BALTIMORE, Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind today applauded President Obama's transmission of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled to the United States Senate for ratification, and urged the Senate to act immediately to ratify the treaty.

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "This crucial treaty will substantially ease the book famine that currently limits education and opportunity for the blind of this nation and the world. When it is fully in effect, it will give blind Americans the ability to access books in Braille, audio, and other alternative formats from across the globe, as well as provide more books to the blind of all nations. We strongly urge the United States Senate to ratify it without delay."

The Marrakesh Treaty was officially proposed in 2009, successfully adopted in June 2013 by the World Intellectual Property Organization, and signed by the United States in October 2013. For more information on the treaty, please visit https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet.

About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen@nfb.org

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SOURCE National Federation of the Blind

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http://www.nfb.org