From Sylvie Kashdan, Seattle, WA:
The Kaizen Program for New English Learners has assisted a number of visually impaired and blind immigrants in becoming U.S. citizens. The citizenship test is not available in braille, although it legally should be under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, section 504. We are conducting a campaign to ask senators and representatives to require the government to make the redesigned naturalization/ citizenship test and all preparation materials--including the N-400 form--available in all accessible formats, including braille, large print, electronic text and audio recording.
Currently, however, people who are blind or have low vision can have the oral interview and be exempted from the reading and writing part. They must do two things:
1. They must indicate on the N-400 form--in the space that asks if they can read and write in English--that they are legally blind and can only read and write using braille or large print, or that they can only answer orally.
2. Along with their completed N-400 form, they should also provide a copy of a letter from an eye doctor, rehabilitation professional or other qualified professional indicating that they are indeed legally blind.
The blind or low-vision applicant can also request to be accompanied during the interview by a sighted guide, who will not provide any prompting for answers to questions, but will guide and assist the applicant in presenting various print material upon request and in signing the photograph with the very small signature that is required. If the applicant does not feel she or he needs a guide, it is optional.
A blind or visually-impaired person who is ready to apply for naturalization should seek assistance from an immigrants' rights organization or from an individual who is knowledgeable about the N-400 form. After the N-400 form is completed but before it is submitted, the applicant should make a copy of it to keep for review and for his or her records.
Before the interview/exam, the applicant needs to learn the more than 100 questions by heart and practice answering them orally. The applicant also needs to practice making that very small signature, which many find difficult.
If the interviewer is hesitant to exempt the applicant from the reading and writing part of the interview/exam, the applicant needs to ask the interviewer to read the entry about his or her blindness that has been made on the N-400 form and to read the letter certifying blindness from a qualified professional. If the interviewer is still hesitant, the applicant should politely ask to speak to the supervisor, because it is her or his legal right to be exempted if the material is not available in the reading medium she or he uses, and if there is no one available to read braille for those who can only write with braille.
Applicants who can write large print should indicate that. Some interviewers will write sentences in large print for such people to read. They should be asked to print clearly so that the applicant is not challenged by the formation of the letters. Those applicants who are braille users should offer to spell words in sentences instead of writing. That is usually satisfactory.
Three books on the naturalization process are available from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), as of January 2007. All three require a relatively high level of English proficiency, and two contain some outdated information -especially as the application process and immigration laws have been changing and continue to be somewhat in flux since 2001.
1. Practice for U.S. Citizenship and Legalization of Status Tests by Carlos Paz (RC030264). This audio book presents the 1980's requirements for U.S. citizenship. It offers summaries of the history and government of the United States, including samples of questions that were asked in citizenship examinations. It also includes the texts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
2. Citizenship Made Simple by Louise Quayle. This book is available on cassette (RC034410) and in contracted braille (BR008609). Published in 1991, this relatively detailed guide discusses the immigration laws as they were then and what forms were necessary to file for specific situations. It includes a list of immigration classifications and describes the procedures for entering the United States and obtaining legal residence (a green card). It also offers hints for preparing for the citizenship exam.
3. Citizenship Made Simple: An Easy-to-Read Guide to the U.S. Citizenship Process by Barbara Kimmel (RC062526) is also available on cassette. Published in 2006, this book is more up- to-date than the others. But when the naturalization exam redesign is completed this year or in 2008, this book too will probably become somewhat outdated.
Currently, however, people who are blind or have low vision can have the oral interview and be exempted from the reading and writing part. They must do two things:
1. They must indicate on the N-400 form--in the space that asks if they can read and write in English--that they are legally blind and can only read and write using braille or large print, or that they can only answer orally.
2. Along with their completed N-400 form, they should also provide a copy of a letter from an eye doctor, rehabilitation professional or other qualified professional indicating that they are indeed legally blind.
The blind or low-vision applicant can also request to be accompanied during the interview by a sighted guide, who will not provide any prompting for answers to questions, but will guide and assist the applicant in presenting various print material upon request and in signing the photograph with the very small signature that is required. If the applicant does not feel she or he needs a guide, it is optional.
A blind or visually-impaired person who is ready to apply for naturalization should seek assistance from an immigrants' rights organization or from an individual who is knowledgeable about the N-400 form. After the N-400 form is completed but before it is submitted, the applicant should make a copy of it to keep for review and for his or her records.
Before the interview/exam, the applicant needs to learn the more than 100 questions by heart and practice answering them orally. The applicant also needs to practice making that very small signature, which many find difficult.
If the interviewer is hesitant to exempt the applicant from the reading and writing part of the interview/exam, the applicant needs to ask the interviewer to read the entry about his or her blindness that has been made on the N-400 form and to read the letter certifying blindness from a qualified professional. If the interviewer is still hesitant, the applicant should politely ask to speak to the supervisor, because it is her or his legal right to be exempted if the material is not available in the reading medium she or he uses, and if there is no one available to read braille for those who can only write with braille.
Applicants who can write large print should indicate that. Some interviewers will write sentences in large print for such people to read. They should be asked to print clearly so that the applicant is not challenged by the formation of the letters. Those applicants who are braille users should offer to spell words in sentences instead of writing. That is usually satisfactory.
Three books on the naturalization process are available from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), as of January 2007. All three require a relatively high level of English proficiency, and two contain some outdated information -especially as the application process and immigration laws have been changing and continue to be somewhat in flux since 2001.
1. Practice for U.S. Citizenship and Legalization of Status Tests by Carlos Paz (RC030264). This audio book presents the 1980's requirements for U.S. citizenship. It offers summaries of the history and government of the United States, including samples of questions that were asked in citizenship examinations. It also includes the texts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
2. Citizenship Made Simple by Louise Quayle. This book is available on cassette (RC034410) and in contracted braille (BR008609). Published in 1991, this relatively detailed guide discusses the immigration laws as they were then and what forms were necessary to file for specific situations. It includes a list of immigration classifications and describes the procedures for entering the United States and obtaining legal residence (a green card). It also offers hints for preparing for the citizenship exam.
3. Citizenship Made Simple: An Easy-to-Read Guide to the U.S. Citizenship Process by Barbara Kimmel (RC062526) is also available on cassette. Published in 2006, this book is more up- to-date than the others. But when the naturalization exam redesign is completed this year or in 2008, this book too will probably become somewhat outdated.
posted by Matilda Ziegler at
7:45 PM
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