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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> State-affiliate-leadership-list [mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mika Pyyhkala<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 08, 2013 5:06 PM<br><b>To:</b> State Affiliate Leadership List<br><b>Subject:</b> [State-affiliate-leadership-list] LevelUp Mobile Payments App Now Accessible to Blind Users - Allows Independent Entry of Tip, E-Receipts, Discounts<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LevelUp Now Fully Accessible to Blind Smartphone Users<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts and SCVNGR, Inc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Worked Together to Make Mobile Payment App Accessible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Boston, Massachusetts (January 8, 2013):<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts (NFBMA)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> and its president, Mr. Mika Pyyhkala, worked with Boston-based<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SCVNGR, Inc. to make SCVNGR’s mobile payment application, LevelUp,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>fully accessible to smartphone<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>users who are blind or have low vision. LevelUp allows users of iOS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and Android devices to make payments and receive special offers and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>promotions from<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>participating merchants by using their smartphone and a credit or<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>debit card linked to their LevelUp account. As an app that is now<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>fully accessible,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LevelUp works with the built-in text-to-speech screen-reading software<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>contained on all Apple and many Android smartphones so that blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>people can use<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the app independently.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>said: “Under this landmark cooperation agreement, the makers of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LevelUp ensured that<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the blind can make use of a truly groundbreaking technology that may<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>revolutionize the way we all conduct everyday transactions. LevelUp<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>now allows blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>customers to know what is on their bill, pay it, and even add a tip<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>without assistance from a sighted individual.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“The NFBMA is an awesome organization, so we were happy to work with<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>them and make sure LevelUp is accessible to the blind,” said Seth<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Priebatsch, chief ninja of LevelUp. “We want everyone to be able to pay with LevelUp, so<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>making our app fully accessible is a great step toward achieving this<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>goal.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mika Pyyhkala, president of the National Federation of the Blind of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Massachusetts, said: “We applaud SCVNGR for making LevelUp accessible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to all customers, including those who are blind. We encourage all app developers to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>follow the example of this responsible and forward-thinking company.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts and Mika<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pyyhkala were represented in this matter by Timothy Elder of the TRE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Legal Practice, LLC.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Link to Press Release:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/levelup-now-fully-accessible-blind-smartphone-users">https://nfb.org/levelup-now-fully-accessible-blind-smartphone-users</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twitter Handles:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>@TheLevelUp<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>@NFBMA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>@pyyhkala<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>@TRELegal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>@NFB_Voice<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> State-affiliate-leadership-list [<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Deanna Jones<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 08, 2013 2:11 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'State Affiliate Leadership List'<br><b>Cc:</b> 'Hartle, Jesse'<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [State-affiliate-leadership-list] Legislative Directors Seminar Update<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>I am wondering, if an updated list for the Legislative Directors Seminar will be sent out to put our minds at ease that we are on the list?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Dee Jones<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>NFB of VT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> State-affiliate-leadership-list [<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lewis, Anil<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, January 02, 2013 12:20 PM<br><b>To:</b> Affiliate Presidents (<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a>)<br><b>Cc:</b> Hartle, Jesse<br><b>Subject:</b> [State-affiliate-leadership-list] Legislative Directors Seminar Update<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is to follow up on the Legislative Directors Seminar that will take place Feb. 2-4, 2013 at the NFB Jernigan institute. (See attached description.)All affiliates have been requested to send at least one representative. Each attendee is responsible for making their own travel arrangements to Baltimore, arriving before 5PM on Saturday, February 2. We will provide bus transportation from the NFBJI to the Capitol Holiday Inn on Monday afternoon. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have received the attendee contact information from the following states. If your state is not listed, please send us the contact information for your Legislative Directors Seminar participant as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following states have confirmed:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Arizona<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Colorado<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Connecticut<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>District of Columbia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Illinois<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Iowa<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kansas<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mississippi<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Missouri<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nebraska<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>New Jersey<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>New Mexico<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>New York<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ohio<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Utah<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Washington<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>West Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wyoming<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director of Advocacy and Policy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org/fairwages">http://www.nfb.org/fairwages</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Baltimore, Maryland 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 685-5653 (FAX)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:alewis@nfb.org">alewis@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Web: <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>twitter: @anillife <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><hr size=1 width="100%" noshade style='color:#ACA899' align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>No virus found in this message.<br>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/6003 - Release Date: 01/02/13<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:gray'>This message contains information from Neighborhood Health Plan that may be confidential or privileged. This message is directed only to the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this email is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the message and any attachments.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>