[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Urges Governors to Issue Accessible Executive Orders Regarding COVID-19

[Danielsen, Chris]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Federation of the Blind Urges Governors to Issue Accessible Executive Orders Regarding COVID-19

Baltimore, Maryland (March 23, 2020): The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for accessibility, urged the governors of all states and territories to ensure that their executive orders regarding the coronavirus emergency are posted to the Internet in accessible formats that blind people using screen access technology can easily download and read.

"Government information should always be accessible, and blind people need access to the orders being issued by the governors of the states and territories so that we can run our businesses and plan our lives in accordance with the law and do our part to slow the spread of the virus," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. "Governors' offices must ensure that the documents they post are able to be read with screen access technology and Braille devices so that everyone stays informed and does what is needed during this emergency."

Some best practices for creating accessible documents include:

*       Use of digital text, not scanned images of text

*       Use of Microsoft Word (*.DOC and *.DOCX) and HTML (*.HTM) formats, which are nearly universally accessible with little or no cleanup or processing.

*       Use of Alt tags for graphic images, with concise text conveying the message a sighted reader would be expected to get from the graphic.

*       Use of Heading and table tags to make document navigation simpler and make the document more readable for screen reader users.
For more information, download this guide to creating nonvisually accessible documents<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/products_technology/creating_accessible_documents.docx>.

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About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>.

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>

This news brief is also available at: https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-urges-governors-issue-accessible-executive-orders










Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.
Director of Public Relations
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | cdanielsen at nfb.org
Twitter: @rlawyer

[National Federation of the Blind]<https://nfb.org/>

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The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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