<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tomorrow and Thursday, March 14 and 15, please email or call the following members of the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Urge them to vote in favor of HB 1088. This bill will enhance the enforcement of nonvisual access requirements that the State already has regarding purchasing hardware and software products and making sure that websites remain accessible. The goal of this bill is to make sure that blind people have the same access to public information that sighted people have. We also want to make sure that State employees that are blind have the tools they need to do their jobs. It is very important that you do this because we have opposition from both the Department of Information Technology and from the Department of Disabilities. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here are the main switchboard numbers. You can ask for the specific extension that you want by pushing “0”. The numbers are either 301-858-3000 or 410-841-3000. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Everyone should write to the chairman of the House Health and Government Operations Committee, Shane Pendergrass. The email address for all delegates is <a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@house.state.md.us">firstname.lastname@house.state.md.us</a> unless otherwise noted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Anne Arundel County, write to Nicholaus Kipke, Joseline Pena-Melnyk (<a href="mailto:joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us">joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us</a>), and Sid Saab.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Baltimore City, write to Antonio Hayes, and Samuel Rosenberg.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Baltimore County, write to Eric Bromwell, Terri Hill, Pat McDonough, Ric Metzgar, Christian Miele, Kathy Szeliga, and Chris West.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Carroll County, write to Susan Krebs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Dorchester County, write to Sheree Sample-Hughes (<a href="mailto:sheree.sample.hughes@house.state.md.us">sheree.sample.hughes@house.state.md.us</a>).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Frederick County, write to Karen Young.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Harford County, write to Kathy Szeliga.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Montgomery County, write to Bonnie Cullison, Ariana Kelly, Marice Morales, and Andrew Platt.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in P.G. County, write to Angela Angel, Erek Barron, and Joseline Pena-Melnyk (<a href="mailto:joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us">joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us</a>).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in St. Mary’s County, write to Matthew Morgan.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Wicomico County, write to Sheree Sample-Hughes (<a href="mailto:sheree.sample.hughes@house.state.md.us">sheree.sample.hughes@house.state.md.us</a>).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sharon Maneki, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day 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</span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>