[Greater-Baltimore] Fwd: Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Fri Oct 17 17:22:02 UTC 2025

Hello all,

Please send an email or call your congressman, senators Alsobrooks and Van
Hollen concerning the tragic situation that blind people of all ages will
face if these reductions in employment stand. I am sure that most of you
know one or more people who lost their jobs as a result of this
announcement. You should ask the legislators to take action to restore this
reduction of staff. Please do it ASAP or by COB Tuesday. Read the message
below to get more details and for a sample of what you may say.

*Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy*
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
410-715-9596

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.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Sharon Maneki <skmaneki at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Oct 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Subject: Fwd: Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
To: <nfbmdsm at gmail.com>

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org>
Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Subject: Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
To: Sharon Maneki <skmaneki at gmail.com>

[image: National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you
want] <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40485&qid=11819213>
Member Call to Action

Dear Federation Family,

On Friday, October 10, the Department of Education issued reduction in
force notices to almost every employee in the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). As a result, we issued the following
statement:

National Federation of the Blind Denounces Devastating Job Cuts Within the
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11819213>.

If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of
Education’s ability to carry out its legal responsibilities under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act. Access the full statement and
resources <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11819213>.

Even though the federal government is currently shut down, we are asking
that you call or email both of your Senators and your Representative and
request them to take congressional action.

When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to
urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to take congressional action to protect
the congressionally mandated disability programs that have been devastated
by the reduction in force at the Department of Education issued on October
10. If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of
Education’s ability to carry out its legal responsibilities under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act.

These laws ensure that blind children receive Braille and other essential
educational services, that blind adults receive the training necessary for
competitive employment, and that blind entrepreneurs have opportunities to
operate businesses on federal properties.

The consequences will be devastating—fewer blind students learning Braille
and accessible technology, fewer blind adults receiving mobility and
employment training, and fewer business opportunities for blind
entrepreneurs. Please demand the Administration rescind the reduction in
force immediately to protect the disability-focused programs that Congress
previously established to educate and empower Americans with disabilities."

We suggest a subject like: "Please Urge the Administration to Rescind the
Reduction in Force Order Regarding OSERS"

To find the contact information for your specific senators’ or
representative’s office, please download the Senate spreadsheet
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40487&qid=11819213> or the House
spreadsheet <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40488&qid=11819213>.
They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol
Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.

If you send an email, please copy Justin Young at jyoung at nfb.org
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40489&qid=11819213>.

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members
of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at lwalsh at nfb.org.

Thank you for your commitment to advance the lives of our members and all
blind people in the United States.

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