[NFBNJ] Blind Vine with another important update written on Saturday, Nov 14, at 3 pm.

[joe ruffalo]

Greetings to all on the NFBNJ distribution list!
Received from Debbie Azzarone to distribute
Our voices need to be heard and thisis anopportunity to do so.
Please share with others.

Joe

From: Debbie Azzarone
Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2020 3:19 PM
Subject: Blind Vine with another important update written on Saturday, Nov 
14, at 3 pm.

Hello Viners,



I just had an informative phone call with Joe Ruffalo who offered this 
suggestion on handling the mobility training, or lack thereof, from the NJ 
Commission of the Blind

He read that I plan to call the Governor’s office on Monday to find out if 
it is because of his Covid-19 restrictions that the blind are being denied 
essential mobility training by the Commission.

He strongly recommends that as many of you that possibly can, make a phone 
call along with me, to the Governor’s office on Monday the 16th, at or close 
to 1pm.

The idea is to bombard their phones with requests for answers and action 
regarding this important issue all at the same time.

He has offered to send this request out to all members of the NFBNJ mailing 
list as well to increase the number of phone call inquiries.

He told me that the operators will tell us they’ve already received calls on 
this matter, so there’s no need to have others call, but what ever you do, 
don’t stop getting everyone you know to keep up with the calls no matter 
what they say.



I will provide the Governor’s number at the end of this email again, and I 
urge all Blind Vine subscribers to go back and find the last 2 issues 
addressing this matter so you can familiarize yourself once again with the 
reason we are calling, but I now am going to write a brief synopsis so the 
NFB members who will be getting  an email blast from Joe, and who don’t get 
the Blind Vine will know what the issue is.





Please call Governor Murphy’s office on Monday November 16 at 1pm and ask 
why essential services for the blind of NJ are being put on hold or 
drastically restricted.

We are concentrating on mobility training now because unless you are facing 
job jeopardy or a student, there is no mobility training being given to the 
rest of the blind community. This effects a vast number of New Jersey’s 
blind.

People who suddenly lost vision any time during the covid-19 shut down are 
in a perilous situation where traveling to doctors, grocery stores, or 
anywhere for that matter is impossible. Even if you have Access Link, or 
have a friend or family member who is willing to take you, doctor’s offices 
are not allowing anyone to come into their offices with someone else. We 
have to wait outside until we are called in, then navigate through a 
building alone to locate the proper office.

I personally know several blind people who said they are just not going to 
go to a doctor until this virus is over, or they have the skills to manage 
this obstacle course alone. How many of them will now face life threatening 
conditions because of this.



Access Link can drop you off at a grocery store parking lot, but without 
mobility training, will you find the entrance and the manager’s desk to 
request help to purchase supplies?



The Seeing Eye has begun to take students again for guide dog training, but 
unless you first have certified mobility training, they will not take you.

There is a case of a NJ woman whose only choice was to fly to Michigan to 
receive mobility training, then return to NJ, probably having to quarantine 
for 2 weeks, and only then can she apply to become a student at Seeing Eye 
in Morristown. How crazy is that?



What does the Governor suggest we do now. This virus seems to have no end in 
sight, and putting the ability to get from point A to point B on hold for so 
many NJ citizens is unacceptable.



We question why liquor stores are allowed to remain open yet much needed 
mobility training for the recently blinded residents is not.

Could it be because liquor stores and other far less essential businesses 
provide tax revenue for the state?

We should also let all people we know who pay taxes in NJ that some of what 
they are paying for is not happening.



Let us not forget that most aspects of mobility training can occur outside. 
Masks are also available to protect both the instructor and the student.

People all throughout NJ are walking through malls and grocery stores with 
friends or family members, so why can’t mobility instructors and clients?



I urge all of you to join us in this important mission.



Here is the phone number of the Governor’s office:



609 292 6000



Thanks in advance,



Debbie Azzarone





"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back 
to you when you have forgotten the words." -Unknown


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