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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
<br>
CONTACT:<br>
</b>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><br>
<br>
<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Congratulates Dr.
Fredric K. Schroeder<br>
</b> <br>
<b><i>NFB First Vice President Elected to Office in World Blind
Union<br>
</i></b></div>
<br>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (November 27, 2012):</b>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org">The National Federation of the Blind</a>
(NFB), the oldest and largest nationwide organization of the blind in the
United States and a world leader in advocating for the rights of blind
people, today announced that
<a href="https://nfb.org/fredric-schroeder">Dr. Fredric K. Schroeder</a>
has been elected as first vice president of the World Blind Union
(WBU). Dr. Schroeder, who also serves as first vice president of
the NFB, was elected to the position at the Eighth General Assembly of
the World Blind Union, recently held in Bangkok, Thailand.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio">Dr. Marc Maurer</a>,
President of <a href="http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice">the National
Federation of the Blind</a>, said: “We congratulate our longtime friend,
colleague, and leader Fred Schroeder on his election as first vice
president of the World Blind Union. Fred will bring invaluable
skill, experience, and knowledge to the many challenges faced by blind
people throughout the world, as he has done so capably for blind
Americans throughout his career.”<br>
<br>
Dr. Schroeder said: “I am honored to have the opportunity to represent
the blind of the United States within the World Blind Union, and I look
forward to helping to advance the WBU’s important agenda to improve the
lives of blind people across the globe. I thank the members of the
WBU for placing their trust and confidence in me.”<br>
<br>
Dr. Schroeder has a long and distinguished career in service to the
blind. He served as the first executive director of the New Mexico
Commission for the Blind. His success in making its rehabilitation
and employment programs the most successful in the country led to his
appointment in 1994 by President Bill Clinton as commissioner of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in the United States
Department of Education. Following his service as RSA commissioner,
he joined the faculty of the Interwork Institute at San Diego State
University. He now works as a research professor specializing in
leadership and public policy in vocational rehabilitation, and also
serves as president of <a href="http://www.nfbv.org/">the Virginia
affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind.</a><br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind needs your support to ensure that
blind children get an equal education, to connect blind veterans with the
training and services they need, and to help seniors who are losing
vision continue to live independent and fulfilling lives. To make a
donation, please go to <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a>.<br>
<b> <br>
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</div>
<br><br>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</b>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest,
and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people
in the United States. Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the
civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative
education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and
those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become
independent and successful. We need your support. To make a
donation, please go to <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a><br>
<br>
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