Article below link. https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/national-federation-of-the-blind-sues-trump-vance-administration-over-delays-to-critical-website-accessibility-protections/
National Federation of the Blind Sues Trump-Vance Administration Over Delays to Critical Website Accessibility Protections Baltimore – The National Federation of the Blind, represented by Democracy Forward and Brown, Goldstein & Levy, filed a lawsuit today challenging the administration’s abrupt delay of critical website accessibility features designed to ensure blind people and people with other disabilities can access essential government and healthcare services online. The lawsuit challenges actions by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that postponed long-anticipated compliance deadlines under federal disability rights laws without public notice or input. Regulations finalized by DOJ and HHS in April and May 2024, after years of public engagement and rulemaking, required state and local governments and those who receive federal funding from HHS to make their websites and mobile applications accessible to people with disabilities, including those who are blind and rely on screen readers and other assistive technology. However, on <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/20/2026-07663/extension-of-compliance-dates-for-nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web> April 20, 2026, and <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/11/2026-09266/extension-of-compliance-dates-for-nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web> May 11, 2026, respectively, DOJ and HHS issued interim final rules delaying the compliance deadlines by a year. The delays threaten access to critical services that millions of people depend on every day, including voter registration, healthcare portals, telehealth appointments, unemployment benefits, educational materials, public records, licensing applications, and emergency information. The complaint explains that inaccessible websites and apps create significant barriers for blind people and can undermine equal participation in civic life, education, healthcare, and employment. “For over fifty years, our laws—specifically Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act— have promised blind Americans and other Americans with disabilities equal access to all areas of life, including digital spaces and services. Yet today this promise remains unfulfilled, and now our government is compounding the outrage by asking us to wait even longer,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We will not wait. We will fight to ensure that the promise of America’s laws, and indeed its founding documents, finally becomes reality for blind and disabled Americans.” “For years, people with disabilities have fought for equal access to the digital services that increasingly shape everyday life — from healthcare and education to voting and public benefits,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The Trump-Vance administration’s decision to abruptly delay these protections at the last minute is harmful, unlawful, and deeply disruptive for people who have already waited far too long for equal access. Disability rights are civil rights, and government agencies cannot simply ignore years of work, public input, and legal obligations. We are proud to represent the National Federation of the Blind to defend equal access and ensure that people with disabilities are not shut out of essential services and opportunities.” “We are proud to support the National Federation of the Blind’s important challenge to the Trump-Vance administration’s illegal roll-back of duly considered and important regulations. If regulations can be either adopted or discarded without notice and an opportunity for the public to comment, the people lose their voice in government, and their lives will be subject to the whims of politicians,” said Eve Hill of Brown Goldstein & Levy. The lawsuit argues that the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by issuing the delays without required notice-and-comment procedures and without adequately considering the significant harms to people with disabilities. The National Federation of the Blind is asking the court to block the delays and restore the original accessibility compliance deadlines. The case is National Federation of the Blind v. DOJ et al., and the legal team at Democracy Forward includes Laura Bakst, Paul Wolfson, and Robin Thurston. The legal team at Brown Goldstein & Levy includes Eve Hill and Michael Abrams. Richard, USA "While striving for perfection, let us do what is possible." -- John Wesley My web site: https://www.turner42.com (sent from my iPhone 16 pro) -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: [email protected]. 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