[Arizona-students] FW: Reporting success in our legislative initiative

[Arielle Silverman]

Here's an example of how our NFB affiliate has made a real difference in
legislation affecting blind Arizonans!

 

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Subject: Reporting success in our legislative initiative

>From -
Bob Kresmer, president
Mary Hartle-Smith, chair of legislative committee National Federation of the
Blind of Arizona 

June 19, 2007 

We are very pleased to report that the NFB initiative to increase funding
for RSA Independent Living Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired have
been successful! 

Arizona RSA is divided into two types of services for the blind and visually
impaired.  Vocational rehabilitation provides services and equipment for
those who have an employment goal.  Independent living services are
available for those not pursuing an employment goal - usually because of age
or additional disabilities.  The independent living services are the
lesser-funded, though would be useful to the larger pool of qualified
Arizonans.  

The Arizona Legislature has approved the fiscal year 2008 budget which
includes an additional $500,000.00 specifically for this program.  Governor
Napolitano will sign this budget.  This additional appropriation more than
doubles the funding from the state for these specialized services for the
blind.  This will improve the amount and quality of training, and increase
the number of Arizonans who can receive training after sight loss.  This
means that we will have taken a significant step forward, but we cannot rest
with this achievement.  We know that state services are not perfect and that
we will continue to advocate for more and better services.  

We thank our members who worked to pass senate bill 1264, whose language was
inserted into the state budget.   The e-mails, letters, and phone calls made
to our state legislators helped make this effort succeed.  We do work
together as Federationists to improve the lives of Blind Arizonans!  

Bob Kresmer, NFBA
(520) 733-5894
Mary Hartle Smith
(480) 733-5266