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<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Freeh, Jessica
[mailto:JFreeh@nfb.org]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, June 21, 2010 10:08
AM<BR><B>To:</B> Alpidio Rolon; Amy Buresh; Angela Wolf; Anil Lewis; Art
Schreiber; Beth Rival; Bill Packee; Bob Kresmer; Carl Jacobsen; Cassandra
McNabb; Cathy Jackson; Charlene Smyth; Christine G. Hall; Dan Hicks; Daniel
Burke; Don Galloway; Donna Wood; Elsie Dickerson; Frank Lee; Franklin Shiner;
Fred Schroeder; Gary Ray; Gary Wunder; J.W. Smith; James Antonacci; Jennelle
Bichler; Jennifer Dunnam; Joe Ruffalo; John Batron; John Fritz; Joyce Scanlan;
Ken Rollman; Kevan Worley; Kim Williams; Larry Posont; Lynn Majewski; Mary
Willows; Matt Lyles; Matt Lyles; Melissa Riccobono; Michael Barber; Michael
Freeman; Mika Pyyhkala; Nani Fife; Pam Allen; Parnell Diggs; Patti Chang; Rena
Smith; Richard Gaffney; Ron Brown; Ron Gardner; Sam Gleese; Scott LaBarre;
Selena Sundling-Crawford<BR><B>Subject:</B> National Federation of the Blind
Names Laurel Hudson 2010 Distinguished Educator of Blind
Children<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Garamond><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT
face=Helvetica><FONT size=4>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></DIV>
<DIV align=left>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><o:p><FONT size=5
face=Helvetica> </FONT></o:p></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Chris
Danielsen<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Director of Public
Relations<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">National Federation of the
Blind<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(410) 659-9314, extension
2330<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(410) 262-1281
(Cell)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=4>National Federation of the Blind Names
Laurel Hudson<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></H2>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=4>2010 Distinguished Educator of Blind
Children<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></H2>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Baltimore, Maryland (June 21,
2010):</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The National Federation
of the Blind (NFB) has named Laurel Hudson, a teacher of blind students at the
<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; mso-highlight: white">Coralwood Diagnostic
Center</SPAN> in Atlanta, Georgia, as its 2010 Distinguished Educator of Blind
Children.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City
w:st="on">Hudson</st1:City> will be presented with the award at the NFB’s
seventieth annual national convention, to be held July 3–8, 2010, at the Hilton
Anatole Hotel in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Dallas</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">Texas</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Hudson</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> has taught blind students for more
than thirty-nine years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She began
working with blind children at the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Perkins</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType> for the Blind in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Watertown</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:State></st1:place>, and then switched to working in
mainstream settings within public schools.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She has taught as both a teacher of students with visual impairments and
an orientation and mobility specialist.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>In her current role at the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Coralwood</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Diagnostic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType>, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Hudson</st1:place></st1:City> <SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: white; mso-highlight: white">teaches orientation and
mobility, Braille literacy, and technology skills to students aged four to
fourteen. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: -.5in; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: -.5in; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Dr. Marc
Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Laurel
Hudson’s dedication to blind </SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><FONT
face=Helvetica>students </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">is unparalleled. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As an orientation and mobility specialist
and a teacher of Braille, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Hudson</st1:place></st1:City> gives her students the tools for
independence and academic success.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>With only one out of ten blind children learning Braille today, it is
clear that many teachers of blind students are simply not teaching Braille.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Hudson</st1:place></st1:City>’s conviction in the importance of
Braille literacy sets her apart and makes her an obvious choice to be the NFB’s
Distinguished Educator of the year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The National Federation of the Blind commends <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Hudson</st1:City></st1:place> for her commitment
to the education of blind students.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: -.5in; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: -.5in; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Hudson</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> received her master of education in
orientation and mobility and her <SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: white; mso-highlight: white">doctorate in visual impairments
and blindness </SPAN>from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Boston</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She was previously honored with the
Georgia Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award in
2009.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: -.5in; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: -.5in; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
Distinguished Educator Award carries with it a $1,000 prize and an
all-expense-paid trip to the 2010 NFB National Convention in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While in <st1:City
w:st="on">Dallas</st1:City>, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Hudson</st1:place></st1:City> will address several hundred parents and
educators of blind children and have an opportunity to share her experience and
insights with many people interested in improving the education of blind
students.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"># # #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3
align=left><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">About the National Federation of
the Blind<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText3
align=left><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">With more than 50,000 members, the
National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership
organization of blind people in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The NFB improves blind people’s
lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is the leading force in the blindness
field today and the voice of the nation's blind.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In January 2004 the NFB opened the
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and
training center in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United
States</st1:country-region></st1:place> for the blind led by the
blind.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
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