[nfbwatlk] FW: Message from Jelica Nuccio

Nightingale, Noel Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov
Wed May 27 21:07:32 UTC 2015


Thought this e-mail from the Deaf-Blind Service Center might be of interest to some on this list.

From: Sam Smith [mailto:ssmith at seattledbsc.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2015 10:53 AM
To: DBSC Info
Subject: Message from Jelica Nuccio

Dear DeafBlind Community Members,

We are writing to thank you for your support and to give you a report on our lobbying experience on behalf of the DeafBlind Community. We are also writing to ask you write your personal letter to Senator Murray asking her to give us her support. Will explain the letter below.

Report: the highly motivated team members who went to DC are: Angela Theriault, Theresa Smith, Paula Hoffman, Tami Berk, and Jelica Nuccio. We are pleased to let you know that DBSC has agreed to be the fiscal agent of this project if we are successful.

It was a fast and full trip because we could only be in DC for two days. We flew to D.C. on Tuesday, (Theresa went earlier) then we spent all day Wednesday in meetings with Senators and staff members. Jelica had arranged interpreters for the team so there were three women including Rebekka Halseth who joined us at the Capitol Building on Capitol Hill.

First, early Wednesday morning, we went to a big reception room with about 200 people who wanted to greet Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)for coffee. Senator Murray first introduced her staff (about 20 people), and told us her busy schedule for the day. Then each group briefly introduced ourselves and told the purpose of our visit. Many schools were on Spring break that week so there were quite a few students and families there to ask for support of education.

Next, we walked to a different building to the office of Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and met with two of her young staff members but there was not a big enough room available for all of us so we walked to the cafeteria where we could sit and explain the proposal. There was a lot of walking that day, smile. The buildings are all connected underground so we would ride elevators down to the basement, walk to the other building, then elevator back up.

We told Cantwell's staff people about why Seattle is a great place for this kind of program and why we are ready for the next step. Then we asked for their support. They were not sure as they need to go back and get more information. After a brief break, we met with Senator Cantwell herself. This was like Senator Murray's coffee, but this time there were only about 25 people. We were all seated around a large table. Senator Cantwell introduced her staff, then approached each group and listened attentively as we talked about what we are there for. When Jelica talked, Senator Cantwell asked her staff to bring her more information on the proposal.

We next walked back to meet with Senator Murray's two staff members. They seemed to have much more background knowledge about the Helen Keller Center and about the Seattle Community. They asked good questions, took notes were very supportive. The challenge is in how the money can be allocated to Seattle and Alabama directly as these kinds of grants to individual non-profit organizations (called earmarks) are currently not possible.

After lunch, we met with Alabama Senator Richard Shelby's (R-AL), staff members. Senator Shelby is strongly behind this idea and has been working closely with John Mascia from Alabama for some time, and they know him well. The Senator himself stopped by to say hello and meet the Seattle representatives. Then Jelica, Angela and Theresa went to Gallaudet to meet with DeafBlind friends there for dinner. It was a tiring but worthwhile day.

Thursday Theresa left, but the rest of us returned "to the Hill" and met with Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA).  He too listened closely and was very supportive.

Senator Murray, is the key person for this proposal, because she is on the Senate Budget Committee.  We need her support. Murray's staff told us that they need to review the current budget and see how this might be possible.  It will be tricky.

On the one hand, we have an advantage having both a Republican and a Democrat in favor of supporting DeafBlind people in this way, so it is a bipartisan effort with Democrats and Republicans working together, but the challenge is making it a priority for Senator Murray.

Senator Murray has been a long-time supporter of DeafBlind people and was the person who made it possible to get the special grant to the Seattle Lighthouse over ten years ago, and the grant to DBSC for the SSP Curriculum Pilot Project. But this request is new and the system in the Congress has changed some. The last two grants were what is called "earmarks" meaning the Senator put in a special grant inside the budget bill as something special for the people in their state, but now they cannot do it that way.

We are following the Lighthouse lead and starting to build more and stronger relationships with our Senators and Representatives on both the national and state level, so that they will be aware of DeafBlind people and our Community in the future, and ready to support us.

For now, we are asking YOU, Community members - to write to write a letter of support directly to Valerie Williams who works for Senator Murray on budget matters. We want the Senator to know that we feel this is very important and could be a huge step towards better quality of life for DeafBlind people.

Enclosed (see below after this letter) is a sample letter for you to use if you would like.
Her email address is Valerie¬_williams at help.senate.gov
Any questions?

Once again, thank you for your incredible support, Jelica and the team


SAMPLE LETTER: (email to Valerie Williams at valerie_williams at help.senate.gov<mailto:valerie_williams at help.senate.gov>


Note: If you are a DeafBlind person, please identify yourself as such. Or someone who works with DB people, etc. "I am a DeafBlind resident of Washington..." or "I am a resident of Washington State and team with DeafBlind folks often as a SSP" - that kind of thing.]

(insert your address here)
May 20, 2015


Dear Senator Murray,

I am a resident of Washington State and am writing in support of the Pilot DeafBlind Community Service Model as proposed by Jelica Nuccio and her team.

I am in full support of the work group's proposal for a model that establishes the highest quality of training, community leadership, and employment possible for DeafBlind (DB) individuals who live in the state of Washington.

[Insert personal story here. Your personal story should show how DB Community Service Model benefits you or others around you. To give an example of a personal story: "In 2012, I had the opportunity to meet Jelica Nuccio. Though I'd encountered other DeafBlind individuals in the past, I still wasn't fully confident in my ability to interact and communicate with DeafBlind individuals. Jelica immediately both put me at ease and set a bar that I was motivated to reach in terms of mutual respect, learning to do things differently, and most importantly- confronting my biases regarding what I thought DeafBlind people needed me to do "for" them. Jelica taught me a lot about personal autonomy and I have since seen how effective her model of leadership has been with other DeafBlind individuals. People who have had the opportunity to work with Jelica leave more confident and content for having spent time with her.]

Please consider fully supporting the DeafBlind Community Model. Your approval will impact numerous individuals in very life-changing ways.

Thank you for your time, Senator.

Sincerely,

(your name and signature)




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