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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>State of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>By His Excellency Dannel P. Malloy, Governor:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>an Official Statement<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>WHEREAS, Connecticut’s citizens who are blind or visually impaired can rightfully take pride in their contributions to the rich economic and social fabric of our community, and the State encourages employers, in both the public and private sector, to recognize the capabilities, skills and potential of citizens with blindness or visual impairment; and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>WHEREAS, white canes and guide dogs have come to symbolize equal rights and equal access for persons with blindness; and <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>WHEREAS, as a symbol, these white canes are also reminders to society of the many successes of persons with blindness or visual impairment, and the achievements of hardworking individuals in their communities and places of employment due to equal access; and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>WHEREAS, Connecticut law establishes the right of persons with blindness to carry and use a white cane or use a guide dog along our streets and roadways, in residential settings, on public transportation, in public accommodations, and in the workplace; and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>WHEREAS, our law also requires that all motorists exercise appropriate caution when approaching someone using a white cane or guide dog; and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>WHEREAS, the State of Connecticut encourages all of its citizens, especially those who drive quiet or silent hybrid and electric vehicles, to join the nationwide effort to keep our streets and roadways safe for pedestrians with blindness or visual impairment; and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>WHEREAS, October 15<sup>th</sup> has been known as White Cane Safety Day across the United States since it was declared by Congress and the President in 1964, now<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>THEREFORE, to celebrate and honor the past achievements and future potential of all of Connecticut’s citizens with blindness or visual impairment, I, Dannel P. Malloy, Governor of the State of Connecticut, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2018 as<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;page-break-after:avoid'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase'>Blind americans Equality day<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>in the State of Connecticut.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>