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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello All-<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We did very well in the Maryland General Assembly this year! The online Access to Education Bills are awaiting the governor’s signature. The Maryland Health Care legislation was amended to state that the new Healthcare Exchange website must be accessible. The tax credit for businesses to make their websites accessible will be studied by the Department of Disabilities and by the Dept. of Information Technology. The report is due to the budget committees of the MD General Assembly in Oct. 2013.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Obtaining tax credits is very difficult, this is a good beginning for this bill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many thanks to all who visited Annapolis and wrote letters. The Maryland General Assembly knows the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. The power of collective action certainly works!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many thanks to everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sharon Maneki<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>