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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello Everyone:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My name is Nikki Jeffords and I am a Research Associate with the National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision at Mississippi State University. My primary role is training and outreach. I am blind and my background is
in VR Counseling. I have only been in this position for a few months, and every day is a learning experience! I work collaboratively with research professors and research scientists, some who have never worked in the field. Conchita, I fondly recall you
were a National Scholarship winner in 2016. I have incredible respect for you and think you are awesome!!! As for your question, years ago, when I first entered the field, I worked at a Center for Independent Living and person-first language was drilled
into my brain. When I found the NFB, it was difficult to shift my thinking. It actually took a long-time Federationist to sit down with me and explain that blindness is respectable, to help me in reframing my perception. I notice in research articles that
person-first language is not used when referring to blind people collectively, I haven’t seen anything yet that is based on individual experience. I wonder if it might be appropriate to address the subject as a preface or within your introduction to the topic.
I will ask some of my colleagues who have been doing this a long time for their feedback as well. I apologize for writing so much! I am excited to be a part of this list and I look forward to getting to know everyone and the potential to work together on
future projects.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;background:white">Nikki Jeffords<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#660000"><br>
</span><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Rehabilitation Training and Outreach Specialist</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<span style="background:white">The National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Mailstop 9741</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
<span style="background:white">P.O. Box 6189<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Mississippi State, MS 39762</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">P:
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">662.368.8288<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">F: 662.325.8989<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#660000"><a href="mailto:njeffords@colled.msstate.edu">njeffords@colled.msstate.edu</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#660000"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.blind.msstate.edu/"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#660000">www.blind.msstate.edu</span></b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://blind.msstate.edu/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="350" height="60" style="width:3.6488in;height:.625in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D3F8EF.16F14860" alt="http://www.opa.msstate.edu/identity/images/msstate_sig.png"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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