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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoPlainText>For many of the years I have been blind, Iowa has held a special place in my heart and I have always sought out the tremendous history here, especially from mentors and friends such as Peggy Elliott and Dick Davis. I know some won’t consider me a blind Iowan since I was not born here, but I have now lived here nine years and I consider myself a blind Iowan. As blind Iowans, we have an amazing and complicated history. With this history, you have to admit that Dr. Jernigan left blind Iowans with a gift that those who live in other parts of the country can’t really understand — the gift of a codified right to a voice in the services that can make or break your career and dreams. The way that the Iowa Commission for the Blind is set up — was the model for New Mexico and Nebraska, as well as other states, along with the center model that was replicated at our NFB centers and guided other state-run centers— gives blind people the opportunity and responsibility to ensure that the person running the agency knows about blindness, cares about service to blind people, and will be duty-bound standing up for the interest of this very small group of people despite whatever political pressures are applied. If HSB 126 and SSB1123 are passed with Division 13 as is, this will all be gone. The governor will get rid of the current Director who has refused to comply with the administrations alignment plans and refused to remain silent when blind children were being endangered by the Department of Education’s failure to care about the safety of blind children. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>If this bill is passed as is, the first step will be to replace Emily with someone who will follow orders regardless of the impact to IDB. If blind people don’t demand Commission Board appointments who are blind and who are knowledgeable and care about services, there will be a Iowa Commission for the Blind Board made up of optometrists and other friends of the Governor’s staff who will get rid of Emily and put in someone whose job is to convince you that going under the Iowa Workforce Development agency (IWD) is a good thing for blind people and Beth Townsend and others at IWD care about services to blind people. The last step will be to combine IDB with the general agency.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>We cannot just have Division 13 removed, but simultaneously we need to get the language to the commission board members revised. Previously, the governor would appoint a commissioner from a list of those who applied to be on the board and the Senate needed to approve this appointment. Last session legislation was passed to changed this to remove senate approval. So when I said earlier in this message that the board would be comprised of people who knew nothing about blindness and be willing to move and combine IDB, this will be even easier because we will not even be able to appeal to the Senate to stop any specific appointments. We have already had a scheduled board meeting that could not be valid because there was only one board member, Mr. Brems. Mr. Brems term is also scheduled to end this year. Below and before my signature, I will paste some proposed language that may need revised a little, however, I hope it may start more discussion and give people some wording to include in emails and calls to the members of the state government committee. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>When IDB was put under another department in the past the current director of IDB agreed to this and was also promised a promotion in the reorganization. We were able to get it out and make it independent again because of our activism and the fact that there was a Sunshine clause in the legislation that made it easier for this to happen. This time there is no Sunshine clause and the IDB director is not agreeing to the merger. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>You can like Emily Wharton or hate her, you can think it would be a great thing for her to lose her job, but if you take even the tiniest step back, you see that letting this bill pass with Section 13 in it is the beginning of the end of quality blindness services for blind people. And if you don’t think it matters because IDB’s services aren’t that good or they didn’t give you the new computer you wanted, talk to a blind person in Illinois or Texas. This is really serious and while I do have a personal stake in this, the truth is, we all do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>I have several articles and a research paper on why a stand alone agency is better that I may post to the listserv or people can contact me directly to have me send you them if you would like them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>I am more than happy to help anyone write a letter or email or discuss what to say on a call to these individuals if anyone needs help with that. I will include my phone and email below my signature. Even if you do not live in the district, we need them all contacted. But if you do live in the district of any of these individuals, I think it would be helpful to know. I, and I am sure others, would be more than happy to try to set up a face-to-face meeting with you and your legislator. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Amendment to <span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%'>216B.2 COMMISSION CREATED.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Commission membership:<o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>All three commissioners shall be blind.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The commission shall be comprised of a member from each of the following groups:<o:p></o:p></li><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=a><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>: president of the Iowa Council of the United Blind or his/her designee<o:p></o:p></li></ol></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'>President of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa or his/her designee<o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=1><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=a><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'> A former client of the Iowa Department/Commission for the blind who is not currently receiving services.<o:p></o:p></li></ol></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Explanation: Following the approach of Nebraska chapter 71-8604 subsection 1 Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired governing board members (text below), this amendment provides for representation of the two major consumer organizations on the Iowa Commission for the Blind. The purpose is to focus the Iowa Commission for the Blind on serving the public interest without interference from forces outside the purview of its mission. Ensuring that all Commissioners possess knowledge of IDB services and the lived experiences of blind Iowans, the Commission can make certain that the administration of the Iowa Department for the Blind is competent, non-partisan , and dedicated to the best interests of blind Iowans. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nebraska chapter 71<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212529'>71-8604.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212529;font-weight:normal'>Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired; created; per diem; expenses.<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=text-justify style='margin-top:0in;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#212529'>(1) The Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired is created. The governing board of the commission shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor with the approval of a majority of the members of the Legislature. All board members shall have reasonable knowledge or experience in issues related to blindness which may include, but is not limited to, reasonable knowledge or experience acquired through membership in consumer organizations of the blind. No board member or his or her immediate family shall be a current employee of the commission. At least three board members shall be blind persons: One member shall be a member or designee of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska; one member shall be a member or designee of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska; and one member may be a member of another consumer organization of the blind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>Best,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>Shawn<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><a href="mailto:shawnmmayo@gmail.com">shawnmmayo@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'>612-810-5904<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>