[il-talk] FW: [NFB of Nebraska Announce] National Federation of the Blind Congratulates Blind Driver ChallengeT VIPs

Sun Dec 26 17:27:50 UTC 2010

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From: "Roberthansen1970 at gmail.com" <roberthansen1970 at gmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 09:26:16 Pacific Standard Time
To: Roberthansen33 at yahoo.com
Subject: FW: [NFB of Nebraska Announce] National Federation of the Blind Congratulates Blind Driver ChallengeT VIPs

-----Original Message-----

From: "NFB of Nebraska" <info at ne.nfb.org>

Sent: Sat, 25 Dec 2010 19:29:34 Pacific Standard Time

To: roberthansen1970 at gmail.com

Subject: [NFB of Nebraska Announce] National Federation of the Blind Congratulates Blind Driver ChallengeT VIPs

-------- NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND CONGRATULATES BLIND DRIVER

         CHALLENGET VIPS -----------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Congratulates Blind Driver Challenge? VIPs

Baltimore, Maryland (December 21, 2010): The National Federation of the Blind  

(NFB), the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people in the  

United States, today congratulated the ten Blind Driver Challenge? VIPs who  

have been awarded trips to the public debut of a vehicle equipped

with a nonvisual interface allowing a blind person to drive it independently.  

The vehicle, a Ford Escape equipped with nonvisual interface technology, will  

be driven by a blind individual who will navigate part of the famed Daytona  

International Speedway course on January 29, 2011, as part of the pre-race  

activities at the 2011 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:  

?We greatly appreciate the hard work of our VIPs, as well as our other  

Imagination Fund contributors. With their help, we are able to create  

innovative research, training, education, and technology programs that  

improve the lives of the blind and move us closer to our ultimate goal of  

full integration into society on a basis of equality. The Blind Driver  

Challenge? is the perfect example of the type of innovative program we are  

able to bring about with the help of the Imagination Fund. Our VIPs will  

truly be witnessing an historic event as we demonstrate the fruits of our  

efforts before the automobile enthusiasts and racing fans at the Rolex 24 At  

Daytona. This demonstration will break down the wall of stereotypes and  

misconceptions that prevent our full integration into society by showing the  

public that the blind have the same capacities as everyone else. Our only  

challenge is access to the information we need.?

Parnell Diggs, chairman of the Imagination Fund, said: ?We congratulate our  

Blind Driver Challenge? VIPs, and thank them for a job well done. It is  

vital that we raise the funds we need to operate the programs of the National  

Federation of the Blind. Those who registered to be Imaginators and raised at  

least $250 by December 15 have our gratitude. Because of their efforts, we  

are off to a good start in the current campaign."

The ten VIPs won the honor of attending the Rolex 24 At Daytona by raising at  

least $250 for the National Federation of the Blind Imagination Fund, which  

supports the education, technology, and research projects of the NFB Jernigan  

Institute, as well as programs conducted by the fifty-two affiliates and over  

seven-hundred local chapters of the Federation. Four of the VIPs were chosen  

at the 2010 NFB National Convention in Dallas, and the other six were chosen  

last week.

The VIPs will receive roundtrip airfare, accommodations at the Plaza Ocean  

Club, food allowance, and a $119 pass to the Daytona International Speedway  

for January 29 to watch the debut of a vehicle equipped with a nonvisual  

interface allowing a blind person to drive for the first time independently.

The Blind Driver Challenge? VIPs are listed below:

1. Dana Ard

2. Andrew Braun

3. Patti Chang

4. Mark Colasurdo

5. William O. Jacobs

6. Patricia Maurer

7. John Paré

8. Dwight Sayer

9. Sue Sebranek

10. Kevan Worley

For more information about the Blind Driver Challenge? and the Rolex 24 At  

Daytona, please visit www.blinddriverchallenge.org  

http://www.blinddriverchallenge.org

###

About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the  

largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the  

United States. The NFB improves blind people?s lives through advocacy,  

education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and  

self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the  

voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National  

Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training  

center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. Please visit our  

Web site: www.nfb.org http://www.nfb.org.

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