<div>I know two Debbie\u2019s, which Debbie Debbie that works at the courthouse. Or the other debate that used to join the meetings in person on every third Saturday of the month.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Sep 20, 2025 at 6:35\u202fPM Tampa Bay President via NFBF-Tampa <<a href="mailto:nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org">nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204)">Two of two. <br><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><br>
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<td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;background-color:transparent;border-color:currentcolor"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40221&qid=11643435" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 220px; margin: 0px; width: 200px; background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor;"></a></td>
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<h1><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:24pt;color:black">Blind Americans Urge the Department of Education to Reinstate Funding for Critical Programs that Benefit the Blind</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Earlier this week, the National Federation of the Blind learned that the US Department of Education was canceling funding for twenty-five competitive grants that fall under Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and nine grants that are distributed by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Critically, of the programs being cut under the RSA is funding for 235E grants, which are specifically tailored to train educators of blind students to be more fluent in Braille. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind instigated the creation of these Braille demonstration program grants nearly thirty years ago and they have had a tremendous positive outcome on Braille literacy in that time. As if that wasn\u2019t bad enough, the grants that were cut also included federal funding for four technical assistance centers for families of deafblind children. </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">How Members Can Help</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We know that Braille literacy in our youth often leads to better performance in school, the ability to obtain and keep employment as an adult, and the freedom to live a life of independence. That all begins with educators who understand and can teach Braille themselves. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Additionally, we know that our deafblind brothers and sisters and their families truly benefit from the opportunity to utilize training centers across the country and that any decrease in funding will be detrimental to living independently. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We need to flood the US Department of Education with calls and emails and urge them to maintain these important funding grants. That\u2019s where you come in. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We are asking that you call or email the US Department of Education and urge them to reinstate this critical funding to support Braille literacy and independence. If you are emailing, please send your messages to <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40222&qid=11643435" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:underline;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:blue" target="_blank">IDEA@ed.gov</a> and <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40223&qid=11643435" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:underline;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:blue" target="_blank">linda.mcmahon@ed.gov.</a> If you are calling, please call 202-245-7468. </span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:18pt"><font style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Sample Script</font></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">When you call or email you might say: \u201cMy name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge Secretary McMahon to reinstate the grant funding for IDEA Part D programs as well as the RSA 235E grants. This funding is critical to support increased Braille literacy for teachers of blind students and the blind youth of America. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Studies have shown that students who can read Braille go on to have better education outcomes and better employment outcomes later in life. Additionally, I\u2019m also asking that you reinstate funding for the four deafblind technical assistance centers in Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Please allow today\u2019s blind and deafblind students to have an opportunity to better themselves for a brighter future for all of us.\u201d</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We suggest a subject like: \u201cPlease Reinstate Critical Funding for Blind and Deafblind Students\u201d </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">If you email, please copy Justin Young at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40224&qid=11643435" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:underline;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:blue" target="_blank">jyoung@nfb.org. </a></span></p>
<span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">About the National Federation of the Blind</span>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40225&qid=11643435" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:underline;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:blue" target="_blank">nfb.org</a>.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">Government Affairs Contact:</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Justin Young<br>
Governmental Affairs Specialist<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
410-659-9314, extension 2210<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40224&qid=11643435" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration:underline;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:blue" target="_blank">jyoung@nfb.org</a></span></p>
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National Federation of the Blind | <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+E+Wells+Street+%7C+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230</a> | 410-659-9314 </td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;color:white"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=25332&qid=11643435&h=09616b49626ab634" title="Unsubscribe" style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;color:white" target="_blank">Unsubscribe from this mailing list</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=25332&qid=11643435&h=09616b49626ab634" title="Opt Out" style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;color:white" target="_blank">Opt out of all mailing lists</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40232&qid=11643435" rel="nofollow" title="Sign up for email newsletter" style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;color:white" target="_blank">Sign up for our newsletter</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="display:none;font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;color:white"> <div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street?entry=gmail&source=g" target="_blank" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">200 East Wells Street</a> at Jernigan Place</span><br><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Baltimore</span>, <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">MD</span> <span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">21230</span><br><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">United States</span></span></div>.. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<img width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/open?qid=11643435"><img width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://u32452178.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/open?upn=u001.PRpCqU0qwFQwIPwBHxnBj14-2BYqbKNRbK05otxQlks-2BzBCxZpknSXQJdzIkopB6afiGAsovuEqcsox5BFgCDCgU3DajEG7BlEVrm6k0fy4ukVdNhxji2gZ13N-2FNcKOikpodPyq1mSNFxe8TcOFPcEXFbXRZZoOLLTEdbwOB37LALOFprY83BHDBrBRUomyDDkGLa8-2FFngitqQchkbOYW9gA-3D-3D"></div><div><br clear="all"></div><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><i><font face="garamond, serif" size="4" style="font-family:garamond,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Debbie Malone</font></i></div><div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;color:rgb(32,33,36)"><a href="http://DebbieMalone.org" target="_blank" style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif">DebbieMalone.org</a></i></p></div></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><br><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><p style="margin:0px;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none"><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)">--</font></p></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Christine Copley<br></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)">President, Tampa Bay Chapter <br>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <br>Ph.: 813-493-7691<br>E-mail: <a href="mailto:nfbf.tampa@gmail.com" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">nfbf.tampa@gmail.com</a></font></div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:13px">\u201cDon\u2019t listen to negative influences. Believe in yourself, and show others what you can do. Only \u201cyou\u201d can find your potential.\u201d Marla Runyan</span><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation\u2019s blind. Everyday we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. </font></div></div><br>
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