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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>All, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope this beautiful Oklahoma Fall day finds you happy and well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFBOK Affiliate Board recently met to discuss concerns about the continued efforts of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind to create problems where there are none with regard to the Oklahoma School for the Blind. Additionally, we felt that it was time for us to make a public announcement of support for Director Cordova and his expectations of the students and staff at the Oklahoma School for the Blind. I have attached a copy of National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma Board Resolution 2015-01 and have pasted a copy below for review. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There are further actions being taken and there will be further action necessary on your part as well. Be on the lookout for an e-mail from me in the next few days. It will be a mobilizing call to action. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I would add an additional comment regarding communication within our affiliate. I encourage more. If you have concerns or questions about current issues, programming, legislation…well, anything involving the Federation, please let me know. I can’t help and neither can the Affiliate Board if we don’t know. We are in all integral and important to the organization. We work better, grow more and build a better and brighter future for the blind of Oklahoma when we are able to effectively communicate with and work together to do so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let’s build our Affiliate and the national organization together. Let’s go build the Federation!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Warmly, your sister in the Federation, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeannie<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeannie M. Massay, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>505 Baker Street<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Norman, Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>405-600-0695<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org">Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Affiliate Board Resolution 2015-01<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regarding the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services actions to improve quality education at the Oklahoma School for the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma is the largest and most diverse independent consumer organization of blind persons in the state of Oklahoma, and;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, we, as such, recognize the absolute necessity of an equal and effective education for blind children to become full and productive partners in society, and;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, The Oklahoma School for the Blind is a key resource for the development, education, and training of blind children in the state of Oklahoma, and;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEREAS, The need for raising levels of expectations, standards, and outcome measures for the blind students at The Oklahoma School for the Blind, relative to those of their sighted peers has come to the attention of this organization: Now, therefore;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma Board of Directors in teleconference assembled this twenty-sixth day of October, 2015, that we unanimously and heartily support the ongoing efforts of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services to raise expectation levels and standards and to improve the quality of educational services at the Oklahoma School for the Blind. Particularly in the instruction of the alternative techniques of blindness, including Braille, independent travel with a white cane, access technology and communication, and other skills of daily living ordinarily associated with competence for blind persons, as well as general academic achievement. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma commends and supports the efforts of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services to provide more open, transparent, and comprehensive accountability for the practices, programs, services, and activities of the Oklahoma School for the Blind with the aim of bringing academic expectations and outcomes for its blind students more appropriately in line with those of their sighted peers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>