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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>
<b> <br>
<div align="center">National Federation of the Blind Comments on <br>
Belgian Euthanasia of Deaf Men Losing Sight<br>
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<b>Baltimore, Maryland (January 15, 2013):</b>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">The National Federation of the Blind</a>,
the largest organization of blind people in the United States with over
50,000 members, including many deaf-blind individuals, commented today on
the state-sanctioned death by lethal injection of deaf twins in
Belgium. Upon learning that they were also going blind, the deaf
twins sought and were granted euthanasia.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio">Dr. Marc Maurer</a>,
President of the
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind">National
Federation of the Blind</a>, said: “This disturbing news from Belgium is
a stark example of the common, and in this case tragic, misunderstanding
of disability and its consequences. Adjustment to any disability is
difficult, and deaf-blind people face their own particular challenges,
but from at least the time of Helen Keller it has been known that these
challenges can be met, and the technology and services available today
have vastly improved prospects for the deaf-blind and others with
disabilities. That these men wanted to die is tragic; that the
state sanctioned and aided their suicide is frightening.” <br>
<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><br>
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<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
<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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