<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:11.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear NFBF Greater Daytona Chapter members,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This next Saturday, we will be conducting elections for several chapter officers:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">President; Secretary; and two board members<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nominations can be made for any available officer position from any member.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If nominated for President, I plan to accept that nomination and run again for NFBF Greater Daytona Beach President.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most GDB Chapter members know me well,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But Instead of spending much time speaking during this Saturday meeting about my qualifications and personal history,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am attaching a recent letter of my personal history to Governor DeSantis in support of Conklin Davis Center state funding to tell you more of my qualifications for NFBF Greater Daytona Beach Chapter President.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brian Edward Norton<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;text-indent:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brian Edward Norton</span></b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Fl Bar #1033481<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">169 White Fawn Drive<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Daytona Beach, Florida 32114<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="mailto:briannorton.flalaw@gmail.com"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">briannorton.flalaw@gmail.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">386.871.3359<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">April 22, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Re: Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> 405 White Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Dear Governor DeSantis:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">I had normal vision for almost half of my life.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">I grew up in Miami and resided with my parents in Coconut Grove on South Bayshore Drive. I attended nearby Silver Bluff Elementary and Ransom Everglades High School, where I graduated Valedictorian, school student
President, Co-Captain of the Ransom swimming team, and Editor of our school newspaper. I then attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville, Florida.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">My father Dr. Edward Norton, was, by coincidence, the founder and longtime Director of the nationally prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) of University of Miami Medical School.
My father diagnosed me with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). I began to lose my peripheral vision at age 35. I progressively lost peripheral eyesight and became totally blind.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Since my diagnosis, I have been a patient and research subject in many experimental visual research projects at the BPEI for stem cell and optogenetic retinal therapies, none of which has been yet successful.
My sister Patricia Norton still works as a supervisor at the BPEI. I am regularly in contact with other BPEI staff and other Florida ophthalmologists. I assist other Floridians with referrals for vision medical evaluation and treatments.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">I decided to focus my legal employment on helping persons with employment discrimination, including employment of Floridians with physical challenges.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">After working at the Florida Supreme Court and for the Florida
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Attorney General, I worked as an associate and partner of several Tallahassee law firms focusing on federal court due process and employment discrimination, including disability ADA violations in federal and
state courts and Administrative hearings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">After becoming totally blind and could no longer independently research and draft pleadings, motions, and appellate briefs, I believed that I was no longer competent to represent clients to my standards of proficiency,
and decided to lapse my active membership in the Florida Bar.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">After the development of the internet, blind accessible technology, and internet legal research, , I entered the Daytona Center for Rehabilitation and training, graduated from the Daytona State College Paralegal
Studies Program , and again took the several required Florida Bar exams. I was sworn again as a licensed attorney and now am working with the Regional Civil Conflict Counsel in Daytona Beach with my wonderful guide dog .
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">During my studies at Daytona State College and during my extensive preparation and review for the Florida Bar exams, I worked with technology experts at the Conklin Davis-Center for the Visually Impaired to improve
my blind accessible technology.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">I have continued to be involved in many voluntary associations assisting other blind Floridians. I have developed a good working relationship with DBS Director Robert Doyle,
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">District Director Ted Pobst and his local staff, and work with Director Ronee David at the Conklin Davis Center for the Visual Impaired as an active board member.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I strongly support the Conklin Davis Center and its invaluable contributions to blind Floridians. I am continually impressed by the commitment, compassion, and professionalism
of the Conklin Davis Center’s team. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of the Conklin Davis Center, and I am proud to offer my support in any way possible. I am confident that with continued community backing, the Conklin Davis Center will
continue to thrive and make a lasting difference in the lives of those they serve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thank you for your leadership and your dedication to the blind community of Florida.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brian Edward Norton<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Florida Bar #1033481<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NFBF Greater Daytona Beach President<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Conklin Davis Center for the visually Impaired Board<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Assistant Regional Conflict Counsel Florida District5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="mailto:briannorton.flalaw@gmail.com"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">briannorton.flalaw@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">386.871.3359<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“Kindness is an Attitude the Blind can See and the Deaf can Hear”- Mark Twain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>