[NFBA-Phoenix] Call to Action FW: [Arizona-News] FW: Legislative call to action

Tue Feb 20 16:23:32 UTC 2024

Take immediate action to ensure that the older blind citizens in our community receive the help they need to stay independent. Please read and contact the members of the AZ committee as outlined in the message below and thanks,

Rachel Kuntz (she/her)
Secretary, NFB of Phoenix

M 937.245.0547

From: Amy Porterfield <APorterfield at saavi.us<mailto:APorterfield at saavi.us>>
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2024 1:27 PM
To: nfb.az.president at gmail.com<mailto:nfb.az.president at gmail.com>
Subject: Legislative call to action

Dear Federationists,

As you know one of our main legislation action items is to advocate for increased funding for the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Independent Living for Older Blind Arizonans (ILB) program. We are happy to report that Senator Frank Carroll from district 28 introduce SB 1335 which  adds a onetime allocation for one million (1,000,000) Dollars to this year's appropriation to the ILB program. This is a good start towards our goal of a permanent increase to support the independent living program for all blind people living in Arizona.

SB 1335 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations committee This Tuesday February 20th at 2:00 PM.

This is a call to action for all members to write or call each member of the appropriations committee in support of this funding increase.

Here is a sample of what you may write.

Dear Senator ---,

Currently there are 78,000 older individuals living in Arizona living with age related  Vision loss. This number will double by 2030. The DES Independent living program is the only place to receive rehabilitation services to learn how to live independently with blindness. Bline Arizonans are waiting over one  year to receive services causing them to resort to moving out of their homes into assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and to rely on in-home health services when learning the skills of blindness will allow them to live out the goals, they set for themselves as retired citizens. The ILB program has not received a funding increase  since 2008.  This additional funding would allow them to hire more instructors and offer more services through contracted providers so that older blind Arizonans can receive the training they need to live successfully and independently.

Then you may write a small paragraph describing either the benefits you received from blindness training, the difficulties you have faced waiting for services, or the benefits you have observed from quality blindness training.

End your email or call with Please support SB1335 so older blind Arizonans can have the opportunity to live the lives they want.

The names and contacts for the members of the appropriations committee are below.

District 1,
Senator Ken Bennett,
KBENNETT at azleg.gov<mailto:KBENNETT at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-5874

District 3,
Senator John Kavanagh,
JKAVANAGH at azleg.gov<mailto:JKAVANAGH at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-5170

District 5:
Lela Alston
LAlston at azleg.gov<mailto:LAlston at azleg.gov>
602) 926-5829

District 8
Senator Juan Mendez -- Assistant Minority Leader,
JMENDEZ at azleg.gov<mailto:JMENDEZ at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-4124

District 10
David C. Farnsworth
DFarnsworth at azleg.gov<mailto:DFarnsworth at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3387

District 15
Jake Hoffman
Jake.Hoffman at azleg.gov<mailto:Jake.Hoffman at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3292

District 22
Eva Diaz
Eva.Diaz at azleg.gov<mailto:Eva.Diaz at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3473

District 23<https://www.azleg.gov/images/LegislativeDistrictMaps/LegislativeDistrict23.pdf>,
Senator Brian Fernandez<https://www.azleg.gov/Senate/Senate-member/?legislature=56&session=128&legislator=2124>,
BFERNANDEZ at azleg.gov<mailto:BFERNANDEZ at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3098

District 25
Senator Sine Kerr -- Majority Whip<https://www.azleg.gov/Senate/Senate-member/?legislature=56&session=128&legislator=2134>,
SKERR at azlegov.
(602) 926-5955

District 27
Anthony Kern
AKern at azleg.gov<mailto:AKern at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3497

Sincerely,

Amy Porterfield, She/Her
President,
Saavi Services for the blind
520-795-1331 EXT 321
aporterfield at saavi.us<mailto:aporterfield at saavi.us>
www.saavi.us<http://www.saavi.us/>

Expect More,
Achieve More,
Become mor

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