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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>The following letter was sent to Representative Osborne with copy to the entire House of Representatives regarding HB 1861 and the Older Blind program today. HB 1861 is on the House Agenda for a full house vote on Monday, March 13. Please make a final push back using the hash tag #BlindPushBack. Send e-mails, leave messages, post and share on social media. We cannot let this legislation pass! You have done a great job so far, let’s give a great big push back over the weekend!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Thanks, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Jeannie <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>March 10, 2017<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-top:.55pt'><span style='font-size:7.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:4.55pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Dear Representative Osborn:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-top:.05pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:12.75pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>As noted in correspondence dated February 26, 2017 to you and the members of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, 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. It is important that you hear the voices of Oklahoma's blind citizens before making a final decision on this matter, since we will be directly affected by your vote.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-top:.05pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:24.3pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Currently, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Division of Visual Services assigns experts; many of them blind themselves, to work with clients in their homes anywhere in the state. The current approach has many advantages that may be compromised if the program is entirely implemented by a private contractor. 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, and indeed, the entire blind community. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-top:.05pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>HB 1861 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></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Furthermore, the requirement of NAC accreditation is problematic for several reasons. There is currently only one NAC accredited entity in the state, which means that this legislation will have the unintended consequence of eliminating competition for contracts to provide these services. We can find no information about NAC, its accreditation criteria, or who else it certifies via the internet, and we have concerns about requiring contractors to be accredited by an entity whose commitment to transparency is questionable at best. Although NAC makes little information public, years of sad experience tell us that NAC accredited entities do not meet the needs of blind people because NAC'S expectations and standards have historically been very low.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-top:.05pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:6.05pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>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></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-top:.5pt'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:32.25pt;margin-top:79.8pt;width:123.75pt;height:47.8pt;z-index:-251659264;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:page;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:absolute;z-index:-1895826432;left:0px;margin-left:74px;margin-top:870px;width:248px;height:96px'><img width=165 height=64 src="cid:image002.png@01D29A8A.361E5E90" v:shapes="_x0000_s1027"></span><![endif]>In summary, this bill will have the unintended consequences of diminishing services for older blind Oklahomans, limiting consumer choice, requiring accreditation from a nontransparent accrediting body with a poor track record, and exposing the state to uncertain financial penalties for services not directly performed by the state. In good faith, we, the blind, have made efforts to meet with you, have communicated our thoughts based on experience and expertise to you and the members of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee regarding our opposition to HB 1861. More than 40 blind persons, their friends and families attended the Appropriations and Budget Committee meeting, have sent e-mails, made phone calls and have posted on social media. While we do not feel that our voices have been heard, it is not too late to listen to us now. We oppose this bill and urge you to vote against it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:4.8pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-top:.45pt'><!--[if gte vml 1]><o:wrapblock><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Signature: Jeannie Massay, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma" style='position:absolute;margin-left:32.25pt;margin-top:13.95pt;width:124.75pt;height:47.85pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:0;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:page;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout'><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 align=left><tr><td width=74 height=0></td></tr><tr><td></td><td><img width=167 height=64 src="cid:image004.jpg@01D29A8A.361E5E90" alt="Signature: Jeannie Massay, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></td></tr></table></span><![endif]><!--[if gte vml 1]></o:wrapblock><![endif]--><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:13.2pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'>Jeannie Massay, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-left:9.0pt;line-height:13.2pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'>National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-left:9.0pt;line-height:13.2pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-left:9.0pt;line-height:13.2pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'>cc: Oklahoma House of Representatives<o:p></o:p></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>