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Done</div>
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<b>From:</b> NFBMDTLC-Chapter <nfbmdtlc-chapter-bounces@nfbnet.org> on behalf of Sharon Maneki via NFBMDTLC-Chapter <nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 11, 2026 09:49 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org <greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org>; mdabs@nfbnet.org <mdabs@nfbnet.org>; md-atlarge@nfbnet.org <md-atlarge@nfbnet.org>; md-sligo@nfbnet.org <md-sligo@nfbnet.org>; nfbmd@nfbnet.org <nfbmd@nfbnet.org>; nfbmd-gpgc@nfbnet.org
<nfbmd-gpgc@nfbnet.org>; md-baltimore-county@nfbnet.org <md-baltimore-county@nfbnet.org>; central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org <central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org>; mabm@nfbnet.org <mabm@nfbnet.org>; mdpobc@nfbnet.org <mdpobc@nfbnet.org>; nationalharbor@nfbnet.org <nationalharbor@nfbnet.org>;
nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org <nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Sharon Maneki <nfbmdsm@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [NFBMDTLC-Chapter] Action Needed on Funding for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program</div>
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Hello all,</div>
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We need your help for funding of the OIB program.</div>
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<li style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: blue;" role="presentation"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=43022&qid=12580213" id="OWA144ef80b-83ed-ff67-830f-bd26531b8e83" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: blue;" data-auth="NotApplicable">Read
the full legislative alert for further details.</a></span></li><li style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;" role="presentation">Call</span><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9.75pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;" role="presentation">or</span><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation">email</span><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;" role="presentation">your
representative and two senators</span><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9.75pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation">, Van Hollen and Alsobrooks</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;" role="presentation">.</span></li><li style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation">I</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;" role="presentation">f
you</span><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9.75pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;" role="presentation">email your representative and two
senators</span><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9.75pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" role="presentation">,
</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;" role="presentation">copy Jesse Shirek at
</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: blue;" role="presentation"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=43023&qid=12580213" id="OWA553b7f08-ea72-6d7d-e73a-f5d49a74fc48" class="OWAAutoLink" style="color: blue;" data-auth="NotApplicable">jshirek@nfb.org</a></span></li></ul>
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Read Jesse Shirek's information below for further information.</div>
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The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to vote to increase funding for the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals
Who Are Blind (OIB) program.</div>
<p style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;">The OIB program is intended to provide support services for blind Americans over the age of 55 to reach their independent
living goals. Critical aspects of OIB include orientation and mobility training, learning Braille, cooking, and training on access technology.</span></p>
<h2 style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; color: black;">Sample Script</span></h2>
<p style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;">"My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to support the Independent Living Services
for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program by contacting Subcommittee Chair [ADERHOLT (in the House)/CAPITO (in the Senate)] to show support for an increase in funding.</span></p>
<p style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;">This program helps blind Americans over the age of 55 learn to live with their blindness through various forms of
independent living training. The program is currently severely underfunded, allotting less than $10 per eligible individual per year."</span></p>
<p style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; color: black;">We suggest a subject like: "Help us increase independence for blind Americans in their golden years."</span></p>
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<div style="direction: ltr; font-size: 13px;"><b>Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</b></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-size: 13px;">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-size: 13px;">410-715-9596</div>
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<div style="direction: ltr; font-size: 13px;">The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create
obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.</div>
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