Skip to main content

The Washington Connection 10-6-25

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 October 3, 2025. Messages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are new.

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.

Update on Lawsuit Against Uber

 

On Tuesday, September 30, Claire Stanley and Melanie Brunson from GDUI had the opportunity to speak with an attorney from the U.S. Department of Justice about the Uber lawsuit. They were given basic information regarding the lawsuit and important upcoming dates. Uber is required to respond to the court by November 17. The court in Northern California generally requires a first attempt of dispute resolution, which is likely to take a few months. However, the government shutdown could impact these timelines.

The attorney explained that the lawsuit was brought on solely by the Justice Department; there is no named plaintiff. The submitted complaint has seventeen specified stories to illustrate the breadth of disability discrimination cases beyond just guide dog denials.

The attorney encouraged ACB members to continue to submit denial stories, especially if you have never done so before, so they have an accurate number of the people who have been impacted by any kind of disability-related discrimination. If you would like help sharing your stories, please feel free to email them to advocacy@acb.org and we will forward them on.

ACB will share any updates it receives from DOJ as things move forward.

 

Ask Your Congressmen to Support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act

 

Currently, blind Americans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) face the “earnings cliff,” where their benefits end abruptly once they earn above a set threshold, discouraging many from pursuing work opportunities. The Blind Americans Return to Work Act (H.R. 1175) will establish a 20-year demonstration project to replace this cliff with a fairer system that phases out benefits gradually at a two-for-one rate, reducing benefits by $2 for every $1 earned above the threshold. This change removes a key disincentive to work and gives blind individuals the stability to seek and maintain meaningful employment. By promoting workforce participation and economic independence, the Act empowers blind Americans to build self-sufficiency while still ensuring needed support as they transition into the labor market.

Urge your Congressman to support the Act by sending a letter through Speak4: https://speak4.app/lp/5t01cset/?ts=1759238261.

 

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act Reintroduced in Congress

 

Most home-use medical devices and outpatient equipment rely on digital displays that are inaccessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Devices like glucose monitors, insulin pumps, blood pressure readers, and at-home chemotherapy treatments often lack features such as speech output, tactile markings, or audible tones. As a result, blind and low-vision individuals cannot use them safely, making it harder to manage their health privately and independently.

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 5605) addresses this problem by requiring the FDA, in consultation with the U.S. Access Board, to establish accessibility standards for Class II and III devices with digital interfaces. This bipartisan bill ensures that medical devices are designed with nonvisual access in mind, allowing blind and low-vision Americans to manage their health safely, independently, and with dignity.

To send a message to your Congressman (see the sample below), visit https://speak4.app/lp/hn012s8s/?ts=1759237995.

Message to Lawmaker:

We urge you to support the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 5605). As Americans, the right to manage one’s own health care independently is fundamental. However, many medical devices with digital displays or touchscreens are not accessible to blind and low-vision individuals, forcing them to depend on others to complete critical health tasks.

The bill will require manufacturers of medical devices with digital interfaces to meet nonvisual accessibility standards. This will ensure that blind and low-vision patients can safely and independently operate their medical devices without sacrificing privacy, autonomy, or health.

Tell Congress to pass the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act to ensure all patients, regardless of vision, can use critical health equipment with confidence and privacy.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

 

ACB Recognizes the 80th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month

 

Each October, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) joins the nation in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the valuable contributions of employees with disabilities, including people who are blind or have low vision. This year marks the 80th anniversary of NDEAM, a milestone in recognizing the importance of disability inclusion in America’s workplaces and economy.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) theme for NDEAM 2025 is “Celebrating Value and Talent,” which underscores the positive impact people with disabilities make across industries and professions.

ACB believes that meaningful employment is a cornerstone of independence. Throughout October, ACB will highlight the many ways the organization is working to expand employment for people who are blind or have low vision, including job postings, advocacy efforts, mentoring programs, professional development resources, and community events. Follow ACB’s social media channels for NDEAM highlights throughout the month.

To learn more about NDEAM, visit ODEP’s official webpage at https://dol.gov/ndeam.

 

American Council of the Blind Celebrates the 15th Anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

 

Alexandria, Va., October 8, 2025 — The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly celebrates the 15th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA). Signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 8, 2010, the CVAA remains one of the most significant legislative achievements for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind in the digital age.

In addition to ensuring that smartphones are accessible to consumers who are blind or have low vision, the CVAA also established, for the first time, regulations requiring audio-described content on major broadcast and cable networks. This landmark provision has been championed by ACB’s Audio Description Project, which advocates for audio description across television, film, performing arts, and other media.

The law also allowed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish the National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), also known as iCanConnect, which provides free equipment and training for people with both significant hearing and vision loss who meet the program's disability and income eligibility guidelines. iCanConnect is a national program administered locally in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands that helps people stay connected to friends, family, and the world through telecommunications equipment and assistive technology.

ACB was instrumental in garnering support for the CVAA, working alongside advocates, industry leaders, and partner organizations across the disability community. By uniting these voices and demonstrating the broad impact of accessible technology, ACB helped secure the bipartisan backing in Congress that made the CVAA possible. This collaborative spirit remains central to ACB’s advocacy today.

“The CVAA is a shining example of what’s possible when advocates, industry, and policymakers come together with a shared commitment to equity and inclusion,” said ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill.

ACB is now advocating for the introduction and passage of the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA), soon to be introduced in Congress. The CVTA reaffirms our nation's commitment to accessible communications and video technologies for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind. This legislation will build on the CVAA to modernize and expand requirements for further captioning and audio description availability, and video user interfaces.

“Just as the CVAA transformed access in the last 15 years, the CVTA will ensure accessibility keeps pace with innovation in the years ahead,” Thornhill added. “We urge Congress to support and pass the CVTA in the 119th Congress.”

 

ACB Staff to Attend M-Enabling Summit

 

Next week, ACB staff will be attending the M-Enabling Summit, a leading international forum focused on accessible and assistive mobile technology and digital inclusion. The conference brings together policymakers, business leaders, product developers, technologists, and accessibility advocates to explore innovations in accessible devices, apps, services, and standards. Through keynotes, panel sessions, product demos, and networking events, M-Enabling seeks to drive the adoption of inclusive technologies that empower all users, especially people with disabilities, to access information and fully participate in the digital world.

 

Funding for DeafBlind Services to Be Eliminated

 

The Department of Education has put out notice that funding for DeafBlind services will be eliminated. Such funding was supposed to be continued through at least 2028. The funding assists over 10,000 DeafBlind clients from childhood through young adults. The cancelation of the services sited the inclusion of diversity, equity, and inclusion language in their applications. The programs in the impacted eight states only cost just over $1 million. The services provide training and resources for the impacted community.

 

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.