<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Good morning NFBI,<div><br></div><div>I am resending the original email as a reminder that individual comments are due to the SILC Wednesday at the latest. We need as many individual submissions as we can get.</div><div><br></div><div>I also just sent out the press release approved by the NFBI board. We are sharing it with the media, SILC, and others. Feel free to send it to your individual legislators and elsewhere as appropriate.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for all your help,</div><div>Helen<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>From: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iowa Department for the Blind <IADB@public.govdelivery.com><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) Eliminates Funding for IDB Independent Living Services in Proposed 2025-2027 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL)</b><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Date: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">June 27, 2024 at 1:17:56 PM CDT<br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hstevensnfb@gmail.com<br></span></div><br><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="Singleton" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 16.799999px; width: 710px;"><a name="gd_top" id="gd_top"></a><table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="center" class="gd_tbl_wrap" style="border-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#f1f1f1" style="border-collapse: collapse !important; background-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 710px;"><table class="main-table" width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="yahoo" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="outer-container" width="100%" data-govdstyle="all" data-govdtitle="Container" style="border-collapse: collapse !important;"><table class="main-table" width="600" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse !important;"><table class="main-table" width="600" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: auto; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="main-header" width="100%" data-govdstyle="all" data-govdtitle="Main Header" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="border-collapse: collapse !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 5px 0px 0px;"><p class="gd_p" align="center" style="text-align: center; line-height: 21px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Faccounts%2FIACIO%2Fbulletins%2F3a55222/1/010001905aeb1fa1-73858fde-2885-46fb-b757-95069b9b9167-000000/ofh7K-Q_JQ8T0tRepLsyGSgearjWnAqYPUaGZZ0p4o0=359" style="color: rgb(47, 94, 140); text-decoration: underline; word-break: break-word; hyphens: none;">here</a></p><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: auto; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse !important;"><img class="govd_template_image" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2021/01/4018095/3357833/idb-color-icon-social-media_crop.jpg" alt="Iowa Department for the Blind Logo" width="201" height="201" style="height: auto; line-height: 1; outline: currentcolor; text-decoration: none; border: medium; width: 201px;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="gd_caption" align="center" style="width: 600px; text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 14.933333px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Iowa Department for the Blind Logo</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse !important;"><table class="main-table" width="600" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: auto; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="title" width="100%" data-govdstyle="all" data-govdtitle="Title" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="border-collapse: collapse !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse !important;"><table class="main-table" width="600" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: auto; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="call-to-action" width="100%" data-govdstyle="all" data-govdtitle="Date" bgcolor="#2e406b" style="border-collapse: collapse !important; background-color: rgb(46, 64, 107); padding: 5px 15px 0px;"><p class="gd_p" align="left" style="text-align: left; line-height: 22.4px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><strong>Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) Eliminates Funding for IDB Independent Living Services in Proposed 2025-2027 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL)</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse !important;"><table class="main-table" width="600" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: auto; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="main-body" width="100%" data-govdstyle="all" data-govdtitle="Main Body" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="border-collapse: collapse !important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); padding: 5px 15px 15px;"><p align="left" style="line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0px;">The Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is seeking public comment on its draft of the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) 2025-2027. Under the draft plan, the Iowa Department for the Blind is no longer listed as a partner or member of the statewide Independent Living network. For more than 15 years, IDB had been included as a partner and had received approximately $64,000 in federal Part B funding annually. This funding allowed IDB to provide independent living training to individuals not served by our Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) grant or VR grant. This included all blind and low vision Iowans who are not able to seek employment and are under the age of 55. Under the current draft SPIL, IDB will no longer receive this funding. Without this federal grant, IDB will need to end or drastically scale back its IL Younger Blind Program on October 1, 2024. If the SPIL is submitted in its current form, blind and low vision Iowans seeking independent living skills training will need to seek services from Centers for Independent Living. Currently Centers for Independent Living provide service in only 35 of Iowa's 99 counties. The Centers for Independent Living do not have the staff or training to provide the adjustment to blindness skill training or access technology that IDB provides. IDB's Independent Living Program provides service throughout the state.</p><div style="line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0px;"> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p align="left" style="line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0px;">The SPIL will be open for written public comment June 11, 2024 – July 10, 2024. This written comment period will allow Iowans with disabilities, Iowa Disability Organization representatives or advocates, and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input and recommendations into the State Plan.</p><div style="line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0px;"> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p align="left" style="line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0px;">The draft plan can be viewed at this link:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fiowasilc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F06%2FIowa-SPIL-2025-2027-DRAFT-June-2024-1.pdf%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001905aeb1fa1-73858fde-2885-46fb-b757-95069b9b9167-000000/v1VebeY_On3JJbRCTA-2McEw4WgAYvjEv_PZ7b1ybLk=359" style="color: rgb(46, 64, 107); text-decoration: underline; word-break: break-word; hyphens: none;">https://iowasilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Iowa-SPIL-2025-2027-DRAFT-June-2024-1.pdf</a></p><div style="line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0px;"> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p align="left" style="line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; margin: 10px 0px;">Written comments and input regarding the draft SPIL may be emailed / submitted to:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:ed@iowasilc.org" style="color: rgb(46, 64, 107); text-decoration: underline; word-break: break-word; hyphens: none;">ed@iowasilc.org</a>.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse !important;"><table class="main-table" width="600" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: auto; margin: 0px auto;"><tbody><tr><td id="main-footer" width="100%" data-govdstyle="all" data-govdtitle="Main Footer" align="center" bgcolor="#2e406b" style="border-collapse: collapse !important; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(46, 64, 107); padding: 15px 15px 5px;"><p class="gd_p" align="center" style="text-align: center; line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Iowa Department for the Blind<br>524 Fourth Street<br>Des Moines, IA 50309-2364</p><p class="gd_p" align="center" style="text-align: center; line-height: 19.6px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Phone: 515-281-1333<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:information@blind.state.ia.us" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: underline; word-break: break-word; hyphens: none;">information@blind.state.ia.us</a></p><img class="govd_template_image" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/IACIO/2017/02/1217332/american-job-center-logo_original.jpg" alt="A proud partner of the american job center network" width="570" height="33" style="height: auto; 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