NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF
Resolution 2006-04
Concerning the Inaccessibility of State
Government Websites
WHEREAS
it is a mission of the National Federation of the Blind
to remove the social, legal, and economic barriers faced by the blind; and
WHEREAS
the goal of the federation is the full integration of the
blind into society on terms of equality; and
WHEREAS
many blind and otherwise
disabled Floridians use access technology
to read electronic media such as web pages, databases and computer
generated documents that are readily available to sighted citizens; and
WHEREAS
Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 contains provisions that allow for the creation of
accessibility standards that would allow blind persons full and equal access to
the entire range of the State's electronic media which is available to the general public; and
WHEREAS
the State has several
electronic media such as sections of the MyFlorida web site that are not
available to the blind through access technology due to flaws in design or in
disregard for the needs of blind citizens; and
WHEREAS
the inability to fully access these electronic media in
the course of business prevents blind persons from being employed in many
sectors; and
WHEREAS,
the Legislature of the State of
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
by the National Federation
of the Blind in convention assembled this 29th day of May, 2006 in Orlando,
Florida, that we will not tolerate this unlawful and immoral denial of our
right to fully participate in Florida society;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the National
Federation of the Blind of Florida shall use all appropriate means including
legal action, should it prove necessary, to ensure that blind persons have full
access to all Florida State electronic information produced for public use
through any governmental entity or contractor.