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The Washington Connection 11-25-25

Welcome to the Washington Connection, the legislative and information service of the American Council of the Blind. The Washington Connection is brought to you by the ACB national office. If you have any questions or comments on the information provided, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask to speak with Claire Stanley.

The Washington Connection is updated any time we have new information to share with you. The following articles are available as of November 25, 2025. Messages 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 are new.

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.

New Changes to the Department of Education

On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 18, the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, held a White House press briefing to discuss new changes to the Department of Education. A myriad of current programs under the Department are being shifted to other federal agencies. For instance, elementary and secondary education, post-secondary education, and Indian education services will be shifted to other agencies. The Department of the Interior, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of State will oversee pre-existing education-related programs. The Secretary explained that remaining services will be left to the guidance of the states. At this time, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) remains under the purview of the Department of Education.

ACB will watch carefully to see how things progress and impact students with disabilities.

 

Rhode Island Court Issues Permanent Injunction in IMLS Case

 

On November 21, the District Court in the state of Rhode Island issued a permanent injunction in the case of IMLS v. Trump. Previously, President Trump took steps to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The action was immediately challenged in court, where it was temporarily halted. This court ruling permanently vacates his actions. The court held that the dismantling of IMLS was unlawful, unconstitutional, and in direct violation of Congress’ clear statutory directives.

 

Bipartisan Support Growing for Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act

 

ACB is excited to see the bipartisan support for the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, H.R. 3417 grow. Currently, the bill has 10 sponsors and co-sponsors. This is made up of 4 Republicans and 6 Democrats. The newest co-sponsor to join is Congressman Fine, Republican, from the state of Florida. The 10 sponsors and co-sponsors are Sessions, Weber, Owens, Fine, Hoyer, Soto, Thanedar, Landsman, Morelle, and Vindman. If your Congressmember is not on this list, please reach out and encourage them to support the bill.

 

ACB Supports the CONNECT for Health Act

 

ACB supports the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206. The bill is quickly gaining more and more bipartisan support.

The CONNECT for Health Act would:

  • Permanently remove all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to the location of the patient, including homes;
  • Permanently allow health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services;
  • Allow more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services;
  • Remove unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services;
  • Allow for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and
  • Require more published data to learn more about how telehealth is being used, impacts on quality of care, and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.

To read the text version of the bill, visit https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1261/text.

 

Update on the Older Americans Act

 

On November 5, 2025, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing concerning the Older Americans Act, a bill that still needs to be reauthorized. The hearing examined how the Older Americans Act (OAA) supports families living with aging-related diseases and the need to reauthorize the law.

Programs covered under the law supply more than 140 million meals, provide 14 million rides, and deliver 10 million hours of assistance each year, benefiting one in six older Americans and many people with disabilities who rely on these supports to live with dignity and independence. The committee underscored that OAA programs are cost-efficient long-term investments: every dollar spent returns an estimated 3.39 dollars by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and institutional care through preventive and community-based services. As the U.S. experiences the largest aging population in its history, senators stressed the importance of modernizing the OAA to expand capacity, increase flexibility, and strengthen nutritional and health-promotion programs. Because the OAA expired last year, reauthorization is needed this fall to ensure programs remain effective and responsive to the evolving needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

However, the hearing did not emphasize the needs of older Americans who are losing their vision. This specific population requires specific services that are too often unavailable. ACB continues to advocate for the specific inclusion of such services in any reauthorization of the OAA. Therefore, ACB continues to support any advancement of the OAA; aging Americans are greatly in need of all services. However, ACB urges Congress to include pivotal services needed by persons who are losing their vision as a result of aging.

 

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 with Audio Description

 

Countdown to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Wednesday, November 26, from 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern time with live Audio Description by Sarah Mennell of Descriptive Video Works.

The 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Thursday, November 27, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, with live audio description by Sarah Mennell at Descriptive Video Works.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade encore presentation: Thursday, November 27, from 2 to 5 p.m., same AD from earlier broadcast in case you miss the earlier show!

The 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will return on Thursday, November 27, offering an assortment of entertainment to delight viewers of all ages.

The excitement includes performances by everyone from Wicked: For Good star Cynthia Erivo, who's set to take on the opening number, to a performance by the singing voices of HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters, to numbers from Broadway musicals Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time, and Ragtime.

Hosting the fun are TODAY favorites from past and present, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker.

What celebrities will be at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

In addition to Erivo, and the singing voices of HUNTR/X from KPop Demon Hunters, country artist Lainey Wilson, who appeared in Yellowstone, will also perform. Other performers include Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Mr. Fantasy, Foreigner, Debbie Gibson, Mickey Guyton, Christopher Jackson, Jewel, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Tiler Peck, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza, and Teyana Taylor. The Radio City Rockettes, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary, will also perform. And there will be appearances by Nikki DeLoach, U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin, Kristoffer Polaha, U.S. Paralympian Jack Wallace, and special correspondent Sean Evans.

Balloons and More

This is the 99th edition of the parade, and there will be four new balloons this year, including Buzz Lightyear by Pixar Animation Studios; PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc.; Shrek’s Onion Carriage from Universal Pictures’ DreamWorks Animation; and Mario by Nintendo. Derpy Tiger and Sussie from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters will be featured as a mid-sized balloon and balloonicle, respectively.  

Six new floats will also make an appearance, including The Land of Ice & Wonder by Holland America Line; Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by The LEGO Group; Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt; Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix; Friends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart; and The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta.

And the big guy, Santa, will appear at the end — the highlight of the parade that boasts 34 balloons, 4 balloonicles, 28 floats, 14 specialty units, 33 clown groups, and 11 marching bands.

Audio Description

To create a more inclusive experience for blind and low vision viewers, NBC will present the full broadcast with live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), provided by Descriptive Video Works. The broadcast will be available with additional audio narration describing the visuals of the Parade, according to NBC.

A bonus: NBC through Descriptive Video Works will also be providing live Audio Description for the Countdown to the Thanksgiving Day Parade which airs Wednesday, November 26 on NBC at 8 p.m. Eastern.

If you experience any issues with your audio description, contact NBC by emailing them at ADFeedback@nbcuni.com. Please be sure to include:

  • Your name, postal address, and other contact information,
  • The channel number and call sign (if known)
  • The name of the cable or satellite provider (multichannel video program distributor), if applicable
  • The date and time when the audio description problem occurred
  • The name of the program with the audio description problem
  • A detailed description of the audio description problem, including specific information about the frequency and type of problem.

Happy Thanksgiving from the ACB Audio Description Project team!

 

Autonomy Summit 25

 

The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association will host the Autonomy Summit 25, an invitation-only event, on December 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Leaders from across the U.S. government and autonomous vehicle industry will convene to discuss the technologies, policies, and partnerships needed to secure America’s global leadership in autonomous vehicles. ACB’s Executive Director, Scott Thornhill, will be on one of the panels on behalf of the blind community.

Participants will hear exclusive insights from top federal officials and lawmakers, and executives from leading AV companies. Topics will include:

  • The urgent need for a federal AV policy framework;
  • Innovations enhancing safety, accessibility, and supply chain resilience;
  • Automated vehicles that do not require manual controls or equipment;
  • Autonomy’s role in U.S. competitiveness and economic growth; and
  • The intersection of AV deployment and American AI leadership.

 

Department of Education Cuts Funding for All Three National Braille Training Programs

 

On September 5, the Department of Education announced that it would not continue the grants for all three national braille training programs. These programs are essential to train teachers of the visually impaired to ensure braille literacy and train vision rehabilitation therapists to assist adults who lose their vision later in life. With this discontinuation, funding will be cut for all federal funding that is carried out at three universities: California State University Los Angeles, University of South Carolina Upstate, and University of Massachusetts Boston. Each of the three universities is now appealing the elimination of the program. Constituents should reach out to their senators to speak out against the cuts. Constituents of the following states should especially reach out: West Virginia, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina, and South Carolina.