On June 27, the anniversary of Helen Keller's birth, you are invited to participate in a unique opportunity to honor the legacy of Helen Keller's beloved teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy, and to advocate for improved educational results for all students living with vision loss, including students who may have additional disabilities. Be a part of the National Call-In Day to support the Anne Sullivan Macy Act, and 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. Find the full text of the Macy Act and an online support petition at www.AFB.org/MacyAct.
For this National Call-In Day, AFB is proud to offer our field a new and exciting resource for contacting Congress. Using the toll free numbers provided below, you can contact your U.S. House of Representatives member and your two U.S. Senators directly by simply entering your zip code when prompted. Your call is on AFB, and your congressional advocacy for students with vision loss should be easier than ever before.
While you may call using these numbers at any time starting today, we do encourage all who are interested to make a special effort to concentrate calls on Thursday, June 27, during normal business hours. This National Call-In Day is being coordinated with an array of activities in support of the Anne Sullivan Macy Act around June 27.
We hope that every individual who receives this email will participate in the National Call-In Day and share this announcement with family and friends. We are also inviting all interested organizations who would like to play an active part in promoting the National Macy Act Call-In Day to share this announcement with your networks. Encourage your boards of directors, donors, parent groups, association members, alumni, community members, and all appropriate audiences with which you interact, to participate in the National Call-In Day.
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.
Call-In Numbers:
U.S. House of Representatives: 1-855-882-MACY (6229)
U.S. Senate: 1-877-959-MACY (6229)
Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to contact your members of Congress. In making these important calls, 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.
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.
Don't be disappointed if you only get to talk to a receptionist or if you get their voicemail; the fact that you are their constituent and are taking the time to bring the Macy Act to their attention is what it's all about. If you like, you can ask to speak to the staffer in the office who works on special education issues, but that's not necessary.
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.
Ask your member of Congress, and their staff whom you're likely to speak to, to sponsor the Anne Sullivan Macy Act, and ask them to get back to you with their response. Once you've made your calls, we'd love to hear how it went, so please give us a call or drop us a note at the AFB contact information in this email announcement.
Thank you for your advocacy for children who are blind or visually impaired!
View video message on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk0usg5RtAo
