The National Association of Blind Students thanks you for your willingness to share your inaccessibility experiences with Congress! Every blind student has a story, and it is only with our collective voices that we can show Congress that there are accessibility barriers that have significant consequences for our academic success.

The National Federation of the Blind is advocating for the passage of legislation that will help improve accessibility of instructional materials in higher education. AIM High, or H.R. 5312 and S 3095, was introduced in both the House of Representatives and  Senate in December of 2019 and works to create accessibility guidelines in higher education. If you want to learn more about the greater NFB’s efforts, visit this page: https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/accessible-instructional-materials-higher-education 

This form is for you to tell your personal story about a time you faced an accessibility challenge with educational materials and/or what the passage of AIM High would mean to you. We will be sharing these statements with your representatives, which may involve social media, email, and in-person meetings. Here is an example from NABS Secretary Mausam Mehta.

“Last August, I was really excited to dive into the prerequisite coursework for my perspective program at the University of Virginia. As a sophomore, pursuing a degree in business and economics, I quickly discovered significant access barriers, primarily in the form of inaccessible instructional systems in accounting that I could not use independently with my assistive technology. This forced me to rely on a sighted counterpart to input my work, frustrating me to not be able to fully take charge of my academic aspirations. Unfortunately, this issue is not unique to accounting. Inaccessible materials are a preventable reality for blind students, and right now, our representatives have the power to take an important step in reducing these barriers across the country. I strongly urge Congress to pass AIM High (HR5312 and S. 3095) to ensure that blind students, like myself, can be competitive applicants for top programs without the lingering question of access slowing us down.”

Please reach out to NABS Board Member Trisha Kulkarni with any questions at trishak.nfb@gmail.com. We appreciate your support as we work to improve opportunities for blind students across the country.