[Nfbo-announce] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Sponsors Blind Driver's "Quest for the Salt"

[Carla McQuillan]

Carla McQuillan
President, NFB of Oregon
Executive Director
Main Street Montessori

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
> Date: August 21, 2013, 7:59:04 AM PDT
> To: "State President, Puerto Rico" <arguza at attglobal.net>, "State President, Nebraska" <amy.buresh74 at gmail.com>, "State President, Connecticut" <erival at comcast.net>, "State President, Arizona" <krezguy at cox.net>, "State President, New York" <office at nfbny.org>, "State President, Oregon" <admin at mainstreetmontessori.org>, "State President, Kentucky" <cathyj1949 at gmail.com>, Charlene Smyth <cs.nfbwv at verizon.net>, "State President, Vermont" <deannaljones at comcast.net>, "State President, Kansas" <donnajwood at cox.net>, "State President, North Dakota" <diverson at midco.net>, "State President, Idaho" <elsiedickerson at ymail.com>, "State President, Ohio" <eduffy at pobox.com>, "Schroeder, Fred" <fschroeder at sks.com>, "State President, North Carolina" <ghraynfbofnc at charter.net>, "State President, Missouri" <gwunder at earthlink.net>, "State President, Pennsylvania" <president at nfbp.org>, "State President, Tennessee" <nfb.tennessee at gmail.com>, "State President, Minnesota" <jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com>, "State President, Alaska" <jnhburton at gci.net>, Joe Ruffalo <nfbnj at yahoo.com>, "State President, Wisconsin" <johnfritz66 at gmail.com>, "State President, Wyoming" <kthornbury at bresnan.net>, "State President, South Dakota" <gatorbumps at rushmore.com>, Kimberly Flores <kimberly.aguillard at gmail.com>, "State President, Massachusetts" <kshachmut at nfbma.org>, "State President, Maine" <leonproctorjr at yahoo.com>, "State President, Delaware" <lynne.majewski at gmail.com>, "State President, California" <mwillows at sbcglobal.net>, "State President, Maryland" <melissa at riccobono.us>, "State President, Iowa" <michael.nfbi at gmail.com>, "State President, Washington" <k7uij at panix.com>, "State President, Hawaii" <nanifife at aol.com>, "State President, Louisiana" <pallen at lcb-ruston.com>, "State President, South Carolina" <parnell at sccoast.net>, "State President, Illinois" <pattichang at att.net>, "Brown, Ron" <RB15 at iquest.net>, "State President, Mississippi" <sgleese at city.jackson.ms.us>, "State President, Colorado" <slabarre at labarrelaw.com>, "State President, Alabama" <joy.harris at dwx.com>, "State President, Arkansas" <tosheeler at cox.net>, "State President, District of Columbia" <callaway.shawn at gmail.com>, "State President, Florida" <danjhicks at yahoo.com>, "State President, Georgia" <gscott at nfbga.org>, "State President, Michigan" <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>, "State President, Nevada" <realhappygirl1 at gmail.com>, "State President, New Hampshire" <cemcnabb21 at yahoo.com>, "State President, New Mexico" <avigil74 at gmail.com>, "State President, Oklahoma" <jmassay1 at cox.net>, "State President, Rhode Island" <silvara at cox.net>, "State President, Utah" <baconev at yahoo.com>, "State President, Montana" <chiefblindtech at gmail.com>
> Subject: National Federation of the Blind Sponsors Blind Driver's "Quest for the Salt"
> 
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>  
> CONTACT:
> Chris Danielsen
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
> cdanielsen at nfb.org
>  
> National Federation of the Blind Sponsors
> Blind Driver’s “Quest for the Salt”
>  
> Dan Parker Will Be First Blind Man to Drive Motorcycle on Bonneville Salt Flats
>  
> Wendover, Utah (August 21, 2013): The National Federation of the Blind today announced its sponsorship of the first attempt by a blind driver to independently race a motorcycle on the famed Bonneville Salt Flats.  Dan Parker, an experienced racecar builder and driver who lost his sight as the result of a racing accident last year, will independently operate a three-wheeled motorcycle with the help of a GPS system that gives him audible cues in order to help him maintain a straight course.  Mr. Parker will make his run as part of the 2013 BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials this Sunday at the Flats. The National Federation of the Blind is one of several sponsors contributing funds and equipment to help Mr. Parker complete his “Quest for the Salt.”  Additionally, the Federation’s Mark Riccobono, the first blind person to drive a vehicle without the assistance of a sighted person, will travel out to the Salt to participate in this historic event.
>  
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We have demonstrated that it is possible for a blind person to operate a vehicle with the help of an interface that can convey information about the driver’s environment.  Dan Parker is taking the concepts that we pioneered with our Blind Driver Challenge™ a step further—and possibly faster—while continuing to experiment with technology that may someday allow blind drivers to navigate America’s roadways like our sighted peers.  We are pleased to sponsor Dan’s effort and wish him a successful run on the Bonneville Salt Flats.”
>  
> Mr. Parker said: “As a member, I appreciate the support of the National Federation of the Blind, an organization that believes, as I do, that blind people can succeed in whatever effort we choose with the proper tools and training.  I look forward to demonstrating this truth to the racing community and the general public on the Salt Flats this weekend.  I view this run as just the first leg of my journey to contribute to the work of the Federation and its Blind Driver Challenge™.”
>  
> On January 29, 2011, NFB’s Mark Riccobono became the first blind person to operate a vehicle on the Daytona International Speedway as a demonstration of technology that helped him navigate the course and avoid obstacles.  More information about the NFB Blind Driver Challenge™, along with information about Dan Parker’s Quest for the Salt, is available at www.blinddriverchallenge.org.  Also be sure to visit Dan Parker’s Quest for the Salt Facebook page, as well as the NFB’s Facebook and Twitter feeds, for continuous updates on this exciting event.
>  
>  
> ###
>  
> About the National Federation of the Blind
> 
> 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 www.nfb.org.
>  
>  
>  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbo-announce_nfbnet.org/attachments/20130821/e4726e6a/attachment.html>