[CapChapOhio] Fwd: Urgent: Calling All Chapter and Division Presidents, Columbus and Washington Leaders

Thu Oct 23 11:19:07 UTC 2025

Good morning,

I wanted to forward you the following information. We have all been following the news and we know that there have been significant cuts in several federal programs that affect the blind. These cuts have come in the form of layoffs and firings in the department of education. The below email will explain what those cuts could lead to. We are now as a Federation needing to pull together and tell our congressional representatives the impact that this would have on the blind. Here in the Columbus area, we have three representatives. I would like to ensure that all three are being Contacted. Please let me know if you are able to make an appointment with an office of your representation. Or if you are unable to meet with them, please contact their office and let them know why you are against these firings. Please let me know as soon as you find out what you are able to accomplish. I wanna try and make sure that all three are contacted. As for the Senate, they are in Washington still and we have representatives going to Washington to meet with them.

Thank you for all you do for the Federation.

Annette
Annette Lutz
President
Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
614-288-4323
President.capital.nfboh at gmail.com

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

Begin forwarded message:

From: smturner.234 at gmail.com
Date: October 22, 2025 at 9:47:00 PM EDT
To: grobinson513 at icloud.com, David Perry <daveperry509 at gmail.com>, info at onhconsulting.com, marianne at denningweb.com, President Capital chapter <president.capital.nfboh at gmail.com>, Carolyn Peters <dr.carolyn.peters at gmail.com>, david_hartline at yahoo.com, WO.Turner5 at sbcglobal.net, chacitygilliam04 at gmail.com, TurnerW794 at gmail.com, SMartin494 at roadrunner.com, ivory193 at gmail.com, tremainer at comcast.net, Kathy Legg <kalegg0220 at gmail.com>, masquenadadouglas at icloud.com, astover at gmail.com, patrinkle at icloud.com, Nricks123 at me.com, Sherry Ruth <babyruth2 at windstream.net>, bullis.michael at gmail.com, Kinshuk Tella <kinshuk.tella at gmail.com>, delcenia at prodigy.net, Dobyne1993 at gmail.com, Sabrina Brashers <sabrinabrashers at yahoo.com>, luannbowers4 at gmail.com, emilydkiehl at gmail.com, ms.yvonne_3 at yahoo.com, jessicastover10 at gmail.com, Williams.joann054 at gmail.com
Cc: rchpay7 at gmail.com, smturner.234 at gmail.com
Subject: Urgent: Calling All Chapter and Division Presidents, Columbus and Washington Leaders

Dear Leaders,

Last night President Payne and I was invited to a meeting by the Advocacy and Policy Department at the Jernigan Institute. We are at a crucial time, and I am sharing what was provided.

President Riccobono, and John Pare explained the RIF at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will Decimate In-State Services for People with Disabilities.

So, they are asking that Ohio send two members to speak to Senator, Husted and Senator, Moreno. David Perry and Chris Sabine have accepted the charge. They will be traveling soon.

Now, what can the Ohio Affiliate do in this regard?

We have been asked to schedule virtual or in-person local meetings with our Congressional leaders by November 4th urging them not to dismantle these programs. Because these legislative contacts are of the essence, we need Chapter and Division President; along with those who attended the Columbus and Washington Seminars to step up.

On Monday, October 27, 2025, we will hold a meeting to discuss the how and when. We will meet in the zoom room at 7:00PM. EST.

Read the factsheet below. If this pass, special education vocational rehab and other programs that we rely on will be gone.

How this will impact us, by:
Disrupting funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for special education and related services for children with disabilities, including funding for teachers, speech therapists, psychologists, and other support personnel.
Disrupting funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for preschool programs for children with disabilities.
Disrupting funding for competitive grants for training, technical assistance, and technology to improve services for students with disabilities.

The RIF will Decimate Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Programs in Every State by:
Disrupting federal match funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for state vocational rehabilitation programs, making these programs unsustainable, which will in turn mean that:
American adults with disabilities will not be able to receive employment training.
American youth with disabilities will not be able to receive transition to employment or transition to college training.
Employers will be unable to seek assistance in finding qualified disabled employees.
State-level employees who administer these programs will be furloughed or lose their jobs entirely.
Disrupting funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind program will mean that older blind Americans may be forced into nursing homes.

The RIF will Decimate the Randolph-Sheppard Program, Affecting the Employment of Blind Entrepreneurs in Nearly Every State, by:
Eliminating positions critical to approving requests that allow states to purchase needed equipment for Randolph-Sheppard Program vendors.
Eliminating positions critical to approving changes in state rules, policies, or programs concerning the implementation of Randolph-Sheppard in states.
Eliminating technical assistance programs for state licensing agencies or elected committees.
Eliminating positions critical to processing state arbitration complaints.
Eliminating positions that could help with agency issues, which will in turn lead to more arbitration cases.
Eliminating positions that would help modernize the program.

The RIF will Decimate Office for Civil Rights Enforcement of Disability Rights Laws in Every State by:
Discontinuing operations at twelve field offices across the country which employ hundreds of people who process over twenty thousand complaints each year.
Severely reducing the capacity to investigate and enforce the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in federally funded educational institutions, including requiring effective communication, the provision of Braille, large print, and audio, and reasonable accommodations in K-12 and higher education.
Severely reducing the capacity to investigate and enforce Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in state and local educational and other programs, including effective communication, the provision of Braille, large print, and audio, and reasonable accommodations.

Reduction or elimination of the services provided by any of these programs will be catastrophic to the blind across the country.

Below are a few testimonies from real blind Americans who have greatly benefitted from each of the above programs.

“I attended public school in Durant, Iowa – a very rural school district. I was incredibly blessed to begin learning Braille and how to use accessible technology tools to access a computer at a young age. As a result of my terrific elementary school education, I thrived in high school and was able to go to college, where I earned dual degrees in English and Theatre. I am now employed and can proudly share that I pay both federal and FICA taxes.” – Elizabeth, from Durant, Iowa

“I was able to go to a training center in Ruston, Louisiana, where I learned independent living skills and how to be a productive citizen. Because of my training, I have been a small business owner in the tech sector for more than thirty years.” – Karl, a blind business owner in Taylorsville, Utah

“For twenty-one years, I have owned and operated a successful dining food facility and housekeeping service at the US Coast Guard Aviation Training Center because of the Randolph-Sheppard program. My business helps employ twenty employees while providing our Coast Guard personnel with the food and accommodations they need to defend our nation.” – Barbara, a blind business owner in Mobile, Alabama

Ensure that these critical programs for Americans with disabilities in all fifty states will be able to operate by rescinding the reduction in force at the Department of Education!

Suzanne M. Hartfield Turner
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Vice President
Ohio Legislative Director
Cleveland Chapter, President

The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.

P: (216) 990-6199
W: NFBOhio.ORG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiosblind/photos/

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/capchapohio_nfbnet.org/attachments/20251023/6f25c463/attachment.htm>