08/24/2026
Earlier this year, Camille Tate, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, sent a letter to Florida Attorney General Uthmeier regarding the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit that challenges federal regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. See her letter below:
Dear Attorney General Uthmeier:
My name is Camille Tate. I live in Melbourne, Florida. I am the elected representative and President of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. We are the nation’s oldest and largest transformative civil rights organization of blind people. We have affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Our members come from all walks of life and a wide spectrum of vision, from total blindness to full sightedness. Blindness, regardless of where it may lie in the spectrum knows no boundaries; there are blind people in every community, socio-economic background, race,
religion, national origin or any other intersectionality.
I am writing to you on behalf of Blind Floridians, who have deep concerns regarding Florida’s continued participation in the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 is the oldest and broadest based anti-discrimination law in the United States. Contained within this vital law are the programs that provide for the education and employment of people with disabilities. Those programs, which include educational training, Vocational Rehabilitation and employment training are essential to the ultimate goal of job-readiness. Blind people, not only in Florida, but across our nation rely on those educational and training programs to become employed and employable and to get off of government programs. We rely on the training to reduce and eventually eliminate government dependency.
The National Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Florida are further concerned about the Olmstead Implementation Act and its implications for the
unnecessary and expensive institutionalization of disabled people. The Supreme Court decided in 1990 providing home and community-based programs in the least restrictive environment was the best course of action for the independence of disabled people. Institutionalization creates distance and barriers to independence for disabled people, isolates them from their homes and families and is expensive. Most often, it is government programs and funds that pay for these institutionalizations. The Olmstead decision keeps disabled people in their communities, close to their families and is more successful at keeping disabled people isolated from their communities. Disability does not mean inability or incapability; most of us can lead full, independent and successful lives given proper training and tools.
We strongly urge Florida to withdraw from this harmful lawsuit. Protect access for Blind Floridians to the programs, education and training designed to ensure they are employed, productive and tax paying citizens of Florida. We are eager to discuss our concerns and share what is important to our communities with you. We look forward to working with you to keep Blind Floridians out of expensive institutions and in the workforce, to be part of the communities where we live.
Sincerely,
Camille Tate, President
National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Learn more: https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor/early-access-articles/and-then-there-were-three?fbclid=IwY2xjawT0f15wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5g18yyCHK2OifWYRqV4cwPctE8UDv_RMIPMqIwJDRGIMWwsYCZxtEcYZczAw_aem_GhSpKBjsvgar-InEe9ZXCg
An update on Texas v. Kennedy, a lawsuit challenging federal regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
