[Tall-Corn] FW: Section XIII of HSB 126 and SSB1123

Mon Feb 13 04:20:51 UTC 2023

Good Evening Federation Family:

With help from the national organization, here is a copy of what I sent to
all of the legislators that will have the first look at the bills. It
clearly articulates the position of the National Federation of the Blind of
Iowa with regard to section XIII. While it doesn't address the commission
board makeup directly, know that it will be addressed as we move forward.
Please reach out with any questions!

Scott Van Gorp, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Phone: 515-720-5282
Email <mailto:svangorp at nfbi.org> 

 <http://www.nfbi.org/> Website 

<https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823
082570/posts> Facebook 
 <https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa> Twitter 
Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day
we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

From: Scott Van Gorp <svangorp at nfbi.org> 
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2023 10:09 PM
To: 'tony.bisignano at legis.iowa.gov' <tony.bisignano at legis.iowa.gov>;
'nate.boulton at legis.iowa.gov' <nate.boulton at legis.iowa.gov>;
'jason.schultz at legis.iowa.gov' <jason.schultz at legis.iowa.gov>;
'scott.webster at legis.iowa.gov' <scott.webster at legis.iowa.gov>;
'mike.bousselot at legis.iowa.gov' <mike.bousselot at legis.iowa.gov>
Cc: 'adam.zabner at legis.iowa.gov' <adam.zabner at legis.iowa.gov>;
'jane.bloomingdale at legis.iowa.gov' <jane.bloomingdale at legis.iowa.gov>;
'austin.baeth at legis.iowa.gov' <austin.baeth at legis.iowa.gov>;
'amy.nielsen at legis.iowa.gov' <amy.nielsen at legis.iowa.gov>;
'craig.johnson at legis.iowa.gov' <craig.johnson at legis.iowa.gov>;
'shannon.lundgren at legis.iowa.gov' <shannon.lundgren at legis.iowa.gov>;
'david.young at legis.iowa.gov' <david.young at legis.iowa.gov>
Subject: Section XIII of HSB 126 and SSB1123

Good Evening representatives and Senators:

Attached is a letter from the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
regarding Section XIII of HSB 126 and SSB1123. I have also pasted the text
below for your convenience. As president of the National Federation of the
Blind of Iowa, it is my sincere hope that considerable thought is given, and
action is taken, to strike section XIII from these bills. If you have any
questions or wish to discuss this issue further with me, feel free to reach
out using the contact information below and I would be happy to discuss this
issue further. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Dear representatives and senators:

I serve as president of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa, the
transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Iowans. I am
writing to express our strong opposition to Division XIII OF HSB 126 and SSB
1123. These identical provisions would remove the authority of the three
members of the Iowa Commission for the blind to appoint the director of the
Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB). The governor would appoint IDB's
director instead. The effect of this proposal would be to severely curtail
the ability of the Iowa Commission for the Blind to ensure that a qualified
IDB director - one with knowledge of the needs of blind Iowans, the
expertise to see that those needs are met, and a commitment to working
directly with us to achieve excellence - is appointed to that position. It
would further eliminate the ability of the Commissioners to hold the IDB
director accountable for job performance. In short, the blind of Iowa,
through the commissioners, would no longer have any voice in determining who
oversees the agency that is supposed to serve us. We therefore strongly urge
that this division be stricken from both bills in its entirety.

The Iowa department for the blind has a long history of providing excellent
service to blind citizens. It is no accident that many of its achievements
occurred under the leadership of blind people working collaboratively with
both blind and sighted experts in the field of blindness and with the
organized blind movement in our state to provide the specialized skills
training and rehabilitation services that we need to obtain education,
employment, and independence. From 1958 to 1978, Under the leadership of dr.
Kenneth Jernigan, who was blind, the agency became regarded as the best in
the country, with recognition spreading to the nation's capital. The
training techniques and practices pioneered during this era are still a
model for rehabilitation agencies across our country and beyond. But without
participation in its governance and direction by blind Iowans and our
allies, as well as the ability to hold the agency director and their staff
accountable, this proud legacy will be undermined or lost completely, and
your blind constituents will find themselves receiving inferior service.
This in turn will lead to the loss of educational and employment
opportunities for blind Iowans, leaving many entirely dependent upon state
and federal assistance instead of living fulfilling lives learning, working,
and participating in their communities.

Nothing less than the future of blind Iowans to live the lives we want
depends on your swift action to remove this harmful provision. Please
support the immediate striking of Division XIII from HSB 126 and SSB 1123.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you
for your public service and your consideration of this critically important
matter.

Sincerely,

Scott Van Gorp, President

National Federation of the Blind of Iowa

Scott Van Gorp, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Phone: 515-720-5282
Email <mailto:svangorp at nfbi.org> 

 <http://www.nfbi.org/> Website 

<https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823
082570/posts> Facebook 
 <https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa> Twitter 
Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day
we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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