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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 Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SB 1335 has transferred to the Arizona House of Representatives, and needs to process through the appropriations committee, the Rules Committee, the Health, and Human Services committee. So far, the bill has not been scheduled in any committee.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>. Please email or call Representative David Livingston who is the chair of the appropriations committee to ask him to hear and support SB 1335.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:DLIVINGSTON@azleg.gov">DLIVINGSTON@azleg.gov</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: <span style='color:black'>602-926-4178</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sample email is below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subject line: Please hear and support SB 1335 in the appropriations committee to help older blind Arizonans stay in their homes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Dear Representative Livingston,<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'>Add a personal paragraph discussing your own experience with training or how you have seen it positively impact blind seniors.<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'>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><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>