<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:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
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",serif;}
p.gmail-m1797317158060337812msoplaintext, li.gmail-m1797317158060337812msoplaintext, div.gmail-m1797317158060337812msoplaintext
{mso-style-name:gmail-m_1797317158060337812msoplaintext;
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",serif;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></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 lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Hi Jen,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>To my knowledge, there are currently no shows where the main characters are being played by blind actors even though qualified blind actors are available and ready to play such roles. Though this protest relates to a particular show, our position is on the industry practice of excluding the blind from playing ourselves. In fact, our Twitter hashtag is #LetUsPlayUs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Hope that helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Ronza<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>President</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Central-MD-Chapter [mailto:central-md-chapter-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jenn Lavanish via Central-MD-Chapter<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, March 24, 2019 2:27 PM<br><b>To:</b> Central Maryland Chapter List <central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Jenn Lavanish <jltlavanish@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Central-md-chapter] Need Help - Protest on April 2<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:black'>just wondering if there is a stand on the show The Widow? an Amazon Prime show that has some blind characters. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Sun, Mar 24, 2019 at 2:17 PM president--- via Central-MD-Chapter <<a href="mailto:central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org">central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, the National Federation of the Blind will be holding a protest in New York concerning the use of sighted actors to portray blind characters in the entertainment industry. The Maryland affiliate will be participating in the protest, and we need to know who will be able to attend. We will be providing transportation and leaving from the National Center in Baltimore at 5:30AM and returning at about 6:00PM. If you are able to attend, please let me know off-line by email at <a href="mailto:President@nfbmd.org" target="_blank">President@nfbmd.org</a> or by calling 443-426-4110 by the end of the day Tuesday, March 26, 2019.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>As you know, The CW television network, which is affiliated with CBS, plans to launch a television series called <i>In The Dark</i> that features a blind character who is not played by a blind actor. We issued a strong <a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-americans-protest-refusal-entertainment-industry-cast-them" target="_blank">statement</a> urging the cancellation of the series and reached out to all of the executives affiliated with the show. We have received a response but have yet to secure a meeting prior to the planned April 4 debut. We now need to follow up with action. We cannot allow Hollywood to define us any longer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m1797317158060337812msoplaintext> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=gmail-m1797317158060337812msoplaintext>The blind belong at the center of our own stories, playing blind characters and taking our place on screen alongside our sighted colleagues. Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality with authentic casting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b>Ronza Othman, </b>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>Central-MD-Chapter mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Central-MD-Chapter@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">Central-MD-Chapter@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/central-md-chapter_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/central-md-chapter_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Central-MD-Chapter:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/central-md-chapter_nfbnet.org/jltlavanish%40gmail.com" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/central-md-chapter_nfbnet.org/jltlavanish%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>Jenn Todd Lavanish</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'><br><a href="mailto:jltlavanish@gmail.com" target="_blank">jltlavanish@gmail.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>C. 706-570-5425</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"'>H. 410-740-1581</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>