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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Federation family, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following letter was sent to the Oklahoma House of Representatives Appropriations and Budget Committee Chair and members today. The letter was also placed in an Ad. That appeared in the Oklahoman today, Sunday, February 26, 2017. It is crucial that each and every one of us show up at the Capitol on Wednesday to let our legislature know that we are here, that we are citizens of Oklahoma and that we demand to be heard, particularly when it comes to legislation having anything to do with the blind. Please show up on Wednesday as a show of solidarity. This is what collective action is! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Jeannie M. Massay, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>National Federation of theBlind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>505 Baker Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Norman, OK 73072<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Phone: 405-600-0695<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><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><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Live the life you want!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><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><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'><p class=MsoNormal style='border:none;padding:0in'><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>February 26, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Dear Members of the House Committee on Appropriations and Budget: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Rehabilitation Association, and the Oklahoma State Rehabilitation Council were shocked and dismayed by the introduction of HB 1861, a bill establishing the "Rehabilitation Services Disbursing Fund." This bill would diminish services to older blind Oklahomans due to geographic limitations for services, limit capacity, and expose the state to undue financial risk.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Currently, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Division of Visual Services assigns experts; many of them blind themselves, to work with clients in their home anywhere in the state. The current approach has many advantages that may be compromised if the program is entirely implemented by a private contractor. In contrast, HB 1861, upon which the House Committee on Appropriations and Budget will vote in the near future, proposes that funds for the older blind program be entirely granted to private entities certified by the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services (NAC). While a network of regional service providers is possible, this is an unproven service model and will certainly result in diminished services during the transition period. Moving this work to private entities with only regional services will result in diminished services for clients outside their service area, especially in rural parts of the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>It will be a time consuming and costly process for another entity to replicate the breadth and depth of services offered by Visual Services. For example, Visual Services already has access technology, Braille, orientation and mobility, and customized independent living classes. These customized classes are based on years and years of experience working with older blind Oklahomans. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Rehabilitation services are overseen at the federal level by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The RSA is charged with ensuring that state rehabilitation plans are submitted yearly, monitoring their implementation, and disbursing federal funds to state rehabilitation agencies to carry out these plans. If the RSA determines that a rehabilitation plan has not been properly implemented, it can assess substantial financial penalties against the state rehabilitation department in order to recoup the federal funds received to implement the plan. It is important to note that such assessments would be levied against the state of Oklahoma, not against the private entities. In other words, if a private entity fails to provide adequate services to older blind Oklahomans, tax payers will be left on the hook. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>In summary, this bill will have the unintended consequences of diminishing services for older blind Oklahomans, limiting consumer choice, and exposing the state to uncertain financial penalties for services not directly performed by the state. Furthermore, years of sad experience tell us that NAC-accredited entities do not meet the needs of blind people because NAC'S expectations and standards are very low. We therefore oppose this bill and urge the committee to vote against it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Jeannie Massay<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Jeannie Massay, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>