<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Good Morning,</div><div>Read about how the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind plans to increase employment opportunities for the blind.</div><div>Cathy<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> "Wichmann, Jessica" <<a href="mailto:jwichmann@nfb.org">jwichmann@nfb.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> March 27, 2015 at 8:25:48 AM EDT<br><b>To:</b> "State President, New Mexico" <<a href="mailto:avigil74@gmail.com">avigil74@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Puerto Rico" <<a href="mailto:arguza@attglobal.net">arguza@attglobal.net</a>>, "State President, Nebraska" <<a href="mailto:amy.buresh74@gmail.com">amy.buresh74@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Massachusetts" <<a href="mailto:aruell@nfbma.org">aruell@nfbma.org</a>>, "State President, Arizona" <<a href="mailto:krezguy@cox.net">krezguy@cox.net</a>>, "State President, Vermont" <<a href="mailto:ibretthess@aol.com">ibretthess@aol.com</a>>, "State President, New York" <<a href="mailto:office@nfbny.org">office@nfbny.org</a>>, "State President, Oregon" <<a href="mailto:president@nfb-oregon.org">president@nfb-oregon.org</a>>, "State President, New Hampshire" <<a href="mailto:cemcnabb21@yahoo.com">cemcnabb21@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Kentucky" <<a href="mailto:cathyj1949@gmail.com">cathyj1949@gmail.com</a>>, Charlene Smyth <<a href="mailto:cs.nfbwv@verizon.net">cs.nfbwv@verizon.net</a>>, "State President, Delaware" <<a href="mailto:president88@nfbdelaware.org">president88@nfbdelaware.org</a>>, "State President, Illinois" <<a href="mailto:davant1958@gmail.com">davant1958@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Florida" <<a href="mailto:valkemadenise@aol.com">valkemadenise@aol.com</a>>, "State President, Iowa" <<a href="mailto:dprime@mchsi.com">dprime@mchsi.com</a>>, "Duane Iverson" <<a href="mailto:diverson@midco.net">diverson@midco.net</a>>, "State President, Connecticut" <<a href="mailto:Personal.edward@gmail.com">Personal.edward@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Idaho" <<a href="mailto:elsiedickerson@ymail.com">elsiedickerson@ymail.com</a>>, "State President, Ohio" <<a href="mailto:peduffy63@gmail.com">peduffy63@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Utah" <<a href="mailto:baconev@yahoo.com">baconev@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Georgia" <<a href="mailto:gscott@nfbga.org">gscott@nfbga.org</a>>, "State President, Missouri" <<a href="mailto:gwunder@earthlink.net">gwunder@earthlink.net</a>>, "State President, Rhode Island" <<a href="mailto:silvara@cox.net">silvara@cox.net</a>>, "State President, Pennsylvania" <<a href="mailto:president@nfbp.org">president@nfbp.org</a>>, "State President, Tennessee" <<a href="mailto:nfb.tennessee@gmail.com">nfb.tennessee@gmail.com</a>>, Jeannie Massay <<a href="mailto:jeanniemassay@nfbok.org">jeanniemassay@nfbok.org</a>>, "State President, Minnesota" <<a href="mailto:jennifer.dunnam1829@gmail.com">jennifer.dunnam1829@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Alaska" <<a href="mailto:jnhburton@gci.net">jnhburton@gci.net</a>>, Joe Ruffalo <<a href="mailto:nfbnj@yahoo.com">nfbnj@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Wisconsin" <<a href="mailto:johnfritz66@gmail.com">johnfritz66@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Montana" <<a href="mailto:bjb5757@bresnan.net">bjb5757@bresnan.net</a>>, "State President, Alabama" <<a href="mailto:joy.harris@dwx.com">joy.harris@dwx.com</a>>, "State President, South Dakota" <<a href="mailto:gatorbumps@rushmore.com">gatorbumps@rushmore.com</a>>, "State President, Nevada" <<a href="mailto:kimie.beverly@gmail.com">kimie.beverly@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Michigan" <<a href="mailto:president.nfb.mi@gmail.com">president.nfb.mi@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Maine" <<a href="mailto:leonproctorjr@yahoo.com">leonproctorjr@yahoo.com</a>>, "State President, Washington" <<a href="mailto:mjc59@comcast.net">mjc59@comcast.net</a>>, "State President, California" <<a href="mailto:mwillows@sbcglobal.net">mwillows@sbcglobal.net</a>>, "Kasey, Michael" <<a href="mailto:michaelgkasey@verizon.net">michaelgkasey@verizon.net</a>>, "State President, Hawaii" <<a href="mailto:nanifife@aol.com">nanifife@aol.com</a>>, "State President, Texas" <<a href="mailto:ncrosby@nfbtx.org">ncrosby@nfbtx.org</a>>, Pam Allen <<a href="mailto:pallen@lcb-ruston.com">pallen@lcb-ruston.com</a>>, "State President, South Carolina" <<a href="mailto:parnell@twc.com">parnell@twc.com</a>>, "Brown, Ron" <<a href="mailto:RB15@iquest.net">RB15@iquest.net</a>>, "State President, Wyoming" <<a href="mailto:rreed@wyoassist.com">rreed@wyoassist.com</a>>, Sam Gleese <<a href="mailto:sgleese@jackson.ms.gov">sgleese@jackson.ms.gov</a>>, "State President, Colorado" <<a href="mailto:slabarre@labarrelaw.com">slabarre@labarrelaw.com</a>>, "State President, Maryland" <<a href="mailto:nfbmd@earthlink.net">nfbmd@earthlink.net</a>>, "State President, North Carolina" <<a href="mailto:Weddington.sharon@gmail.com">Weddington.sharon@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, District of Columbia" <<a href="mailto:callaway.shawn@gmail.com">callaway.shawn@gmail.com</a>>, "State President, Arkansas" <<a href="mailto:tosheeler@cox.net">tosheeler@cox.net</a>>, "State President, Kansas" <<a href="mailto:topage@swbell.net">topage@swbell.net</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>National Federation of the Blind Supports Massachusetts Commissioner for the Blind</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">National Federation of the Blind Supports
<br>
Massachusetts Commissioner for the Blind</span></b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NFB Supports Paul Saner’s Efforts to Transition Funding
<br>
to Employment and Training Programs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Baltimore, Maryland (March 27, 2015)</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">:
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">The National Federation of the Blind</a> today expressed its support for Massachusetts Commissioner for the Blind Paul Saner and his plan to transition funding into more programs for employment and technology training for the blind.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “The National Federation of the Blind is dedicated to ensuring that every blind person can live
the life he or she wants. We therefore believe that the services of rehabilitation agencies must be directed toward training blind people for employment in today’s economy, as well as helping them to acquire and maintain jobs.”
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The Commission for the Blind will be transitioning funding from the Massachusetts Talking Information Center into other essential programs over a period of three years. While
the move has garnered some criticism, alternatives for accessing newspapers, magazines, and other printed information exist in Massachusetts. One such alternative information resource for the blind is NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>, funded by the Perkins Library.
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> is an audio information service for the blind that is free of charge, easy to use, and requires no special equipment. If a person can operate a touchtone telephone, that person can access NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dr. David Ticchi, a senior citizen and retired blind schoolteacher who lives in Cambridge, MA, said of NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>: “This service has everything I need in terms
of news and information. It’s available to me whenever I want or need it, and it is very easy to use. I personally prefer to use my regular touchtone telephone. With NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>, it’s easy for any blind or print-disabled person to keep up to date
and informed. You can just dial in and all the news, from sports to business to the obituaries, is at your fingertips.”
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Amy Ruell, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts, said: “The blind of Massachusetts have spoken. There are a number of free and low-cost information
programs available to blind people in Massachusetts. These include the Perkins Library's service, Bookshare, and NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>, which provides access to nearly four hundred newspapers and over forty magazines, including twelve Massachusetts newspapers.
Given that fact, Commissioner Saner’s plan to refocus the limited resources of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind on employment and training is entirely proper. We are dismayed to learn that some legislators in Massachusetts are setting aside the direct
input of blind citizens to support a position put forward by a group that, however well-intentioned, does not speak for us.”<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"">NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> offers nine national newspapers like the
<i>Wall Street Journal</i> and <i>USA Today</i>; twelve breaking news sources such as
<i>CNN, BBC,</i> and <i>ESPN Online</i>; fourteen international papers including <i>
Financial Times</i> and <i>Vancouver Sun</i>; forty-three magazines like <i>Family Circle</i>,
<i>Time</i>, and <i>Smithsonian;</i> and more. NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> currently carries the entire content, excluding advertising, of twelve Massachusetts newspapers: the
<i>Berkshire Eagle, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Cape Cod Times, Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise, Lowell</i>
<i>Sun, Nashoba Publishing, Patriot Ledger, Springfield Republican, Watertown Tab and Press</i>, and the
<i>Worcester Telegram & Gazette</i>. There are local channels as well, which carry information from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, NFB of Massachusetts, Carroll Center for the Blind, and the Perkins Library, as well as other local entities. (For
a full list of participating publications, visit </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="https://nfb.org/participating-newspapers"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">https://nfb.org/participating-newspapers</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">.)
In addition to news content, NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> provides access to localized emergency weather alerts, job listings tailored to the user’s skills and preferences, selected advertising circulars, and localized television listings.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> can be accessed in a variety of ways, including via touch-tone telephone, on the computer via an accessible website or emailed content, by using commercial
or specialized MP3 and Talking Book players, or with an iPhone or iPad. Subscribers can read NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> content anytime, using text-to-speech, magnification, or Braille. NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> is also the only service of its kind accessible
to the deaf-blind. Because NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> can be accessed using a connected Braille display, deaf- blind people in Massachusetts can also access all of its news and emergency information.
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<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"">To learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> and how you can sign up, visit
<a href="http://www.nfbnewsline.org">www.nfbnewsline.org</a>, or call (866)504-7300.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333">About the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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