Blind Coloradan
Blog
February
6, 2025
Writer, aggregator: Kevan Worley
Contributors: Dan Burke &
Erin Daley. With assistance from Lisa Bonderson.
National Federation of the Blind
of Colorado, President, Jessica Beecham
jbbeecham@gmail.com
Earlier this week your National
Federation of the Blind of Colorado proudly sent a delegation to join delegates
from all over the country at the National Federation of the Blind annual
Washington seminar. The intention was to address members of Congress and their
key staff members about issues of importance to blind Americans. This year with
an understanding of today's political climate we added an additional
legislative fact sheet to our list of priorities. While we continued to raise
the issues of website accessibility, access to medical devices, and changes to
social security eligibility to increase return to work opportunities for the
blind. We made it a priority to provide members of Congress with a list of laws
and program funding vital to the effort of blind people to gain independence
and opportunity on terms of equality. You can find our Washington Seminar
legislative priorities at this link. https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar. Below find the text of the timely and
informative document our delegation shared during our time with Congress this
week. Another example of how the NFB is strategic and flexible in order to meet
the moment.
Laws the Blind
Depend On
The
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 501 prohibits the federal
government from discriminating against people with disabilities in employment
and requires reasonable accommodations for federal employees.
Section 503 prohibits federal
contractors from discriminating against individuals with disabilities in
employment, including requiring reasonable accommodations.
Section 504 prohibits the federal
government and federal grantees from discriminating on the basis of disability
in providing programs and services.
Section 508 requires federal
technology, including websites, software, and technology provided by vendors,
to be accessible to the blind.
The Americans
with Disabilities Act
Title I of the ADA prohibits
discrimination against people with disabilities by private and public
employers.
Title II of the ADA prohibits state
and local governments from discriminating on the basis of disability in their
programs and services, including requiring reasonable modifications and
requiring their websites and applications to be accessible to the blind. Title
II ensures that voting, transportation, justice systems and government services
are accessible to the blind.
Title III of the ADA prohibits
disability discrimination by private public accommodations in their goods,
services and information, including reasonable modifications and accessible
websites and applications.
Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act
The IDEA requires public schools to
accommodate students with disabilities and to provide specialized education
services when students need them. Braille literacy is essential to blind
students and, therefore, they need specialized Braille instruction and Braille
equipment. They also need access technology, such as screen reading software,
and audio materials, large print materials, and tactile graphics, all of which
are considered special education. The IDEA provides for important due process
protections that allow parents of students with disabilities to resolve
disputes with their schools without resorting to the courts.
Federal Funding
the Blind Depend On
Special Education
The Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act provides federal funding to states to provide required “special
education” services for public school students with disabilities. While states
provide most special education funding, the federal government provides about
$15 billion. This serves some 7.5 million students. Special education services
for the blind include Braille instruction, access technologies, and specialized
teachers of the blind.
Vocational
Rehabilitation
The federal government provides grants
to states to provide “vocational rehabilitation” (VR) programs to help people
with disabilities become employed. The federal government provides about 79
percent of the funding, with states providing the rest. VR programs serve over
800,000 individuals each year. Without VR services, many blind people would be
unable to gain employment, leaving them reliant on public benefits to survive.
Free Matter for
the Blind
The US Postal Service provides free
postage for special material used by blind individuals, such as Braille or
audio material. Organizations who serve the blind rely on this service to keep
costs down, which, due to the size of the materials, would be cost-prohibitive.
National Library
Service for the Blind and Institute of Museum and Library Services
NLS provides free Braille and recorded
materials to the blind. IMLS is a federal agency that helps libraries and
museums. An important part of IMLS funding supports libraries to be accessible
to the blind. Without access to library services, blind people would lose
access to information, education, and entertainment others take for granted.
Older Blind
Programs
Federally funded state-run older blind
programs serve blind individuals over age 54 to help them live independently.
The programs teach independent living skills so blind people can remain in
their homes and communities and avoid placement in expensive nursing homes.
Protection &
Advocacy
Each state has a federally funded
“protection and advocacy” program that represents people with disabilities
facing abuse, civil rights violations, denials of benefits, and lack of access
to health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and voting.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a federal grant program to
states to cover health care for low-income and disabled individuals. The
federal government provides about 70 percent of the funding with states making
up the rest. Without Medicaid funding, many blind people would lose access to
health care, including treatment for their vision disabilities.
