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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>The Blind Push Back in Oklahoma!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><span style='font-size:24.0pt;color:red'>CALL TO ACTION!<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Wednesday, March 1<sup>st</sup>!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>If you are Blind, know or love someone who is blind, you need to be at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, to let our legislators know that we, the blind of Oklahoma, are not OK with legislation being written about us without our input, expertise and experience of living as blind people. Further, that we do not want or need either of the bills currently in question. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>We need everyone to show up in opposition to HB 1861 and HB 2230. Make the day about showing Oklahoma that the Blind community is alive and well in Oklahoma. How can you help? See how below:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Come to the Oklahoma State Capitol and stay all day!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span></b><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>The House Municipal & County Committee will vote on HB 2230 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 412 C. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span></b><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>We, the blind, and our friends and family members will rally at 1:00 on the South Plaza to oppose the legislation and demonstrate our capacity through collective action. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span></b><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>The House Appropriations Committee will meet at 3:30 in Room 206 to vote on HB 1861.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span></b><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Share and Like our Facebook and Twitter posts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>If you are able to stay for the entire day, please plan to do so. If you are able to attend part of the day please come to the Blind Push Back Rally and the House Municipal & County Committee meeting in the morning or the House Appropriations Committee meeting in the afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:26.0pt;color:red'>Tired of being pushed around? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:26.0pt;color:red'>We can and must do something about it! <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>HB1861 Regarding the Older Blind program <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal>This bill will effectively remove the management and services to the older blind from the Department of Rehabilitation and its employees to other possible organizations or private agencies. This legislation will take dollars away from Visual Services and afford it to outside interests. This bill seeks to provide a solution to a problem that does not exist. The Older Blind program needs to stay where it is! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>HB2230 Regarding the exemption of county jail commissaries from priority to licensed blind managers<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>This bill will effectively remove a blind manager from the job that he does well and will set precedent for other locations to be removed for exemption in the future. The bill, in its current form, will remove all county jails from prioritization. Further, in the future other facilities are quite likely to be targeted as well. Last year, the legislature exempted the Capitol from priority and claimed that they would not pursue further locations in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:20.0pt'>It's time to tell the Oklahoma Legislature they can’t make policy about us, without us. Please join us Wednesday to be a part of the blind push back.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Jeannie M. Massay, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>National Federation of theBlind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>505 Baker Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Norman, OK 73072<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Phone: 405-600-0695<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><a href="mailto:Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org">Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Live the life you want!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of the blind because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want.!. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>