[NFB-Idaho] FW: Urgent Call Regarding RIF at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

[Donald Winiecki]

I have put this on my calendar and hope to be able to join.

With the idea that we aim to attract State and Federal political leaders to
our State Convention next year, we all have to be ready to talk with
them about how this RIF is endangering the organized blind movement and its
members, indeed many others too!

This session with President Riccobono will help us to set a course for our
efforts.

Best,



DON WINIECKI

Handid Braille Services


   - a 501(c)(3) non-profit producer of braille & accessible media
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Email: dwiniecki at handid.org

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On Thu, Oct 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM Dana Ard via NFB-Idaho <nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Everyone is invited to join. Please share with those who may not be on
>
> This list. We not only need to be on the call, but we need to contact our
> congressional representatives. It really doesn’t matter what side of the
> aisle you are on, if this RIF goes through, services and opportunities for
> all blind people will be impacted. The government created IDEA, the
> Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard programs.  The
> government has a responsibility to maintain them. We, as individuals, don’t
> have the money, power, or influence to carry on these 3 programs without
> the support and funding of our government.
>
> From: Pare, John <JPare at nfb.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 9:23 AM
> To: State Presidents <StatePresidents at nfb.org>; Sherry Shirek via
> NFB-Legislative-Directors <nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Young, Justin <jyoung at nfb.org>; Shirek, Jesse <jshirek at nfb.org>;
> Walls, Kyle <KWalls at nfb.org>; Walsh, Lindsey <lwalsh at nfb.org>; President,
> National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
> Subject: Urgent Call Regarding RIF at the Office of Special Education and
> Rehabilitative Services
>
>
>
> Dear Affiliate Presidents and Legislative Directors:
>
>
>
> President Riccobono is convening an urgent Zoom call on Monday, October
> 20, at 8:00 p.m. ET to discuss the recent Reduction in Force (RIF) at the
> Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
> Services (OSERS). As discussed in our alert from yesterday evening, nearly
> all employees within OSERS received a RIF notice on October 10 with an
> effective date of December 9. These cuts will decimate the Department of
> Education’s ability to administer the Individuals with Disabilities Act
> (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act.
>
>
>
> This call will discuss additional advocacy steps that we will be urging
> members to take.
>
>
>
> The Zoom information is below.
>
>
>
>  John Pare is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
> Join Zoom Meeting
> https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/95517025632?from=addon
>
> Meeting ID: 955 1702 5632
>
> ---
>
> One tap mobile
> +13017158592,,95517025632# US (Washington DC)
> +16468769923,,95517025632# US (New York)
>
> Join instructions
>
> https://nfb-org.zoom.us/meetings/95517025632/invitations?signature=iDlqDQSNqJ8XNyFGpCmlIKT4RWA05SmEi4b09l0ZGRE
>
>
>
> Warm regards,
>
> John
>
>
>
> John Paré
>
> Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
>
> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>
> 410-659-9314, extension 2218 |  <mailto:jpare at nfb.org> jpare at nfb.org
>
>
>
>  <https://nfb.org/>
>
>
>
>                           <
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>
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
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