You have met my confederates, but Merlin has saved the best for last in order that I may share with you this tale of the future. This is what will become the cataclysmic struggle for the right to specialized services. You may not believe it when Morganna says this is the future - that's your right. Nevertheless, don't forget the tale as it unfolds two years from now.

In April 1999, a consortium which included the various factions involved in providing Independent Living Services, generic private agencies with strong Washington ties, large professional associations in generic VR, and others met in Washington to form an alliance whose goal would be to lobby Congress to eliminate specialized VR programs serving people with vision loss. They included their counterparts in Special Education and it's professional organizations. They felt the environment was right to bring an end, once and forever, to specialized services.

They based their timing upon the following: (1) funding for programs, nationwide, were dwindling under the new leadership in Congress, (2) the field of blindness continued to be divided in its advocacy, (3) consumers with vision loss were divided over semantics and politics, (4) State VR agencies serving consumers with vision loss remained helpless in providing hard data supporting their view that specialized services were best for consumers, (5) generic state VR agencies provided unchallenged claims that they could provide the same quality of service, and (6) special education programs serving students with vision loss failed to prove their outcomes were of a better quality. At the same time, the Consortium developed a myriad of studies which seemed to prove that great cost savings would occur by consolidating agencies and programs, without any reduction of quality of service. On the surface, their claims appeared very compelling.

Eight months later, the Consortium had gained enough support to have a bill introduced into both sections of Congress which was touted as revolutionizing the way people with disabilities would be served in VR and Special Education. The governors and heads of many state agencies across the nation eagerly joined the bandwagon by supporting the bill. Taxpayer coalitions supported the bill; candidates for re-election made it a part of their campaign promises. The Consortium grew very confident.

Where was the opposition? Who would speak out on behalf of the need to provide consumers with specialized services they required? In spring of 2000, the bill was seen as almost a done deal as it headed toward the floor of both houses for vote forty days hence. Merlin and I watched with alarm as advocates in the field of blindness floundered with their timeworn emotional appeals, void of facts or outcomes data. The swelling tide of anticipated tax savings would not be reversed.

The scenario was so dark, and the weak efforts to date so unsuccessful, that an amazing thing begin to happen when only three weeks remained before the vote was taken. Divided factions in the field of blindness began to realize they would lose their fight this time. No amount of emotional appeals was going to save the day. It was time for drastic action.

The leadership of AER, AFB, NCPAB, NFB, ACB, NAC, NAPVI - all the acronym agencies, held an emergency meeting to discuss their situation. NFB and the ACB set a goal of having their state chapters work together to generate 10,000 letters, faxes, and telephone calls. AER stated they could garner the support of 5,000 members who would work with the consumer counterparts across the nation. The AFB unleashed a massive media campaign which included over 500 interviews with consumers in local media outlets across America. The smaller national agencies provided countless hours of staff support and encouraged their affiliates to donate the same. The tide of battle turned when the acronym agencies took one further step. They helped over 900 parents and former students gather in Washington for a well-publicized march on the Capitol, followed by each delegation calling upon a minimum of 15 legislators.

On the evening of June 28, 2000 CNN reported that never before had there been such a national outcry brought about by private citizens. Veteran news reporters commented that , although smaller, it was as stirring as the major civil rights marches of years ago. The bills before Congress met an overwhelming defeat. Members of the Consortium realized they needed to create new dialogue with programs and consumers, rather than fight for the dissolution of the services for which they so strongly believe.

The acronym agencies did their part, but, ultimately, it was the united front of consumers, parents, and students which clinched the victory. As for the acronym agencies, a vital lesson was learned, one that changed the future for the better. The lesson was never take for granted there may be others stronger and better united, that you can never take anything for granted, and that they had better learn to work together before the next crisis.

Merlin's gift is to share with you the future and the coming battle which will define everything our field believes in. You may scoff, and this isn't religion. You don't have to believe. However, bear in mind that whether or not you believe will not change the future. It is coming, but the outcome can only be determined by us.