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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><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Ohio You Are Needed!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>As you are aware, the laws that the blind use are in jeopardy: the ADA of 1990, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Randolph-Sheppard Act and more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Reduction in Force (RIF) at the Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office for Civil Rights will Decimate In-State Services for People with Disabilities by:. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Disrupting funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for special education and related services for children with disabilities, including funding for teachers, speech therapists, psychologists, and other support personnel. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please read the factsheet below.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Because of these laws that will be defunded, the Advocacy and Policy Department is asking the membership to reach out to Congress and the Senate to voice our concerns. Therefore, Ohio has assembled 14 team leads that need additional members to step up to make our voices heard. You can join a team to assist with this legislative priority. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>There are 14 teams below. Please send me your name and what team you would like to join. It doesn’t matter where you reside if it is a zoom call. A few will be in the district offices in-person. Therefore, if you are able to travel, please let me know. I will alert the team lead of your willingness to advocate with he or she. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Lastly, please respond by Friday, October 31, 2025; as we are pushing to meet with representatives either on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Plus, everyone should have mock meetings prior to the schedule appointments.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Suzanne<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team Leads and the Factsheet are below!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>//<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Monday:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Chacity Gilliam,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congresswoman, Shontel Brown <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Leslie Aguilar<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 11<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Patricia McPherson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Emilia Sykes <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 13 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Tinae Bluitt <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Annette Lutz, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman Joyce Beatty <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: JACOB CARROLL <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH3 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Wilbert Turner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Jim Jordan <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Vincent M. Bellomo <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 4 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 5<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Richard Payne,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Mike Carey <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Emily Graeter <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 15<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 6<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team Lead: Kinshuk Tella<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Michael Turner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Tyler Jones <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 10 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 7<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Sue Ott, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Dave Joyce <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Evan Marquardt <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 2 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tuesday:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 8 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Delcenia Brown<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congresswoman, Marcy Kaptur <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Adrienne Cardulla <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 9 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 9<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: William Turner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Robert Latta <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Andrew Henthorn <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 5 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 10<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Mike Bullis<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Troy Balderson <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Alexandra DeRiso <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 12 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 11:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Mariann Denning, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Landsman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House Oh 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Kelly Dukes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 12<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team Lead: Ivory Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman, Warren Davidson <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Gus Desch <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 8 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 13<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>NFB Lead: Andra Stover <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman Max Miller<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 7<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Ray Paoletta<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team 14<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Team Lead: Suzanne Turner<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Congressman Michael Rulli<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>House OH 6<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Staffer: Prescott Carey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>///<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Reduction in Force (RIF) at the Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office for Civil Rights will Decimate In-State Services for People with Disabilities<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_Hlk211584905"><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The RIF will Decimate Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Programs in Every State by:<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk211584905'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Disrupting funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for special education and related services for children with disabilities, including funding for teachers, speech therapists, psychologists, and other support personnel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk211584905'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Disrupting funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for preschool programs for children with disabilities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk211584905'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Disrupting funding for competitive grants for training, technical assistance, and technology to improve services for students with disabilities. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></li></ul><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk211584905'></span><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The RIF will Decimate Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Programs in Every State by:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Disrupting federal match funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for state vocational rehabilitation programs, making these programs unsustainable, which will in turn mean that:<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=circle><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>American adults with disabilities will not be able to receive employment training.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>American youth with disabilities will not be able to receive transition to employment or transition to college training. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Employers will be unable to seek assistance in finding qualified disabled employees.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>State-level employees who administer these programs will be furloughed or lose their jobs entirely. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Disrupting funding and eliminating meaningful practices and institutional knowledge for the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind program will mean that older blind Americans may be forced into nursing homes.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The RIF will Decimate the Randolph-Sheppard Program, Affecting the Employment of Blind Entrepreneurs in Nearly Every State, by:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Eliminating positions critical to approving requests that allow states to purchase needed equipment for Randolph-Sheppard Program vendors. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Eliminating positions critical to approving changes in state rules, policies, or programs concerning the implementation of Randolph-Sheppard in states. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Eliminating technical assistance programs for state licensing agencies or elected committees.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Eliminating positions critical to processing state arbitration complaints.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Eliminating positions that could help with agency issues, which will in turn lead to more arbitration cases.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Eliminating positions that would help modernize the program. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The RIF will Decimate Office for Civil Rights Enforcement of Disability Rights Laws in Every State by:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Discontinuing operations at twelve field offices across the country which employ hundreds of people who process over twenty thousand complaints each year. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Severely reducing the capacity to investigate and enforce the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in federally funded educational institutions, including requiring effective communication, the provision of Braille, large print, and audio, and reasonable accommodations in K-12 and higher education. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Severely reducing the capacity to investigate and enforce Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in state and local educational and other programs, including effective communication, the provision of Braille, large print, and audio, and reasonable accommodations. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Reduction or elimination of the services provided by any of these programs will be catastrophic to the blind across the country. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Below are a few testimonies from real blind Americans who have greatly benefitted from each of the above programs. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>“I attended public school in Durant, Iowa – a very rural school district. I was incredibly blessed to begin learning Braille and how to use accessible technology tools to access a computer at a young age. As a result of my terrific elementary school education, I thrived in high school and was able to go to college, where I earned dual degrees in English and Theatre. I am now employed and can proudly share that I pay both federal and FICA taxes.”</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – <b>Elizabeth, from Durant, Iowa</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>“I was able to go to a training center in Ruston, Louisiana, where I learned independent living skills and how to be a productive citizen. Because of my training, I have been a small business owner in the tech sector for more than thirty years.”</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – <b>Karl, a blind business owner in Taylorsville, Utah</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>“For twenty-one years, I have owned and operated a successful dining food facility and housekeeping service at the US Coast Guard Aviation Training Center because of the Randolph-Sheppard program. My business helps employ twenty employees while providing our Coast Guard personnel with the food and accommodations they need to defend our nation.”</span></i><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – <b>Barbara, a blind business owner in Mobile, Alabama</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Ensure that these critical programs for Americans with disabilities in all fifty states will be able to operate by rescinding the reduction in force at the Department of Education!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>//<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>