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<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">OCTOBER 1,
2009<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">MEET THE BLIND, an event
scheduled for Saturday, October 10, in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Gainesville</st1:place></st1:City>, provides a unique opportunity for
two segments of the community, the blind and the sighted, to come together so
that the visually impaired may show the community what they are capable of in
today's hi-tech world. Since October is Vision Awareness Month, the Gainesville
Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind has planned various activities
for the afternoon from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church,
such as Braille reading and writing, puppy training for guide dogs, a
demonstration of a guide dog and partner in action and some of the latest
hi-tech equipment that permit the blind and visually impaired to live productive
lives.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Visually impaired children
in the community will demonstrate their skills in reading and writing Braille.
It is also a celebration of the 200th birthday of Louis Braille, inventor of the
Braille code.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The guide dog
demonstrations are provided to educate the public of the proper etiquette around
a working guide dog and the various techniques used in harness training for
puppies who are selected for guide dog training.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The National Federation of
the Blind (NFB) is an advocacy group for the blind and visually impaired and was
instrumental in getting the Americans with Disabilities Act passed into law.
They initiated the White Cane Program giving the blind and visually impaired
visibility and safety in public. The NFB is currently engaged in seeking to have
hybrid and electric cars be equipped with some sound as a safety factor for not
only the blind, but for all pedestrians and bicyclists.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The NFB is encouraging
local chapters to present these Meet The Blind events in their communities to
inform and educate the sighted community that visually impaired persons are
capable of many of the same activities as the sighted community. A number of
blind and visually impaired persons hold responsible positions in the community
and can share information on the type of technologies they use to perform their
duties. This event is being sponsored by the Law Firm of Salter Feiber Murphy
Hutson & Menet, P.A., Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Insight Low Vision
Products, Inc., Gainesville University City Lions Club, and Rocher
Enterprises.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Judy Hamilton, president of
the Gainesville chapter, NFB, (352-373-7806) and Kathy Roskos, event
chairwoman,(352-372-9187), , invite everyone to come and participate in this
unique event at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 4011 NW 34th Street, from 1:00
PM to 4:00 PM, October 10.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Submitted
by:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Georgia</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> "Pete"
Vickers<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">352-376-7475<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">georgiapete@cox.net<SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P></DIV></FONT><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="8abd79073824deeabb928a2848f3d489"><br/><font style="color:black;font:normal 10pt arial,san-serif;"> <hr style="margin-top:10px"/></font></DIV></BODY></HTML>