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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi members, you will get responses if you just become active. Thanks, Beth <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> llee@nfbct.org <llee@nfbct.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, March 24, 2022 11:15 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'Elizabeth Rival' <erival@comcast.net><br><b>Subject:</b> FW: testimony for SB397: An Act Concerning Library Service for Persons Who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Have Other Disabilities<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> zRepresentative Donna Veach <<a href="mailto:Donna.Veach@housegop.ct.gov">Donna.Veach@housegop.ct.gov</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, March 24, 2022 10:33 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'llee@nfbct.org' <<a href="mailto:llee@nfbct.org">llee@nfbct.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> testimony for SB397: An Act Concerning Library Service for Persons Who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Have Other Disabilities<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div id=divRplyFwdMsg><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Dear Elizabeth,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><div><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I hope you are well. Thank you for sending me a copy of your testimony for the Appropriation’ s Committee regarding SB 397. I can understand your concerns over this proposal and moving the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) out of Middletown with the Connecticut State Library. I will be sure to keep this in mind when and if this proposal comes up for a vote in the House.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Again, thanks for reaching out about this important issue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Donna <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="96%" style='width:96.86%;margin-left:.45pt;margin-right:.45pt'><tr><td width="12%" valign=top style='width:12.7%;border:none;border-top:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:11.25pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:115%;mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1F497D'><img border=0 width=120 height=120 style='width:1.25in;height:1.25in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01D83F6A.8337B8E0" alt=2009hrologo></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width="87%" valign=top style='width:87.3%;border:none;border-top:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:11.25pt 0in 0in 7.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#333333'>State Representative Donna Veach</span></b><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#333333'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#0D0D0D'>30<sup>th</sup> District – Berlin and Southington<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#333333'>House Republican Office </span><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#999999'>| </span><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#333333'>Connecticut General Assembly<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#333333'><a href="mailto:Donna.Veach@housegop.ct.gov">Donna.Veach@housegop.ct.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><b><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#4A442A'>Office: 800.842.1423 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:2.7pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=xmsonormal><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:llee@nfbct.org">llee@nfbct.org</a> <<a href="mailto:llee@nfbct.org">llee@nfbct.org</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 23, 2022 10:39 AM<br><b>To:</b> AppTestimony <<a href="mailto:apptestimony@cga.ct.gov">apptestimony@cga.ct.gov</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Rep. Abercrombie, Catherine <<a href="mailto:Catherine.Abercrombie@cga.ct.gov">Catherine.Abercrombie@cga.ct.gov</a>>; Rep. Veach, Donna <<a href="mailto:Donna.Veach@cga.ct.gov">Donna.Veach@cga.ct.gov</a>>; Sen. Lopes, Rick <<a href="mailto:Rick.Lopes@cga.ct.gov">Rick.Lopes@cga.ct.gov</a>>; <a href="mailto:Maryanne.melley@gmail.com">Maryanne.melley@gmail.com</a>; <a href="mailto:andrew.norton@ct.gov">andrew.norton@ct.gov</a><br><b>Subject:</b> testimony for SB397: An Act Concerning Library Service for Persons Who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Have Other Disabilities<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=xmsonormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonospacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><img border=0 width=370 height=157 style='width:3.8541in;height:1.6354in' id="x_Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D83ECF.39ECC400"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>March 23, 2022</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>RE: SB397: An Act Concerning Library Service For Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Have Other Disabilities</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dear Chairs Osten and Walker, Vice Chairs Hartley, Dathan and Nolan, and members of the Appropriations Committee,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am First Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut, the largest organization of blind people in our state. The National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut is not in favor of SB397: An Act Concerning Library Service for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Have Other Disabilities. I would like to state that we are not in favor of moving the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) out of Middletown with the Connecticut State Library. SB397 proposes moving LBPH to the Department of Aging and Disability Services which would maintain the service. Money spent for this change would be very wasteful. The Library, currently located in Middletown, is running just fine. Six years ago, we were notified by the then-director of the LBPH that the Library would be moved from their old location in Rocky Hill to the Middletown Library Service Center. As items become digitized, less space is required.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Department of Aging and Disability Services, more specifically the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind is not in a position to maintain the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The Bureau currently has issues with retirements creating several open positions, including the Director position. Also of special importance to the blind community is the assistant technology trainer position that has been open for almost 2 years. This open position creates a major problem for blind people because technology is always changing and evolving. Any funding for the Department of Aging and Disability Services, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind should not be wasted on moving and reorganizing an already effective Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, but rather be spent on filling these and other job positions that serve the blind community in Connecticut. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Thank you for listening to our positions on these very important issues. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Elizabeth Rival</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Vice President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>860-916-0459</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="mailto:erival@comcast.net">erival@comcast.net</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>CC: Senator Catherine Abercrombie</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> Representative Donna Veach</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> Representative Rick Lopes</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Maryanne Melley, President, National Federation of the Blind of CT</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> Andrew Norton, Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonospacing><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonospacing align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>111 Sheldon Road, Unit 420, Manchester, CT 06045</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonospacing align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Tel. 860.289.1971 </span></b><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfbct.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7CBobbie.Bergeron%40cga.ct.gov%7Cf13a6acd88904863955308da0da2ea49%7C3ec76714b1b4418a883232c46ec84226%7C0%7C0%7C637837290618312484%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=Kn9LWgeSDq1LqIP2MCa2udOhYtC0gCEzOyuuPcWok5k%3D&reserved=0"><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>www.nfbct.org</span></b></a><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Maryanne Melley, President</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xmsonormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>