[NFBAZ-EastValleyChapter] Fwd: To NFB AZ Leaders: ACTION REQUIRED: Three Advocacy Fronts — State Budget, Title II, and Federal OIB Funding | All Documents Attached

Sun May 17 16:42:30 UTC 2026


> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Michael Smith <mikeshangout at cox.net>
> Subject: Fwd: To NFB AZ Leaders: ACTION REQUIRED: Three Advocacy Fronts — State Budget, Title II, and Federal OIB Funding | All Documents Attached
> Date: May 16, 2026 at 6:21:47 pm GMT-7
> To: megsvending at gmail.com
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> From: Jordan Moon <JMoon at saavi.us <mailto:JMoon at saavi.us>>
>> Date: May 13, 2026 at 4:12:07 PM MST
>> To: Abdallah Shuli <AShuli at saavi.us <mailto:AShuli at saavi.us>>, Tarik Williams <TWilliams at saavi.us <mailto:TWilliams at saavi.us>>, Joanne Williams <JWilliams at saavi.us <mailto:JWilliams at saavi.us>>, Jordan Moon <JMoon at saavi.us <mailto:JMoon at saavi.us>>, Joe Goode <jgoode at saavi.us <mailto:jgoode at saavi.us>>, Michael <mikeshangout at cox.net <mailto:mikeshangout at cox.net>>, Heather Bowes <1ofbeauty at gmail.com <mailto:1ofbeauty at gmail.com>>, Mark Feliz <mafeliz0641 at gmail.com <mailto:mafeliz0641 at gmail.com>>, Maranda Ulvestad <ulvestadmaranda at gmail.com <mailto:ulvestadmaranda at gmail.com>>, Megan Homrighausen <megan.homrighausen at yahoo.com <mailto:megan.homrighausen at yahoo.com>>, NFBAZ Phoenix <nfbphoenixchapter at gmail.com <mailto:nfbphoenixchapter at gmail.com>>, Kimberly Fetterman <kfetterman at saavi.us <mailto:kfetterman at saavi.us>>, Sharonda Goode <sgoode at saavi.us <mailto:sgoode at saavi.us>>, Kristopher Crawley <kcrawley at saavi.us <mailto:kcrawley at saavi.us>>
>> Cc: Amy Porterfield <APorterfield at saavi.us <mailto:APorterfield at saavi.us>>, Arizona State President <nfb.az.president at gmail.com <mailto:nfb.az.president at gmail.com>>, Emily Papenfus <epapenfus at saavi.us <mailto:epapenfus at saavi.us>>, Bob Kresmer <krezguy at cox.net <mailto:krezguy at cox.net>>
>> Subject: To NFB AZ Leaders: ACTION REQUIRED: Three Advocacy Fronts — State Budget, Title II, and Federal OIB Funding | All Documents Attached
>> 
>> 
>> Dear NFBAZ Leaders:
>> 
>> I am writing to give our chapter and division leaders everything you need to lead our advocacy efforts right now — at both the state and federal level. This email is designed so that anyone can step in and lead, whether or not I am available. Please read it carefully, share it with your members, and reference all documents included with this message.
>> 
>> We have three fronts of advocacy happening simultaneously. Each one matters. Each one has clear action steps your members can take now. I suggest other chapters and Divisions mock what the Tucson chapter is doing and have a chapter Advocacy night/day.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> STATE ISSUE ONE: SB1001 AND THE OLDER BLIND PROGRAM
>> 
>>  
>> WHAT IS HAPPENING
>> 
>> For four years, NFB of Arizona has fought to secure $1,000,000 in state General Fund money for the Independent Older Blind program — known in state government as ILoB and federally as the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, or OIB. SB1001 carried this appropriation in the 2026 session and passed the Senate unanimously, 27 to 0 with three not voting, on March 11, 2026.
>> 
>> The Republican-controlled House passed a budget on April 29 that did not include this funding. Governor Hobbs vetoed that budget. Both chambers are on recess until June 1. That means there is one more round of final negotiations ahead, and this is our last window to get this appropriation included.
>> 
>> WHY IT MATTERS
>> 
>> Approximately 72,000 Arizonans over age 65 are blind or have low vision. That number is expected to double by 2030. The ILoB program has not seen a meaningful funding increase in over 14 years. Without services, blind seniors are forced into assisted living and nursing facilities that cost the state far more than this program ever would. Average waiting lists exceed 200 people, with wait times often lasting a year or longer.
>> 
>> WHAT YOUR MEMBERS SHOULD DO
>> 
>> Amy has prepared a comprehensive advocacy toolkit, which is attached to this email. Please distribute it to every member of your chapter or division. Here is the plan in brief:
>> 
>> WAVE ONE — email and call all six of these priority targets this week:
>> 
>> 1. Senate President Warren Petersen
>> 2. Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro
>> 3. Senate Appropriations Chair David Farnsworth
>> 4. Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Mitzi Epstein
>> 5. House Appropriations Chair David Livingston
>> 6. House Appropriations Vice Chair Matt Gress
>> 
>> WAVE TWO — expand outreach to all members of both Appropriations Committees. The full list is in the toolkit.
>> 
>> ALSO contact the Governor's office. Phone: 602-542-4331. Online: azgovernor.gov/engage <http://azgovernor.gov/engage>.
>> 
>> Capitol Switchboard for both House and Senate: 602-926-3559.
>> 
>> The toolkit includes three ready-to-use email templates, a phone script, guidance on writing a personal statement, and a quick action checklist. Always attach the Arizona ILoB Fact Sheet when emailing legislators. The fact sheet is also included with this message.
>> 
>> Please CC me on all outreach so we can track the campaign: jmoon at saavi.us <mailto:jmoon at saavi.us>
>>  
>> STATE AND FEDERAL ISSUE TWO: TITLE II WEB ACCESSIBILITY
>> 
>>  
>> WHAT IS HAPPENING
>> 
>> On April 20, 2026 — four days before the original deadline — the United States Department of Justice published a rule postponing the Title II web accessibility compliance dates. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act covers all state and local governments, including city websites, public schools, public universities, courts, public libraries, and transit agencies.
>> 
>> The original rule required government websites and mobile apps to meet the WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standard — meaning websites that work with screen readers like JAWS and NVDA, with captions on video, keyboard navigation, and image descriptions. The new dates push the deadline back by a full year for large jurisdictions, and two years for smaller ones. Even more concerning, the DOJ has signaled it may weaken the technical standard itself in future rulemaking.
>> 
>> NFB National President Mark Riccobono has been clear: there is no basis for reconsidering this rule, which went through 14 years of consideration and public input. The underlying ADA obligation has been in place since 1990. Every additional year of delay is another year of blind Arizonans being shut out of government services their taxes fund.
>> 
>> WHAT YOUR MEMBERS SHOULD DO
>> 
>> Amy has also prepared a Title II Advocacy Toolkit and Facilitator's Guide, which is attached. It includes everything a chapter leader needs to run a 90-minute advocacy session in person or by Zoom. Here are the three key actions:
>> 
>> 1. SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT to the Department of Justice by June 22, 2026.
>> Submit at: www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOJ-CRT-2026-0067-0001 <http://www.regulations.gov/commenton/DOJ-CRT-2026-0067-0001>
>> The toolkit includes a complete template. Every individual comment from a blind Arizonan strengthens the official record.
>> 
>> 2. FILE AN INACCESSIBILITY REPORT with the NFB Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access.
>> Tracker and resources at: nfb.org/cena <http://nfb.org/cena>
>> If a member has ever been shut out of an Arizona government website or app, that experience needs to be documented. The tracker is how we build the evidentiary record nationally.
>> 
>> 3. CONTACT YOUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.
>> Senator Mark Kelly, Senator Ruben Gallego, and your U.S. House member.
>> Federal Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
>> Ask them to publicly oppose the postponement and oppose any weakening of the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard.
>> 
>> The toolkit includes email templates and a phone script for all three of these steps. It also has specific guidance for members at all skill levels — confident computer users, members who prefer phone calls, and seniors or newly blind members not yet trained in nonvisual computer skills. No member has to be left out of this effort.
>> 
>> Justice ADA Information Line (for members who want to call DOJ directly):
>> Voice: 800-514-0301
>> TTY: 1-833-610-1264
>> 
>>  
>> FEDERAL ISSUE THREE: OIB FEDERAL FUNDING INCREASE
>> 
>>  
>> WHAT IS HAPPENING
>> 
>> In addition to our state fight for SB1001, the NFB national office has issued a federal legislative alert calling on members to urge Congress to increase federal funding for the OIB program nationwide. The OIB program is currently severely underfunded — allocating less than $10 per eligible individual per year. This alert, forwarded to us from Amy Porterfield, calls for members to contact their U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators and ask them to support an increase in funding by contacting the Subcommittee Chairs.
>> 
>> WHAT YOUR MEMBERS SHOULD DO
>> 
>> Call and email your U.S. Representative and both Arizona Senators — Senator Mark Kelly and Senator Ruben Gallego.
>> 
>> Sample script:
>> "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR NAME] to support the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program by contacting Subcommittee Chair Aderholt in the House or Subcommittee Chair Capito in the Senate to show support for an increase in funding. This program helps blind Americans over age 55 learn to live with their blindness through independent living training. It is currently severely underfunded, allocating less than $10 per eligible individual per year."
>> 
>> Suggested email subject: "Help us increase independence for blind Americans in their golden years."
>> 
>> Copy Jesse Shirek, NFB Director of Advocacy, on all emails: jshirek at nfb.org <mailto:jshirek at nfb.org>
>> I am attaching the House and Senate contact spreadsheets from the national office so your members can find the contact information for their specific representative and senators.
>> 
>> Federal Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
>> NFB National Office: 410-659-9314
>> 
>>  
>> FOR CHAPTER AND DIVISION LEADERS — HOW TO RUN YOUR ADVOCACY SESSION
>> 
>> The Title II Facilitator's Guide includes a complete 90-minute session plan you can use for any of these three issues. Here is the simple framework:
>> 
>> 10 minutes — Explain the issue in plain language using the summaries above.
>> 20 minutes — Story circle. Ask each member to share one specific time they experienced a barrier. Take notes.
>> 50 minutes — Action time. Members work on their emails, calls, and public comments based on their skill and comfort level.
>> 
>> 15 minutes — Inaccessibility Tracker filing, if relevant to the session topic.
>> 5 minutes — Wrap up, confirm what each person completed, and identify follow-up needs.
>> 
>> Make sure no member is left out. For those not yet trained in nonvisual computer skills, center their participation around phone calls and sharing their story verbally with a chapter helper who can submit on their behalf.
>> 
>>  
>> DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO THIS EMAIL
>> 
>> 1. ILoB Advocacy Toolkit — Amy's full two-wave campaign plan, three email templates, phone script, and action checklist for SB1001.
>> 
>> 2. Arizona ILoB Fact Sheet — Key data and talking points for legislators. Always attach this to legislator emails.
>> 3. Title II Advocacy Toolkit and Facilitator's Guide — Full session plan, templates, phone scripts, and member support guidance for the DOJ web accessibility fight.
>> 
>> 4. Federal Funding Alert — National office alert on the federal OIB funding push.
>> 5. House Contact Spreadsheet — Federal House member contact information.
>> 6. Senate Contact Spreadsheet — Federal Senate contact information.
>> 
>>  
>> KEY CONTACTS AT A GLANCE
>> 
>> NFB of Arizona: 888-899-6322
>> NFB National Office: 410-659-9314
>> NFB Advocacy Director Jesse Shirek: jshirek at nfb.org <mailto:jshirek at nfb.org>
>> Arizona Capitol Switchboard: 602-926-3559
>> Federal Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
>> Governor Hobbs Office: 602-542-4331
>> DOJ ADA Information Line: 800-514-0301
>> Jordan Moon: jmoon at saavi.us <mailto:jmoon at saavi.us>
>>  
>> CLOSING
>> 
>> This is a big moment for our community — on three fronts at once. I know that is a lot to hold. But our chapters and divisions have shown time and again that when we move together, we produce real results. You have everything you need in this email and in the attached documents to lead your members through all three of these efforts.
>> 
>> Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. And please let me know when your sessions are scheduled so we can coordinate across the state.
>> 
>> Thank you for everything you do for the organized blind movement in Arizona.
>> 
>> In Federation,
>> 
>> Jordan Moon
>> 1st Vice-President/Legislative Director
>> National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
>> Director of Strategic Initiatives, Saavi Services for the Blind
>> (951) 316-5363 | jmoon at saavi.us <mailto:jmoon at saavi.us>
>> "You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back."
>> 

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