[Nfbf-l] Your help is needed

[Merry Schoch]

Members of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida: We need you!!

 

What is happening?...

 

Legislative action needed! H.R. 3571, the "Reasonable ADA Compliance Act of
2017" is a bill introduced and sponsored by Congresswoman Kathy Castor of
Florida Congressional District 14. Currently there are no co-sponsors and we
need your help to encourage Representative Castor 

to withdraw this bill.  To read the bill go to:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3571/text

 

 

 

If passed, this legislation will dramatically weaken the ADA, hindering
education, employment, and community participation for all people with
disabilities. The bill prevents people with disabilities from filing a
lawsuit regarding an ADA violation until the person first notifies the
violator. The violator has 120 days to remedy the problem. If the violator
does not remedy the problem during the 120 days, the violator has the right
to request from the court an extension for an additional 30 days to correct
the issue, totaling 150 days. This is only 30 days less than H.R. 620 (the
previous bill written to weaken the ADA).

Does it make sense to wait 150 days for accessible instructional material?
By then, the class will be over. 

 

How about waiting 150 days at the doctor's office for an accessible check in
kiosk? 

 

How about waiting 150 days to be able to enter a cab, Uber, Lyft,
restaurant, or hotel due to the use of a service animal?

 

Businesses do not need more time to comply with the ADA they have had
twenty-seven years already. 

 

What can you do to help? 

Please call Congresswoman Kathy Castor urging her to withdraw H.R. 3571, the
"Reasonable ADA Compliance Act of 2017". 

 

Please find her contact information below.

Members of the Tampa Bay chapter will stop in tomorrow, Wednesday, at
approximately 10:00 a.m. If you can call  on Wednesday that would be great.
If not, Representative Castor will be at her local office until Friday,
September 1st.  

Tampa Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone: (813) 871-2817

Fax: (813) 871-2864

4144 N. Armenia Ave., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33607

 

Representative Castor will be back in Washington D.C. on September 5th if
you cannot call before this Friday.

Washington D. C. Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Phone: (202) 225-3376

Fax: (202) 225-5652

2052 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

 

Talking points for speaking with the Congresswoman or one of her staff:

* The act weakens the ADA;

* Under this act students with disabilities will not have remedies to
receive accessible instructional materials to complete a course while
students without a disability will have completed the course; 

* There will be no remedies for individuals who have been denied access due
to the use of a service animal into a public accommodation where the general
public is welcomed.  

 

Members and friends if you are not comfortable talking on the telephone
instructions for emailing is below:

To email:

Go to:   http://castor.house.gov/

Go to the "Contact" link and within this link is a form to fill out.  Under
the subject line you will find a list of categories, if you hit the letter
"c" until you are at "Civil Rights" - then choose Civil Rights.

You will find a message box to send your message.  Here is an example of a
message that you may want to send:

 

Dear Representative Castor:

 

I am requesting the withdrawal of H.R. 3571, the "Reasonable ADA Compliance
Act of 2017. This act will harm the blind and other persons with
disabilities. Under this act students with disabilities will not have
remedies to receive accessible instructional materials to complete a course
until the course is over. A blind person who needs to check into a doctor's
appointment using a kiosk will not be able to do so and will have to wait up
to 150 days until this problem is remedied. 

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act has been a part of law to provide equity
for blind or otherwise disabled individuals since 1990 - 27 years. I believe
this is ample time for businesses to become align with accessibility.  If
accessibility is a part of the beginning of construction it is affordable
and easy to implement.  

 

I would greatly appreciate the withdrawal of this bill that will only
separate and create inequality for individuals with disabilities.

 

Sincerely,

Your name

 

Thank you all for participating in this legislative action! We cannot do
anything without you!

 

In Federation love, hope, and determination,

Merry C. Schoch