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</v:background></xml><![endif]--><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Hello All<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>The Aurora Chapter is hosting an essay contest for blind children in Colorado. Please spread the word. We would be happy to talk to your chapters more about this. If you would like me to zoom in, please give me a call.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Here is the announcement about our contest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>250-150 Essay Contest for Blind and Low Vision Students<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>(Note: We are passing this announcement along because we think it would be of interest to Colorado kids who are blind or low vision, their parents and teachers.)</span></i></b><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Our country is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. In Colorado, we are also celebrating our states 150<sup>th</sup> anniversary. Heros of our past are being honored and remembered for all they have contributed. This year the Aurora Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado is celebrating the accomplishments of our Blind ancestors.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>The Aurora Chapter is sponsoring an essay contest for blind or low vision children in grades 6-12 enrolled in public or privates schools in Colorado to tell us about their favorite blind hero from the past and what that person meant to them. The first prize is $100. We will be accepting essays after September 1, 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Teachers or educators of Blind students are encouraged to use our contest as a class assignment and/or learning tool--whether that be for learning about proper document formatting, earning extra credit for Braille assignments, or learning to perform research.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Guidelines for submission<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Essays must be 1,000 words or more, written in the student’s own words.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The subject must be a blind person, living or dead, who lived in the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Submissions must be received no later than November 28, 2026, and students must register at the link below before submitting their essay.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Essays can be submitted in hardcopy print, hardcopy Braille, or electronically via email.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>The committee will review and select the winners to be awarded at the December 2026 gathering of the Aurora Chapter. Registration must be completed before the November 28 submission deadline through the link, <a href="https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1kyj28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWAytnCvSkzqu0HH2lEw10SeDcPA-2BcJ-2F8AtK79DZldEpw-3DbQuq_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oFFZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkbzFZuuDBCnJf8664HuCbetddykO2JXIL6xroeADP6DE2uGG02U31-2FjLFZbwD-2BKQW84SiWj31dGq1CydbJUd4tlq8j-2Buep9eg2GON11Qvbsb-2Fij-2FHe4oYK-2F4Eq4Ax1dPVg4I8oIjK6hvhQAA7aj4UHsjKYliw8XAUPwWdKZSs-3D">NFB Aurora Chapter Essay Contest Registration</a>. Braille and print hardcopy essays should be mailed to Peggy Chong, 14152 E Linvale Pl. 201, Aurora, CO, 80014. Email electronic submissions to <a href="https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1kyj28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWwXGiaEvZHeMgUQE0k51Zq8WtkOxLaHnGHslgYe9a5vE-3DabYf_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oFFZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkbzFZuuDBCnJf8664HuNt6lXE-2FDRQMSb2KYsDctiHmEjAHdRhHi0W-2B4lHdo8Co78A34f7NAMI9favXonlk8d2BStwKym5xbGNHNCEAtqUdDBwNipJVp-2BW9akZfhYEzokXOjfpA1mTnXokC7vXyA4zyunzu3vNu1qhAF-2BoJUCo-3D">chongpeggy10@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>For more information, research ideas, accessible research sites, and how to enter, contact Peggy Chong, 14152 E. Linvale Pl., Unit 201, Aurora Colorado, 80014 or via email at <a href="https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1kyj28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWwXGiaEvZHeMgUQE0k51Zq8WtkOxLaHnGHslgYe9a5vE-3DMPCW_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oFFZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkbzFZuuDBCnJf8664HuI2PeWy1KjiW3lqQbV9knP2TCNHV1UAxEUBDtzNrRuct6HiS1tW3yf0ZGcPf28b5PUsPoolrmvMyQyC7ak3xZGorD7kzC9VwmzrNLBedC8x9iGpi5KdkGGvurDqTonjpvqCPcaVAJy5iwf2K3N2HbRY-3D">chongpeggy10@gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Winning essays may be published in publications of the National Federation of the Blind.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Essay Guidelines, Research Options, and Suggestions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>The committee will be looking at the storytelling of the participant’s essay, not so much on grammar or punctuation. No AI or copy-and-paste essays will be accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Stories can include thoughts about the blind ancestor, what the child learned, or the effect the blind ancestor had on the child.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>The committee will expect that essays have been spell-checked before submission.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Research sites that are mostly accessible can be found online. Examples include (but are not limited to) Colorado Newspaper collections at <a href="https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1kyj28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWlRCUG-2Bb3FZ97EJV45qplWF-2FSMUzul9Vl2HwCeTuAo5I-3DHYOM_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oFFZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkbzFZuuDBCnJf8664HuEi2-2BB66asXFqo8lrMUoiYgxF0WSlvkP-2F9UdRTGI5EILRFzrPwC7nEgZs-2FMIBmVQHL6UkScZXtjeOGkZQ-2F8D1pPm5UVOKPfspQheeq8NsfG3sLNH7Wbv1Kne4FGgw-2BQM5zwMY5Wq4LM1INvql5dCjLM-3D">Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection</a> or through the History Colorado Museum at <a href="https://u23754554.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.lofmFcFAaz0i6x0AMaUD1kyj28Irr7g5AeKS5EYd0i6ezCM8gWQHye3JeY9zZuzWG92zvrtfaJ61F06GPfBdLS06lTn3K1qOiTj6vBWrIS0-3DaTuG_SEyRicMk2WtEDODHkY1fvBLcCVl7rxC-2FjBlVM0d55ia5X86-2FEOe941oFFZuMfiyOewPahcdOiCnEQUCS794mrkoc8KU9XWHmRMixWgO8qh485GyJJI00S3dTISzfIanuirkbzFZuuDBCnJf8664HuI04xrAdqsitiNbm0a5L-2BC15rAWXnqOKfN-2FarcE2scPgSHAdBgyxIcTZKfi-2BesurZluqfF8hvHVrYXd1-2BrDiQWj2JEoqihBlcWjiej1dJT3NwpK9D1URKGDnWWVIuzTTLbcJ9Pg-2FrPL6rAKyciitcS4-3D">https://www.historycolorado.org/search-the-collection</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Students can also call local libraries for assistance with targeted questions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'>Here are some examples of some notable blind people who have made significant accomplishments in the history of blind people.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Ted Henter – founder of Henter-Joyce, the company which developed the JAWS for Windows screen reader.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Tim Cramner – Inventor of many high and low tech devices for the blind.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Amy Bower – Oceanographer.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Dr. Abraham Nemeth – developer of the Braille Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Joseph Pulitzer – Newspaper man.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Elias Ammons – Blind Governor of Colorado.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Ralph Teetor – Inventor of cruise control.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Erik Weihenmayer – Colorado athlete and teacher who climbed Mt. Everest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Elsie Cowan – Co-Founder of the Friends of the Colorado Library for the Blind.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Elena Zelayeta – Author, TV personality, cook, and founder of a frozen food firm.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:windowtext;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Don Mahoney – Children’s TV star from Texas.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div></body></html>