<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Well, that\u2019s good that that was brought to your attention, way to go David for flagging that problem that would\u2019ve made all of us not too happy if we couldn\u2019t report by phone. I am planning to write the email in a very short time today. To get that out to our representatives That I have and definitely are two senators.<div>Stephen<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Sep 12, 2025, at 11:09\u202fAM, Kyra Sweeney <kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<div dir="ltr">Good morning everyone,<div><br></div><div>I have just found out that the phone number in the email I sent last night does not work. If you are calling the Department of Education, please call this number instead: 202-401-3000.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks to David Ticchi for figuring this out with the national office and sharing the correct number!</div><div><br></div><div>Kyra</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Sep 11, 2025 at 8:22\u202fPM stephen yerardi <<a href="mailto:spyerardi@gmail.com">spyerardi@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto"> Thank you kyra I had forwarded the same content practically from a ER, which I had been a member of when I was with Diana Petschauer her company was Assistive Technology for education and employment, when I was in New Hampshire, we would go around to the school district, and train with braille displays and iPads, teachers of visually impaired, and their parents and IEP teams, for on instructions with the refresh of Braille display 18, and the iPad.<div>I am glad that I still forwarded what I had from earlier. But this is great to see that NFB was backing it up. And I had a feeling somehow they were responsible meaning the National Federation Of The Blind for those grants to have the training centers. My long-term, I mean long time teacher Sandy Smith, work with Umass Boston with the Braille teaching program.</div><div>It\u2019s nice to see that I was not that far off with it. I will be writing definitely a letter as it says in there to secretary McMahon\u2018s attention.</div><div>Thank you for forwarding it, I mean, letting us know that the National office is behind it. I had a feeling that we\u2019re going to be. Sincerely,</div><div><br></div><div>Steven.</div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Sep 11, 2025, at 6:28\u202fPM, Kyra Sweeney via Massachusetts-NFB <<a href="mailto:massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Hello everyone,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">The Department of Education has just cut funding for blind students by canceling grants intended to train educators of blind students to be fluent in Braille. One of the Braille training grants that was canceled was for a program for teachers of the blind here in Massachusetts at UMass Boston. It is critical that we call and email the Department of Education to express our opposition to these cuts. Details on how to do so can be found below. I am available to answer questions that anyone may have.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Best,</div><div dir="ltr">Kyra Sweeney</div><div dir="ltr">NFBMA First Vice President and Legislative Director</div><div dir="ltr"><a href="mailto:kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com" target="_blank">kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com</a></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind <<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org" target="_blank">webmaster@nfb.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> September 11, 2025 at 6:00:28\u202fPM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Kyra Sweeney <<a href="mailto:kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com" target="_blank">kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Legislative Alert: Reinstate Funding for Blind Students</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> <a href="mailto:Bounces%2Br.25331.11640739.a5da437473238a3b@mailings.nfb.org" target="_blank">Bounces+r.25331.11640739.a5da437473238a3b@mailings.nfb.org</a><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff
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<h1><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:24pt;color:black">Blind Americans Urge the Department of Education to Reinstate Funding for Critical Programs that Benefit the Blind</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Earlier this week, the National Federation of the Blind learned that the US Department of Education was canceling funding for twenty-five competitive grants that fall under Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and nine grants that are distributed by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Critically, of the programs being cut under the RSA is funding for 235E grants, which are specifically tailored to train educators of blind students to be more fluent in Braille. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind instigated the creation of these Braille demonstration program grants nearly thirty years ago and they have had a tremendous positive outcome on Braille literacy in that time. As if that wasn\u2019t bad enough, the grants that were cut also included federal funding for four technical assistance centers for families of deafblind children. </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">How Members Can Help</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We know that Braille literacy in our youth often leads to better performance in school, the ability to obtain and keep employment as an adult, and the freedom to live a life of independence. That all begins with educators who understand and can teach Braille themselves. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Additionally, we know that our deafblind brothers and sisters and their families truly benefit from the opportunity to utilize training centers across the country and that any decrease in funding will be detrimental to living independently. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We need to flood the US Department of Education with calls and emails and urge them to maintain these important funding grants. That\u2019s where you come in. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We are asking that you call or email the US Department of Education and urge them to reinstate this critical funding to support Braille literacy and independence. If you are emailing, please send your messages to <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40222&qid=11640739" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">IDEA@ed.gov</a> and <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40223&qid=11640739" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">linda.mcmahon@ed.gov.</a> If you are calling, please call 202-245-7468. </span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:18pt"><font color="1b5633">Sample Script</font></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">When you call or email you might say: \u201cMy name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge Secretary McMahon to reinstate the grant funding for IDEA Part D programs as well as the RSA 235E grants. This funding is critical to support increased Braille literacy for teachers of blind students and the blind youth of America. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Studies have shown that students who can read Braille go on to have better education outcomes and better employment outcomes later in life. Additionally, I\u2019m also asking that you reinstate funding for the four deafblind technical assistance centers in Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Please allow today\u2019s blind and deafblind students to have an opportunity to better themselves for a brighter future for all of us.\u201d</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We suggest a subject like: \u201cPlease Reinstate Critical Funding for Blind and Deafblind Students\u201d </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">If you email, please copy Justin Young at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40224&qid=11640739" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">jyoung@nfb.org. </a></span></p>
<span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">About the National Federation of the Blind</span>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), 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. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">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/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40225&qid=11640739" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">nfb.org</a>.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">Government Affairs Contact:</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Justin Young<br>
Governmental Affairs Specialist<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
410-659-9314, extension 2210<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40224&qid=11640739" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">jyoung@nfb.org</a></span></p>
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