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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>National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 18, 2017 6:18 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-members-list] Blind School Board Member Has Settled With School District<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></b></p><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'>Blind School Board Member Has Settled With School District<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b>National Federation of the Blind Applauds Agreement Resolving Accommodation Issues<br><br>Baltimore, Maryland (October 18, 2017): A blind man's litigation against a California school district on whose governing board he serves has been resolved by agreement of the parties.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>Timothy R. Nonn, who was elected to the board of the Cotati Rohnert Park Unified School District last year, sued the district and its superintendent with the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind because three sitting members of the school board had voted against his request to use an aid that he personally hired and trained to read documents to him at school board meetings. The agreement specifies that Mr. Nonn can hire and train his own aids to assist him at board meetings and in most situations where he is acting in his official capacity.<br><br>“We assisted Mr. Nonn in this litigation because it is critically important that political opponents of elected representatives who are blind be prevented from discriminating against them by denying accommodations and access to information,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We are therefore pleased that this litigation has been amicably resolved and that Mr. Nonn will have the accommodations he needs going forward.”<br><br>“I am profoundly grateful for the support of the National Federation of the Blind,” said Mr. Nonn. “Without its help, I would not have been provided with proper accommodations for my blindness. This experience has taught me the importance not only of blind people standing up for our rights, but standing together. This victory also enables me to effectively advocate for the rights of students with special needs who are being denied accommodations.”<br><br>The United States District Court, Northern District of California, approved the agreement and dismissed the litigation (Case No. 3:17-cv-00761-JCS) on September 13. Neither Mr. Nonn nor the school district admit any wrongdoing.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b> <br><br>###<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>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 <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br> <br><br>CONTACT:<br><br>Chris Danielsen<br><br>Director of Public Relations<br><br>National Federation of the Blind<br><br>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></b></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;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=9610&qid=1975045"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=100 height=100 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:~WRD271.jpg" 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/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=7671&qid=1975045&h=889527f08a045ff6">Unsubscribe</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=7671&qid=1975045&h=889527f08a045ff6">Opt Out </a>| <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9615&qid=1975045">Sign up for email newsletter </a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><br>200 East Wells Street<br>Baltimore, MD 21230<br>United States</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><div id=DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellpadding=0 style='border:none;border-top:solid #D3D4DE 1.0pt'><tr><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;border:none;padding:9.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank"><span style='border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=46 height=29 id="_x0000_i1031" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D34851.F0E6BA40" alt="Image removed by sender."></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=470 style='width:352.5pt;border:none;padding:9.0pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#41424E'>Virus-free. <a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank"><span style='color:#4453EA'>www.avg.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>