[Arizona-students] SAVE VOCATION REHABILITATION-URGENT ACTION NEEDED

[David Andrews]

>Dear Fellow Federationists:
>
>If this is your second message from me, the first one has the attachments you need. Call or email if you are confused.
>
>Your urgent action is needed immediately.  Sources in the Bush administration have perpetrated numerous attacks upon the public Vocational Rehabilitation program.  As you know, rehabilitation offers the best opportunity for blind people to achieve independence and employment. Therefore, we simply cannot permit this program to be weakened as a result of the petty jealousies of governmental officials.
>
>Each of you must write letters to the Secretary of Education, Ms. Margaret Spellings.  A sample letter has been written for you to use as a guide, but I strongly encourage you to personalize it explaining your unique situation. There is bracketed text, simply meant to offer you background information and suggestions.  Do not use it word for word!
>
>To help convey the gravity of the situation that the rehabilitation program faces, let me provide some examples.  The Bush administration's WIA Plus Consolidation proposal would allow state governors to consolidate vocational rehabilitation funds with those from several other programs, making it inevitable that services blind people rely on to gain independence and employment would cease to be provided.  Approximately half of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) staff and all of its regional offices are designated for elimination.  The Bush administration still hopes to downgrade the RSA commissioner to a director and eliminate presidential appointment with senate confirmation.  I expect that in a reorganization of the RSA, the division for the blind will cease to exist unless the blind forcefully stand against such an effort.  Although the Department of Education is responsible for enforcing the Randolph-Sheppard Act, they fail to take a stand to defend the priority for blind vendors from the attacks of NISH, regarding military dining.  Dr. Wilson forcibly advocated on behalf of the blind and other people with disabilities against weakening the RSA; however, administration officials blatantly disregarded her counsel.
>
>Negotiations have failed to address our concerns.  Therefore the time has come to do much more.  At a minimum, we must maintain a prolonged letter--writing campaign with the goal of changing administration policy from the top.  This will require you to rally your family, friends, neighbors, and anyone else you know, to join our cause, and write to the secretary of education.  Please provide me a copy  (either by email or fax) of all correspondence you send to the Secretary on this matter.  My email address is Jmccarthy at nfb.org,. and the fax number for the National Center for the Blind is 410- 685-5653.
>
>Secretary Spellings has two email addresses; please use both of them.  Email and fax are the best means to reach Secretary Spellings, but for those of you who lack access to these methods, I am providing a phone number as well. Her email address (in care of her assistant) is Christine.Wilson at ed.gov, and her other email address is Margaret.spellings at ed.gov.  Her fax number is 202-401-0596.  Her phone number is 202-401-3000.
>
>Please provide copies of all correspondence that you send to Secretary Spellings to your two senators and to your congressional representative.  I am attaching a document that contains the email, phone, and fax numbers of all senators and representatives to help you with this task.  If you know the persons in these offices who focus on education issues, you should communicate this information to them.
>
>We must rally the support of everyone we know to this cause.  By deluging the secretary of education and our congressional members with correspondence, we will demonstrate just how critical these issues are to the blind.  The existence of the Rehabilitation Services Administration and of the services that are so critical to our independence may depend upon our efforts.  For that reason we must all join together to save the Vocational Rehabilitation Program.  If you want more information, please call me at 410-659-9314, extension 2240 or Dr. Wilson at extension 2335, and we will be happy to help.  Thank you so much for your hard work.
>
>Best regards
>
>
>
>
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