsoft, Apple, – – all of these mega entities stacked with cash were
>> giving away a few hundred thousand dollars or even $1 million won’t really
>> put a dent under their balance sheet. Besides, these firms and entities are
>> all known for giving away grants and scholarships and money away for
>> specific causes so adding our cause to one of the many causes won’t put a
>> dent under their balance sheet either.
>> 
>> In a world with so much frivolous spending on stupid stuff,, adding us to
>> the list is the very least that should be considered
>> 
>> 
>> Would you guys say as far as elevating this consideration to the
>> legislative team at NFB national Federation at the blind to consider with
>> regard to asking legislators and people in various spaces to earmark and
>> allocate funds for research and development for advancements and software
>> and hardware for the visually impaired and the companies that develop these
>> devices.
>> 
>> They would truly help a lot
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