<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Chris, <div><br></div><div>Maybe I have misunderstood your comments on this topic, and I don’t want to do that. Did I understand that you won’t be able to come to the legislative seminar due to transportation? I hope that you and many others will be there. One of the ways politicians judge the importance of legislation and the strength of an organization is by looking at the numbers. How many people are showing up. We need people. We need chapters to help get their members to Columbus.</div><div><br></div><div>This seminar presents a perfect opportunity (either formally or informally) to begin to shape future organizational policy including legislation. </div><div><br></div><div>Eric<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div>On Feb 27, 2025, at 1:50 PM, Christopher Sabine via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk@nfbnet.org> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Richard. I agree with all of you, and I think there are aspects of the transportation issue that transcend the local chapters. While I think local chapters are the most knowledgeable when it comes to funding and services for local paratransit and fixed root, there is a lot the Affiliate can do as well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">We could be advocating for funding for intercity transportation services so that our members can attend state and national events and participate in the legislative process. There are also some other areas on a systems level where I think we could have an impact.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">For example, transportation is a huge issue when it comes to accessing health care. When I had a relative in the hospital for open heart surgery and was the responsible party in charge of her care, I found the information I needed to navigate to the unit where she was hospitalized was impossible to find without O & M or advanced travel training. The building was on a major hospital campus and did not have its own address, and of course, the staff at the hospital didn’t know thing 1 about Blindness and competent travel. They didn’t know what a white cane even was, and that was immediately after our Cincinnati Chapter Blindness Equality Achievement Month event which was on two different TV news stations with something like 100 white canes marching on Union Terminal. The appointment was with one of the top cardiothoracic surgeons in the entire nation. Of course, my issue wasn’t work related, so BSVI would not have been of any use.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">So I think there is a lot we can do in terms of legislation and advocacy and the Federation should be partnering with other disability and health care organizations to improve transportation in the Blind community.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Just my thoughts.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Chris<o:p></o:p></div><div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Richard Payne via Ohio-Talk<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thursday, February 27, 2025 11:12 AM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>'NFB of Ohio Announcement List' <ohio-talk@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Richard Payne <rchpay7@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [Ohio-Talk] transportation as a legislative topic<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I agree with this post and a better understanding and policy will be some of the ways for us to deal with our concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span>Richard Payne, President<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">937/829/3368<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:Rchpay7@gmail.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Rchpay7@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; background: white;"><a href="http://www.nfbohio.org/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">www.nfbohio.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; background: white;">The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ohio-Talk <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">ohio-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Eric Duffy via Ohio-Talk<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thursday, February 27, 2025 7:57 AM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>NFB of Ohio Announcement List <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">ohio-talk@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Eric Duffy <<a href="mailto:peduffy63@gmail.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">peduffy63@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re: [Ohio-Talk] transportation as a legislative topic<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">I think we all agree this is an important topic for us as individuals and as an organization. However, We don’t have clear policies around this issue. Mostly we don’t have a good understanding of how various systems are funded <o:p></o:p></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Ood Director Miller touched on this issue in his budget testimony yesterday We should all gather enough information to help shape organizational policy. But at this point we are not prepared to include this in the Columbus Seminar. That doesn’t mean we have to wait two more years to begin addressing this issue.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Eric<o:p></o:p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">On Feb 27, 2025, at 7:04<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>AM, Kelsey Nicolay via Ohio-Talk <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">ohio-talk@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also agree that transportation is an issue that needs to be addressed and the Browns stadium should not be a top priority in the governor's budget. Here in Medina, we have paratransit, but it is extremely unreliable and if I were to use it, I would end up being late to work every day and they don't even operate on evenings or weekends, so if a family member can't drive me, I don't go. I think there needs to be particular focus on intercounty transportation, not just within the county where you live.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>Sent from Kelsey Nicolay’s iPhone<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br><br></span><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Feb 26, 2025, at 11:53 PM, Christopher Sabine via Ohio-Talk <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">ohio-talk@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ryan.<br><br>I must agree with you that transportation is a significant issue that we need to address, even if it is just collaborating with other organizations in the community to come up with transportation solutions for our members.<br><br>I have had to network with members of other disability communities to secure transportation to State Convention for me and other members of our Chapter in the past, even reaching out to ONH and Autism families in a few cases.<br><br>I agree that if we had train service between Cincinnati and Cleveland, it would lessen the burden for us a lot, and I find it difficult to swallow that I cannot be involved in the legislative process as much as I would like for lack of available transportation to Columbus, for example.<br><br>Chris<br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: Ohio-Talk <<a href="mailto:ohio-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">ohio-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> On Behalf Of ryan sima via Ohio-Talk<br>Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 11:06 PM<br>To:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:ohio-talk@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">ohio-talk@nfbnet.org</a><br>Cc: ryan sima <<a href="mailto:ryansima@att.net" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">ryansima@att.net</a>><br>Subject: [Ohio-Talk] transportation as a legislative topic<br><br>Dear NFB family,<br>I am happy there will be a Columbus seminar which has not happened in a while. I am however saddened that transportation is yet again not one of the topics. I agree whole heartitly that prescriptions and the current topics are great. However, in the 10 years I have been in the NFB, it appears transportation like paratransit has never been a concern or issue brought up. Uber and Lyft was more towards discrimination of service animals rather than actual transportation. So I am asking people on the legislative committee and the affiliate to consider how we can address the issues of transportation, particularly paratransit. One thing for sure is part of the governors budget can go more towards paratransit as apposed to the Browns Statium.<br><br>Thank you,<br>Ryan Sima,<br>Secretary,<br>Cuyahoga County chapter<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Ohio-Talk mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Ohio-Talk@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Ohio-Talk@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ohio-Talk:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/info%40onhconsulting.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/info%40onhconsulting.com</a><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Ohio-Talk mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Ohio-Talk@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">Ohio-Talk@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Ohio-Talk:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/piano.girl0299%40gmail.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/piano.girl0299%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div></blockquote><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br>_______________________________________________<br>Ohio-Talk mailing list<br></span><a href="mailto:Ohio-Talk@nfbnet.org" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ohio-Talk@nfbnet.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; 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