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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV>Greetings to all on the NFBNJ distribution list!</DIV>
<DIV>Received from Debbie Azzarone to distribute</DIV>
<DIV>Our voices need to be heard and thisis anopportunity to do so.</DIV>
<DIV>Please share with others.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Joe </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri";
FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY:
inline'><B>From:</B>
<A title=dea23@optonline.net href="mailto:dea23@optonline.net">Debbie
Azzarone</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 14, 2020 3:19 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Blind Vine with another important update written on
Saturday, Nov 14, at 3 pm.</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal>Hello Viners,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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
16<SUP>th</SUP>, at or close to 1pm.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The idea is to bombard their phones with requests for
answers
and action regarding this important issue all at the same
time.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>We question why liquor stores are allowed to remain open
yet
much needed mobility training for the recently blinded residents is
not.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Could it be because liquor stores and other far less
essential businesses provide tax revenue for the state?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>We should also let all people we know who pay taxes in NJ
that some of what they are paying for is not happening.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>People all throughout NJ are walking through malls and
grocery stores with friends or family members, so why can’t mobility
instructors
and clients?<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>I urge all of you to join us in this important
mission.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Here is the phone number of the Governor’s
office:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>609 292 6000<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Debbie Azzarone<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I>"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<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P
class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>