By JANET MONTOYA
NFBNM At Large Chapter President
White Rock Resident

The Los Alamos, White Rock and surrounding communities have been greatly supportive of the fundraising activities hosted by the Bathtub Row Brewery for the National Federation of the Blind, (NFB).

The NFB was started in 1940 and is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans.

Our belief message is this:

• The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.

As the president of the At Large Chapter of the NFB of New Mexico I will be traveling to Washington, D.C., along with Tara Chavez, NM Affiliate President and Frank Maestas, NM First Vice President, to attend the NFB Washington Seminar.

The NFB Washington Seminar will take place Feb. 3-6, at the Holiday Inn Washington Capitol – National Mall in Washington, D.C. This event brings together members from across the country to advocate for legislative priorities that affect the blind community.

This year we will be advocating for the following three legislative priorities:

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act

• Websites are required by law to be accessible, but without implementing regulations most businesses and retailers have little understanding of what accessible means. The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act will define accessibility, provide a technical assistance center to support accessibility, and enforce accessibility regulations.

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act

• Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals from independently and safely operating home-use medical devices that are essential to their daily healthcare needs. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act will require new and existing medical devices to meet nonvisual access standards and enforce accessibility standards.

Blind Americans Return to Work Act

• Current Social Security law contains policies that have the unintended consequence of discouraging blind Americans from maximizing their earnings potential. The Blind Americans Return to Work Act will eliminate the Social Security Disability Insurance earnings cliff and make other reforms to create true work incentives.

For more information follow this link: Washington Seminar | National Federation of the Blind.