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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Dear Federation Members and Friends,<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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>As we complete 56 years of service to blind persons in Maryland, I am asking for your support of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland with a special holiday tax-deductible donation. We accomplished a great deal this year. To continue our work in the coming year, we urgently need your support. In 2022 we:<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><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Worked with members of the Maryland General Assembly to enact legislation that strengthened accountability and enforcement related to the accessibility of education-related technology, which is intended to ensure that blind and other disabled students are no longer shut out of their educations<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>.Awarded scholarships to blind college students and offered paid internships to those seeking work experience early in their careers.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Provided people with diabetes and vision loss with information managing the complications of their disease.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Helped blind seniors and those who lost vision recently to live independently with adjustment to blindness training.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>This summer, we served 17 Maryland children through the 15th Braille Enrichment Literacy and Learning Academy for blind children ages 4 to 12 who have limited vision. Learning to read and write Braille is vital for these children because any limited vision they may have is likely to deteriorate as they mature into adulthood. We engaged in significant advocacy casework for parents, students, seniors, employees, and those who recently lost vision in order to ensure equal access to Maryland programs and services. <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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Coronavirus necessitated the cancelation of most of our fundraising events. Nonetheless, we engaged in significant work in direct response to the pandemic. We operated and maintained a COVID-19 Emergency Financial Assistance Fund to help families with blind household members pay rent and utilities, purchase groceries, and pay for medication and health services. We advocated to ensure equal access to testing facilities, the unemployment application portal, transportation, and virtual learning. We hosted several COVID-19 vaccination clinics to address barriers related to getting to vaccination locations. <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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Much more remains to be done. Your donations enable us to do more field work to locate blind persons who need help and encouragement, so they can live the lives they want. Please make checks payable to NFBMD and mail to the address below. If you prefer, you may donate at <span style='color:black'>nfbmd.org/donate using a credit card or PayPal. </span>If you already made a donation this year, we thank you again for your generous support. Please remember, donations are welcome at any time. <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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Baltimore, MD 21230<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><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><img width=185 height=37 style='width:1.9305in;height:.3819in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D90734.EBC79640"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Ronza Othman, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>