There’s still time to register for the 2022 ACB Virtual Leadership Conference, March 12th - 15th. The legislative imperatives are also on the 2022 Legislative Seminar page. These background documents are intended to educate stakeholders on ACB’s key legislative priorities for the year. Downloadable versions of the imperative backgrounders are also available in .docx Word and .brf braille formats. For questions on the imperatives, email: [email protected]. The full agenda for the Leadership Conference, including the President’s Meeting and Legislative Seminar, will be published on Tuesday, March 8th.

You can now find detailed information about ACB’s 2022 Legislative Imperatives and our 2022 DC Leadership Meetings around the clock, 24/7 on ACB Media 2. To listen on Alexa “ask ACB Media to play 2”, or visit https://www.acbmedia.org/home/streams/media2/to access ACB Media 2 online. This information is also available via podcast: 2022 Leadership Training Digest featuring Legislative Imperatives: https://pnc.st/s/acb-events/4f9b10b2/2022-leadership-training-digest-featuring-legislative-imperatives ACB Advocacy Update - Legislative Imperative 1 – Exercise and Fitness for All Act: https://pnc.st/s/acb-advocacy-update/d939b26f/20220222-legislative-imperative-1-exercise-and-fitness-for-all-act ACB Advocacy Update - Legislative Imperative 2 – Medical Device Non-Visual Accessibility Act; https://pnc.st/s/acb-advocacy-update/df518577/20220223-legislative-imperative-2-medical-device-non-visual-accessibility-act ACB Advocacy Update - Legislative Imperative 3 – Web and Application Accessibility: https://pnc.st/s/acb-advocacy-update/ae7f5418/20220224-legislative-imperative-3-web-and-application-accessibility ACB Advocacy Update - Legislative Imperative 4 – Communications and Video Accessibility Amendments Act: https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co/episode/0b417397/20220225-legislative-imperative-4-communications-and-video-accessibility-amendments-act

A partir de éste año, el American Council of the Blind le ofrecerá a nuestros miembros y a la comunidad contenido de ACB en Español para las Reuniones de Liderazgo de D.C. entre el 12 – 15 de Marzo. ACB usará éste año como un piloto para examiner la traducción y el uso del Español para ciertos materiales, auspiciar un segmento en vivo, y seleccionar contenido que se considere relevante para un formato de podcast bilingüe.   Éste piloto incluirá: Forma de registración bilingue (Español/Ingles): https://tinyurl.com/2022-ACB-Liderazgo Traducción al Español de los Imperativos Legislativos: https://tinyurl.com/2022-Imperativos-Legislativos La creación de 3 posts para rédes sociales, promoviendo el evento en un idioma (Español o Ingles) El auspicio de un programa de cierre en español de 30 minutos, luego de concluída la agenda de cada día (12 – 15 de Marzo) a 6pm ET facilitado por Gabriel Lopez Kafati y Swatha Nandhakumar vía Zoom y ACB Media 6 La selección del contenido más relevante al final de las reunions, efectuado por el Sub-comité Hispano de ACB. El contenido seleccionado será traducido al Español y será posteado en el canal de Youtube de ACB A pesar que éste es nuestro primer paso orientado a propocionar contenido bilingüe y en Español, la experiencia ayudará a ACB a producer más contenido accessible a nuestra comunidad.

New this year the American Council of the Blind will provide our members and community Spanish language ACB content for the DC Leadership Meeting March 12-15th.  ACB will use this year as a pilot experience to test the translation and Spanish use for certain materials, host a live segment, and by selecting relevant content for podcasting capabilities bilingually.  This pilot will include: A bilingual registration form (English and Spanish): https://tinyurl.com/2022-ACB-Liderazgo Spanish translation of the Legislative imperatives: https://tinyurl.com/2022-Imperativos-Legislativos Creating 3 Social Media posts promoting the event in a single language (English or Spanish) Hosting the Spanish language "wrap up" program for 30 minutes post agenda each day March 12-15th at 6pm ET hosted By Gabe Kafati and Swatha Nandhakumar on Zoom and ACB Media 6 Post-event content from the meetings will be selected by MCAC Hispanic Affairs Committee as the most relevant content. The selected content will be translated to Spanish and posted on the ACB YouTube channel. This, our first step towards providing bilingual and Spanish content helps ACB deliver more accessible content to our community.

The American Council of the Blind is among 181 undersigned disability organizations who believe that there is an urgent need for digital accessibility regulations. We urge the Department of Justice to promulgate enforceable online accessibility standards by the end of the current Administration. The US Department of Justice has long held that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) includes websites and other technologies that are critical to accessing a business' or agency’s services or facilities but has failed to define when and how they should be accessible. February 28, 2022 The Honorable Kristen Clarke United States Assistant Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20530 Dear Assistant Attorney General Clarke: The 181 undersigned disability organizations believe that there is an urgent need for digital accessibility regulations. We urge the Department of Justice to maintain this rulemaking process as a priority and finalize a rule by the end of the current administration. The US Department of Justice has long held that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) includes websites and other technologies that are critical to accessing a business’s or agency’s services or facilities but has failed to define when and how they should be accessible. In 2018, the Department reconfirmed its position that the ADA applies to the internet[i] but never completed rulemakings that were begun in 2010 under Titles II and III of the ADA and withdrawn in 2017.[ii] Meanwhile, courts have diverged in interpreting when and how the ADA should apply to the internet, and business groups are on the record seeking clear standards that clarify their obligations under the ADA. In 2016, the National Council on Disability (NCD) recommended that the Department of Justice issue a notice of proposed rulemaking that reinforces that the ADA applies to the internet. NCD also recommended that multiple agencies complete existing rulemakings and initiate new rulemakings on accessibility of various types of information and communication technology (ICT), including web content, applications, hardware, and software. The absence of digital accessibility regulations in the intervening time period has resulted in persistent exclusion of people with disabilities from digital spaces covered by the ADA.  Recent research has shown the breadth of barriers that people with disabilities face.  Several studies find persistent barriers in telehealth accessibility. A study of 74 Deaf participants who had recently used telehealth found that 65% of participants experienced communications accessibility barriers. Deaf patients frequently experience the inability to connect remote medical interpreters or real-time captioners through the secure telehealth platform, the inability to see the provider on video, and other technical issues, including poor audio quality.[iii] Another study found that of 285 blind and low vision participants who had used telehealth to meet with their healthcare provider, 21% reported the telehealth platform was not accessible with their assistive technology, and preliminary data from a forthcoming study suggests that the number could exceed 50% a year later.[iv] Moreover, while there are no studies directly examining the telehealth experiences of DeafBlind people, anecdotal reports suggest that the vast majority of DeafBlind people are completely unable to utilize telehealth as it currently exists. The challenges are present in every sector of society.  Nearly 60% of the educators surveyed in a Fall 2020 study reported their blind and low vision students could not access one or more of the digital learning tools they were expected to use in class.[v] A 2022 study found that about 50% of survey respondents experienced accessibility challenges when filling out electronic onboarding paperwork.[vi] Moreover, an annual automated analysis demonstrates how common inaccessibility barriers are, finding that of one million webpages reviewed in 2021, 97% had accessibility issues, and an average of 50 errors appeared on every page.[vii] These findings are neither exhaustive of all website-related issues nor comprehensive of the entire disability community. The disability community is large and diverse, facing access issues that continue to grow and evolve with the ever-changing landscape of websites and applications. While the studies cited primarily explored the experiences of people with sensory disabilities, accessibility issues are pervasive, frequent, and harmful for people with other disabilities as well. The scale of inaccessibility and its impact on access to nearly every type of web or application-based activity necessitates regulatory action. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear, we live in a society that increasingly lives and works through digital tools and online spaces. When websites and applications are inaccessible, people with disabilities cannot apply for jobs, work efficiently, attend school, access healthcare, schedule a ride, shop, find public health information, apply for public benefits, and more. We remind you that Congress intends the ADA to cover the internet and applications. We urge you to continue the rulemaking process at a pace that ensures a rule can be finalized by the end of the current administration. Thank you for your consideration and work on behalf of people with disabilities. Sincerely, American Council of the Blind, Clark Rachfal, [email protected] American Foundation for the Blind, Stephanie Enyart, [email protected] National Disability Rights Network, Claire Stanley, [email protected] National Federation of the Blind, John Pare, [email protected] ACB Diabetics In Action ACB Government Employees ACB Radio Amateurs ACBT Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago Access Ready Accessible Avenue Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Alliance for Aging Research Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss Alphapointe American Association of People with Disabilities American Association on Health and Disability American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) American Council of Blind Families American Council of Blind Students (ACBS) American Council of the Blind of Indiana American Council of the Blind of Maryland American Council of the Blind of Ohio American Council of the Blind-Texas American Printing House for the Blind (APH) American Samoa Protection and Advocacy for the Disabled Arizona Center for Disability Law Arkansas Council of the Blind Assistive Technology Industry Association Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. Association of Assistive Technology Act Program Association of Late-Deafened Adults, Inc. (ALDA) Association of University Centers on Disabilities Atlantis Community, Inc. Autistic Self Advocacy Network Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network Axis Advocacy Bay State Council of the Blind Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Bender Consulting Services Bestwork Industries for the Blind Inc Beyond Vision Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services Blind Early Services of Tennessee (BEST) Blue Water League of the Blind Bosma Enterprises CAST CCABVI (Chester County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired) Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY Center for Public Representation Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition CommunicationFIRST Cure SMA Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's Deaf In Government (DIG) Deaf Seniors of America Disabiity Community Resource Center Disability Law Center of Alaska Disability Law Center of Massachusetts Disability Law Center of Utah Disability Policy Consortium Disability Rights Advocates Disability Rights Arkansas Disability Rights California Disability Rights Center - NH Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund Disability Rights Florida Disability Rights Iowa Disability Rights Maryland Disability Rights Michigan Disability Rights New Jersey Disability Rights North Carolina Disability Rights Ohio Disability Rights Pennsylvania Disability Rights South Carolina Disability Rights TN Disability Rights Vermont Ensight Skills Center, Inc for visual rehabilitation Envision Workforce Innovation Center Epilepsy Foundation of America Equip for Equality Family Voices Florida Council of the Blind Golden Triangle Council of the Blind Goodwill of the Finger Lakes - ABVI Goodwill Guide Dog Users, Inc. Guide Dogs for the Blind Hawaii Association of the Blind Hawaii Disability Rights Center Hearing Loss Association of America Helen Keller Services Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association IBVI IFB Solutions Illinois Council of the Blind Indiana Disability Rights IN-SIGHT International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis (AiArthritis) International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation Iowa Council of the United Blind iYellow Access Justice in Aging Kentucky Council of the Blind Next Generation Kentucky Council of the Blind Kentucky Protection and Advocacy Knowbility Lakeshore Foundation Lift Vision Services LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Lighthouse Louisiana Lilac Services for the Blind Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc. Livpact Mental Health America Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid - Minnesota Disability Law Center Missouri Council of the Blind MitoAction Mountain State Council of the Blind National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities National Association of Employment for People Who are Blind National Association of the Deaf National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc National Council on Independent Living National Disability Institute National Industries for the Blind Native American Disability Law Center NBIA Disorders Association Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center New Jersey Council of the Blind New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services New York Vision Rehabilitation Association NewView Oklahoma North Carolina Council of the Blind North Central Sight Services, Inc. North Dakota Association of the Blind Inc. North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project Not Dead Yet Oklahoma Council of the Blind Oklahoma Disability Law Center Organic Acidemia Association Paralyzed Veterans of America Partnership to Improve Patient Care Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Perkins School for the Blind Prevent Blindness Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America RespectAbility San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind South Dakota Association of the Blind Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living, INC dba The Solutions Center St. Louis Lighthouse for the Blind Syngap1 Foundation Teach Access Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI) The Advocacy Institute The Arc of the United States The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research The National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision The New York Institute for Special Education The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies The Seeing Eye, Inc Travis Association for the Blind United Cerebral Palsy United Spinal Association VHL Alliance VIA Visually Impaired Advancement VisionCorps VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Wayfinder Family Services World Institute on Disability cc: Attorney General Merrick [i] Boyd, Stephen E. (2018, September 25) [Letter from Assistant Attorney General Boyd to Congressman Ted Budd] Published on Lainey Feingold Legal Blog, accessed February 9, 2022: https://www.lflegal.com/2018/09/doj-cut/ [ii] Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Notice of Withdrawal of Four Previously Announced Rulemaking Actions, 82 Fed. Reg. 60932 (December 26, 2017). [iii] Mussallem, A., Panko, T. L., Contreras, J. M., Plegue, M. A., Dannels, W. A., Roman, G., Hauser, P. C., & McKee, M. M. (2022). Making virtual health care accessible to the deaf community: Findings from the telehealth survey. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X221074863.  See also, Annaswamy, T.M., Verduzco-Gutierrez, M., & Frieden, L. (2020). Telemedicine barriers and challenges for persons with disabilities: COVID-19 and beyond. Disability and Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100973 [iv] Rosenblum, L. P., Chanes-Mora, P., McBride, C. R., Flewellen, J., Nagarajan, N., Nave Stawaz, R., & Swenor, B. (2020). Flatten Inaccessibility: Impact of COVID-19 on Adults Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision in the United States. American Foundation for the Blind. www.afb.org/FlattenInaccessibility. Forthcoming research was conducted in summer 2021 and will be published in 2022. See www.afb.org/JourneyForward. [v] Rosenblum, L. P., Chanes-Mora, P., Fast, D., Kaiser, J. T., Wild, T., Herzberg, T. S., Rhoads, C. R., Botsford, K. D., DeGrant, J. N., Hicks, M. A. C., Cook, L. K., & Welch-Grenier, S. (2021). Access and Engagement II: An Examination of How the COVID-19 Pandemic Continued to Impact Students with Visual Impairments, Their Families, and Professionals Nine Months Later, American Foundation for the Blind. www.afb.org/AccessEngagement [vi] Silverman, A. M., Rosenblum, L. P., Bolander, E. C., Rhoads, C. R., & Bleach, K. (2022). Technology and Accommodations: Employment Experiences of U.S. Adults Who Are Blind, Have Low Vision, or Are Deafblind. American Foundation for the Blind. www.afb.org/WorkplaceTech [vii] WebAIM (2021). The WebAIM Million. https://webaim.org/projects/million

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) reintroduced the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act. This legislation would help vision-impaired Medicare beneficiaries live safe and independent lives by creating a five-year national demonstration project to evaluate the economic impact of allowing reimbursement for low vision devices, which are currently excluded from Medicare coverage. “Medicare coverage of low vision devices would be life changing for Americans with vision impairments. It would give them the ability to partake in everyday activities, whether it be reading a book, watching television, or safely crossing the street. We must ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have affordable access to necessary medical devices,” said Rep. Maloney. “As a visually impaired American, I have first-hand knowledge of the difficulties that accompany this condition. Simple tasks can be a significant challenge, and low-vision assistive devices are often required for essential life function. Sadly, many of these products are out of reach for seniors who live on a fixed income, and the devices’ exclusion from Medicare necessitates a difficult choice between extreme financial hardship or disengagement from these vital activities. I view this legislation as a preventative measure that will help seniors stay healthy, active, and self-sufficient for a longer period of time. This is not only better in terms of quality of life for our seniors, but also will result in reduced overall financial cost to the Medicare system. I am hopeful that the demonstration project authorized by this good, bipartisan legislation will help validate this approach,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “The American Council of the Blind commends Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis for introducing this bipartisan legislation that will improve health equity for low vision Americans. Making these devices more affordable is imperative to increasing the independence and quality of life for people who are experiencing vision loss. ACB and our members urge Congress to support this important legislation,” said Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director. “We applaud Reps. Maloney and Bilirakis for their steadfast leadership and support for providing greater access to low vision devices so seniors who are visually impaired can live safer, more independent lives,” said Kevin A. Lynch, President and CEO, National Industries for the Blind (NIB). “The Medicare Low Vision Devices Act of 2022 will help enable thousands of adults with vision loss to remain in their own homes and avoid costly and unnecessarily placement in institutional settings,” said Jeff Thom, President, the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss.  “People with low vision often fear loss of independence and self-sufficiency as their vision declines.  However, opportunities to retain independence are growing with the rapid development of multiple devices and technologies for use by people who have low vision.  It is an unfortunate fact that often these devices and technologies are not affordable, and are excluded from existing Medicare coverage. The Medicare Demonstration Low Vision Bill is an important step toward updating Medicare coverage related to vision loss,” said Ms. Lee Nasehi, President & CEO, VisionServe Alliance. “The Blinded Veterans Association supports the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2022. This legislation is a significant step to achieving coverage by authorizing a 5-year demonstration project to evaluate the fiscal impact of covering low vision devices as durable medical equipment under Medicare Part B. Although most of our members receive their low vision devices from VA, having Medicare coverage would offer more choice to visually impaired veterans who are Medicare eligible, especially those who live in rural areas far away from a VA Medical Center or VA Community Care provider.  This also benefits the spouses who aren’t eligible to receive low vision devices from VA.  This is long overdue, and I applaud it,” said Joseph D. McNeil,Sr., BVA National President. “AFB thanks Representatives Maloney and Bilirakis for re-introducing this legislation.  Access to appropriate low vision devices can make a world of difference in people's continued ability to maintain a high quality of life and participate fully in their communities. We encourage all Members of Congress to support this bill,” said Stephanie Enyart, Chief Public Policy and Research Officer, American Foundation for the Blind. In addition to Reps. Maloney and Bilirakis, this legislation has 25 original co-sponsors including Reps. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Andy Levin (D-MI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Scott Peters (D-CA), Katie Porter (D-CA), Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Mark Takano (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), and Susan Wild (D-PA). This legislation is endorsed by the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, American Council of the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, Blinded Veterans Association, Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, Disability Rights Advocates, Lighthouse Guild, Lions Club International, National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind, National Industries for the Blind, National Organization on Disability, and VisionServe Alliance. Background February is Low Vision Awareness Month. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 93 million Americans are at risk of serious vision loss. For someone with low vision, reading a book or crossing the street can be difficult, even with the help of glasses or contacts due to blurriness or distortion. Physicians can prescribe magnifiers or special optical devices to aid those with vision loss. However, these devices are currently excluded from Medicare reimbursement, which greatly reduces access to them due to cost constraints. This exclusion hurts American seniors on fixed incomes and impedes their ability to lead healthy, safe, independent lives and enjoy everyday activities. Under the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act, the Department of Health and Human Services would administer a five-year national demonstration project to evaluate the economic impact of allowing reimbursement for certain low vision devices under Medicare. ###

El American Council of the Blind (Consejo Americano de Ciegos) es la organización líder, impulsada por miembros, en la nación para personas con ceguera o pérdida de visión. Con ás de 65 afiliados estatales y de interés especial a lo largo del país, el ACB está compremetido con la tarea de incrementar el nível en la seguridad, la independencia, la calidad de vida, y las oportunidades económicas, para las personas con ceguera o baja visión en los Estadus Unidos; además, el ACB se mantiene firme en la tarea de abogar con apego a nuestros valores. Los siguentes Imperativos Legislativos representan varios temas de suma importancia en el Congreso 117, los cuales ACB considera nos ayudarán en los objetivos de independencia y de participación en nuestra sociedad. Ley de Ejercicio y Fitness Para Todos (S. 2504/H.R. 4756) La igualdad de acceso a los equipos de fitness e a los servicios de instrucción física sigue siendo una ilusión para el 25% de personas con discapacidad en los Estados Unidos. Por lo tanto, las personas con discapacidad están más propensas a padecer de condiciones crónicas tales como enfermedades del corazón, diábetes, y obesidad. ACB urge al Congreso para que el mismo pase la Ley de Ejercicio y Fitness Para Todos, la cual fué re-introducida en 2021, para que las personas con discapacidad se puedan mantener activas y en movimiento. Ésta ley requeriría que los lugares de ejercicio y fitness ofrezcan un nível básico de accesibilidad para personas con discapacidad; tanto en sus equipos como en sus servicios de instrucción. Oficinas interesadas en apoyar la Ley de Ejercicio y Fitness Para Todos deberán contactar a Stephanie Deluca en la oficina de la Sen. Duckworth (D-IL) en el Senado, y Sarah Jackson en la oficina del Rep. DeSaulnier (D-CA-11), o Kevin Swanson en la oficina del Rep. Young (R-AK-En General) en la Cámara de Representantes. Ley de Acceso No-visual a Dispositivos Médicos (H.R. 4853) La mayoría de dispositivos médicos y equipos ambulatorios de uso en casa utilizan puertos de exposición digital los cuales no son accessibles para usuarios ciegos, con baja visión, o sordo-ciegos. Los dispositivos médicos de Clase 2 y de Clase 3, tales como monitores de glucosa, lectores de presión arterial, y tratamientos de quemoterapia de uso en casa, no cuentan con características de accesibilidad no-visual, tales como salida de texto-a-voz, marcas táctiles, o tonos audibles incorporados. Por lo tanto, las personas ciegas, con baja visión, y sordo-ciegas, no pueden gestionar su salud de forma independiente en la privacidad de sus hogares, de la misma manera en que lo hacen las personas sin discapacidad. ACB le hace un llamado al Congreso para que el mismo pase la Ley de Acceso No-visual a Dispositivos Médicos para garantizar que todo equipo médico con exposición digital sea accesible, y así, las personas con discapacidad puedan retomar el control de su propia salud. Ésta ley requerería que la Oficina de Alimentos y Medicamentos tome en cuenta la accesibilidad no-visual al momento de aprobar equipos médicos de Clase 2 y de Clase 3, así como dispositivos con exposición digital para garantizar el acceso a personas con discapacidad. Oficinas en la Cámara de Representantes interesadas en co-patrozinar la ley bi-partidista de Acceso no-visual a Dispositivos Médicos, H.R. 4853, deberán contactar a Kate Durkin en la oficina de la Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL-9), y oficinas en el Senado deberán apoyar la introducción de un proyecto de ley que acompañe a H.R. 4853. Ley de Accesibilidad de Sitios Web y de Aplicaciones El acceso a sitios web, aplicaciones, y servicios en-línea, tiene un impacto en la mayoría De los aspectos de la vida cotidiana; y la pandemia ocasionada por el COVID-19 ha causado que la inclusión digital sea más importante que nunca. Sin embargo, el Departamento de Justicia no ha terminado de definir los criterios de aplicación que determinen que los sitios web, aplicaciones, y servicios en-línea, deban ser accesibles para personas ciegas, con baja visión, y sordo-ciegas. Por lo tanto, las personas ciegas, con baja visión, y sordo-ciegas, se enfrentan con innumerables barreras cuando tratan de accesar portales laborales, plataformas educativas, información de asistencia sanitaria y de salud pública, servicios de transporte, comercio, y entretenimiento, de manera virtual. El Congreso debe propocionar lineamientos claros al Departamento de Justicia, para que éste termine e implemente criterios para la accesibilidad de información en-línea que sean ejecutables. Dichos criterios deben incluir una conceptualización definitiva y funcional de lo que se considera como accesibilidad; y no deberían requerir que persona alguna tenga que recurrir a procesos administrativos o que tenga que notificarle a los dueños a los o operadores de sitios web y de aplicaciones, que sus servicios en-línea se encuentran en violación de los derechos de las personas con discapacidad. ACB le hace un llamado al Congreso para que el mismo requiera que el Departamento de Justicia protega los derechos civíles de las personas con discapacidad en-línea, y para que determine criterios claros que establezcan que los sitios web, las aplicaciones, y los servicios en-línea, deben ser accesibles para las personas con discapacidad. Enmiendas a la Ley de Accesibilidad de Comunicaciones y Video La Ley de Accesibilidad de Comunicaciones y Video del Siglo XXI (CVAA: siglas por su nombre en Ingles) ha garantizado el acceso a servicios de comunicación avanzada, hardware y software de telecomunicación, exposiciones de video accesibles y puertos personales, y aparatos digitales, a personas con discapacidad; y ha requerido que se ofrezca contenido con audio-descripción. Por más de 10 años, ACB y sus miembros han luchado por la implementación y la ejecución de la CVAA; y, en varios de sus elementos clave, hemos alcanzado los límites de lo que la CVAA puede ejecutar. Ya es hora que el Congreso actualize los requerimientos de accesibilidad de videos y comunicaciones impuestos por la CVAA. Ésta ley deberá garantizar que todas las personas en los Estados Unidos puedan accesar contenido con audio-descripción a través de sus televisoras locales, utilizando la tecnología que se requiere para transmitir alertas de emergencia accesibles; y deberá garantizar que se requirirá la modernización de puertos de usuario accesibles y de contenido con audio-descripción, para que se acoplen al cambiante terreno del protocolo del internet y del contenido videográfico transmitido en-línea. Además, toda ley debería requerir que la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones garantize que todos los servicios de comunicación videográfica sean accesibles para personas con discapacidad. ACB urge a los miembros del Congreso a que apoyen las Enmiendas a la Ley de Accesibilidad de Comunicaciones y Video, cuando éstas sean introducidas. En caso de preguntas o para solicitar más información acerca de los Imperativos Legislativos de ACB correspondientes al año 2022, favor de contactar a Clark Rachfal, Director de Abogacía y Asuntos Gubernamentales de ACB, [email protected] o llamando al (202) 467-5081. El American Council of the Blind agradece enormemente su apoyo a éstos asuntos críticos para el 2022, y quedamos en la mayor disposición de trabajar con usted durante el resto del Congreso 117.

The American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project Announces Call for Nominations for the Fourteenth Annual ADP Awards in 2022 The Audio Description Project (ADP) is a wide-ranging audio description promotion and production initiative with goals that include: Building advocacy on behalf of audio description  Offering a range of educational resources and working to establish nationally acknowledged user-focused guidelines for quality description in its various genres as well as a professionally recognized certification program for audio describers Encouraging growth of audio description with an emphasis on the involvement of AD users/consumers, especially youth Disseminating information on audio description and provide general support for regional, state, and local forums  Encouraging studies on audio description particularly with respect to its efficacy as a technique for conveying visual images and its impact on literacy for children and others One part of the project involves the recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of audio description.    Application Categories This year's ADP Awards include a call for nominations in nine categories. Please note there is no category for Media/Organizations, as we will recognize outstanding achievement for a Media organization at the second annual Audio Description Gala, to be held in the fall of 2022.  Achievement in Audio Description - Media / Individuals Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts / Organizations Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts / Individuals Achievement in Audio Description - Museums, Visual Art, Visitor Centers / Organizations Achievement in Audio Description - Museums, Visual Art, Visitor Centers / Individuals Achievement in Audio Description - Public Sector/Government agencies-federal, state, local Achievement in Audio Description - International Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award in Audio Description - Research and Development Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description The call for nominations ends on Sunday, May 15, 2022, with winners announced during a plenary general session of the American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention in July 2022 (the 2022 Conference and Convention sessions will be held a hybrid format; in-person and virtually via ZOOM and also broadcast on ACB Media).   Nomination material, criteria and more information follows and is also available at: https://adp.acb.org.    The Awards and Criteria for Selection of Recipients The Achievement Awards are made to individuals and/or organizations for outstanding contributions to the establishment and/or continued development of significant audio description programs in each of five areas: media, performing arts, museums/visual arts/visitor centers, international, and public sector.  The Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award for Research and Development is made to an individual or organization for outstanding research that leads to the advance of audio description.  With the exception of the International Achievement Award and the Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award for Research and Development only US-based organizations or individuals are eligible. On occasion, we will award Special Recognition Awards to organizations or individuals in the various Achievement Awards categories. The Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description has been established as a tribute to the late Barry Levine, the highly respected moderator of the Audio Description listserv, administered by the American Council of the Blind (ACB). Barry was not only an avid description user in both media and performing arts; he served so many others as the President of Audio Description International. He was a trusted friend and valued mentor; when he passed away suddenly in May 2009, the nation lost a forceful and impressive advocate for audio description. The Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description recognizes an individual for outstanding contributions to the field of audio description over an extended period of time, leading, inspiring or providing significant service to others.   Past Recipients Achievement in Audio Description - Media 2009- Maria Diaz and Closed Caption Latina 2010- WGBH and Media Access Group 2011- Harry A. Jessell, TV News Check 2012- Described and Captioned Media Program 2013- Hollywood Access Services 2014- Diane Johnson and Descriptive Video Works 2015- Netflix 2016- Fred Brack 2017- ABC Digital 2018- Rooted in Rights 2019- Microsoft/Xbox 2020- Disney + 2021- Roy Samuelson (Individual) 2021- International Digital Centre, Audio Description Department (Organization) Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts 2009- Lisa Helen Hoffman and Geva Theater 2010- Paper Mill Playhouse 2011- Mimi Smith and Amaryllis Theater Company 2012- Kentucky Center for the Arts 2013- Steppenwolf Theatre 2014- Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center 2015- Jesse Minkert and Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences 2016- Arts Access  2017- Lori Ward, Tennessee Performing Arts Center 2018- MindsEye Radio/Marjorie Moore 2019- Hunter Gullickson and The Guthrie Theater 2020- Broadway Sacramento 2021- Magan Harms, Minds Eye Radio (Individual) Achievement in Audio Description - Museums/Visual Arts/Visitor Centers 2009- Elisabeth Axel and Art Education for the Blind 2010- Beth Ziebarth and Smithsonian Institution 2011- Rebecca McGinnis and Metropolitan Museum of Art 2012- National Park Service 2013- The White House 2014- Sandy Malmquist and the Connecticut Children's Museum 2015- Meadows Museum of Art at the Southern Methodist University 2016- Dole Institute of Politics/Audio Reader 2017- none 2018- Tennessee School for the Blind and Julia Cawthon 2019- Hannah Goodwin and the Museum of Fine Arts-Boston  2020- Michele Hartley-National Park Service 2021- Stasha Boyd, QMedia Productions (Individual)         - U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum (Organization) Achievement in Audio Description - International 2009- Joan Greening and the Royal National Institute of Blind People, U.K. 2010- Bernd Benecke and Bayerischer Rundfunk, Germany 2011- 20th Century Fox International, U.K. 2012- Track One Communications, India 2013- Accessible Media, Inc., Canada 2014- Steph Kirkland and the VocalEye Descriptive Arts Society, Canada 2015- Anne Hornsby, Mind's Eye, U.K. 2016- Bos Soluções e Serviços Ltda., Sao Paulo, Brazil 2017- ABLE, New Zealand 2017- Dr. Anna Jankowska, Poland 2018- Amos Be'er, Central Library of the Blind, Israel 2019- Vera Arma, Italy 2020- Vocal Eyes, U.K. 2021- Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand Special Recognition Achievement in Audio Description 2015- Sebastian Andrade-Miles - Glendale, CO 2016- Alice Austin, Eliot, ME         - Mark Messersmith, The Visual Voice - Mountain View, CA 2017- Timothy Wynn 2018- Antonio Vazquez Martin, Aristia Producciones, Spain 2019- Montclair State University - Montclair, NJ 2020- Mary Hanks – Houston, TX         - Audio Described Aotearoa Ltd. - New Zealand 2021- Talk Description to Me Podcast with Christine Malec and JJ Hunt         - Imagination Videobooks, Inc. Dr. Margaret Pfanstiehl Memorial Award in Audio Description - Research and Development 2009- None 2010- American Foundation for the Blind 2011- Dr. Joshua A Miele and the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute 2012- Dr. Philip Piety 2013- Ryerson University and Dr. Deborah Fels 2014- Dr. Louise Fryer 2015- Accessible Media, Inc. "AMI Player" 2016- Disney / Pixar "Disney Movies Anywhere App" 2017- Actiview 2018- Dr. Francisco Lima 2019- Dr. Brett Oppegaard 2020- United Airlines 2021- Dr. Anna Matamala Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description 2009- Jim Stovall (Narrative Television Network) 2010- Gregory Frazier and Audio Vision 2011- Dr. Barry Cronin 2012- Dr. Alan Woods 2013- Rick Boggs 2014- Dr. Joel Snyder 2015- Dr. Pilar Orero 2016- Dr. Francisco Lima 2017- Diane Johnson, Descriptive Video Works 2018- The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH (NCAM) 2019- Jon P. Skaalen 2020- Matthew J. Kaplowitz 2021- Thomas Wlodkowski   How to Nominate We urge you to recognize someone who has contributed significantly to the growth of audio description. Submitting a nomination is easy! It's a three-step process:  ·         1. Tell Us About the Nominee ·         2. Tell Us About Yourself ·         3. Support Your Nomination Make your nomination on-line at: https://jsnyder42.wufoo.com/build/2022-audio-description-project-awards or fill out the form below and submit to [email protected]. You may submit as many nominations as you wish (one nomination/form). Self-nominations are permitted. DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: May 15, 2022   Nomination Form for the 2022 Annual Audio Description Project Awards 1. Tell Us About the Nominee Award for which you're making a nomination (choose one): _____ Achievement in Audio Description—Performing Arts/Organization _____ Achievement in Audio Description—Performing Arts/Individual _____ Achievement in Audio Description—Media/Individual _____ Achievement in Audio Description—Museums, Visual Art, Visitor Centers/ Organization _____ Achievement in Audio Description—Museums, Visual Art, Visitor Centers/ Individual _____ Achievement in Audio Description—Public Sector _____ Achievement in Audio Description—International _____ Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl Achievement Award in Audio Description—Research and Development _____ Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description   Name of Nominee    ___________________________________ Email:                             ___________________________________ Street Address:             ___________________________________ City-State-Zip:               ___________________________________ Phone:                           ___________________________________ Fax:                                ___________________________________   2. Tell Us About Yourself Your Name:                   ___________________________________ Email:                             ___________________________________ Street Address:             ___________________________________ City-State-Zip:               ___________________________________ Phone:                            ___________________________________ Fax:                                 ___________________________________   3. Support Your Nomination For Achievements Awards in Media, Performing Arts, or Museums, or Public Sector attach (or type below) a 500 words or less statement that illustrates how your nominee has made outstanding contributions to the establishment and/or continued development of significant audio description programs in media, performing arts, or museums. For the Dr. Margaret R. Pfanstiehl Award in Research and Development, attach (or type below) a 500 words or less statement that illustrates how your nominee has conducted outstanding research that has led to the advance of audio description.  For the Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description, attach (or type below) a 500 words or less statement that illustrates how your nominee has made outstanding contributions to the field of audio description over an extended period of time by leading, inspiring or providing significant service to others.

Throughout the pandemic, ACB has heard from our members about the increasing importance of accessible health care information to the wellbeing of our community. As more health care providers communicate with their patients through electronic means, we want to ensure that the systems being used are usable and accessible to our members. To assist in our efforts to ensure that health care information systems are accessible to all patients, it would be very helpful if you could complete the short survey of questions below. Completing this brief survey will help ACB determine how to best proceed with our advocacy efforts dealing with this issue. We appreciate your time in answering these questions:  Do you regularly use a patient portal or other software application to interact with a health care provider, for example to schedule appointments, obtain information, email/message, or to conduct telehealth appointments?  How would you rate the accessibility of the software on a scale from 1-5? Please also provide specific comments on what works well or does not work well.  If you know, please indicate the software vendor that provides the application. (This information may be displayed in a corner of the application or described in the terms of use.  When was the last time you used this software (month and year)?  Please tell us anything else about your experience with healthcare IT that you wish to share.  Would you be willing to discuss your experience with a member of ACB staff or one of its consultants? If so, please provide your contact information.  To respond to these questions, please email [email protected]. If you would like to complete this short survey via the phone, please call ACB’s Advocacy & Outreach Specialist, Swatha Nandhakumar: 202-467-5081.

The American Council of the Blind is the nation’s leading member-driven organization for individuals who are blind and experiencing vision loss. With over 65 state and special-interest affiliates across the country, ACB is committed to increasing the security, independence, quality of life, and economic opportunity for people who are blind and low vision in the United States, and ACB stands committed to advocacy that lifts up our values. The following legislative imperatives represent several key issues in the 117th Congress that ACB believes will help us on our road to full independence and participation in our society. The Exercise and Fitness for All Act (S. 2504/H.R. 4756) For the 25 percent of Americans with a disability, equal access to fitness or exercise equipment and instruction remains elusive. As a result, people with disabilities are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. ACB urges Congress to pass the Exercise and Fitness for All Act, which was reintroduced in 2021, so people with disabilities can Get Up and Get Moving. This legislation would require exercise and fitness facilities to provide a base level of accessibility for disabled consumers, both in the equipment as well as the instruction they provide. Offices interested to support the Exercise and Fitness for All Act should contact Stephanie Deluca in the office of Sen. Duckworth (D-IL) in the Senate, and Sarah Jackson in the office of Rep. DeSaulnier (D-CA-11), or Kevin Swanson in the office of Rep. Young (R-AK-At Large) in the House. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853) 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. ACB calls on Congress to pass the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act to ensure that medical equipment with a digital display is accessible and that people with disabilities can take back control of their health. 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 cosponsoring the bipartisan Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, H.R. 4853, should contact Kate Durkin in the office of Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL-9), and offices in the Senate should support introduction of a Senate companion bill to H.R. 4853. The Website and Application Accessibility Act Access to websites, applications and online services impacts most aspects of everyday life, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made digital inclusion more important than ever. However, the Department of Justice has not finalized enforcement standards that clearly state websites, applications, and online services must be accessible to people who are blind, low vision, and DeafBlind. As a result, people who are blind, low vision, and DeafBlind face countless barriers when accessing workplace portals, educational platforms, healthcare and public health information, transportation services, shopping, and entertainment over the Internet. Congress must give clear guidance to the Department of Justice to finalize and implement enforceable online information access standards. These standards must include a strong functional definition of accessibility and should not require any person to exhaust administrative processes or notify website and application owners and operators that their online services are violating the rights of people with disabilities. ACB calls on Congress to require the Department of Justice to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities online and provide clear guidance that websites, applications and online services must be accessible. The Communications and Video Accessibility Amendments Act The Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) guaranteed access for people with disabilities to advanced communications services, telecommunications hardware and software, accessible video displays and user interfaces and digital apparatuses, and required the delivery of audio-described content. For more than ten years, ACB and its members have worked to implement and enforce the CVAA, and in several key aspects, we have reached the limits of what the CVAA is able to enforce. It is time for Congress to update the accessible video and communications requirements of the CVAA. This legislation should ensure that everyone in the United States may receive audio-described content from their local broadcaster utilizing the technology already required to deliver accessible emergency alerts, and ensure that accessible user interface and audio-described content requirements are modernized to reflect the shifting landscape to Internet protocol and online delivered video content. And any legislation should require the Federal Communications Commission to ensure that all video communications services are accessible to people with disabilities. ACB urges members of Congress to support a Communications and Video Accessibility Amendments Act when introduced. For questions or further information on the 2022 ACB Legislative Imperatives, please contact Clark Rachfal, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, [email protected], or by calling (202) 467-5081. The American Council of the Blind greatly appreciates your support on these critical issues for 2022, and we look forward to working with you during the remainder of the 117th Congress. Register at https://acb.org/2022-leadership-meetings-registration