[NFBC-At-Large] FW: Action required – important legislative alert

[tmanosh at gmail.com]

Hello All,

 

Please see the below Urgent Legislative Action.  We need you all to write your Assemblymen & Senators regarding Older Blind Individuals and the need for support and funding.  Please tell your story along with the sample language.  If you need any assistance please feel free to reach out.  You can contact either Shannon Dillon or myself.

 

Here is a web site to help find your members.  The URL is Find Your California Representatives <https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/> .

 

Thank you,

Tiffany Manosh

Legislative Coordinator

President River City Chapter

From: Shannon Dillon <shannonldillon at gmail.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2026 10:33 AM
To: nfbofca at groups.io
Subject: Action required – important legislative alert

 

Good morning,

 

Please write your state senators and assembly members today asking them to restore critical funding for Californians who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind.

 

It is important that this action be taken as soon as possible, but no later than this Friday, June 12.

 

Below is language you can use to provide your comments. There are words in brackets that you must personalize. I am listing them below so you can make sure to provide the information that must be personalized, or remove the item if it is optional. 

1.     [Assemblymember/senator]. Fill this field with the correct senator or assemblymember you are writing the letter to.

2.     [Share a short personal story in 2 or 3 sentences here.]. This is where you share your story from your experience that will support the letter.

3.     [Your Address]. This should be your address.

4.     [Optional: Email or Phone Number] this is optional and should include your email or phone number if you choose to provide it.

 

You may want to call your senator or assemblymember's office to ask for an email address to send the letter to if the website they want you to use to submit comments is not accessible. 

 

If you have any questions or do not know who your state representative or senator is, please reach out to Tiffany Manosh  <mailto:tmanosh at gmail.com> tmanosh at gmail.com or Shannon Dillon  <mailto:shannonldillon at gmail.com> shannonldillon at gmail.com.

 

Sample language is attached and below.

 

Subject: Urgent Request to Restore Funding for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) Program

Dear [Assemblymember/Senator]:

I am writing as a concerned member of our community to urge your support for restoring critical funding for Californians who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind.

I respectfully ask that you support an immediate $5,000,000 budget appropriation for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind (OIB) program. 

California is facing a growing crisis in services for people with vision loss. The federal government provides only about $3.3 million annually for the OIB program in our state—despite nearly 1,000,000 Californians living with vision loss. Historically, the state supplemented this funding, but recent decisions have created a significant gap, resulting in an effective reduction of approximately 60% to an already underfunded system.

The impact of these cuts is immediate and deeply concerning. They will significantly reduce access to essential services such as orientation and mobility training (including white cane skills), assistive technology, daily living skills instruction, and transportation training. Without these supports, older adults who lose vision face increased risks of falls, isolation, hospitalization, and even premature placement in institutional care—outcomes that are not only devastating for individuals but also costly for our healthcare system.

[Share a short personal story in 2 or 3 sentences here.]

Across California, service providers may be forced to scale back or eliminate programs, leaving thousands of people without the help they need to remain independent. For many individuals who lose their vision later in life, the experience can be overwhelming and life-altering. Programs like OIB help restore independence, dignity, and the ability to remain safely in one’s home and community.

A $5 million investment would help stabilize this fragile network of services, protect access for vulnerable residents, and prevent far more expensive long-term outcomes.

I respectfully urge you to include this funding in the final state budget. 

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]

 [Optional: Email or Phone Number]

 

--

SHANNON L. DILLON
Legislative Coordinator and
President of the California Association of Guide Dog Users,
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind of California

Find your local chapter at www.nfbcal.org <http://www.nfbcal.org> 

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