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<TITLE>Get those white canes ready</TITLE>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Greetings Fellow Federationists!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">I’ve been working on the proclamation tha</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">t</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> the mayor will present at City Hall for us next Thursday</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">, and thought it would be useful to make sure all of you see the press release that I prepared and that has been circulating on our behalf. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">See the release pasted below for all the relevant details.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Let’s make this the biggest turnout yet!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Peace,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Deborah</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">WHITE CANE WALK AND CELEBRATION </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">October 22, 2015</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Contact: Deborah Kendrick 513.673.4474</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:dkkendrick@earthlink.net"><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Calibri">dkkendrick@earthlink.net</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Or: Kathy Gottschlich 513.221.8558</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:Kathy.Gottschlich@cincyblind.org"><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Calibri">Kathy.Gottschlich@cincyblind.org</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">CELEBRATE WHITE CANE SAFETY AND BLIND AMERICAN EQUALITY </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">You see us on the streets, carrying long white canes, coming and going where any person with sight might come or go. You see us in offices and shopping malls, amusement parks and hospitals, on college campuses and soccer fields. You see the white canes we carry and dog guides at our sides and maybe you wonder “How does that work?”</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">The white cane is the simplest, most powerful tool employed by blind people everywhere. With it, a person with no sight or limited sight can walk confidently anywhere a person with benefit of sight might go. It is not magic. It is not a symbol of second sight or mystical powers. With a white cane and the proper training to use it, a blind person can “see” his or her immediate surroundings, make mental maps through exploration, travel safely, and have an equal shot at claiming the American dream.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">In 1963, it was not so common to see a blind person walking alone. That year, the National Federation of the Blind, an organization of blind men and women throughout America, passed a resolution calling upon the governors of all fifty states to proclaim October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">As a result, President Lyndon B. Johnson, on October 6, 1964, signed into law the joint resolution of Congress directing the president to proclaim October 15 every year as White Cane Safety Day in America. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">In 1966, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, a renowned constitutional lawyer and founder of the National Federation of the Blind, drafted the first White Cane law. That law came to be known as the Civil Rights bill of the blind and some form of it is now in effect in every one of the fifty states. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Today, There are more cars and more multi-tasking drivers. There are also more blind people and more white canes – and that means a greater need for awareness of blind pedestrians, and their right to travel independently and safely. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Join us at City Hall October 22 when we will celebrate together the equality of blind Cincinnatians. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Arrive at City Hall by 11:00 a.m. October 22 to walk with us or just meet us at Fountain Square from 11:30 to 1:00 for refreshments and conversation. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">The National Federation of the Blind, Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will be on hand to tell you more about blindness and the white cane. Canes and blindfolds will be available if you want to test drive the white cane experience for yourself. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">The white cane is not magic. It is the tool that launches freedom and equality for every blind person. Ask us your questions (because we love talking about our white canes) and join us October 22.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
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