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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV> Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>Please read and share the following notice from President Riccobono.</DIV>
<DIV>Let’s get involved and make a difference!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo, President
<BR>National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV>Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your
unwanted vehicle to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or call
855 659 9314<BR></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt tahoma">
<DIV><B>Subject: </B>Federation Action Needed: Challenging the Fear of
Blindness</DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV
style='FONT-SIZE: small; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri"; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline'>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear Federation
Affiliate Members: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>Some of you have
brought to my attention the social media campaign using the hashtag
#HowEyeSeeIt<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>. The people using
this hashtag are making videos of themselves attempting to do everyday tasks
under blindfold with the misguided view that this experience will help them know
what it is like to be blind. The motivation for the campaign is to raise funding
to eliminate blindness. We in the National Federation of the Blind know that
blindness doesn’t hold us back. We also know that living with blindness requires
learning the techniques blind people use to do everyday tasks without vision. We
are not opposed to medical research, but the way to generate interest in medical
research is not by further spreading the fear of blindness and strengthening
misconceptions about the lived experience of blind people.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>The current videos
being circulated with the #HowEyeSeeIt campaign are perpetuating the idea that
blindness is something to be feared and that blind people adhere to low
expectations. Some of the tasks people are encouraged to do in this campaign are
having a friend give them an unidentified amount of cash and then, under
blindfold, attempting to pay for a meal with this money. Another particularly
outrageous example is people are asked to attempt to take care of your child for
one minute while blindfolded. At a time when we have launched new efforts for
blind parents who have their children take away because of misconceptions about
blindness, this is dangerous and offensive. These examples and the dozens of
others used in the campaign rely on the notion that vision is a requirement for
success, but we know the truth—blindness does not define us or our
future.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>It is critical that
we now join together to combat this harmful campaign. I urge all Federation
leaders to lead by example and to encourage the members of the Federation in
your state to join with me in changing the perception that blindness is
something to be feared and that significantly limits our lives. Now is the time
to turn our fear into power and that power into action. We have the opportunity
to demonstrate how we live the lives we want as blind people in a commanding
way. All you have to do is:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">1.<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>Make
a video of yourself accomplishing an everyday task as a blind person. For
example, show how you dance, sing, exercise, care for your children, go to
school or work, play sports, manage your finances, travel, participate in social
events, enjoy your hobbies—in short, take a video of yourself living the life
you want.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">2.<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>At
the end of your video, say that you’re a proud member of the National Federation
of the Blind, and tag three friends or family members to keep the trend going.
You can also urge your audience to make a donation to the
NFB.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'><SPAN
style="mso-list: ignore">3.<SPAN
style='FONT: 7pt "Times New Roman"'>
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>Upload
your video to social media using the hashtag #HowEyeSeeIt. Make sure to link to
our website, </SPAN><A href="http://www.nfb.org"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>www.nfb.org</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>,
and tag the NFB in your Tweet, Facebook, or Instagram post. If the people you
mentioned in your video are on social media, be sure to tag them too.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'><BR>Together, we can
show the world that blindness is not what holds us back by demonstrating how we
live the lives we want. We’ve published a blog, “</SPAN><A
href="https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/challenging-fear-blindness"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>Challenging the Fear
of Blindness</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>,” that I encourage
you to share. Please be sure to share with me other ideas you have about how we
take this opportunity to demonstrate the truth about blindness. Send me an email
with your ideas to </SPAN><A href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>officeofthepresident@nfb.org</SPAN></A><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'>. Please provide me
with updates on how the effort is moving forward in your affiliate and how I can
help.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; mso-add-space: auto"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'>Let
us work together with love, hope, and determination to erase the fear of
blindness and raise expectations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; mso-add-space: auto"><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>Mark A. Riccobono,
President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>National Federation
of the Blind<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>200 East Wells
Street at Jernigan Place</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>Baltimore, Maryland
21230</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>Phone: (410)
659-9314</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>Fax: (410)
659-5129</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>Email: </SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><A
href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org"><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>Twitter: @Riccobono
and @NFB_Voice</SPAN><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>Web: <A
title=blocked::http://www.nfb.org/ href="http://www.nfb.org/"><SPAN
style="COLOR: purple">www.nfb.org</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style='FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'>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: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
size=3></FONT></o:p> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>