July 24, 2007

Hon. Representative Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD)

House Majority Leader

1705 Longworth House Office Building

Washington DC 20515-2005

Re: ADA Restoration Act of 2007

Dear Majority Leader:

I am writing on behalf of the board of the National Council for Support of Disability Issues (NCSD) to express our support for the ADA Restoration Act of 2007. NCSD constitutes a non-profit dedicated to advocacy and education across an array of disabilities, including, but not limited to visual impairment and hearing loss. Located at – www.ncsd.org , this non-profit provides services to persons with disabilities, including, a job resources site. The legal committee of NCSD utilizes courts and legislatures to perform impact on systems and issues negatively affecting persons with disabilities.

The National Council on Disability (NCD), in its December 1, 2004 report, righting the ADA, urged the George W. Bush Administration and Congress to support legislation entitled the ADA Restoration Act. This report further states that “legislation is urgently needed to restore the ADA to ‘assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency' for Americans with disabilities.” The report included a draft bill, the ADA Restoration Act of 2004, designed to restore the original intent of the ADA. However, the bill failed to pass in the past Congress. As such, I understand that your office will reintroduce this bill.

NCSD applauds your efforts on behalf of persons with disabilities. In light of recent court decisions that have constituted an affront to the ADA, the board and members of NCSD believes that this is critical legislation. Any member of the legal committee can be of assistance in the form of testifiers at future hearings on this bill. I request you to share this letter of support with the appropriate committee before which this bill will proceed. I am an attorney with a visual disability who serves as the legal chair of this fine organization. I can consequently attest to the challenges encountered by legal professionals with disabilities. This legislation constitutes an important measure to be contemplated by by Congress. Please do not hesitate to telephone me at – (410) 2741-6745.

Sincerely,

Gary C. Norman, Esq., Legal Chair

National Council for Support of Disability Issues