[Nevada-Announce] Reflections on the 2025 Washington seminar: the work continues

[Mark Tadder]

Dear NFB of Nevada Friends and Family,




As our delegation wraps up the 2025 Washington Seminar and prepares to return home to the Silver State, I want to take a moment to share some reflections on our efforts this year. Alongside representatives from all 51 affiliates of our organization, we adapted our advocacy approach in response to recent national discussions on funding, grants, and potential challenges to key federal laws impacting blind people and individuals with disabilities.



We began our meetings by emphasizing the critical importance of three foundational laws: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These laws have been instrumental in advancing our rights and opportunities over the past 85 years, and we made it clear that they must be preserved and protected.



In addition, we presented seven key federal funding sources that are essential for blind people to live independently, access employment, and fully participate in our communities. These funding sources support areas such as rehabilitation services, special education, the National Library Service for the Blind and Talking Books program, paratransit, Medicaid, and more.



Throughout our visits to the six congressional offices representing Nevada, we encountered mostly positive engagement, but it's clear that our advocacy work is far from over. The National Federation of the Blind, both nationally and here in Nevada, remains steadfast in our mission to ensure equal opportunity and essential support for blind individuals. We will continue to raise our collective voice to protect our rights and the funding necessary for us to live the lives we want.



I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Becky Jayakumar, our outstanding legislative director, as well as Mario Castillo and Heather Destefano for their dedication and hard work. Their commitment to the movement was evident as we navigated the many corridors of the congressional office buildings, advocating for our cause.



You will be hearing more about our efforts in the coming weeks, and I look forward to working with all of you as we continue this fight together. Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the movement.



Yours in the movement,


Mark Tadder, President 
National Federation of the Blind of Nevada
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