<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Hello all,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Please send an email or call your congressman, senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen concerning the tragic situation that blind people of all ages will face if these reductions in employment stand. I am sure that most of you know one or more people who lost their jobs as a result of this announcement. You should ask the legislators to take action to restore this reduction of staff. Please do it ASAP or by COB Tuesday. Read the message below to get more details and for a sample of what you may say. </div><br clear="all"></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><br><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Sharon Maneki</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:skmaneki@gmail.com">skmaneki@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, Oct 17, 2025 at 1:10\u202fPM<br>Subject: Fwd: Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services<br>To: <<a href="mailto:nfbmdsm@gmail.com">nfbmdsm@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:small"><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">National Federation of the Blind</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org" target="_blank">webmaster@nfb.org</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2025 at 10:17\u202fPM<br>Subject: Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services<br>To: Sharon Maneki <<a href="mailto:skmaneki@gmail.com" target="_blank">skmaneki@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br>
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<h1><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:24pt;color:black">Member Call to Action</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Dear Federation Family,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">On Friday, October 10, the Department of Education issued reduction in force notices to almost every employee in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). As a result, we issued the following statement: </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11819213" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">National Federation of the Blind Denounces Devastating Job Cuts Within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services</a>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of Education\u2019s 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. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11819213" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Access the full statement and resources</a>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Even though the federal government is currently shut down, we are asking that you call or email both of your Senators and your Representative and request them to take congressional action. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to take congressional action to protect the congressionally mandated disability programs that have been devastated by the reduction in force at the Department of Education issued on October 10. If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of Education\u2019s 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. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">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. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The consequences will be devastating\u2014fewer blind students learning Braille and accessible technology, fewer blind adults receiving mobility and employment training, and fewer business opportunities for blind entrepreneurs. Please demand the Administration rescind the reduction in force immediately to protect the disability-focused programs that Congress previously established to educate and empower Americans with disabilities."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We suggest a subject like: "Please Urge the Administration to Rescind the Reduction in Force Order Regarding OSERS"</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">To find the contact information for your specific senators\u2019 or representative\u2019s office, please download <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40487&qid=11819213" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Senate spreadsheet</a> or <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40488&qid=11819213" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the House spreadsheet</a>. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">If you send an email, please copy Justin Young at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40489&qid=11819213" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">jyoung@nfb.org</a>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at <a href="mailto:lwalsh@nfb.org" target="_blank">lwalsh@nfb.org</a>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Thank you for your commitment to advance the lives of our members and all blind people in the United States. </span></p>
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National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 </td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=25460&qid=11819213&h=2bf25c442eec5dd1" title="Unsubscribe" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold" target="_blank">Unsubscribe from this mailing list</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=25460&qid=11819213&h=2bf25c442eec5dd1" title="Opt Out" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold" target="_blank">Opt out of all mailing lists</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40496&qid=11819213" rel="nofollow" title="Sign up for email newsletter" style="color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold" target="_blank">Sign up for our newsletter</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="display:none;color:white;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold"> <div><span><span>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span><br><span>Baltimore</span>, <span>MD</span> <span>21230</span><br><span>United States</span></span></div>.. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
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