WASHINGTON
Thompson, Kelly introduce legislation to increase participation in labor market
This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (D- St. Helena) and Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-16) introduced H.R. 3702, the Access Technology Affordability Act. The legislation provides a refundable $2,000 credit to blind and vision impaired people to purchase equipment that allows them to work.
“No one should be excluded from the workforce because of a disability,” said Thompson. “The Access Technology Affordability Act will provide those with vision loss the resources they need to access tools and equipment that will help them pursue a career. Proud to work with Rep. Kelly to introduce this bill and help more Americans participate in our economy.”
“Every American deserves the chance to earn a productive living. Unfortunately, almost 70 percent of blind Americans are either underemployed or unemployed due to the high cost of computer access technologies,” said Kelly. “Our legislation will make those tools more readily accessible and empower more blind Americans to fully participate in the U.S. job market.”
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “My wife, two of my daughters, and I are all blind, and the children’s technology needs will increase as they complete their education and start their careers. My family is not unique; blind people across the nation face this challenge, and this legislation will provide critical assistance. We thank and commend Representative Kelly, Representative Thompson, and the bipartisan group of originating co-sponsors for being champions of this act, which will help give blind people the technology they need to live the lives they want.”
Access technology enables blind Americans to participate in today’s workforce. Since individuals’ needs differ, manufacturers have designed various tools that enable each blind American to perform tasks that they were once unable to accomplish themselves due to their blindness. Braille note takers are frequently used in schools, screen reading software allows workers to check their email at home, and screen magnification software can help seniors losing vision learn about community activities. Access technology equips blind Americans to seek employment and stay employed.
The high cost of access technology creates a difficult economic reality. Most access technology ranges from $1,000 to $6,000. For example, a leading screen reader is $900, a popular Braille note taker is $5,495, one model of a refreshable Braille display is $2,795, and a moderately priced Braille embosser is $3,695. According to the United States Census Bureau 69.5 percent of blind Americans are either unemployed or underemployed. Consequently, most blind Americans do not have sufficient financial resources needed to purchase these items. These financial barriers can ultimately lead to a loss of employment, insufficient education, or even isolation from community activities.
Medical insurance will not cover the cost of access technology. Current definitions of “medical care,” “medical necessity,” and “durable medical equipment” within common insurance policies do not include access technology. These definitions were adopted in the 1960s “when medical care was viewed primarily as curative and palliative, with little or no consideration given to increasing an individual’s functional status.” Many states’ Medicaid programs and individual health insurance plans have adopted similar definitions and likewise will not cover the cost of access technology.
—Submitted
LAKE COUNTY
Beware EBT theft
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) theft of CalWORKs cash aid and CalFresh SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) food benefits is real and on the rise!
Safety tips
If you have an EBT card, follow these tips to keep your benefits safe:
- Keep your PIN and card number secret
- Cover your hand when typing in your PIN
- Change your PIN often, at least once a month the day BEFORE your benefits become available
- Do NOT click on any links from text messages or emails regarding your EBT card
- Watch out for suspicious websites
- Protect your benefits, keep track of your balances daily. There are three ways to check your balance:Online: www.ebt.ca.gov or www.benefitscal.com
- Call: 1-877-328-9677 available 24/7
- Receipt: Check your receipt after each purchase
If you get cash aid, sign up for Direct Deposit if possible. Bank cards with smart chips are more secure. The State of California is working on updating EBT cards to smart chips, but that won’t begin until 2024.
Check out this video for more safety tips: https://youtu.be/opg52FxKoSo
Report theft
If you believe your food or cash benefits have been stolen, please call the EBT Customer Services Helpline 24/7 at 1-877-328-9677 or visit your county office right away, Monday-Friday 8am to 5 p.m., (707) 995-4200, TTY 711, 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway, Lower Lake, CA 95457. You may be eligible to have the stolen benefits replaced by completing the EBT 2259 form. You may also wish to file a police report, but that is not required to have your benefits replaced.
—Submitted
