<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><h1 style="line-height:normal;margin:12pt 0in 0in;break-after:avoid;color:rgb(0,112,192)"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large;font-weight:normal;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Dear Friend,</span></h1><div><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large;font-weight:normal;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">We need your help\u2014<b>immediately</b>.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">The Governor-elect\u2019s transition team is
reportedly demanding the mass resignation of hundreds of employees within the
New Jersey Department of Human Services. This includes <b>highly specialized
staff at the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)</b>\u2014the
very professionals blind New Jerseyans rely on to live, learn, work, and travel
independently.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">This is a crisis in the making.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Teachers of Blind Students (TBS) and
Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Instructors are <b>not political
appointees</b>. They are essential frontline professionals who:</font></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Teach blind children to read and write Braille</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Teach blind adults how to travel safely and independently with a
white cane</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Provide the skills that make employment, education, and
independence possible</font></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">CBVI is already short-staffed. There are <b>not
enough certified TBS and O&M instructors</b> to meet current needs. Forcing
these experts out\u2014 even temporarily\u2014will devastate services statewide.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">If these resignations are accepted, the
consequences will be immediate:</font></b></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;margin-bottom:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Waiting lists for blindness services will explode</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Blind adults will lose critical independence skills</font></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Blind students will be denied legally mandated instruction</font></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Blindness is not what holds us back. <b>The
loss of services and expertise is.</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><b>\U0001f6a8</b><b> TAKE ACTION NOW </b><b>\U0001f6a8</b><b></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><b>CALL the Governor-elect\u2019s Transition
Office:</b><br>
\U0001f4de (609) 292-6000 (State House)</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><b>EMAIL the Transition Team:</b><br>
\U0001f4e7 <a href="mailto:DHS.Transition2026@dhs.nj.gov" target="_blank">DHS.Transition2026@dhs.nj.gov</a></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><b><span lang="PT-BR">CONTACT via official portal:</span></b><span lang="PT-BR"><br>
</span>\U0001f310<span lang="PT-BR"> <a href="https://www.nj.gov/govelect" target="_blank">https://www.nj.gov/govelect</a></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Suggested Script:</font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">\u201cI 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.\u201d</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><b>\U0001f4e2</b><b> SPREAD THE WORD</b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Share this message and tag <b>@MikieSherrill</b>.
Tell others what is at stake.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Transitions of power must never endanger
essential disability services. Efficiency cannot come at the cost of civil
rights, independence, and opportunity.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">The National Federation of the Blind of New
Jersey stands ready to work collaboratively with the incoming
administration\u2014but we will not remain silent while blindness services are
placed at risk.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Thank you for standing with us and taking
action.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Together, we will protect the services that
make equality and independence possible.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Respectfully,</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><b>Linda Melendez, </b>President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<br>
908-590-1747<br></font><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org" target="_blank">president@nfbnj.org</a> </span><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"> </font></p></div></div>
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