<div dir="ltr"><div>Hello all,</div><div><br></div><div>
We must get the SB921 Accountability Act for Accessible K-12 Education
enacted into law. The first step is to convince the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
committee to vote in favor of the bill.
The hearing will be on March 9 so please get your email in right away. The email address is <a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@house.state.md.us" target="_blank">firstname.lastname@senate.state.md.us</a> .
If there is an unusual email, I will give it to you. If you do not have
email, please call and leave a message at the office asking the senator
to support the bill. The main number is either 410-841 or 301-858. I
will provide the appropriate extensions. Please take action this coming
week. This
bill requires local school systems to take certain actions to prevent
the purchase of inaccessible information and communication technology.
There will be a sample letter in a separate email if you need it. Here
is the list of Senators. <br></div><div><br></div><div>
<div>Everyone should write to the chairman of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs committee, Senator Paul Pinsky, ext 3155. <br></div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Anne Arundel County, write to Senators Edward Reilly, ext. 3568, and Bryan Simonaire, ext. 3658. <br></div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Baltimore City, write to Senator Mary Washington, ext. 3145.<br></div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Howard County or Baltimore County, write to Senator Clarence Lam and thank him for sponsoring the bill, ext. 3653.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Carroll or Howard County, write to Senator Katie Fry Hester (<a href="mailto:katiefry.hester@senate.state.md.us" target="_blank">katiefry.hester@senate.state.md.us</a>), ext. 3671.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Charles County, write to Senator Arthur Ellis, ext 3616.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Cecil or Harford County, write to Senator Jason Gallion, ext. 3603.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Montgomery County, write to Senator Cheryl Kagan, ext. 3134.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Prince George's County, write to Senator Obie Patterson, ext. 3092.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Somerset, Wicomico, or Worcester County, write to Senator Mary Beth Carroza, ext 3645.</div>
</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you.<br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font size="2">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</font></b></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">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.<br></font></div><div><b><font size="2"></font></b></div><div><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div>