<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Hi Stuart and All,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Amy Rowson here,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I was the one who wrote the email to the other list.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Scott Dollar, who commented earlier, and I are on the task force along with three other DB consumers, two SSP's, Beth Jordan and two members at MCDHH.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"> This sample letter only asks about Funding the SSP program. Yes, the SSP program needs $600,000. So, we actually need to request more than that so that we can increase the scholarship funds as well. if the bill passes and the legislature appropriate $600,000 then approximately $50,000-$75,000 would be taken out for the scholarship.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">The law states that the grant given to MCDHH will pay for SPIE: Scholarship Program for Independence and Education for the above groups as well as the SSP program.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Yes, I think DB consumers, SSPS and our supporters should be contacting our representatives to let them know of the great need for more funds for the SSP program. It is also imperative that we have some parents of DB children and DB adults Who are not using the SSP program to also contact their representatives. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"> I am advocating for both the SSP program and the SPIE funds. It was in one of our meetings that Beth let us know that originally the legislature voted for the bill because of the DB children. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">below is the verbiage for the law as it is currently written.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span class="s10" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: bold; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">RSMo.</span></span><span class="s10" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: bold; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s10" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: bold; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">161.412</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="Effective_28_Aug_2016_"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Effective</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">28</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Aug</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">2016</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="Title_XI_EDUCATION_AND_LIBRARIES_"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Title</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">XI</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">EDUCATION</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">AND</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">LIBRARIES</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="Chapter_161_"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Chapter</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">161</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="161.412._Issuance_of_grants_to_deaf-blin"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">161.412.</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Issuance</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">of</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">grants</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">to</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">deaf-blind</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">adults</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">and</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">children</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">and</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">their</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">families.</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">–</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Subject</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">to appropriations,</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">the</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Missouri</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">commission</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">for</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">the</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">deaf</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">and</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">hard</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">of</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">hearing shall provide grants to:</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="(1)_Organizations_that_provide_services_"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Organizations that provide services for deaf-blind children and their families. Such services may include providing family support advocates to assist deaf- blind children in participating in their communities and family education</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">specialists</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">to teach parents and siblings</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">skills</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">to</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">support</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">the deaf-blind</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">children in their family;</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="(2)_Organizations_that_provide_services_"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Organizations that</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">provide</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">services for deaf-blind adults.</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Such grants shall</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">be used to provide assistance to deaf-blind adults who are working towards establishing and maintaining independence, and</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="(3)_Organizations_that_train_support_ser"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Organizations</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">that</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">train</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">support</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">service providers.</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Such</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">grants</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">shall</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">be</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">used</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">to provide training that will lead to certification of support service providers in </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">Missouri.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="2._The_commission_shall_use_a_request-fo"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">The</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">commission</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">shall use</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">a</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">request-for-proposal</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">process</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">to</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">award</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">the</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"></span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">grants</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">in</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">this section. Organizations that receive grants under this section may expand the grant for any purpose authorized in this section. The total amount of grants provided under this section shall not exceed three hundred thousand dollars annually.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><a name="(L._2016_H.B._1696)_"></a><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">(L.</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">2016</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">H.B.</span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 14.4px; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 1.5em;">1696)</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 21.6px; font-size: 18px;"><span class="s6" style="line-height: 21.6px; font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.6px;"> </span></p></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">EOMOn Feb 9, 2025, at 9:45 PM, Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span>Hi Eric, Stuart here.</span><br><span></span><br><span>I heard what most motivated legislators was that the funding would</span><br><span>help DeafBlind youth and minors. I wasn't privy to what actually</span><br><span>happened, but this is what a fellow DB contributed on another list</span><br><span>about the historical approval when discussing the current advocacy</span><br><span>letter being sent in Missouri to ask for more funding (note this is</span><br><span>doubly second-hand information at minimum at this point, so contacting</span><br><span>Beth Jordan with HKNC would likely help get closer to the source as a</span><br><span>lead you could follow):</span><br><span></span><br><span>"The SSP letter doesn't address the Scholarship Program for</span><br><span>Independence and Education(SPIE) funds For DeafBlind DB() children and</span><br><span>their families as well asDB adults whether you are in the SSP program</span><br><span>or not Which is part of the initial bill. In a previous task force</span><br><span>meeting, Beth Jordan, mentioned that it was DB children receiving</span><br><span>scholarship funds that sold it for the legislators in 2016. We cannot</span><br><span>leave this portion out of our plea this time."</span><br><span></span><br><span>Best of luck in your advocacy!</span><br><span></span><br><span>EOM</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM Eric Duffy via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:</span><br><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>I appreciate the replies I have received so far. Ohio funded $100,000 for what was to be a pilot program. In the budget currently before the legislature there is no money for this program. What did you all do to get your current funding? What strategies are you employing now? I have been working on matters of importance to the blind of Ohio for a long time, but this is the first time we are going after funding for a program so important to the DEafblind.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Thanks.</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>Eric</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>On Feb 9, 2025, at 6:12 PM, Scott Dollar via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Hi Eric,</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Yes, Sheila is correct about Missouri. I am aware of the situation for Missouri.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Eric, it is very important for you to review your state bill language as the way it has already written in the langage. If you noticed as what Sheila mentioned as the language, it means it can't provide for more money for the service. If you want your state to prrvide for more money to the SSP program, then you do need to study what the language as to have the language to be remove.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Hope this help you.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Best regards,</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Scott Dollar</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Sent from my iPhone</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>On Feb 9, 2025, at 4:14 PM, Shelia Wright via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Eric,</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Missouri has an SSP Program but it is underfunded at $300,000. The bill that</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>established the program in 2016, stated it was not to exceed that amount.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Therefore, we are introducing a bill that removes the "not to exceed</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>$300,000. So we can work with the Budget committee to raise funding to</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>$600,000.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>It is too early to know how successful we will be at getting additional</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>funding.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Shelia Wright</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>-----Original Message-----</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>From: NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Eric Duffy via NFB-DB</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 5:28 PM</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>To: nfb-db@nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Cc: Eric Duffy <peduffy63@gmail.com></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Subject: [NFB-DB] SSP or co-navigator program</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>The current state budget in Ohio has money for a pilot program to provide</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>SSP services for deaf blind individuals. The program has exceeded all</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>expectations, yet all funding for the program has been eliminated in the new</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Executive Budget our Governor introduced yesterday.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>I am interested in learning about other states who have SSP services as</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>well as those who are trying to get legislative support for SSP or</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Co-Navigator programs.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Thank you.</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>Eric Duffy</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>_______________________________________________</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB:</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/sbwright95%40gmail.com</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>_______________________________________________</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/dollar031%40gmail.com</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>_______________________________________________</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/peduffy63%40gmail.com</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>_______________________________________________</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/stuartsalvador%40gmail.com</span><br></blockquote><span></span><br><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/amyrowson%40att.net</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>