[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert Regarding Accessibility Features in Public Buildings

[Pare, John]

Dear Federation Family:

On May 16, 2025, the United States Department of Energy released a direct final rule that "rescinds certain new construction requirements related to disability nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs or activities." A direct final rule is slightly different from the typical rulemaking process, it's a kind of fast-track effort to put a new rule in place unless there are "significant adverse comments" which oppose the rule by June 16, 2025.

As you may expect, we are adamantly opposed to any attempt to roll back any accessibility requirements in the construction of buildings for federally assisted programs or activities. Just last week, President Riccobono submitted the official comments of the National Federation of the Blind to the Department of Energy<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-united-states-department-energy-regarding> opposing the rescinding of the requirements. These comments are posted on the policy statements page of our website, and we encourage you to read them. But, more important than that, we urge you to submit your own comments to the Department of Energy to ensure they understand just how important accessibility is to us. Tell them how important Braille signage is in buildings, or how vital nonvisually accessible information is in an elevator.

When writing your comments, you might say something like:
"My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE]. I urge you to withdraw the direct final rule. As a blind person myself, I know the importance of accessible public buildings and architecture. Without accessible features such as Braille signage on doors and Braille and audio announcements in elevators, blind people are unable to independently navigate these facilities. Again, I urge you to withdraw the direct final rule."

You can submit your comments online through the Federal Register page at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment

The link will take you directly to the submission page where you will be able to type in your comment, selecting the option to confirm that you are an individual, and verifying that you understand your comments may be publicly viewed on the website. Remember, time is of the essence because the comment submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, June 16, 2025. We apologize that we did not get this information to you sooner, but there is still time to leave your comment.

Thank you for all that you do,
John

John Paré
Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314, extension 2218 | jpare at nfb.org<mailto:jpare at nfb.org>

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

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