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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>From the desk of NFBNJ President Joe Ruffalo.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Received from Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations, NFB.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h1><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span><span style='font-size:20.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h1><p><strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;color:black'>CONTACT:</span></strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Tony Vizzini<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Provost and Senior Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Wichita State University<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>316-978-3010<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><a href="mailto:Tony.vizzini@wichita.edu">Tony.vizzini@wichita.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind and Blind Student Reach Agreement with Wichita State University</span></strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><em><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>WSU to Make Materials and Technology Accessible to Blind Students</span></b></em><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Wichita, Kansas (August 16, 2016):</span></strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> <a href="http://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5741&qid=1364652">The National Federation of the Blind</a> and Emily Schlenker, a blind student, have entered into an agreement with Wichita State University (WSU) to improve opportunities for blind students attending WSU.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>The agreement resolves concerns raised by Ms. Schlenker with faculty and staff at the university and with the National Federation of the Blind. Under the agreement, WSU will take steps voluntarily over the next several years to improve the educational experience of blind students, ensuring they receive the opportunities provided to all students. Some steps being taken by WSU, with the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind, include:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>hiring or designating an accessibility coordinator; <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>conducting a technology audit and, based on the audit results, developing a plan to make student-facing electronic and information technology used by WSU accessible to blind students; <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>making WSU’s website and web interface to student and library information systems, as well as online forms, accessible to blind students; <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>developing and implementing a plan to provide accessible instructional materials, including textbooks, course materials, and tactile graphics, to blind students at the same time that these materials are made available to other students; <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>having WSU staff and faculty respond in a timely way to accommodation requests made by blind students; <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>reviewing and revising, if needed, WSU’s policies and procedures for accommodating students with disabilities and for processing and resolving grievances brought by blind students; and <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>having training of all Instructors and appropriate administrators as determined by WSU on WSU’s policies for accommodating blind students, as well as training for such students on their rights and the procedures available to them to enforce those rights.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:.25in'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We commend Wichita State University for acting quickly to resolve the concerns that Ms. Schlenker and the National Federation of the Blind raised, and for WSU's willingness to adopt a comprehensive, systemic approach to ensuring that all of its students, including the blind, receive an equal education. The National Federation of the Blind looks forward to providing our experience and expertise to WSU as this institution's dedicated faculty and staff work toward a fully inclusive educational environment.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Tony Vizzini, Provost and Senior Vice President of WSU said: "We want every student of ours to be successful and contribute to society. WSU appreciates Ms. Schlenker raising these concerns on behalf of herself and similarly situated students. We are excited to be working with the National Federation of the Blind to enhance the educational experiences of our blind and visually impaired students."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>###</span></strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span></strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>About the National Federation of the Blind</span></strong><span style='font-size:16.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>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.</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=street-address><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>200 East Wells Street</span></span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'><br><span class=extended-address>at Jernigan Place</span><br><span class=locality>Baltimore</span><span class=adr>, </span><span class=region>MD</span><span class=adr> </span><span class=postal-code>21230</span><br><span class=country-name>United States<br></span>(410) 659-9314</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Forwarded by:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Freestyle Script"'>Brian A. Mackey<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Brian A. Mackey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Owner, Mackey Enterprises, LLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>609-953-6988<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:Bmackey88@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Bmackey88@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make those dreams come true”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <i>-Vince Papale<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>