<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Dear National Harbor Chapter Members and Friends</div><div dir="ltr"><br>
<p class="MsoNormal">The HB1181 bill needs to get to the Senate by Monday, March 22.
Here is a sample<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">message followed by the list of committee members.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please call or email and customize with supporting experiences or other supportive information when practical.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> The number to call is:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">410-841 or 301-858 with the appropriate ext listed below:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everyone should write to the chairman of the committee, Anne
Kaiser ext.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3036, and ask her to move this bill out of committee.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> If you live in
Charles County, write to Delegate Edith Patterson ext. 3247.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you live in Montgomery County, write to Delegates Eric
Luedtke ext.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3110, Julie Palakovich Carr
(<a href="mailto:julie.palakovichcarr@house.state.md.us">julie.palakovichcarr@house.state.md.us</a>) ext.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3003, and Jheanelle Wilkins ext. 3445.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you live in Prince George's County, write to Delegates
Alonzo Washington<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Vice Chair) ext. 3699<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Darryl Barnes ext.
3557<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Julian Ivey ext. 3326<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Call example <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello my name is … I live in (state your county or address) I
am calling to ask delegate …. to support by vote in favor of HB1181, the
Accountability Act for Accessible K-12Education. This bill will give blind
students their best chance to achieving quality education. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Additional information:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">HB1181 is a common-sense bill. The bill will require local
school systems to consult with their vision department before purchasing
information and communication technology so that they can discuss
accessibility. Vendors will be required to include an accessibility conformance
report in their reports to the local school system. The local school system
must annually send in an accessibility progress report to the Maryland State
Department of Education. The Maryland State Department of Education must
annually publish a statewide accessibility progress report on its website.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email Delegates example note will provide email if different
from tradition format:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@house.state.md.us">firstname.lastname@house.state.md.us</a><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chairwoman <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Anne.Kaiser@house.state.md.us">Anne.Kaiser@house.state.md.us</a> <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prince George’s <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Alonzo.Washington@house.state.md.us">Alonzo.Washington@house.state.md.us</a><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Darryl.Barnes</span>@<a href="http://house.state.md.us">house.state.md.us</a> <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Julian.Ivey</span>@<a href="http://house.state.md.us">house.state.md.us</a> <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Charles <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Edith.Patterson@house.state.md.us">Edith.Patterson@house.state.md.us</a> <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ext. 3247.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Montgomery<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="mailto:Eric.Luedtke@house.state.md.us">Eric.Luedtke@house.state.md.us</a>
<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ext.3110,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Julie Palakovich Carr
(<a href="mailto:julie.palakovichcarr@house.state.md.us">julie.palakovichcarr@house.state.md.us</a>)
<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ext.3003<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jheanelle.Wilkins@house.state.md.us">Jheanelle.Wilkins@house.state.md.us</a> <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">ext. 3445.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email Example:<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dear Delegate,<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Please vote in favor of HB1181, a bill that will provide
accountability measures to ensure that K-12 education is accessible to blind
students. Even though accessibility is required by law, local school systems
and the Maryland State Department of Education are not enforcing the law. Blind
students cannot access their instruction and digital content, complete and
submit their homework, participate in virtual class discussions, complete pop
quizzes and tests, or check their grades because platforms, programs, and apps
are not accessible. Vendors should know how to make their products accessible
because accessibility standards have been available since 1995.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><a name="_Hlk66966018"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">HB1181 is a
common-sense bill. The bill will require local school systems to consult with
their vision department before purchasing information and communication
technology so that they can discuss accessibility. Vendors will be required to
include an accessibility conformance report in their reports to the local
school system. The local school system must annually send in an accessibility
progress report to the Maryland State Department of Education. The Maryland
State Department of Education must annually publish a statewide accessibility
progress report on its website.<span></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Blind students deserve a quality education. Please make sure
they receive it by voting in favor of HB1181.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(Enclosure),<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Your Name
and Last name <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Address,State,zip
code <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Optional
phone number <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have any additional questions, please contact me or <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">410-715-9596<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Respectfully,<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Amber
Woods <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">President <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">National
Harbor Chapter <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">National
Federation of the Blind of Maryland <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">301-978-6686<span></span></span></p></div></div></div>