MAKE A CALL, MAKE A DIFFERENCE--JUNE 27!!!
National Call-In Day for the Anne Sullivan Macy Act!
For further information, contact:
Mark Richert, Esq.
Director, Public Policy, AFB
(202) 469-6833
Email: MRichert@afb.net
The AFB Public Policy Center has been busy developing an array of tips and tools to help you advocate for the Macy Act! Visit our updated webpage (www.afb.org/MacyAct) for the call-in numbers, a list of supporting organizations, and even details about tweeting your senators and representatives! Additionally, we have a short, easy-to-share YouTube video which explains the Macy Act and the Expanded Core Curriculum (http://youtu.be/Dk0usg5RtAo). We're also blogging about the Macy Act on the AFB site (http://www.afb.org/blog.aspx?BlogID=7) and on Family Connect(http://www.familyconnect.org/blog.asp?BlogID=1).
Please make use of these tools and keep us posted about your efforts to build momentum for the Call-In Day on June 27th (just two weeks away!) Help us tell Congress to get moving on making America's special education system more accountable for meeting the unique learning needs of students who are blind or visually impaired.
To learn more about how you can help and how to best coordinate your national, regional, or local group with the National Macy Act Call-In Day, Please contact Rebecca Sheffield, Public Policy Intern, AFB at (202) 469-6838 or at RSheffield@afb.net
For the Call-in Day, please take advantage of these two numbers, which will connect you quickly to your legislators:
* U.S. House of Representatives: 1-855-882-MACY (6229)
* U.S. Senate: 1-877-959-MACY (6229)
Once you enter your zip code and get connected to your U.S. House of Representatives member or to each of your two U.S. Senators, identify yourself and let them know you're a constituent. Then, ask them to sponsor the Anne Sullivan Macy Act. You should point them to: www.AFB.org/MacyAct for the full text of the legislation and for an online support petition.
You may also find an array of useful supporting materials at a joint AFB and Perkins project published on the web at: www.ECCAdvocacy.org
Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to contact your members of Congress and for helping make others aware of this important advocacy effort. In raising awareness about the Macy Act, you are joining families, professionals and consumers from all across America who are as concerned as you are about the readiness of kids with vision loss for college and career.
Named for Helen Keller's beloved teacher, the Anne Sullivan Macy Act would dramatically improve educational results for the more than 100,000 students in America with vision loss, many of whom have additional disabilities. The Macy Act would ensure that these students are properly evaluated and served in light of all their unique learning needs. Without the Anne Sullivan Macy Act, our nation's special education system will remain unable to deliver on its promise of a truly appropriate education for our kids.
Thank you for your advocacy for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired.