<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;">Please see below,<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div>
<meta charset="UTF-8"><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); 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; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div>Helen Mejia, President</div>National Federation of the Blind<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Iowa<br>hmejia@nfbi.org<br>(570) 983-7867</div>
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<div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>From: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">National Federation of the Blind <webmaster@nfb.org><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Advocacy Alert: Regarding Reduction in Force at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services</b><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Date: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October 14, 2025 at 10:06:18\u202fPM CDT<br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Helen Mejia <hmejia@nfbi.org><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Reply-To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bounces+r.25461.11824772.db96deb0ce8116e5@mailings.nfb.org<br></span></div><br><div><!--[if gte mso 9]>
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<h1><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">Member Call to Action</span></h1><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Dear Federation Family,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">On Friday, October 10, the Department of Education issued reduction in force notices to almost every employee in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). As a result, we issued the following statement: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11824772" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">National Federation of the Blind Denounces Devastating Job Cuts Within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of Education\u2019s ability to carry out its legal responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40486&qid=11824772" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Access the full statement and resources</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Even though the federal government is currently shut down, we are asking that you call or email both of your Senators and your Representative and request them to take congressional action. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to take congressional action to protect the congressionally mandated disability programs that have been devastated by the reduction in force at the Department of Education issued on October 10. If not reversed, this action will severely undermine the Department of Education\u2019s ability to carry out its legal responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">These laws ensure that blind children receive Braille and other essential educational services, that blind adults receive the training necessary for competitive employment, and that blind entrepreneurs have opportunities to operate businesses on federal properties. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The consequences will be devastating\u2014fewer blind students learning Braille and accessible technology, fewer blind adults receiving mobility and employment training, and fewer business opportunities for blind entrepreneurs. Please demand the Administration rescind the reduction in force immediately to protect the disability-focused programs that Congress previously established to educate and empower Americans with disabilities."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We suggest a subject like: "Please Urge the Administration to Rescind the Reduction in Force Order Regarding OSERS"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">To find the contact information for your specific senators\u2019 or representative\u2019s office, please download <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40487&qid=11824772" rel="nofollow">the Senate spreadsheet</a> or <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40488&qid=11824772" rel="nofollow">the House spreadsheet</a>. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you send an email, please copy Justin Young at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40489&qid=11824772" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">jyoung@nfb.org</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at lwalsh@nfb.org. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thank you for your commitment to advance the lives of our members and all blind people in the United States. </span></p>
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