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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Deepa Goraya<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I wanted to provide some important information for the 2022 Washington Seminar. This upcoming Washington Seminar will be once again virtual, with a limited number of in-person participation. The Great Gathering In will be a hybrid, so over zoom and a limited number of in-person participants who will be selected by each affiliate. But all of our Virginia appointments will be virtual over zoom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This year’s Washington Seminar will be from February 7 to the 10th, with the Great Gathering In on the 7<sup>th at 5 PM</sup>, and most of our appointments on the 8<sup>th</sup> and 9<sup>th</sup>. There will be trainings provided as usual before appointments to inform you of the issues we’ll be presenting on, but they will just be hybrid trainings in person and on zoom. There will be a Monday issue training and mock meeting session from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., EST, and an evening meeting on both Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., EST. Additional info about the trainings are forthcoming.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This year’s legislative issues are the following:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 431/S. 212)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twenty-First Century Website and Application Accessibility Act<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 2373/S. 3238)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fact sheets and additional info on these issues are forthcoming.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I will be scheduling most of our zoom appointments with our representatives. But we will again need some info from you to determine which appointments and teams you’ll be a part of. Congressional members still want to ensure they are scheduling appointments with their constituents, so it will be important that you are present at the appointment with your representative.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you could please email the following info to Arielle Silverman this month at <a href="mailto:arielle@disabilitywisdom.com">arielle@disabilitywisdom.com</a> (like you did last year) so that we can begin scheduling these appointments and creating the teams:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Your name<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>What days you will be able to attend Washington Seminar (8th, 9<sup>th</sup>, 10<sup>th</sup>, or all three days)<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>What times you’ll be available on each of those days between 8 AM and 6 PM<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Your address, and<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>A phone number and email address where you can be quickly reached<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoListParagraph><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please let Arielle know all this by January 3<sup>rd</sup>. The sooner you email her this info, the easier I can place you in a team for an appointment. For any questions, you can email me at <a href="mailto:deepa.goraya@gmail.com">deepa.goraya@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Deepa Goraya<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, Co-Legislative Director<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Deepinder K. Goraya, Esq<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>