[Ohio-talk] Update on Wednesday's Hearings

[Deborah Kendrick]

Hello Sheri and all, 
Very encouraging to read this wonderful update.  
I did not know that written testimony was being sought. If I had, I would
have contributed.
Do you still need statements or stories?
As some of you know, I have raised three children, two with their father and
one very much alone. There was an unforgettably painful custody dispute over
my youngest, Caitlyn, which lasted over a year and ended entirely in my
favor. 
I like to say that she cost $50,000 when she was nine, and that I was never
sure I won.
That's a joke, of course. She and her siblings are the greatest blessings of
my life!
At any rate, I did not have assistance from the federation in 1999. I was
too new, too distraught, too something to realize that there was help in
that quarter. Although my then husband was sighted, he never brought
blindness into the struggle. A court-appointed social worker, however, did.
I am proud to say that she was converted. 
Sorry for such verbosity!!! The point is, I'm eager to help if you need me.
And thanks again for the update.
Peace,
Deborah

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sheri
Albers via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2017 10:53 AM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
Cc: Sheri Albers
Subject: [Ohio-talk] Update on Wednesday's Hearings

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our members of the Federation
who spent their time and a lot of energy to attend the hearings for SB 144
and HB 309 on Wednesday. Suzanne Turner and I traveled to Columbus, and we
were met by Mike and Heather Leiterman. We battled the weather, the multiple
Uber driver disasters and schedule delays, but we got the job done!

SB 144 is going to need a lot of our attention to push the amendment to get
a member on the council who has applied for or received services from BSVI,
as we have already encountered opposition. We are the only ones who can do
this.

HB 309 went really well. Chairman Ginter has friends and family who are
blind, and was very sympathetic to the bill. We will need new testimony for
the next hearing.

I also want to thank President Payne, Barbara Pierce and Cheryl Fields for
submitting written testimony. They were entered into the minutes of the
hearing.

Stay tuned for our next actions needed.

 

Best Regards,

Sheri Albers, Vice President

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

513.886.8697

Sheri.albers87 at gmail.com

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

 

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