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You are cordially invited to attend the 10th annual Blind Legislative Networking Day on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, from 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM in The Great Hall, at The Massachusetts State House in Boston.
This year's event may be the most important BLIND event of all! Your advocacy is critical to the future of blindness services as we know them in the Commonwealth!
This is a critical year to make your voices heard at the State House - services as you have known them are clearly at risk and must be preserved! Please add your voice to our advocacy efforts!
At this important time, the community is working to both provide information and network with legislators on the need for appropriate funding for the blindness community's vital service needs.
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The Governor's proposed budget for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) for fiscal year 2019 has recommended essentially level funding. However, MCB faces a $1.55 million annual deficit despite significant recent cuts. This is due to historic practices and systemic issues triggered by several recent external factors. Early this fall Federal Vocational Rehabilitation funding was reduced and MCB was monitored by the Federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The audit exposed fiscal issues going back more than 30 years and a finding ignored by MCB when last audited by RSA in 2009. MCB is working with the Baker Administration and Legislature to secure additional funding beyond that proposed in the Governor's budget in order to eliminate this deficit.
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