<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Hi friends, in case you are unaware, a rally will be held at Civic Center Park tomorrow at noon in Denver protesting against all of these things. This is a national movement and protest in every major city across America at the same time. indivisible.org is organizing this event and they will continue to do it until we see positive change, hope to see you there! Kind regards, Claudia </div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Apr 4, 2025, at 1:36\u202fPM, Jo Elizabeth Pinto via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Yes, yes, yes!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Jo Elizabeth Pinto<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Please visit my author Website:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.brightsideauthor.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://www.brightsideauthor.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Curtis Chong via Colorado-Talk<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 4, 2025 1:29 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'NFB of Colorado Discussion List' <colorado-talk@nfbnet.org><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Curtis Chong <chong.curtis@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Colorado-Talk] Disability Advocates Sue Social Security Administration and DOGE to Stop Unlawful Cuts to Social Security Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in">Link to Original Source<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/disability-advocates-sue-social-security-administration-and-doge-stop-unlawful">https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/disability-advocates-sue-social-security-administration-and-doge-stop-unlawful</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Washington, D.C. (April 2, 2025):</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> The
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Deaf Equality, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Massachusetts Senior Action Council, along with individual plaintiffs,
filed a federal lawsuit today against the Social Security Administration (SSA), Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek, DOGE Acting Administrator Amy Gleason, and Elon Musk in his de facto role as head of DOGE. The lawsuit alleges that recent mass staffing reductions,
policies requiring individuals to seek services in person at field offices, and the elimination of critical offices within the SSA unlawfully harm Americans with disabilities and older adults who rely on Social Security services. Justice in Aging and Brown
Goldstein & Levy, LLP join the lawsuit as co-counsel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the complaint seeks emergency,
declaratory and injunctive relief to halt the dismantling of the SSA\u2019s infrastructure, including the abrupt closures of the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity (OCREO) and the Office of Transformation (OT), and the termination of 7,000 SSA employees.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">\u201cThe Social Security Administration is being gutted without regard to existing law, without transparency,
and without any obvious plan as to how services will be provided to applicants and beneficiaries going forward,\u201d said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. \u201cMany blind Americans rely on Social Security benefits for their survival
and for the support of their families. Given the technology and transportation challenges many of us face, the dramatic reduction in force and the new so-called anti-fraud requirements will work significant hardship or deny access to benefits altogether. In
the most severe cases, these cuts could endanger people\u2019s very lives. The National Federation of the Blind supports greater government efficiency and recognizes that much can be done to improve the SSA, but careful planning and collaboration with blind Americans
and other disability advocates are the right ways to handle reform.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">At the center of the lawsuit is the allegation that the federal government has undertaken a campaign
to \u201creform\u201d the SSA by gutting the very infrastructure designed to ensure fairness, accessibility, and timely delivery of benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">"Americans with disabilities deserve a functioning Social Security system, not arbitrary shutdowns and inaccessible
service,\u201d said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. \u201cWe filed this lawsuit because disabled Americans are already suffering\u2014and without urgent court intervention, the harm will only grow. Even before efforts by DOGE and the administration to weaken SSA, approximately
30,000 disabled people died in 2023 while waiting for their SSDI application to be approved. Working Americans pay into Social Security for their entire career because they recognize the protections of SSI and SSDI are part of our moral obligation to one another.
These benefits have been funded by working American taxpayers with the understanding the funds will protect their futures and their communities. Making SSA harder to access is not only denying disabled Americans their right to access that protection, it is
theft.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Howard Rosenblum, founder and Chair of Deaf Equality, said \u201cOur Federal Government is abandoning people with disabilities,
and this lawsuit seeks to hold it accountable by asking the Federal Courts to restore the government\u2019s obligations to us. The SSA is a lifeline for millions of people with disabilities including Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened
Americans. By throwing out essential services, the Federal Government is disregarding its legal responsibilities and failing to protect these American individuals who rely on these programs. Many of these Americans have dedicated a lifetime of work and service,
only to be disrespected and disserved when they need support the most.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">\u201cSocial Security has been lifting seniors, people with disabilities, and survivor children out of poverty for nearly
90 years. It is the benefits we have earned and represents a contract between generations,\u201d stated Rosa Bentley, President of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council. \u201cWe cannot look away as the Trump Administration, Elon Musk and DOGE push forward aggressive
personnel cuts and operational changes that undermine access to our earned benefits and demonstrate a complete disregard for the hard-working people of this nation.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">The plaintiffs argue that the mass restructuring violates the Rehabilitation Act, the Administrative
Procedure Act, and multiple constitutional provisions, including due process and the First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances. With more than 1.1 million disability claims already pending, and thousands dying or going bankrupt
each year awaiting decisions, the plaintiffs allege that the SSA\u2019s recent actions are both unlawful and life-threatening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, said \u201cUnder the
influence of Trump, Musk and DOGE, the leadership of the Social Security Administration has been recklessly slashing services, offices, and staff. These harmful policies have already hindered our members and supporters (mostly seniors, people with disabilities,
and their families) from collecting the benefits they have paid for.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Plaintiffs are requesting that the Court reverse the closures of OCREO and OT, halt all staffing
reductions, reinstate employees who were wrongfully terminated, and roll back the policies that require in-person appointments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">###</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">About the National Federation of the Blind</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
The National Federation of the Blind, headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB
is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them
into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at<a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style="color:#005AA3"> nfb.org</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">About the American Association of People with Disabilities</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full
civil rights for the over 70 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD website:<a href="https://www.aapd.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#005AA3"> www.aapd.com</span></a>.<br>
<br>
<b>About Deaf Equality</b><br>
Deaf Equality is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization determined to achieve equality for all Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened people in the United States by ensuring full accommodated access to all aspects of life and dismantling
oppressive attitudes and systems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">About the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
Founded by the son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to protect, preserve, promote, and ensure the financial security, health, and well-being
of older Americans, including people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">About Massachusetts Senior Action Council</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
Founded in 1981, the Massachusetts Senior Action Council is a statewide, grassroots, senior-led organization that empowers its members to use their own voices to address key public policy and community issues that affect their health and well-being. It is dedicated
to safeguarding and strengthening the systems that all community members need to rely on for economic and health security.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">About Justice in Aging</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
Justice in Aging is a national organization that uses the power of law to fight senior poverty by securing access to affordable health care, economic security, and the courts for older adults with limited resources. Since 1972 we\u2019ve focused our efforts primarily
on fighting for people who have been marginalized and excluded from justice, such as women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and people with limited English proficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">About Brown Goldstein & Levy</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><br>
Brown, Goldstein & Levy provides the highest quality legal services to a broad range of clients, without sacrificing our deep sense of community and social responsibility. By elevating our clients\u2019 voices and fighting for their rights, we seek to bring about
a more just world \u2013 sometimes one dispute at a time, sometimes through systemic change.<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">For additional information, please contact:</span></b><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">National Federation of the Blind: Stephanie Cascone at <a href="mailto:communications@nfb.org"><span style="color:#005AA3">communications@nfb.org</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">American Association of People with Disabilities at <a href="mailto:jdavidson@aapd.com"><span style="color:#005AA3">jdavidson@aapd.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Deaf Equality at <a href="mailto:contact@deafequality.org"><span style="color:#005AA3">contact@deafequality.org</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare at <a href="mailto:Gottliebw@NCPSSM.org"><span style="color:#005AA3">Gottliebw@NCPSSM.org </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Justice in Aging at <a href="mailto:vbarrington@justiceinaging.org"><span style="color:#005AA3">vbarrington@justiceinaging.org</span></a>; <a href="mailto:rbailey@justiceinaging.org"><span style="color:#005AA3">rbailey@justiceinaging.org</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Brown Goldstein & Levy, LLP at <a href="mailto:ehill@browngold.com"><span style="color:#005AA3">ehill@browngold.com </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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