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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Hi All:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The Aurora Chapter of the NFB of Colorado had put an article together we are circulating to the media as a virtual “Meet the Blind” booth or presentation. I have pasted it below. Please feel free to circulate it in your community, local newspapers or media.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Peggy Chong<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meet the blind—Virtually<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>October is Meet The Blind month and each year the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado,(NFBCO) Aurora Chapter holds various events out in the community to introduce members of the community to the blind of Aurora to dispel the myths that blindness is horrific. Our white canes or dog guides are seen at school classes and community organizations demonstrating the techniques of blindness. Braille and print handouts are available at our booths at resource fairs around the community and activities at local libraries to name a few. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>No one wants to be blind and we in the NFBCO Aurora Chapter do not shout that “Blind is Beautiful”. We demonstrate in our everyday lives that blindness is not what needs to define us or you. We are proud of who we are. With proper training and a positive attitude, you can go back to your previous lifestyle, or choose a new and exciting path. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So, what have our blind members been doing since the pandemic hit? Many still are working, but now from home. We are checking on our fellow blind, our sighted neighbors and family to be sure no one is lonely or without basic needs. Helping financially and transportation-wise to obtain needed medicine and medical appointments. Many of us have become ZOOM experts, even hosting ZOOM meetings for our sighted friends. Some are making masks; teaching on-line, everything from aerobics to technology; actively working to get out the vote; actively encouraging everyone to fill out the 2020 census and enjoying the great outdoors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What does the NFBCO do when there is not a pandemic? Last year we secured independent voting legislation for the blind. We worked with other organizations to secure a minimum wage for disabled people in Denver. Each day we bring hundreds of newspapers and magazines available over the telephone to the blind and disabled in Colorado via NFB-NEWSLINE. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our blind members are teachers in public schools; attorneys; tax specialists, athletes; Tupperware sales representatives; make and sell jewelry; sculptor; Day Care operators; Social workers: CBD grower (legally); own and operate hair salon’s; own and operate restaurants and eating establishments: parents; homeowners; newspaper reporter: Coffee house merchant-wholesale; message therapists: social workers; government employees; judges; counselors, college students, just to name a few. We even have a professional politician. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBCO founded one of the best training centers on blindness in the country, the Colorado Center for the Blind, CCB. Based in Littleton, blind people come from all across America and from around the world to spend six to nine months at CCB, learning to read and write in braille, travel with a long white cane, use adaptive technology and to think like a blind person. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As blindness effects the older population at a higher rate, a majority of our members, over 60 keep active. We have world travelers; tutor/read to children; church leaders and even college students. We do what you do!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If we could meet you in person at one of our events, we would share what some of our blind Colorado Ancestors have done in the past such as; Chuck Collins-and other blind radio personalities: Charles Smith-telegraph operator; Keith Black and Mildred Snow-medical transcribers: Ray McGeorge and Henry Marson-machinists; Charlton Harris-music teacher; Lute Wilcox-printer-publishers; Alfred C. King-published poet; Bert Johnson-and other blind entertainers; Lottie MacLeod-stenographer and a host of broom makers/salesmen; seamstresses: piano tuners, miners and many blind ancestors doing the same jobs we do today.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But I bet you did not know that over the years, six blind men have served in our state legislature. Did you know that the first blind man in the Colorado State House of Representatives was a lawyer who went blind later in life and found no services of any kind for blind adults here in Colorado? After meeting the blind publisher from Denver, Lute Wilcox, the lawyer ran for office, won and helped create the first legislation passed in the state that addressed the concerns of blind adults. James M. Downing was from Aspen and served from 1916 to 1920 when forced to leave due to ill health. He died a year later. Others who served were:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Representative Frank Mobley, Colorado Springs, 1924-26<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Senator Roy Munson Chapman, Grand Junction, 1934-38<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Representative William A. Lewis, Denver, 1942-46<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Representative Robert W. Taylor, Pueblo, 1946-8<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Representative Peter James Campbell, Nucla, 1950-52, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Representative Jack Jenkins, Pueblo, 1956-58, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They had little in common other than blindness. Some went to the school for the blind as children, some had no training at all. Some went blind from accidents while others were blinded from an early age. Some had a lot of education, many did not. What they all had in common was a will to succeed. A trait that the NFBCO hope to pass to the new generation of blind Coloradans. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To “Meet The Blind” in person or virtually and learn more about blindness, or to make a contribution towards our efforts, contact the NFBCO-Aurora chapter President Dale Holden at 303-905-9738 or <a href="mailto:dalelholden@me.com">dalelholden@me.com</a> or check out or website at <a href="http://www.nfbco.org">www.nfbco.org</a> to learn more and to contact a local chapter in your area. When it is safe for us all to meet up, we would love to talk to your community or civic group, church or school and demonstrate that it is respectable to be blind. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>