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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoTitle align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind 2020 Convention Goes Virtual</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoSubtitle align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext'>Unique Event to Present the 2020 View on Blindness</span></i><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><br><br><br></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpFirst style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Baltimore, Maryland (April 10, 2020):</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> The National Federation of the Blind will hold its national convention beginning July 14, 2020 with virtual events and local, in-person gatherings where appropriate. The convention was originally scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas. The change of plans is in response to the public health, safety, and logistical concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“The National Federation of the Blind is delighted to celebrate our eightieth year by expanding the circle of participation to create what will surely be the largest gathering of the blind in history,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “Through this unique event, we will connect blind Americans from anywhere to build opportunities everywhere. We look forward to spreading the 2020 view on blindness to the entire nation and beyond.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The latest details of the convention, as they become available, will be posted at </span><a href="http://www.nfb.org/convention"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>nfb.org/convention</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. There will be multiple ways to participate, including in-person gatherings to enjoy convention events organized by the Federation’s affiliates and chapters, subject to any local social distancing restrictions still in place. Participants can also like the National Federation of the Blind on Facebook or follow @NFB_Voice on Twitter. Talk about the 2020 convention on social media using #NFB20.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>###</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at </span><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>www.nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>CONTACT:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Chris Danielsen</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Director of Public Relations</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This news brief also available at: <a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-2020-convention-goes-virtual">https://www.nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-2020-convention-goes-virtual</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | <a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twitter: @rlawyer <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=262 height=95 style='width:2.7333in;height:.9916in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 style='width:.3083in;height:.3083in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt=Facebook></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 style='width:.3083in;height:.3083in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt=Twitter></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=30 height=30 style='width:.3083in;height:.3083in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>