<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="Street"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="State"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceType"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PlaceName"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="address"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="City"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;}
h3
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p
{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:Arial;
color:navy;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:4.25pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div style='font-color:black'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> <a href="mailto:swittenstein@csb-cde.ca.gov"
title="swittenstein@csb-cde.ca.gov">Stuart Wittenstein</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>To:</span></font></b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> <a href="mailto:acgil2006@gmail.com" title="acgil2006@gmail.com">Al
Gil</a> ; <a href="mailto:Amandal@sfsu.edu" title="Amandal@sfsu.edu">Amandal@sfsu.edu</a>
; <a href="mailto:alinville@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="alinville@csb-cde.ca.gov">Ann
Linville</a> ; <a href="mailto:barb8881@aol.com" title="barb8881@aol.com">Barbara
Franklin</a> ; <a href="mailto:w6rgh@comcast.net" title="w6rgh@comcast.net">Carl
Martin</a> ; <a href="mailto:ccotb@earthlink.net" title="ccotb@earthlink.net">ccotb@earthlink.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:dkreuzer@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="dkreuzer@csb-cde.ca.gov">Debby
Kreuzer</a> ; <a href="mailto:dianne.millner@gmail.com"
title="dianne.millner@gmail.com">dianne.millner@gmail.com</a> ; <a
href="mailto:donnajsexton@comcast.net" title="donnajsexton@comcast.net">donnajsexton@comcast.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:cedwinvaughan@yahoo.com" title="cedwinvaughan@yahoo.com">cedwinvaughan@yahoo.com</a>
; <a href="mailto:frank-welte@sbcglobal.net" title="frank-welte@sbcglobal.net">frank-welte@sbcglobal.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:hong72@sfsu.edu" title="hong72@sfsu.edu">hong72@sfsu.edu</a>
; <a href="mailto:jrizzo@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="jrizzo@csb-cde.ca.gov">Jamie
Rizzo</a> ; <a href="mailto:jetteweaver@yahoo.com" title="jetteweaver@yahoo.com">jetteweaver@yahoo.com</a>
; <a href="mailto:jwillows@ap.net" title="jwillows@ap.net">jwillows@ap.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:jpatche@winfirst.com" title="jpatche@winfirst.com">Joni
Patche</a> ; <a href="mailto:JParisSalb@cde.ca.gov"
title="JParisSalb@cde.ca.gov">Jonn Paris-Salb</a> ; <a
href="mailto:jcoleman1@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="jcoleman1@csb-cde.ca.gov">Joyce
Coleman</a> ; <a href="mailto:jsthom@comcast.net" title="jsthom@comcast.net">jsthom@comcast.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:jlesner@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="jlesner@csb-cde.ca.gov">Judith
Lesner</a> ; <a href="mailto:mavenno1@aol.com" title="mavenno1@aol.com">mavenno1@aol.com</a>
; <a href="mailto:juliebp@blindbabies.org" title="juliebp@blindbabies.org">juliebp@blindbabies.org</a>
; <a href="mailto:kcourtemanche@csb-cde.ca.gov"
title="kcourtemanche@csb-cde.ca.gov">Karen Courtemanche</a> ; <a
href="mailto:lvann@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="lvann@csb-cde.ca.gov">LaWanda Vann</a>
; <a href="mailto:lathom@comcast.net" title="lathom@comcast.net">lathom@comcast.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:lwyatt@cde.ca.gov" title="lwyatt@cde.ca.gov">Linda Wyatt</a>
; <a href="mailto:andlyn@sbcglobal.net" title="andlyn@sbcglobal.net">andlyn@sbcglobal.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:mreardon@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="mreardon@csb-cde.ca.gov">Maureen
Reardon</a> ; <a href="mailto:mgpjcole@comcast.net" title="mgpjcole@comcast.net">mgpjcole@comcast.net</a>
; <a href="mailto:pwilliams@hcblind.org" title="pwilliams@hcblind.org">pwilliams@hcblind.org</a>
; <a href="mailto:RArueda@dor.ca.gov" title="RArueda@dor.ca.gov">Richard Rueda</a>
; <a href="mailto:ssacks@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="ssacks@csb-cde.ca.gov">Sharon
Sacks</a> ; <a href="mailto:sgonzales@csb-cde.ca.gov"
title="sgonzales@csb-cde.ca.gov">Staci Gonzales</a> ; <a
href="mailto:swittenstein@csb-cde.ca.gov" title="swittenstein@csb-cde.ca.gov">Stuart
Wittenstein</a> ; <a href="mailto:demotlc1@comcast.net"
title="demotlc1@comcast.net">Theresa deMalherbe</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></font></b><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'> Wednesday, January 06, 2010 8:21 AM<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></font></b><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> news to share in a new year<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Hi
all,<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Happy
new year! I hope you and your families are doing well and had a wonderful
holiday season. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am
writing to you today to share the information below from a self-identified
“progressive” blog, called BlueOregon, who is reporting that <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
Representative Sara Gelser has been nominated to serve on President
Obama’s National Council on Disability. Representative Gelser, as
chair of the education committee in <st1:State w:st="on">Oregon</st1:State>’s
House, is the person who led the movement to close the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
for the Blind because she believes that all specialized educational settings
are inappropriate. She has much backing in the disability community in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> – not from
the blindness community, but from high incidence disability advocates, many of
whom see any separate education as immoral.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If
you check out the comments to this online article (pasted below), you’ll
find many disability advocates congratulating her and blindness advocates
taking an opposite position. Although many in Oregon believed the school
to be ineffective, it seems to me there ought to have been a way to improve the
school and make use of its potential for Oregon’s blind children rather
than to shut it down and lose the statewide resource it could have become.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>State
Representative Sara Gelser Nominated to Federal Post <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Kristin
Teigen<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>On
Wednesday, President Obama nominated Oregon State Representative Sara Gelser
(HD -16) to serve on the National Council on Disability. If confirmed by the
Senate, Gelser would become one of fifteen members of the Council, which
advises Congress, Obama and executive branch departments on policies and
programs that ensure equality and inclusion for people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The post
would allow Gelser to keep her position in the Legislature, where she is
Assistant Majority Leader and Chair of the House Committee on Education. She
filed for re-election in early December.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As many
know, Representative Gelser has worked consistently for appropriate services
and for the rights of people with disabilities. Among other pieces of
legislation, she pushed for changes in Medicaid to allow families to keep
children with disabilities at home rather than being forced to move them to a
nursing home. She also sponsored legislation that provided individuals with
disabilities with substantial protections from caregiver abuse, and that
allowed testimonies in court of those individuals with disabilities who may
have been the victims of abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Before joining
the Legislature, Gelser served as the Children with Disabilities and Family
Support Coordinator for the Oregon State Department of Human Services and as
founder of the FG Syndrome Family Alliance. Additionally, she was a member of
the Corvallis School Board and is the mother of four children, including a
teenage son with disabilities. Her work in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">DC</st1:State></st1:place>,
if confirmed, will no doubt reflect this diverse set of experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>At the
end of a week of nebulous reports about Obama’s leadership – healthcare,
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Copenhagen</st1:City></st1:place>,
Bernanke – it’s great to have some news that is obviously worthy of
our approval. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>S</span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>tuart
Wittenstein, Ed.D.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Superintendent<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>California</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>500 Walnut Avenue</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Fremont</span></font></st1:City><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State w:st="on">CA</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">94536</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>510-794-3800, X201<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting
our aim too high and falling short; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our
mark." Michelangelo<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
</body>
</html>