<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Hello all,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">We need your help for funding of the OIB program.</div><br><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px"><tbody><tr><td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><br></td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height:145px;width:600px"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color:initial;border-style:none;border-width:medium;height:20px;vertical-align:top;width:600px"><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=43022&amp;qid=12580213" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="color:blue">Read the full legislative alert for further details.</a></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="color:black"><font face="calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">Call</span></font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span><font face="calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">o</span></font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><font face="calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">r</span></font><span class="gmail_default" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:18.6667px">email</span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"> </font></span><font face="calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">y</span></font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><font face="calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">ou</span></font><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><font face="calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">r representative and two senators<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">, Van Hollen and Alsobrooks</span>.</span></font></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:18.6667px">I</span></span>f you<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span>email <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span>your r<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span>epresentative and two senators<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">, </span>copy Jesse Shirek at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=43023&amp;qid=12580213" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="color:blue">jshirek@nfb.org</a><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span></span></li></ul><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Read Jesse Shirek&#39;s information below for further information.<br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px"><tbody><tr><td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><br></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to vote to increase funding for the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) program.</span></div><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The O<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span>IB program is intended to provide support services for blind Americans over the age of 55 to reach their independent living goals. Critical aspects of OIB include orientation and mobility training, learning Braille, cooking, and training on access technology.</span></p><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></div></div><h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">Sample Script</span></h2><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">&quot;My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to support the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program by contacting Subcommittee Chair [ADERHOLT (in the House)/CAPITO (in the Senate)] to show support for an increase in funding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">This program helps blind Americans over the age of 55 learn to live with their blindness through various forms of independent living training. The program is currently severely underfunded, allotting less than $10 per eligible individual per year.&quot;</span></p><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We suggest a subject like: &quot;Help us increase independence for blind Americans in their golden years.&quot;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font size="2">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</font></b></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday 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.<br></font></div><div><b><font size="2"></font></b></div><div><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></div></div></div></div></div>