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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>David Andrews via NFBNet-Members-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 06, 2017 2:21 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: Pearson Announces Career Exploration Mentorship Program for Students, Young Professionals with Disabilities<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br></b>Release Date: <br>Monday, March 6, 2017<br>Category: <br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6802&qid=1674972">National</a><br>Chris Danielsen<br>Director of Public Relations<br>National Federation of the Blind<br>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br>Scott Overland<br>Pearson<br>202-909-4520<br><br><b>Pearson Announces Career Exploration Mentorship Program for Students, Young Professionals with Disabilities<br></b><br>Collaboration with National Federation of the Blind brings decades of experience preparing blind and low vision students for career success<br><br>Today Pearson, in collaboration with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6803&qid=1674972">announced the launch</a> of a new career exploration mentorship program for college students and recent graduates who have disabilities. The program will begin as a pilot, combining the NFB’s expertise in mentoring and advocating for career opportunities for blind and low-vision students and Pearson’s commitment to providing mentorship to a wide range of students with disabilities. The program will provide participants with access to guidance, advice, and support from experienced professionals working in a variety of legal-related positions at Pearson.<br><br>Blind, low vision and students with disabilities often face low expectations or unnecessary roadblocks when identifying and pursuing career paths. This can result in a ‘channeling’ into jobs that they are not passionate about or that limit their true potential. Participants in this three-month pilot program will be paired with a mentor who has been specifically trained on how to guide and advise blind or disabled students who may be unfamiliar with the opportunities and preparation necessary to succeed in corporate environments. Mentors work in a variety of functions on the Pearson legal team and will help students access a breadth of resources – from meetings with senior leaders to advice on preparing and tackling education and career goals to building a resume and identifying interesting internships and jobs.<br><br>“I am excited and proud at the level of enthusiasm we have seen in Pearson’s legal department as we have prepared to announce this program. Our goal is simple, yet incredibly important: to help guide young professionals who are disabled to find the career opportunities that match their passions,” said Bjarne Tellmann, general counsel for Pearson. “With the experience and partnership of the NFB, we want to open the door to careers that many young, disabled people didn’t know existed or were accessible to them, and support them as they take the next step in their professional lives.”<br><br>“For over seventy-five years, the National Federation of the Blind has fostered mentoring relationships in order to raise the expectations of the blind and to help them achieve their dreams and live the lives they want. Partnering with Pearson is a natural outgrowth of this important work, allowing aspiring blind professionals to establish mentoring relationships with their peers and obtain career guidance that will increase the odds of success. We look forward to working with Pearson to build this program and get more blind people on the pathway to the board rooms of major corporations around the world,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind.<br><br>Students can begin applying for the pilot program immediately by e-mailing Elizabeth Delfs at <a href="mailto:elizabeth.delfs@pearson.com">elizabeth.delfs(at)pearsoned(dot)com</a>. Pearson and the NFB hope to continue and expand the program past the pilot stage.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>###<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>About the National Federation of the Blind <br><br>The National Federation of the Blind 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.<br><br>About Pearson<br>Pearson is the world’s learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Our mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. For more, visit <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6804&qid=1674972">http://www.pearson.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td width=510 style='width:382.5pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=510 style='width:382.5pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6805&qid=1674972"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D296BC.A4E49EB0" alt="Image removed by sender. 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Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a><br><br><b>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | (410) 659-9314</b><br><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=5423&qid=1674972&h=f7cf18460f05c3ab"><b>Unsubscribe</b></a><b> | </b><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=5423&qid=1674972&h=f7cf18460f05c3ab">Opt Out </a><b>| </b><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=6811&qid=1674972">Sign up for email newsletter </a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=510 style='width:382.5pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><br>200 East Wells Street<br>Baltimore, MD 21230<br>United States<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></blockquote></div></body></html>