American Council of the Blind
2013 Legislative Seminar
 
Low Vision Device Exclusion
Legislative Imperative

Background

In November of 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) promulgated a regulation that has had a detrimental impact on the lives of countless individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
 
To the dismay of the blind community, the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Acquisition Rule contains a provision entitled "Low Vision Aid Exclusion…

A BILL

To promote and ensure delivery of high quality special education and related services to students with visual disabilities through instructional methodologies meeting their unique learning needs; to enhance accountability for the provision of such services; to establish a national collaborative resource on visual disabilities and educational excellence to supplement the current availability of such services; to support the ongoing professional development of instructors of students with visual disabilities; to foster the proliferation of research supporting the development…

A BILL

To evaluate, through a five-year national demonstration project administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the fiscal impact of a permanent change to Title XVIII of the Social Security Act allowing reimbursement for certain low vision devices as durable medical equipment.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Sec. 1. Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2012.

Sec. 2. Demonstration…

American Council of the Blind
2013 Legislative Seminar 

The Issue

Since 1975, Public Law 94-142, now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), has revolutionized educational opportunity for all children and youth with disabilities. However, without key improvements, our national special education system cannot fully keep IDEA’s promise of a truly appropriate education for students who are blind or visually impaired. The Anne Sullivan Macy Act is intended to do just that, to improve the delivery of appropriate special education and related services…

Preliminary Information for the 2013 Mid-Year Meetings and Legislative Seminar

• The midyear meetings are Friday, Feb. 22 through Tuesday, Feb. 26.
• Board meeting will be held on Friday, Feb. 22
• Affiliate presidents meeting will begin on Saturday, Feb. 23 and continue through 12:00 on Sunday, Feb. 24
• Legislative seminar begins Sunday, Feb. 24 and continues through Monday, Feb. 25
• Capitol Hill Day is Tuesday, Feb. 26

It will again be at the Holiday Inn National Airport, 2650 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Arlington., VA.
Mid-…

A message from Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Relations
 
The 2013 Legislative Seminar promises to be an information-packed and entertaining event as we discuss ACB’s legislative imperatives for the year along with other hot button topics.
 
Legislative Imperative I
Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2013
 
To evaluate, through a five-year national demonstration project administered by the Department of   Health and Human Services, the fiscal impact of a…

• 2012 Legislative Seminar Agenda
• Vehicle Donation Legislative Imperative
• Hill Visit Report Packet

2012 ACB Legislative Seminar

Since its original authorization in 1986, charitable vehicle donation has become a critical fundraising tool for over 5,000 large and small charities like ACB and its state affiliates. As these programs proliferated, so did concern about abuses. In November 2003, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported on the benefits to charities and donors that resulted from vehicle donations. Before 2005, a taxpayer could deduct the fair market value (FMV) of vehicles donated to charity. Under Section 170 of Title 26 of the US Code, a donor could claim…

Sunday, February 26, 2012
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Opening remarks and introduction of attendees
Mitch Pomerantz, President, American Council of the Blind (ACB)

2:30 - 3:00 p.m. ACB/Google Survey to Find Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns Among Blind and Visually Impaired People
Pratik Patel, Chair, Information Access Committee, ACB

3:00 – 3:30 Update on Treaty for the Visually Impaired at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Michele Woods, Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs, United…

Instructions: Please complete one packet per group (per visit). It is best to complete this form as soon as possible after your appointments and return it to the ACB table in the muster room.

Completion of this form offers us vital feedback and information to aid in accomplishing our legislative goals for 2012. If you run out of space, please use the back. Pick up two business cards from the person you speak with, one for your records and one for the national office. Thank you for your participation!

These forms are also available on the ACB web site at…