[NFBF-L] Draft letter about assistive technology affordability act

[Diana Oliveira]

Hello Ryan,

Your letter is very informative.
I would add devices and apps that help us with navigation, such as Victor Reader Track, which is about $699 + tax if you do not present your doctor’s letter attesting you are blind or legally blind.
Apps such as Blindsquare, which is very helpful anywhere, especially in closed spaces whereas the Victor Reader Track GPS only works outdoors, but allows us to record landmarks within our routes.

I’ve been using it and find it super helpful, especially in open spaces such as FIU campus.

This is my suggestion.

Warmest regards,

Diana Oliveira
(305)988-2713
Dianaoliveira58 at gmail.com

From: Ryan Mann via NFBF-L
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:15 PM
To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: Ryan Mann
Subject: [NFBF-L] Draft letter about assistive technology affordability act

Below is a letter I am thinking about writing to my congressman about the Assistive Technology Affordability Act.  I wanted to ask for input from people experienced with dealing with congress before sending it.  Here it is below:
Dear Congressman Waltz:
People who are blind or visually impaired need to use assistive technology that is often more expensive than main stream technology.  This technology may include but is not limited to:
•screen readers, programs that read out loud what a sighted person would read on a computer screen
•braille displays, devices that connect to smart phones or other computing devices and show in Braille what a sighted person would read on a screen. A Braille display is important for people who are blind and deaf or blind people in technical fields such as computer programming.
•video magnifiers, devices that magnify printed material
The cheapest braille display is approximately $600.  JAWS (Job Access With Speech), the leading screen reading program is approximately $800.  That $800 does not include upgrades to the program which are needed to keep up with the latest operating systems and other software.  Video magnifiers cost thousands of dollars.
If the Assistive Technology Affordability Act passes, it will help your blind and visually impaired tax paying constituents have the same quality of life as their sighted counterparts.
Sincerely,
Ryan Mann
     
I’m using the on-line form, so he will have my address, zip code, phone number, ETC
Sent from my iPhone
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