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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:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE USE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FROM: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>DATE: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>TO: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>RE: Meet the Blind Month<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CONTACT: Miranda Kilbey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> (352) 942-0417 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:TampaBay@nfbflorida.org">TampaBay@nfbflorida.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a name="OLE_LINK2"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>BLIND RAISE AWARENESS THROUGH ACTION<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Every year, the National Federation of the Blind celebrates “Meet the Blind Month” to </span>spread the message that blind people can live the lives we want by conducting a variety of outreach activities. On Wednesday, November 6, the Tampa bay chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, with the cooperation of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, will recognize “Meet the Blind Month” during the Tampa Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta in Lykes Gaslight Park, located at 410 North Franklin Street from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“This activity creates opportunities for sighted people to meet blind people in their communities and to recognize that we are vital, contributing members of society,” says Miranda Kilby, president of the Tampa Bay Chapter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Members of the National Federation of the Blind will write your name in Braille, demonstrate how the long white cane works, put a guide dog through its paces, and share other nonvisual techniques used by the blind. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> “This event will also give blind people who have never had exposure to blind mentors and the positive attitude of the National Federation of the blind the opportunity to meet other blind individuals who demonstrate that blindness is not the characteristic that defines our futures,” says Merry Schoch, vice president of the Chapter and a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Brandon. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=Notes style='line-height:normal;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'> The National Federation of the Blind of Florida is an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, located in Baltimore, Maryland. The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest organization of the blind in the United States. The NFB knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations of the blind 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. The Federation provides scholarships to blind students; support for those who are blind or losing their eyesight; advocacy for the blind facing discrimination; and educational programs for the general public on topics of blindness. The NFB is not an organization that speaks on behalf of the blind; we are the blind speaking for ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> For more information about blindness or the Tampa Bay chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, please call (352) 942-0147, send an email to </span><a href="mailto:TampaBay@nfbflorida.org"><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>TampaBay@nfbflorida.org</span></a><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>, or visit our website ></span><a href="http://nfbflorida.org"><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>http://nfbflorida.org</span></a><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'># # #<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><br clear=all style='page-break-before:always'></span><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>If You Come…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>WHAT: Meet the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>WHERE: Lykes Gaslight Park<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> 410 North Franklin Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> Tampa, Florida<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>DATE: Wednesday, November 6<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>TIME 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>For more information call (352) 942-0417, email </span><a href="mailto:TampaBay@nfbflorida.org"><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>TampaBay@nfbflorida.org</span></a><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> or visit >http://nfbflorida.org></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>