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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Florida: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind believes that with proper training and access to accessible tools, blind and low vision people can be successful in the communities where we live. It has come to our attention that legislation has been filed in the Florida Legislature that could undermine access to properly trained Rehabilitation Specialists in our Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP). Florida Senate Bill 792 was filed on December 8, 2025 and the Florida Legislative Session opens on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. While there are a multitude of reasons we oppose this filed legislation, we will highlight two specific reasons. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are asking our members to reach out to their state legislature members, both House and Senate, to express our opposition to this legislation. We oppose on two fronts: <o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Temporary Waiver: We strongly oppose waiving the certification requirements for any facility or person who will be training blind and low vision people. These Rehabilitation Specialists are tasked with training blind and low vision people to be successful, educated and employable citizens. CRPs and their specialists should have the capability and capacity to be fully certified before they begin training blind and low vision people. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Lack of Consultation with Consumer Organizations of the Blind: The National Federation of the Blind of Florida has worked for the last two years with the Florida Council of the Blind and Blind Services Foundation collaboratively to advance the issues of importance to blind and low vision Floridians. This legislation was created without the input of the clients it would serve and lacks the insights and lived experiences of blind and low vision people that would craft successful training programs for us. <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The 2026 Florida Legislative Session opens on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 and we wish to make a strong opposition to Florida Senate Bill 792. As of right now, this bill has been filed in the Florida Senate and we must work to have this bill withdrawn or decrease its support amongst the legislature. Passage of this bill will have a detrimental effect on our access to appropriate and successful training programs from our local CRPs. When you contact your members of the state legislature, you may say (or email) something like: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear (insert legislator’s name): <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My name is [insert name] and I am live in [insert city, state]. I am a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. I am reaching out to you because of Florida Senate Bill 792, filed on December 8, 2025. This bill would make changes to my access to services from Community Rehabilitation Programs, agencies and organizations tasked with training blind and low vision people for future success. The legislation would allow for these programs to be allowed to train blind and low vision people, even if the trainers do not have the required certifications to teach those skills. Additionally, I strongly object to any agency or organization that is supposed to train me to live independently and successfully, get me job-ready to enter the workforce or provide services to children without obtaining the required certifications to do so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am seeking your support to protect those programs that train us to be productive, job-seeking, independent Floridians. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>[insert name] <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>[insert any NFB titles] <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> Camille Tate, president<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbflorida.org/"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbflorida.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tel: 321.372.4899<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>With love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>