<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Helvetica;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Evening Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please see the below critical update from Director Wharton on the COVID-19 response from the Iowa Department for the Blind that came out this evening to the consumer group presidents. Please reach out if you have any questions. Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><a href="mailto:svangorp@nfbi.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Email</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Website</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br>Live the life you want.<br></span></i><br>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 17, 2020 6:57 PM<br><b>Subject:</b> Update on IDB Operations<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Affiliate Presidents, I posted the below on our website and wanted you to be aware and feel free to share. It is a rapidly changing situation and we at IDB have been working really hard to keep services going to the greatest extent possible while being mindful of the health of our clients patrons, and staff. We are hoping to have more specific info to share about our distance learning and meeting options in the next couple of days. If you have any questions, please let me know. Take care. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>In light of the current public health crisis, IDB is asking the public not to visit our building until further notice. The majority of staff is transitioning into working remotely. We are still taking referrals via the phone or through our website. Field staff are refraining from visiting clients but will make every effort to provide as many services as possible via phone and over the internet. Current clients can still call, text, or email their VR counselor or IL teacher. Library patrons can call or email the library. The support and braille learning groups run by Terri Wilcox are working on meeting telephonically during this time. The library is working to continue to send out cartridges, braille, and large print books as long as we can feasibly do so. Library staff have increased the number of audio books being placed on a multi-book cartridge from 10 to 20 books. Library staff are working on providing online training to teachers, paras, families, and braille learners on braille, creating accessible documents, and other very useful topics. The library is looking to set up telephonic narrator reading/discussion groups for patrons. The entire agency is committed to continue as many services as possible via the phone and internet and is looking to find additional and innovative ways to do so. We will share additional updates and information as it is available. Thank you for your patience and flexibility.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><br>Sincerely,<br><br>Emily Wharton, MFA CPM<br>Director, Iowa Department for the Blind<br>515.802.7313<br><a href="https://blind.iowa.gov">https://blind.iowa.gov</a><br><a href="http://www.atiowa.net">http://www.atiowa.net</a><br>"A proud partner in the America’s Job Center Network"<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>