Background
The majority of home use medical devices and outpatient equipment utilizes digital display interfaces that are inaccessible to blind, low vision, and DeafBlind users. Class 2 and Class 3 medical devices such as glucose monitors, blood pressure readers, and at-home chemotherapy treatments do not have any non-visual accessibility features like text to speech output, tactile markings, or audible tones built in. As a result, people who are blind, low vision, and DeafBlind cannot independently manage their health from the privacy of their own homes in the same ways as people who are not disabled.
Call to Action
ACB calls on Congress to support and pass the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act. In the last session of congress, this bipartisan piece of legislation was introduced in both the House and Senate by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), to ensure that medical equipment with a digital display is accessible and that people with disabilities can take back control of their health. We are hopeful it will quickly be reintroduced. This legislation would require the Food and Drug Administration to consider non-visual accessibility when approving Class 2 and Class 3 medical equipment and devices with a digital display to ensure access for patients with disabilities.
Offices in the House of Representatives interested in supporting the bipartisan Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R.1328) should contact Michelle Paucar in the office of Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL). Offices in the Senate that are interested in co-sponsoring S. 3621 should contact Emily Kane in Sen. Hassan’s office.
Download: 2025 The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act docx
Audio: 2025 Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
Imperative 1: Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
H.R. 1328 S. 3621
Committees:
House- Energy and Commerce
Senate- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
House - Energy and Commerce Committee
Representative Brett Guthrie (KY)
Representative Bob Latta (OH)
Representative Morgan Griffith (VA)
Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL)
Representative Richard Hudson (NC)
Representative Buddy Carter (GA)
Representative Gary Palmer (AL)
Representative Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL)
Representative Dan Crenshaw (TX)
Representative John Joyce (PA)
Representative Randy Weber (TX)
Representative Rick Allen (GA)
Representative Troy Balderson (OH)
Representative Russ Fulcher (ID)
Representative August Pfluger (TX)
Representative Diana Harshbarger (TN)
Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA)
Representative Kat Cammack (FL)
Representative Jay Obernolte (CA)
Representative John James (MI)
Representative Cliff Bentz (OR)
Representative Erin Houchin (IN)
Representative Russell Fry (SC)
Representative Laurel Lee (FL)
Representative Nick Langworthy (NY)
Representative Tom Kean (NJ)
Representative Michael Rulli (OH)
Representative Gave Evans (CO)
Representative Craig Goldman (TX)
Representative Julie Fedorchak (SD)
Representative Frank Pallone (NJ)
Representative Diana Degette (CO)
Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL)
Representative Doris Matsui (CA)
Representative Kathy Castor (FL)
Representative Paul Tonko (NY)
Representative Yvette Clarke (NY)
Representative Paul Ruiz (CA)
Representative Scott Peters (CA)
Representative Debbie Dingell (MI)
Representative Marc Veasey (TX)
Representative Robin Kelly (IL)
Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA)
Representative Darren Soto (FL)
Representative Kim Schrier (WA)
Representative Lori Trahan (MA)
Representative Lizzie Fletcher (TX)
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY)
Representative Jake Auchincloss (MA)
Representative Troy Carter (LA)
Representative Rob Menendez (NJ)
Representative Kevin Mullin (CA)
Representative Greg Landsman (OH)
Representative Jennifer McClellan (VA)
Senate - Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Senator Bill Cassidy (LA)
Senator Rand Paul, M.D. (KY)
Senator Susan Collins (ME)
Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Senator Markwayne Mullin (OK)
Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS)
Senator Tim Scott (SC)
Senator Josh Hawley (MO)
Senator Tommy Tuberville (AL)
Senator Jim Banks (IN)
Senator John Husted (OH)
Senator Ashley Moody (FL)
Senator Bernie Sanders (VT)
Senator Patty Murray (WA)
Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI)
Senator Christopher Murphy (CT)
Senator Tim Kaine (VA)
Senator Maggie Hassan (NH)
Senator John Hickenlooper (CO)
Senator Ed Markey (MA)
Senator Andy Kim (NJ)
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE)
Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD)
Download: Legislative Imperatives Committees Members List
Posted on February 19th, 2025