[NFBA-Phoenix] FW: FW: [Arizona-News] Next immediate call to action: SB 1130

[Kimberly Fetterman]

Subject: FW: [Arizona-News] Next immediate call to action: SB 1130

From: Arizona-News <arizona-news-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:arizona-news-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Donald Porterfield via Arizona-News
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2025 12:55 PM
To: 'David Andrews via Arizona-News' <arizona-news at nfbnet.org<mailto:arizona-news at nfbnet.org>>
Subject: [Arizona-News] Next immediate call to action: SB 1130

Hello everyone,

This is an immediate call to action regarding SB 1130 adding one-million dollars  ($1,000,000) to the DES independent living program budget.

We first want to thank all of you who attended, testified, sent emails/ calls and who supported in any way in the previous Health and Human Services committee hearing.


Tuesday, February 4th,  at 2:00 PM This bill will now be read and voted on in the Senate Appropriations committee. This is the next step on the journey to becoming law and added into our Older Blind budget for services for our Blind Seniors.


WE need your help.

Please send an email or leave a call with each of the members of this committee listed below. You will find a sample email or message for your convenience.
Name
District
Party
Email
Phone
Lauren Kuby
8
D
lkuby at azleg.gov<mailto:lkuby at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-4124
Lela Alston -- Minority Caucus Chair
5
D
lalston at azleg.gov<mailto:lalston at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-5829
Denise "Mitzi" Epstein
12
D
mepstein at azleg.gov<mailto:mepstein at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-4870
John Kavanagh Chair
3
R
jkavanagh at azleg.gov<mailto:jkavanagh at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-5170
David C. Farnsworth Vice Chair
10
R
dfarnsworth at azleg.gov<mailto:dfarnsworth at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3387
Mark Finchem
1
R
mfinchem at azleg.gov<mailto:mfinchem at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3631
Carine Werner
4
R
cwerner at azleg.gov<mailto:cwerner at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3673
Venden "Vince" Leach
17
R
vleach at azleg.gov<mailto:vleach at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3694
Brian Fernandez
23
D
bfernandez at azleg.gov<mailto:bfernandez at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-3098
Hildy Angius
30
R
hangius at azleg.gov<mailto:hangius at azleg.gov>
(602) 926-5051

A sample letter or phone message is below. We need as many letters and voicemails as we can get by 9:00 AM tomorrow.



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 blind 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.




We thank you for your continued support to help get training for blind seniors.





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 more


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