Jesse Shriek:
National Federation of the Blind. Live the life you want.
Barbara Manuel:
Good morning, Congressman Shirek. How are you doing today?
Jesse Shriek:
Good morning. Good morning, Barbara. It is great to see you again. I'm doing great. It's really fun to meet with you in the district. I usually see you in DC.
Barbara Manuel:
Yes, yes. I'm excited about having the opportunity once again to come to your office to speak with you. As you know, of course, Barbara Manuel here and I have with me my colleague, Corbb O'Connor. We're here on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind. I am the affiliate president of the National Federation of the Blind of Alabama, and a little about the National Federation of the Blind. We are an advocacy membership driven blind organization.
We advocate daily to enhance the lives of our community. We know that with proper training and tools, blind people can live productive lives. And it is up to us the blind to really take the forefront and to make sure that everyone is aware, first of all, that we are an organization advocating as well as educating others on what we need. We know our community have the capability and the stamina to live productive lives, and we want to do that.
We know that our lives are representative of who we are, and we want want to not only have productive lives, but also provide leadership and skills to others. We come to you today with two pressing issues that we'd like to share with you. I'm going to digress at this time and turn it over to Corbb who would like to speak with you on the first issue.
Jesse Shriek:
Thank you. Hey, Corbb.
Corbb O' Conner:
Hello, Congressman. Thanks for making the time. Yeah, so I'm Corbb O'Connor. I'm a blind parent of a blind kiddo who's in fifth grade, and we've had laws in this country for many years that provide for special education, and they make sure that kids like Silas are learning Braille and cane travel and assistive technology and that they're getting the skills that they need.
But unfortunately, we've seen just in the last few weeks, a reduction in force at the Department of Education to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services and the Rehabilitation Services Administration. And these cuts are going to be detrimental to kids across the country who depend on special education. But in particular here in Mobile to my son, they school district provides him with special education.
He has an individualized education plan, and he's getting services for, as I mentioned, Braille and cane travel and technology. And these are skills that are going to allow him to compete with his sighted peers in school now, in school in the future and into his employment.
But what we often find is, and what we're finding here with his school, is that there are often disagreements about what truly is needed and what the school is required to do to provide those services. And when there are those disagreements, the schools rely on technical assistance from the staff at the Department of Education at the federal level and its field offices to provide them with that helpful interpretation of here's what the law says, here's what the regulations say, and here's what that looks like at a practical level. Here's how other districts around the country are meeting these requirements.
But those staff are also really helpful to parents when parents go and say, Hey, I don't think my school is providing the free, appropriate public education that my son needs. And there's recourse available for us to file a complaint, to have structured conversations between the school district, the parents, the entire team, and the Department of Education.
But unfortunately, these reductions in force that are already planned to take effect are going to have that absolutely negative impact on all of the ability of everybody to provide for what we know blind students need. We know what they need, but so often the districts find that they're limited by their resources and their budgets and their schedules, and all of these things aren't supposed to be part of those conversations.
But naturally we find, not just for my son, but for kids across the country that school districts aren't meeting the needs of what blind kids need. So what we're asking for is your support in voicing your opposition to these reductions in force to conversations with the executive branch to undo these reductions in force at the Department of Education that are absolutely going to hamper the ability of blind kids to get the services they need in order to succeed and become taxpaying citizens in our country. So I'm wondering, is that something that you would support? And are there any questions that I can answer for you?
Jesse Shriek:
I don't think I have any questions at this time. I need to look into this a little bit deeper. But on first glance, I am hearing that this is going to affect your child's ability to live the American dream. We want to reduce waste in Washington, but we don't want to do it at the expense of our young people's future. So I am really going to take a hard look at this and really want to help.
Corbb O' Conner:
Well, I'm grateful, Congressman. Thank you for your support and understand you need to look into this more deeply. I want to pass this back to Barbara to talk about our second issue.
Barbara Manuel:
Thanks so much. Corbb. We're also asking your support Congressman toward taking actions to stop the proposed reductions, which passed would have devastating long lasting consequences for people with disabilities all across the nation. The RIF will dismantle programs created under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Randolph Shepherd Program, two life altering initiatives that cause disabled people to live and work independently.
If the RIFS reductions have followed, it would dismantle the vocational rehabilitation program nationwide. Without these programs, adults with disabilities will lose employment training. Youth will lose transitional services. The employees will lose access to qualified disabled workers. It's possible that state employees will face job loss, and our older blind Americans may lose support for independent living and possibly cause them to reside in nursing homes.
The Randolph Shepherd program, which supports blind entrepreneurs will also be harmed. I have been a part of the Randolph Shepherd Program for 40 plus years. In 2023, 2003, I had the opportunity to receive the contract for the United States Coast Guard Aviation Training Center here in Mobile, Alabama. Here we serve our guards, men and women, and we are so excited about having this opportunity.
I have 20 employees who we provide substantial employment for dedicated employees who would possibly not have employment without the Randolph Shepherd program. Not only do we serve the dining, we have 72 sleeping quarters that we maintain daily along with the common areas. I'm grateful for this opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
If the reductions are passed, thousands of Americans with disabilities and well as others would be harmed. We're asking you to, we are asking to voice your opinion against the reductions that would adversely harm disabled people all across the United States. We know that as you have seen these two issues that we're bringing to you, it will affect the disabled community from childhood throughout adulthood.
And we know that our congressmen in DC definitely would not like to see that happen. We are grateful for everything that you all continue to do to enhance not only the disabled community, but to enable brighter futures for every individual. This is why we are here with you today. We thank you in advance for your support toward removing these possible barriers that could be detrimental to the blind community.
Jesse Shriek:
Well, thank you for sharing your experience, Barbara. I really appreciate your service to our national, our service men and women. Really appreciate your dedicated time, and I really appreciate both of you coming to talk to me about this issue. I mean, I can see clearly that this affects people from all age groups.
We certainly want people to be able to work, be able to participate meaningfully in our society, and we want to make sure that older Americans are able to live in their homes as long as possible and not be moved into nursing homes. So I can see how this reduction in force could be absolutely devastating to the blind population.
You can count on me as a champion. I will stand beside you. And I want to make sure that our folks here in Alabama have every opportunity that anybody else across the country would have. Our blind folks in Alabama have every opportunity that every person across the country would have.
So I'm going to stand up and I'm going to reach across the aisle. This is a bipartisan issue, and I'm going to reach across the aisle to my colleagues also on the other side of the aisle to find out what they're doing and how they're pushing on this. And I think I can work together to be a support.
Barbara Manuel:
Thank you so much Congressman. Shirek, and as you just recently mentioned, this is definitely a partisan position and we, the National Federation of the Blind, only advocate for bi, bipartisan positions that will enhance the lives of blind people. Again, thank you so much for your time today.
Jesse Shriek:
Thank you, Barbara and Corbb, and thank you for bringing this to my attention. Thank you for visiting me in the district. Really appreciate having this new knowledge and I'm going to fight to support you in the blind community. Thank you.
National Federation of the Blind. Live the life you want.
Jesse Shriek:
National Federation of the Blind. Live the life you want.
Barbara Manuel:
Good morning, Congressman Shirek. How are you doing today?
Jesse Shriek:
Good morning. Good morning, Barbara. It is great to see you again. I'm doing great. It's really fun to meet with you in the district. I usually see you in DC.
Barbara Manuel:
Yes, yes. I'm excited about having the opportunity once again to come to your office to speak with you. As you know, of course, Barbara Manuel here and I have with me my colleague, Corbb O'Connor. We're here on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind. I am the affiliate president of the National Federation of the Blind of Alabama, and a little about the National Federation of the Blind. We are an advocacy membership driven blind organization.
We advocate daily to enhance the lives of our community. We know that with proper training and tools, blind people can live productive lives. And it is up to us the blind to really take the forefront and to make sure that everyone is aware, first of all, that we are an organization advocating as well as educating others on what we need. We know our community have the capability and the stamina to live productive lives, and we want to do that.
We know that our lives are representative of who we are, and we want want to not only have productive lives, but also provide leadership and skills to others. We come to you today with two pressing issues that we'd like to share with you. I'm going to digress at this time and turn it over to Corbb who would like to speak with you on the first issue.
Jesse Shriek:
Thank you. Hey, Corbb.
Corbb O' Conner:
Hello, Congressman. Thanks for making the time. Yeah, so I'm Corbb O'Connor. I'm a blind parent of a blind kiddo who's in fifth grade, and we've had laws in this country for many years that provide for special education, and they make sure that kids like Silas are learning Braille and cane travel and assistive technology and that they're getting the skills that they need.
But unfortunately, we've seen just in the last few weeks, a reduction in force at the Department of Education to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services and the Rehabilitation Services Administration. And these cuts are going to be detrimental to kids across the country who depend on special education. But in particular here in Mobile to my son, they school district provides him with special education.
He has an individualized education plan, and he's getting services for, as I mentioned, Braille and cane travel and technology. And these are skills that are going to allow him to compete with his sighted peers in school now, in school in the future and into his employment.
But what we often find is, and what we're finding here with his school, is that there are often disagreements about what truly is needed and what the school is required to do to provide those services. And when there are those disagreements, the schools rely on technical assistance from the staff at the Department of Education at the federal level and its field offices to provide them with that helpful interpretation of here's what the law says, here's what the regulations say, and here's what that looks like at a practical level. Here's how other districts around the country are meeting these requirements.
But those staff are also really helpful to parents when parents go and say, Hey, I don't think my school is providing the free, appropriate public education that my son needs. And there's recourse available for us to file a complaint, to have structured conversations between the school district, the parents, the entire team, and the Department of Education.
But unfortunately, these reductions in force that are already planned to take effect are going to have that absolutely negative impact on all of the ability of everybody to provide for what we know blind students need. We know what they need, but so often the districts find that they're limited by their resources and their budgets and their schedules, and all of these things aren't supposed to be part of those conversations.
But naturally we find, not just for my son, but for kids across the country that school districts aren't meeting the needs of what blind kids need. So what we're asking for is your support in voicing your opposition to these reductions in force to conversations with the executive branch to undo these reductions in force at the Department of Education that are absolutely going to hamper the ability of blind kids to get the services they need in order to succeed and become taxpaying citizens in our country. So I'm wondering, is that something that you would support? And are there any questions that I can answer for you?
Jesse Shriek:
I don't think I have any questions at this time. I need to look into this a little bit deeper. But on first glance, I am hearing that this is going to affect your child's ability to live the American dream. We want to reduce waste in Washington, but we don't want to do it at the expense of our young people's future. So I am really going to take a hard look at this and really want to help.
Corbb O' Conner:
Well, I'm grateful, Congressman. Thank you for your support and understand you need to look into this more deeply. I want to pass this back to Barbara to talk about our second issue.
Barbara Manuel:
Thanks so much. Corbb. We're also asking your support Congressman toward taking actions to stop the proposed reductions, which passed would have devastating long lasting consequences for people with disabilities all across the nation. The RIF will dismantle programs created under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Randolph Shepherd Program, two life altering initiatives that cause disabled people to live and work independently.
If the RIFS reductions have followed, it would dismantle the vocational rehabilitation program nationwide. Without these programs, adults with disabilities will lose employment training. Youth will lose transitional services. The employees will lose access to qualified disabled workers. It's possible that state employees will face job loss, and our older blind Americans may lose support for independent living and possibly cause them to reside in nursing homes.
The Randolph Shepherd program, which supports blind entrepreneurs will also be harmed. I have been a part of the Randolph Shepherd Program for 40 plus years. In 2023, 2003, I had the opportunity to receive the contract for the United States Coast Guard Aviation Training Center here in Mobile, Alabama. Here we serve our guards, men and women, and we are so excited about having this opportunity.
I have 20 employees who we provide substantial employment for dedicated employees who would possibly not have employment without the Randolph Shepherd program. Not only do we serve the dining, we have 72 sleeping quarters that we maintain daily along with the common areas. I'm grateful for this opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
If the reductions are passed, thousands of Americans with disabilities and well as others would be harmed. We're asking you to, we are asking to voice your opinion against the reductions that would adversely harm disabled people all across the United States. We know that as you have seen these two issues that we're bringing to you, it will affect the disabled community from childhood throughout adulthood.
And we know that our congressmen in DC definitely would not like to see that happen. We are grateful for everything that you all continue to do to enhance not only the disabled community, but to enable brighter futures for every individual. This is why we are here with you today. We thank you in advance for your support toward removing these possible barriers that could be detrimental to the blind community.
Jesse Shriek:
Well, thank you for sharing your experience, Barbara. I really appreciate your service to our national, our service men and women. Really appreciate your dedicated time, and I really appreciate both of you coming to talk to me about this issue. I mean, I can see clearly that this affects people from all age groups.
We certainly want people to be able to work, be able to participate meaningfully in our society, and we want to make sure that older Americans are able to live in their homes as long as possible and not be moved into nursing homes. So I can see how this reduction in force could be absolutely devastating to the blind population.
You can count on me as a champion. I will stand beside you. And I want to make sure that our folks here in Alabama have every opportunity that anybody else across the country would have. Our blind folks in Alabama have every opportunity that every person across the country would have.
So I'm going to stand up and I'm going to reach across the aisle. This is a bipartisan issue, and I'm going to reach across the aisle to my colleagues also on the other side of the aisle to find out what they're doing and how they're pushing on this. And I think I can work together to be a support.
Barbara Manuel:
Thank you so much Congressman. Shirek, and as you just recently mentioned, this is definitely a partisan position and we, the National Federation of the Blind, only advocate for bi, bipartisan positions that will enhance the lives of blind people. Again, thank you so much for your time today.
Jesse Shriek:
Thank you, Barbara and Corbb, and thank you for bringing this to my attention. Thank you for visiting me in the district. Really appreciate having this new knowledge and I'm going to fight to support you in the blind community. Thank you.
National Federation of the Blind. Live the life you want.