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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
<div align="center"><h1><b>Blind People Condemn Nepal’s Ban on Blind
Everest Climbers</b></h1>National Federation of the Blind and World Blind
Union Call for Rescission of New Ban on Blind Mountaineers<br><br>
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<b>Baltimore, Maryland (January 2, 2018):</b> The National Federation of
the Blind (NFB) and the World Blind Union (WBU), which represent the
United States and global blind communities respectively, today stated
their opposition to a new ban on blind climbers participating in
expeditions on Mount Everest, recently announced by the government of
Nepal.<br><br>
<br><br>
“The National Federation of the Blind is surprised and disappointed that
Nepalese authorities have banned blind people from participating in
expeditions on Mount Everest,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the
National Federation of the Blind. “While we recognize that this climb
should not be undertaken by the unprepared or inexperienced, the ban on
blind climbers is arbitrary. The first blind person to attempt this
climb, Erik Weihenmayer, summited on May 25, 2001 in an expedition that
we were proud to sponsor. This proves that blindness, by itself, does not
prevent a climber from safely summiting Mount Everest.”<br><br>
<br><br>
“Blind people regularly engage in all manner of activities, both ordinary
and extraordinary,” Mr. Riccobono continued. “Despite the wide-ranging
evidence of our capacity, however, society continues to arbitrarily
restrict what we may do, and low expectations continue to create
artificial barriers that prevent us from fully participating in our
communities. There is no more evidence that we should not climb Mount
Everest than that we should not walk the streets with our white canes,
ride amusement park attractions, or raise children, all of which are
things that some have tried to prevent us from doing, but which many of
us have done successfully.”<br><br>
<br><br>
“Most blind people will never climb Mount Everest, but neither will most
of the sighted. The issue is not whether a climber is blind but whether
he or she has the adventurous spirit, physical endurance, and requisite
skill. As in all other endeavors, we demand to be judged by whether we
have qualities relevant to the task at hand, not on the single
characteristic of blindness. Nepalese authorities should immediately
rescind the ban on blind climbers and should reconsider banning any other
climbers with disabilities,” Mr. Riccobono concluded.<br><br>
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Dr. Fredric Schroeder, President of the World Blind Union, said:
“Climbing Mount Everest is challenging and dangerous, and it is not
surprising people would assume it is too challenging and dangerous for a
blind person to attempt. But Erik Weihenmayer, a blind man, did just that
and did it successfully. Excluding blind and partially sighted people
from equal access based on assumptions reinforces and helps perpetuate
economic and social isolation. Few blind people will attempt to climb
Mount Everestas few sighted people will attempt to climb Mount
Everestbut Nepalese tourist authorities should recognize that they have
neither the knowledge nor wisdom to justify the exclusion of blind people
from attempting to achieve the seemingly unachievable, especially since
it has already been done.”<br><br>
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About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and
divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB
defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information
and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are
losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind
people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about
our many programs and initiatives at
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9862&qid=2092417">
www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
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