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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is an immediate call to action regarding SB 1335 adding one-million dollars ($1,000,000) to the DES independent living program budget. Today this bill will be read for the third time on the floor of the Sennate. This is one more step on the journey. It must pass for it to be voted its final time in the Sennate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To look up your district please click <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://irc-az.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=424810a4667049388ef6df4f0c73098b">https://irc-az.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?appid=424810a4667049388ef6df4f0c73098b</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The list of senators and their contact information is attached.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A sample letter or phone message is below. We need as many letters and voicemails as we can get today by 1:00 PM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'>Dear Senator ---,</span></u><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Currently there are 78,000 older individuals living in Arizona living with age related Vision loss. This number will double by 2030. The DES Independent living program is the only place to receive rehabilitation services to learn how to live independently with blindness. Bline Arizonans are waiting over one year to receive services causing them to resort to moving out of their homes into assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and to rely on in-home health services when learning the skills of blindness will allow them to live out the goals, they set for themselves as retired citizens. The ILB program has not received a funding increase since 2008. This additional funding would allow them to hire more instructors and offer more services through contracted providers so that older blind Arizonans can receive the training they need to live successfully and independently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'>Then you may write a small paragraph describing either the benefits you received from blindness training, the difficulties you have faced waiting for services, or the benefits you have observed from quality blindness training.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'>End your email or call with Please support SB1335 so older blind Arizonans can have the opportunity t</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>o<span style='color:#0563C1'> live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We thank you for your continued support to help get training to blind seniors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'>Amy Porterfield, She/Her<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'>President,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'>Saavi Services for the blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'>520-795-1331 EXT 321<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:aporterfield@saavi.us"><span style='color:blue'>aporterfield@saavi.us</span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.saavi.us/"><span style='color:blue'>www.saavi.us</span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'>Expect More,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'>Achieve More,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none'>Become mor</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>