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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello NFB Family,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>*** EMERGENCY *** <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry is considering closing the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS). He is trying to justify it as a cost-savings measure, but he has not provided any financial proof. He is also ignoring
studies that show the tremendous harm that such an action would have on the blind and visually-impaired citizens of Pennsylvania. He needs to stop considering this as a viable option.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>*** CALL TO ACTION *** <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need your help to protect blindness-related services in Pennsylvania. Please share the important message $B!H(BKeep BBVS$B!I(B with your state legislators and the Governor$B!G(Bs office.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Below are talking points you can use when you call or meet with your Pennsylvania representatives and senators. They are also attached as a flyer you can hand out to concerned neighbors, friends, and any others who could help.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2>The Department of Labor and Industry's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation should abandon consideration of any plan to
<o:p></o:p></h2>
<h2>ELIMINATE the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services.<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3>1. Research shows that consolidation of blindness rehabilitation services into general rehabilitation services hurts blind clients.<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">BBVS has historically been its own Bureau because of the recognition that services to blind and visually-impaired individuals need to be
highly specialized. Studies performed by Mississippi State University$B!G(Bs National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision found that combining blindness-related vocational rehabilitation services with general disability VR services negatively
affect the rehabilitation outcomes of blind and visually-impaired individuals and reduces the average income of those who do achieve employment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3>2. Projected cost savings is minimal; likely harm to blind clients is great.<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Closing BBVS would not save much money compared to the harm it would do, and OVR has not presented any fiscal justification for this action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3>3. BBVS provides specialized rehabilitation services distinct from the rest of OVR.<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Eliminating BBVS would negatively impact social services for blind children, students, adults, and seniors, since BBVS offers critical
opportunities for assistance, training, employment and independent living for which there are no counterparts in the general disability vocational rehabilitation program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h3>4. OVR did not seek input from stakeholders regarding this plan.<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">This option is being planned within the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation without input from the State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation,
the Advisory Committee for the Blind of Pennsylvania, the Governor's office, or the blindness community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h2>Please contact your state legislators and the following offices to share your concerns about the proposal to eliminate BBVS. Also, please share phone calls made and copy all emails to
<span style="font-size:24.0pt">KeepBBVS@nfbp.org.</span><o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h3>Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf <o:p></o:p></h3>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Phone: (717) 787</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria Math","serif";color:black">$B!>(B</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">2500
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Email: govcorrespcrm@pa.gov <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h3>Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Office phone: (717) 705-2630<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Cell phone: (717) 265-5765<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Email: wgoleksiak@pa.gov<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h3>Acting Executive Director of the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Ryan Hyde<o:p></o:p></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Central Office phone: (717) 787-5244
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Email:
<span style="background:white">rhyde@pa.gov</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To find the names and contact information for your Pennsylvania General Assembly Representatives and Senators, visit the following web page and enter your mailing address:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you very much,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joe<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joseph Drenth <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First Vice-President, NFB of Pennsylvania<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Senior R&D Software Engineer, JBT Corporation, Automated Systems Division<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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