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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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> NFB-Legislative-Directors <nfb-legislative-directors-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Walls, Kyle via NFB-Legislative-Directors<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 30, 2025 1:28 PM<br><b>To:</b> State Presidents <StatePresidents@nfb.org>; 'NFB Legislative Directors List' <nfb-legislative-directors@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Walls, Kyle <KWalls@nfb.org>; President, National Federation of the Blind <OfficeOfThePresident@nfb.org>; Lewis, Anil <ALewis@nfb.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFB-Legislative-Directors] Recent Research Regarding the Value of Vocational Rehabilitation<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Dear Affiliate Presidents and Legislative Directors:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>We continue to search for research and statistics that would bolster our argument regarding the benefits of special education and rehabilitation. As a result of that search, we have found the following study regarding the return on investment for vocational rehabilitation. The study was funded by the US Department of Education and conducted by Associate Professor Dr. Michelle Yin at Northwestern University. The key takeaways from Dr. Yin\u2019s study were published in July of 2024 and are listed below, followed by a link to the article on Northwestern\u2019s website.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Key Findings of the Study:</span><o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Substantial Economic Gains: VR services have led to a 51.4% increase in average quarterly earnings during service periods and an 84.5% increase post-service, contributing significantly to the economic independence of participating youth.</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Long-term Benefits: The lifelong ROI calculation suggests that every dollar invested in VR services results in a return of $21.5 over a 43-year working lifespan for VR clients, highlighting the enduring value of these interventions.</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Social and Tax Benefits: For every dollar spent, the state recoups $3.9 in tax revenues over a participant\u2019s working life, demonstrating the program\u2019s efficiency and its role in reducing reliance on social welfare programs.</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>VR services assist over a million individuals with disabilities, potentially generating close to $4 million in tax revenues alone and over $20 million in life-term personal returns.</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>Source: <a href="https://sites.northwestern.edu/risei/2024/07/08/media-release-study-reveals-substantial-economic-returns-from-vocational-rehabilitation-services-for-youth-with-disabilities-in-maine/">https://sites.northwestern.edu/risei/2024/07/08/media-release-study-reveals-substantial-economic-returns-from-vocational-rehabilitation-services-for-youth-with-disabilities-in-maine/</a> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'>Kyle Walls</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'>Research and Regulatory Specialist</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'>410-659-9314, extension 2223 | </span><u><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:kwalls@nfb.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>kwalls@nfb.org</span></a></span></u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=75 style='width:2.1833in;height:.7833in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><span style='color:black'><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1027" 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src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;mso-ligatures:none'>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. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>