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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We learned that the House Subcommittee on Motorvehicle and Transportation in the Environment and Transportation Committee is contemplating amending our bill to remove monitoring of bus stops and curb cuts. Those are the very parts of the bill that would make this a disability bill. We need you to call or write the members of the subcommittee right away to tell them not to amend the bill to remove bus stops and curb cuts from monitoring. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You might say something like:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Delegate,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m writing to urge you to leave curb cuts and bus stops in the coverage of HB0107, as vehicles that block curb cuts and bus stop prevent people who have disabilities, including blindness, like me, from being able to safely and independently travel in the community. When a vehicle blocks a bus stop that I am trying to use, I often don’t know that the bus is pulling up elsewhere, because I rely on the audio announcements to know where the bus is and which bus it is. If it doesn’t pull up where it is supposed to pull up, I don’t know it is there and miss it. This is also problematic for those using wheelchairs and other mobility devices, as bus stops are built for sufficient clearance for a mobility device and the bus ramp, whereas other locations along the street may have obstructions. Finally, curb cuts are necessary for independent mobility for pedestrians with disabilities, and they too need to remain unobstructed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please resist amending HB0107 to remove bus stops and curb cuts from the bill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>[Your name]<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You should send an email and/or call everyone on the subcommittee. They are listed below, and their email addresses are firstname.last <a href="mailto:name@house.state.md.us">name@house.state.md.us</a>, and their phone numbers are 410-841-xxxx. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Chair: Sara Love – Ext. 3454<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Jackie Addison – Ext. 3551<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Debra Davis – Ext. 3337<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Michele Guyton – Ext. 3793<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Anne Healey – Ext. 3961<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Jay Jacobs – Ext. 3449<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Todd Morgan – Ext. 3319<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Vaughn Stewart – Ext. 3528<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Natalie Ziegler – Ext. 3352<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please copy <a href="mailto:Annapolis@nfbmd.org">Annapolis@nfbmd.org</a> if you email and let me know if you call.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>