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Tell Congress to Ensure the Rights of Jurors with Disabilities

Please follow the link below to tell Congress to ensure the rights of jurors with disabilities. Blind and low vision persons who are called to jury duty are constantly discriminated against. Federal law currently prohibits such discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as race and gender but does not include disability. This new law would do so. It would also ensure the court would provide necessary accommodations such as documents in braille. Please follow the link below and reach out to Congress.

Randolph-Sheppard Vendors

It was brought to ACB’s attention that the Department of Defense shared a letter with the Department of Education regarding Randolph-Sheppard venders on defense properties. Based on different resources, it is our understanding that the Department of Defense believes that blind venders cannot provide appropriate services and that the Secretary of Defense is seeking to replace current contracts held by blind vendors. ACB is reaching out to our sources to learn more about such rumors.

A Comment to the Department of Labor

In July, the Department of Labor put out a notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) requesting comments on the 7 percent utilization goal under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. The utilization goal, also seen as a benchmark, requires that businesses that receive federal contracts strive to have 7 percent of their employees be people with some kind of disability. Under this NPRM, the Department of Labor is asking to eliminate the 7 percent utilization goal.

Ask Congress to Fund Library Services

Please click on the link below to participate in a new campaign to ensure funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In many states, NLS services flow through state library programs that receive IMLS funding. Lets make sure library services get the funding they need so we can continue to access written materials.

https://speak4.app/lp/ou01jn56/?ts=1755873072

Posted on August 25th, 2025

Waymo Receives the ADC Testing Permit from the NYC DOT

The American Council of the Blind is pleased to announce that one of our partners, Waymo LLC, is the first company to ever receive the ADC testing permit from the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). This permits Waymo to operate vehicles in parts of Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn while in autonomous mode with a trained autonomous vehicle specialist behind the wheel. This is a first of its kind in NYC and brings accessibility and the future one step closer to New Yorkers.