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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>We need you! If you would like to participate in Maryland’s Washington Seminar congressional meetings on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, please let me know by February 5, 2022. All meetings will be virtual.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>On February 7, Maryland will virtually join Federationists from throughout the country at the Great Gathering In – Information on how to join is on the Washington Seminar web page and will be shared as we get closer to Monday. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>We will have a busy Washington Seminar, where we will educate our elected Federal representatives on the legislative priorities of the blind. The four issues that we will discuss are: </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Access Technology Affordability Act – HR 431 / S 212<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act – HR 4853<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>21<sup>st</sup> Century Mobile Apps and Website Accessibility Act<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:105%;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act – HR 2373 / S 3238<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'>You may read the Washington Seminar fact sheets by visiting</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/washington-seminar">https://nfb.org/washington-seminar</a><span style='color:black'> or via Newsline. The Great Gathering In will take place at 5:00PM on Monday, February 7, 2022 via Zoom. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:.2in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Again, Please let me know if you plan to attend our legislative appointments on Wednesday, February 9. You can email me at <a href="mailto:president@nfbmd.org">president@nfbmd.org</a> or call 443-426-4110.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:.2in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:.2in;background:white'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Thanks for your work to advance the rights of the blind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>