[NFBC-Info] Action Needed

[Chela Robles]

Here is Alex Lee’s email address.

assemblymember.lee at assembly.ca.gov here is Jesse Arreguin's email address senator.arreguin at senate.ca.gov
Sincerely,
Chela Robles — Certified Literary Braille Transcriber
Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 1, 2026, at 11:37 PM, Laura Millar via NFBC-Info <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:

On Tue, Sep 1, 2026 at 9:25 PM Chris Fendrick <cfendrick34 at gmail.com> wrote:

> 
> 
> Urgent Action Needed: Protect DOR Services for Blind and Low-Vision
> Californians
> 
> 
> 
> Dear NFB-C members and community partners,
> 
> 
> 
> California’s blind, low-vision, and DeafBlind community must come together
> and speak with a strong, unified voice about the California Department of
> Rehabilitation’s move into Order of Selection!
> 
> 
> 
> Order of Selection is used when DOR determines that it does not have
> sufficient resources to serve every eligible applicant. Applicants are
> placed into priority categories based on the significance of their
> disabilities, and those in categories that are not open may be placed on
> waiting lists indefinitely.
> 
> For blind, low-vision, and DeafBlind Californians, this could mean being
> denied timely access to orientation and mobility instruction, adaptive
> technology, employment training, job-retention assistance, and other
> essential services. These delays could jeopardize people’s safety,
> independence, education, and employment.
> 
> Order of Selection also threatens the specialized organizations and
> professionals that serve our community. If referrals stop and this service
> network is dismantled, rebuilding it will be extremely difficult. This
> policy could set our community back many years.
> 
> We need your involvement now. Please take these actions:
> 
> 
> 
>   1. Participate in the community-led letter-writing campaign. Ask your
>   state senator and Assemblymember to support an urgent joint legislative
>   oversight hearing concerning DOR’s implementation of Order of Selection.
>   Click this link for a template to have your voice heard:  Hearing
>   Request - Action Network
>   <https://actionnetwork.org/letters/hearing-request?source=direct_link>
> 
> 
> 
>   2. Contact Assemblymember Alex Lee and Senator Jesse Arreguín, chairs
>   of the Assembly and Senate Human Services Committees, and urge them to hold
>   this hearing before irreversible harm occurs.
> 
> 
> 
>   3. Share this message and the letter-writing campaign with consumers,
>   families, advocates, service providers, and community organizations
>   throughout California.
> 
> 
> 
>   4. Attend the next State Rehabilitation Council meeting and tell
>   council members that DOR must reevaluate this policy and protect timely
>   access to specialized services.
> 
> 
> 
> Wednesday, September 16
> 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
> 
> 
> 
> Thursday, September 17
> 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
> 
> 
> 
> Although virtual participation will be available, we encourage everyone
> who can attend in person to do so, particularly on Wednesday morning. The
> Director’s Report and Order of Selection update are scheduled from 9:40 to
> 11:30 a.m. This will be an important opportunity to hear directly from DOR
> leadership, ask questions, and provide public comment.
> 
> In-person location:
> 
> 
> California Department of Rehabilitation
> 721 Capitol Mall, Room 169
> Sacramento, CA 95814
> 
> 
> 
> Virtual participation:
> Join the September 16–17 meeting by Zoom
> <https://dor-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/93645736915?pwd=KyL0VaGflT7H33XtvwqORzhvovwlfp.1>
> 
> Meeting ID: 936 4573 6915
> Passcode: eMi%4hL^
> 
> 
> 
> A strong community presence matters. It will demonstrate that concerns
> about Order of Selection are shared broadly by blind, low-vision, and
> DeafBlind Californians, their families, advocates, service providers, and
> others who understand the policy’s real-world consequences.
> 
> Our collective voices can make a difference—but only if we act. Please
> participate, speak out, and help ensure that Californians with vision loss
> continue to receive the services necessary for safety, independence,
> education, and employment.
> 
> 
> 
> In solidarity,
> 
> 
> 
> Chris Fendrick
> 
> 
> 
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