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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Good afternoon NFBO,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>As you know, we brought a Parental Rights Bill to our Columbus Seminar in May. It has now become HB 309 that Representative Anne Gonzales and Representative Jeffery Rezabek are sponsoring. The bill has been dropped in the House Community and Family Advancement committee. The initial sponsor testimony has been done. This bill is already being co-sponsored by Representatives Hambley, Goodman, Retherford, Boggs, Thompson, Miller, Dean and Kent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Now, here is where we all need to get back involved. Proponent testimony will be next to come before the committee and they will want to hear from us. Are you a blind parent and have had your rights to parent violated by a social worker, judge or legal system? Have you been involved in a custody battle where your blindness was an issue of your fitness as a parent? Has your blindness ever prohibited you from visitation rights with your children? Have you adopted a child or fostered a child and you were questioned on your ability to do so as a blind person? You need to tell this story so other blind parents never have to go through this again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please email me off list at <a href="mailto:sheri.albers87@gmail.com">sheri.albers87@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The schedule for committee testimony is unfortunately on a weekly basis, so I do not know when we will be needed to appear. As soon as I have a date, however, I will let you know. Thank you and, as always, let’s go build the Federation!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sheri Albers, Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>513.886.8697<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:Sheri.albers87@gmail.com">Sheri.albers87@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>