[NFBNJ] URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Protect Blindness Services in New Jersey

[NFB of NJ President]

Dear Friend,

We need your help—*immediately*.

The Governor-elect’s transition team is reportedly demanding the mass
resignation of hundreds of employees within the New Jersey Department of
Human Services. This includes *highly specialized staff at the New Jersey
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)*—the very
professionals blind New Jerseyans rely on to live, learn, work, and travel
independently.

This is a crisis in the making.

Teachers of Blind Students (TBS) and Orientation & Mobility (O&M)
Instructors are *not political appointees*. They are essential frontline
professionals who:

   - Teach blind children to read and write Braille
   - Teach blind adults how to travel safely and independently with a white
   cane
   - Provide the skills that make employment, education, and independence
   possible

CBVI is already short-staffed. There are *not enough certified TBS and O&M
instructors* to meet current needs. Forcing these experts out— even
temporarily—will devastate services statewide.

*If these resignations are accepted, the consequences will be immediate:*

   - Waiting lists for blindness services will explode
   - Blind adults will lose critical independence skills
   - Blind students will be denied legally mandated instruction

Blindness is not what holds us back. *The loss of services and expertise
is.*

*🚨** TAKE ACTION NOW **🚨*

*CALL the Governor-elect’s Transition Office:*
📞 (609) 292-6000 (State House)

*EMAIL the Transition Team:*
📧 DHS.Transition2026 at dhs.nj.gov

*CONTACT via official portal:*
🌐 https://www.nj.gov/govelect

*Suggested Script:*

“I am calling to urge Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill to immediately exempt
Teachers of Blind Students and Orientation & Mobility Instructors from the
requested resignations at DHS. These are essential, non-political
positions. New Jersey is already short-staffed, and losing these experts
will destroy services and independence for blind residents. Do not cut the
services we rely on.”

*📢** SPREAD THE WORD*

Share this message and tag *@MikieSherrill*. Tell others what is at stake.

Transitions of power must never endanger essential disability services.
Efficiency cannot come at the cost of civil rights, independence, and
opportunity.

The National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey stands ready to work
collaboratively with the incoming administration—but we will not remain
silent while blindness services are placed at risk.

Thank you for standing with us and taking action.

Together, we will protect the services that make equality and independence
possible.

Respectfully,

*Linda Melendez, *President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
908-590-1747
president at nfbnj.org
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