[NFB-Idaho] Fw: Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Wed Oct 15 14:25:18 UTC 2025

I have already sent my E-mail to Crapo, Risch, Simpson, and Fulcher.

So much to be said here.

DON WINIECKI

Handid Braille Services

   - a 501(c)(3) non-profit producer of braille & accessible media
   - specializing in languages that don't use Latin symbols systems
   - winner of the 2024 Jacob Bolotin Award from the National Federation of
   the Blind, for work producing braille in languages other than English
   - Notary Public, State of Idaho 20252314

Email: dwiniecki at handid.org

Web: https://www.handid.org <https://www.handid.org/>

Tel: +1 208/571-8096 <+1+208+571+8096>

Fax: +1 844/646-1568

   - Your donations make braille free for others!
   - Donate tax-deductible funds to Handid by clicking here
   <https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LW9KZFRKQY67C>!

[image: logo for "security metrics," showing that Handid Braille Services
uses high reliability security processes and tools.]

On Wed, Oct 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM Ramona Walhof via NFB-Idaho <
nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I received this message this morning, and I believe it is an emergency.
> Reducttion in force at the federal government can be taken too far.  Please
> read this message carefully and take action by contacting our Senators and
> representatives.  That's the only way they have to know it affects blind
> people, especially children and newly blind.  The 3 laws affected here
> cannot be administered primarily by the states because they are federal
> laws.
> Ramona
> ________________________________
> From: National Federation of the Blind <webmaster at nfb.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 2:18 AM
> To: Ramona Walhof <walhoframona at gmail.com>
> Subject: Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of
> Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
>
>
> [https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg]
> [National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want]<
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40485&qid=11820339>
> Member Call to Action
>
> Dear Federation Family,
>
> 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:
>
> National Federation of the Blind Denounces Devastating Job Cuts Within the
> Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services<
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11820339>.
>
> If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of
> Education’s 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. Access the full statement and
> resources<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11820339>.
>
> 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.
>
> 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’s 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.
>
> 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.
>
> The consequences will be devastating—fewer 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."
>
> We suggest a subject like: "Please Urge the Administration to Rescind the
> Reduction in Force Order Regarding OSERS"
>
> To find the contact information for your specific senators’ or
> representative’s office, please download the Senate spreadsheet<
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40487&qid=11820339> or the House
> spreadsheet<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40488&qid=11820339>.
> They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol
> Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.
>
> If you send an email, please copy Justin Young at jyoung at nfb.org<
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40489&qid=11820339>.
>
> If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members
> of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at lwalsh at nfb.org.
>
> Thank you for your commitment to advance the lives of our members and all
> blind people in the United States.
>
>
> [Facebook Logo] <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40490&qid=11820339>
>     [Twitter Logo]  <
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40491&qid=11820339>      [Instagram
> Logo] <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40492&qid=11820339>
>  [YouTube Logo] <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40493&qid=11820339>
>      [Email Icon Image] <
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40494&qid=11820339>   [Donate to
> the NFB Icon.]  <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40495&qid=11820339>
> National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
> 21230 | 410-659-9314
> Unsubscribe from this mailing list<
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=25460&qid=11820339&h=d1eaa5ede828db5b>
> | Opt out of all mailing lists<
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=25460&qid=11820339&h=d1eaa5ede828db5b>
> |  Sign up for our newsletter<
> https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40496&qid=11820339>
> 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
> Baltimore, MD 21230
> United States
> ..
>
> _______________________________________________
> NFB-Idaho mailing list
> NFB-Idaho at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-idaho_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NFB-Idaho:
>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-idaho_nfbnet.org/dwiniecki%40handid.org
>