<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:12pt;"><div> </div>
<div> </div>
<BLOCKQUOTE id=replyBlockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; COLOR: black; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-LEFT: 8px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid" webmail="1">
<DIV id=wmQuoteWrapper>-------- Original Message --------<BR>Subject: National Statler Center/Perkins School for the Blind<BR>From: "Schmidt, Elizabeth" <<a href="mailto:eschmidt@olmstedcenter.org">eschmidt@olmstedcenter.org</a>><BR>Date: Tue, February 17, 2015 2:30 pm<BR>To: <<a href="mailto:info@nfbct.org">info@nfbct.org</a>><BR><BR>
<STYLE>
#wmQuoteWrapper /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
#wmQuoteWrapper /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, #wmQuoteWrapper li.MsoNormal, #wmQuoteWrapper div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
#wmQuoteWrapper a:link, #wmQuoteWrapper span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;}
#wmQuoteWrapper a:visited, #wmQuoteWrapper span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; text-decoration:underline;}
#wmQuoteWrapper span.EmailStyle17 {mso-style-type:personal-compose; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:windowtext;}
#wmQuoteWrapper .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
#wmQuoteWrapper @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
#wmQuoteWrapper div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}
</STYLE>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><B><U><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; COLOR: red'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</SPAN></U></B><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><BR><BR><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>Media CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>Chaunci Hinton-Thomas, Assistant Director, National Statler Center<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>716-888-4629/ </SPAN><A href="mailto:chinton@statlercenter.org" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>chinton@statlercenter.org</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>February 17, 2015 <BR><BR><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>OLMSTED CENTER FOR SIGHT’S NATIONAL STATLER CAREER CENTER TEAMS UP WITH PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND TO LAUNCH SPECIALIZED CALL CENTER TRAINING PROGRAM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>BUFFALO, NY – The National Statler Career Center, a program of Olmsted Center for Sight, announces its partnership with the Perkins School for the Blind, to bring its unique and highly successful job training program for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to the New England region. The Statler Career Center’s seven-week Customer Service and Contact Center training program will be presented this April and May on the historic Perkins campus in Watertown, MA. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>Seven out of ten blind adults are not employed in the U.S. Through strategic partnerships the National Statler Career Center is striving to change this discouraging statistic. Using the educational curriculum and training model that Statler implements at its Buffalo, N.Y. headquarters, the Statler/Perkins program will provide students with transferrable job skills for any service-oriented company that requires phone-based skills. With a job placement rate of 82%, Statler has graduated over 500 students from 34 states and three countries. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>The National Statler Career Center looks forward to bringing its expertise to adults who are blind and visually impaired living in the New England region. The program will be held on the Perkins campus at the state-of-the-art Grousbeck Center for Students & Technology and will run from April 9 - May 29, 2015.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>“We are proud to partner with the Perkins School for the Blind as they are a true leader in the field of blind education and share our mission,” says Tamara B. Owen, President & CEO of Olmsted Center for Sight. “Employment is empowerment and together Statler Career Center and Perkins will provide individuals who are blind or visually impaired with training and tools to secure competitive, long-term meaningful employment in the contact center field.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>For more information on this opportunity, admissions or other Statler programs, please contact:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>Patrick Keyes, Admissions Coordinator, National Statler Center<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>(716) 888-4526/ </SPAN><A href="mailto:pkeyes@statlercenter.org" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>pkeyes@statlercenter.org</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>Elizabeth Schmidt, Admissions & Placement Specialist, National Statler Center<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><A href="mailto:%20%20(716)888-4638%20%20/%20eschmidt@statlercenter.org" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'> (716)888-4638 / eschmidt@statlercenter.org</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><U><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><U><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><U><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>About The Perkins School for the Blind<o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>Located in Watertown , Massachusetts, the Perkins mission is to provide education and services that build productive, meaningful lives for children and adults around the world who are blind, deafblind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities. Perkins is a progressive, multi-faceted organization committed to improving the lives of people with blindness and deaf-blindness all around the world. Our five </SPAN><A href="http://www.perkins.org/about#focus" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>areas of focus</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'> operate every day to carry out Perkins’ aspirational </SPAN><A href="http://www.perkins.org/about#mission" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>mission</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>. Our </SPAN><A href="http://www.perkins.org/about/executive-team" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>organization</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'> is driven by a proven team of experts. Our </SPAN><A href="http://www.perkins.org/about/history" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>history</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'> of excellence pushes us to actively seek the next innovation the world holds. We educate approximately 200 students on campus, and operate as the headquarters for our Community Services programs including itinerant services, independence courses for public school students, evaluations and assessments for communities, and training for professionals.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>For more information please visit </SPAN><A href="http://www.perkins.org/" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>www.perkins.org</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><U><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>About Olmsted Center for Sight and the Statler Career Center <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><A href="http://www.olmstedcenter.org/" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>Olmsted Center for Sight</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'> (OCS) is a not-for-profit agency whose mission is to help people who are blind, visually impaired or physically disabled achieve their highest level of personal and professional independence. The agency offers a comprehensive array of services for infants through adults. Program categories include low vision clinical evaluations, community and school-based vision rehabilitation services, training in the use of computer and other assistive technology, career education center for employment training and job placement, and affordable housing. For more information, visit </SPAN><A href="http://www.olmstedcenter.org/" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>www.olmstedcenter.org</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><A href="http://www.olmstedcenter.org/Programs-Services/Statler" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>The Statler Career Center</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'> was founded in 1999 and was the first program of its kind to provide training, tools and job placement support to individuals who are blind, visually impaired or physically disabled. A department of the Olmsted Center for Sight in Buffalo, Statler offers training in broad-based Business Fundamentals, and customer service-based programs in the Hospitality and Contact Center fields. The Statler Center achieves an 82% employment rate for its graduates. For more information visit </SPAN><A href="http://www.statlercenter.org/" target=_blank><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>www.statlercenter.org</SPAN></A><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>Elizabeth Hassett Schmidt<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>Admissions / Placement Specialist<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>Olmsted Center for Sight<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>1160 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>716-888-4638, fax 716-878-0540<o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'><A href="mailto:eschmidt@statlercenter.org" target=_blank>eschmidt@statlercenter.org</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.statlercenter.org">www.statlercenter.org</a><o:p></o:p></SPAN></div>
<div class=MsoNormal style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></div></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></span></body></html>