Legal Program

The National Federation of the Blind's extensive legal program has helped advance disability rights case law under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, creating more equitable workplaces, classrooms, and communities for blind Americans.

This work is a critical part of our mission to raise expectations and eliminate obstacles between blind people and our dreams. We focus our legal efforts on several key priority areas, including access to information, education, high-stakes testing, parental rights, and employment. 

Speakers address the audience during the 2009 Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium.The goals of our legal program are to:

  • Strategically use our legal expertise and experience to protect and expand the rights of blind people
  • Empower members of the NFB with the tools they need to be strong self-advocates
  • Coordinate legal work across the NFB at all levels, including state affiliates, chapters, and divisions
  • Create systemic change in how technology manufacturers, employers, schools, and government agencies address accessibility and equality for the blind
  • Build a network of advocates and legal experts outside of the NFB

Support and Resources

Visit our legal support and resources page to learn how you can prevent and report discrimination, connect with legal resources in your area, and advocate for your legal rights.

Rulings, Filings, and Letters

Read about the NFB’s many high-impact legal actions since 2007 on our rulings, filings, and letters page.

Current Projects

Unemployment Benefits Survey

The National Federation of the Blind is investigating barriers and denials related to unemployment benefits. If you have been terminated or laid off from your job within the last two years, please take time to complete this important survey. The information you provide will help the NFB as we pursue equal access to employment and its related benefits. For more information, contact Valerie Yingling, legal program coordinator, at vyingling@nfb.org.

NFB Travel Survey

The NFB is gathering feedback from members regarding accessibility barriers encountered while traveling to and from convention, including inaccessible self-service travel kiosks, travel websites and services, airports, and bus and train stations. Please complete this short travel survey.

Uber and Lyft Testing Program

The NFB's Uber and Lyft testing program seeks feedback from Uber and Lyft customers who have service animals or who travel with individuals with service animals. Your feedback will be used to assess how successfully Uber and Lyft are implementing new driver training requirements and policies regarding drivers’ obligations to transport riders with service animals, as per the companies’ settlement agreements with the NFB. If you use Uber or Lyft and have a service animal or travel with someone who does, please complete our Uber and Lyft survey. 

Education Technology Survey

The NFB is gathering information regarding the accessibility of educational technology used in our nation’s schools (kindergarten through graduate level). If you are a student, parent, teacher, or administrator who uses screen access software or other accommodations to participate nonvisually in educational programs or services, or if you are the parent, teacher, or administrator of someone who does, please complete our education technology survey once a semester and contribute to this important research.

Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium