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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">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,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Rachel Kuntz (she/her)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Secretary, NFB of Phoenix<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">M 937.245.0547<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> Amy Porterfield <<a href="mailto:APorterfield@saavi.us">APorterfield@saavi.us</a>>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, February 17, 2024 1:27 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nfb.az.president@gmail.com">nfb.az.president@gmail.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Legislative call to action<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Dear Federationists,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">As you know one of our main legislation action items is to advocate for increased funding for the Arizona
</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Economic
<span style="color:#0563C1">S</span>ecurity (DES)<span style="color:#0563C1"> 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.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">SB 1335 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations committee This Tuesday February 20<sup>th</sup> at 2:00</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">
PM<span style="color:#0563C1">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Here is a sample of what you may write.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Dear Senator ---,</span></u><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">End your email or call with Please support SB1335 so older blind Arizonans can have the opportunity t</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">o<span style="color:#0563C1">
live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">The names and contacts for the members of the appropriations committee are below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">District 1,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Senator Ken Bennett,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:KBENNETT@azleg.gov">KBENNETT@azleg.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">(602) 926-5874<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">District 3,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Senator John Kavanagh,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="mailto:JKAVANAGH@azleg.gov"><span style="text-decoration:none">JKAVANAGH@azleg.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">(602) 926-5170<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">District 5:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#FAFAFA">Lela Alston</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#FAFAFA"><a href="mailto:LAlston@azleg.gov">LAlston@azleg.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#FAFAFA">602) 926-5829<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">District 8<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Senator Juan Mendez -- Assistant Minority Leader,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:JMENDEZ@azleg.gov"><span style="text-decoration:none">JMENDEZ@azleg.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">(602) 926-4124<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">District 10<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#EEEEEE">David C. Farnsworth</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#EEEEEE"><a href="mailto:DFarnsworth@azleg.gov"><span style="text-decoration:none">DFarnsworth@azleg.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#EEEEEE">(602) 926-3387<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">District 15<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#EEEEEE">Jake Hoffman</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#EEEEEE"><a href="mailto:Jake.Hoffman@azleg.gov"><span style="text-decoration:none">Jake.Hoffman@azleg.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">(602) 926-3292<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">District 22<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#FAFAFA">Eva Diaz</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#FAFAFA"><a href="mailto:Eva.Diaz@azleg.gov"><span style="text-decoration:none">Eva.Diaz</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">@azleg.gov</span></a></span><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">(602) 926-3473<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">District
</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://www.azleg.gov/images/LegislativeDistrictMaps/LegislativeDistrict23.pdf" title="District 23"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none">23</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Senator
</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://www.azleg.gov/Senate/Senate-member/?legislature=56&session=128&legislator=2124"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none">Brian Fernandez</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:BFERNANDEZ@azleg.gov">BFERNANDEZ@azleg.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">(602) 926-3098<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">D</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">istrict<span style="color:#0563C1">
</span></span><span lang="ES" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">25<span style="color:#0563C1">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">Senator
</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://www.azleg.gov/Senate/Senate-member/?legislature=56&session=128&legislator=2134"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none">Sine Kerr -- Majority Whip</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none">,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">SKERR@azlegov.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">(602) 926-5955<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">District 27<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#EEEEEE">Anthony Kern</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:#EEEEEE"><a href="mailto:AKern@azleg.gov"><span style="text-decoration:none">AKern</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">@azleg.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">(602) 926-3497<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Amy Porterfield, She/Her</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">President,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Saavi Services for the blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">520-795-1331 EXT 321<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:aporterfield@saavi.us"><span style="color:blue">aporterfield@saavi.us</span></a><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.saavi.us/"><span style="color:blue">www.saavi.us</span></a><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Expect More,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Achieve More,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-ligatures:none">Become mor</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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