Advocate

"Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much." - Helen Keller 

We are asking for your help in an ongoing effort that will bring together many to ensure that people who are visually impaired are able to achieve their greatest level of independence.

Increase Funding for Deafblind Programs in FY2010

Spread across the United States are 10,000 children living with the unique and isolating disability known as deafblindness. This number has more than doubled since the mid 1980s and yet federal funding for this population has been level for 20 years. Join the national effort by advocating for increased funding for deafblindness programs in the FY2010 budget. The much needed boost would help provide teacher training, technical assistance, and other vital support services. Learn more and find out how you can help today. 

Eliminate the Proposed FY10 Special Education Tuition Rate Freeze

To address the Massachusetts state budget deficit, lawmakers have proposed a tuition rate freeze that would eliminate $26.7 million in inflation adjustment revenue that special education schools like Perkins depend on to continue providing quality services. We are sensitive to the state’s budget crisis but cutbacks should not be made at the cost of education for students who are blind and may have other challenges. Click here to learn more and send a letter to your state representative and senator today.

Sign the Yahoo! Accessibility Improvement Petition

Have you ever been asked to type distorted numbers or letters into a box while you’re surfing the Internet? If so, you’ve used CAPTCHA. Intended to "protect" websites, this technology prevents screen readers from conveying information and often prevents a blind user from signing up for many functions of a site. An online petition is being circulated worldwide asking Yahoo! to implement an audio alternative to CAPTCHA so that people who are blind or have visual impairments will be given the same level of access enjoyed by the sighted.

Sign the online petition to tell Yahoo! you want them to provide an alternative way for blind users to verify their human status!