[Athen] FYI - Access to the Internet

[N. Dogbo]

I guess it is time to sing that song-- no we are not gonna take it. No
we are not gonna take it anymore. Huh?
Just imagine tens of thousands of angry blind folks singing all at
once while marching on some avenue in Washington DC tapping their
canes and having their dogs bark along...

that would simply be powerful and might bring that wall tumbling down
shattering into a billion pieces!


On 1/15/16, Laurie Vasquez <vasquez at sbcc.edu> wrote:

> January 12, 2016

>

>

>

> Petition to tear down this virtual wall - with link to petition

>

> Join My Blind Spot by signing this petition and demanding that the virtual

> walls blocking millions and millions of peoples  access to the internet be

> torn down! President Obama and Congress tear down this virtual wall!

>

> Here is the direct link to the petition : http://wh.gov/iwm9o

>

> On July 26, 2010, the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the historic

> Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule

> making (ANPRM) addressing the obligation of public accommodations to

> provide websites that are accessible to individuals with disabilities was

> issued by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). At the time,

> President Obama correctly observed that these proposed rules would be “the

> most important updates to the ADA since its original enactment.” Yet the

> release date of the actual rule proposal for revising the Title III

> regulations of the ADA, originally scheduled for January of 2012, has been

> extended until sometime in 2018, eight years beyond the issuance of the

> original ANPRM and at least a year after the end of his administration.

> Having originally taken a strong stance on the importance of these

> regulations, it now seems like the Obama administration is wishing to wash

> its hands of them entirely.

>

> As blind Americans, we know first-hand that equal access to the internet is

> paramount for education, to obtain and retain employment, and for everyday

> tasks such as paying bills, online shopping, booking travel, etc. We will

> not sit idly by as the administration attempts to sideline this critical

> access issue, so we have launched a petition demanding, in the strongest

> terms possible, that the administration issue these regulations

> immediately.

>

> Upon reaching 100,000 signatures, the Obama administration is required to

> respond, so in addition to sharing our we the people petition via Email and

> your social media outlets, please personally ask 10 family members,

> friends, and colleagues to sign it and share it as well. A little personal

> contact goes a long way!

>

> If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Gabe; with your

> help, we will bring this critical issue for blind Americans to the

> forefront of the Obama administration’s list of priorities. Let’s go build

> the Federation!

>

> …Gabe

>

> Gabe Cazares

> Government Affairs Specialist

> National Federation of the Blind

> 200 East Wells Street

> At Jernigan Place

> Baltimore, MD 21230

> E: gcazares at nfb.org

> P: 410-659-9314 Ext. 2206

> T: @gmcazares

>



-- 
----- Think not with your EYES and you shall have a perfect VISION! ---