[Massachusetts-NFB] Critical and Time-Sensitive Opportunity to Advocate for the Rights of Blind Students

[sharawinton at gmail.com]

Thank you Pam! 

 

 

Shara Winton

President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

 <http://www.nfbma.org/> www.nfbma.org

 <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> sharawinton at gmail.com

617-304-0347

 

From: Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Pam Kalinoski via Massachusetts-NFB
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 8:16 PM
To: massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org
Cc: Pam Kalinoski <pamsyk52 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Critical and Time-Sensitive Opportunity to Advocate for the Rights of Blind Students

 

Hi Kyra, 

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the advocacy meeting but did contact my representative, Seth Seth. I can be reached for more info at 781-922-0800. Thanks for reaching out to me. 

Pam Kalinoski 

Sent from my iPhone





On Oct 21, 2025, at 7:09 PM, Kyra Sweeney via Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org <mailto:massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org> > wrote:



Hello everyone,

I'm writing to you all tonight with an urgent request for your assistance with legislative advocacy to preserve the rights of blind students.

As many of you may know, there have recently been  significant reductions in the workforce at the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office for Civil Rights. If not reversed, these actions 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.

The legislative team at the NFB national office has determined that our best advocacy strategy for this issue will be to meet with our representatives and senators in person to express our deep concerns about the potential impact of these cuts at the Department of Education and ask them to do what they can to reverse the cuts. As the government is currently shut down, the legislators are stationed in their district offices, so we will be able to meet with them in person without having to travel to Washington, D.C.

I am currently in the process of setting up  in-person meetings with both of our senators and all nine of our representatives, and I need NFBMA members to attend these meetings. My plan is to put together a team of members who are interested in participating in this advocacy effort, and we will divide the meetings among team members based on availability and location. Because we are trying to have 11 meetings before November 7, I need as many members as possible to join this team!

If you are interested in participating in this legislative advocacy, please send me an email at kyra.sweeney94 at gmail.com <mailto:kyra.sweeney94 at gmail.com> . In the email, please include the name of your representative (or your address if you would like me to look this up) and the best number at which to reach you. This will be a fast-moving and time-sensitive effort, so please commit to responding to texts/emails ASAP or within 24 hours if you sign up.

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. Let's work together to ensure that blind students have access to educational opportunities that will allow them to pursue their goals and live the lives they want!

Best,

Kyra Sweeney
First Vice President and Legislative Director, National Federation of the Blind of MA

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