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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>Free Slate and Stylus Program<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind will distribute a plastic, four-line, twenty-eight cell slate along with a saddle stylus to those that need them. That includes those that are blind and low vision who know Braille or want to learn Braille. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>The slate and stylus have long been and continue to be valuable tools for writing Braille, which is vital to literacy for the blind. It is the only Braille-writing device that has the same portability, flexibility, and affordability as a pen and pencil. From labeling your canned goods to jotting down a phone number, the uses and advantages of the slate and stylus for the blind are as varied as those of a pen and pencil for the sighted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Application Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'><img width=279 height=369 style='width:2.9062in;height:3.8437in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D6C62B.66FDA2C0" alt="A young girl uses a slate and stylus."></span></b><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Please visit our </span></b><span style='color:lime'><a href="http://freeslates.nfb.org/" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:#005AA3;background:white'>free slate and stylus program online application</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'> to request your slate and stylus.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Or complete the </span></b><span style='color:lime'><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/free-slate-application.pdf" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:#005AA3;background:white'>free slate and stylus program application (accessible PDF)</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'> and mail it to:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Free Slate and Stylus Program<br>National Federation of the Blind<br>200 East Wells Street <em><span style='font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>at Jernigan Place</span></em><br>Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Eligibility<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:15.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif;color:black'>Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico can request a slate and stylus for their personal use. Requests can be made as often as once per year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>More Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>If you are not sure how to use the slate and stylus, please read the FR5/FRFA0112 “Parents Guide to the Slate and Stylus” or “Writing with the Slate and Stylus Is Easy” both of which were featured in our Future Reflections magazine. You can also purchase The Slate Book from our National Federation of the Blind Independence Market. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>For more information about our Free Slate and Stylus Program, email us at </span></b><a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org"><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>nfb@nfb.org</span></b></a><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Eras Bold ITC",sans-serif'>. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve Cook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>District 2 State Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President Elect of the Columbia chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1<sup>st</sup> Vice President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of SC owns and operates Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center. Below is a link to read more about Rocky Bottom and to make a reservation for a mountain retreat!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://rockybottomofsc.com/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please join the National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book at any of the below links!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NatFedofSouthCarolina/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Computer-Science-Technology-Division-of-the-NFB-of-SC-343263089815304/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/RockyBottomofSC/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Scabs1944/?refid=46&__xts__%5B0%5D=12.%7B%22unit_id_click_type%22%3A%22graph_search_results_item_tapped%22%2C%22click_type%22%3A%22result%22%2C%22module_id%22%3A1%2C%22result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22session_id%22%3A%22dde06b014c19c1fa49889d82a62edcda%22%2C%22module_role%22%3A%22ENTITY_PAGES%22%2C%22unit_id%22%3A%22browse_rl%3Aaed5eb18-5eed-4148-8ec7-5150ce26bf7b%22%2C%22browse_result_type%22%3A%22browse_type_page%22%2C%22unit_id_result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22module_result_position%22%3A0%7D"><span style='color:#0563C1'>South Carolina Association of Blind Students</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/groups/375092969314880?_rdr"><span style='color:#0563C1'>South Carolina Parents of Blind Children</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind welcomes all blind people, parents of blind children, blind students, those losing vision, and more. We are a family of members and friends that knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. You can live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span lang=EN style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in'><span lang=EN style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>How to Join<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Federation of the Blind is to attend a chapter or division meeting in your local area. You can find your nearest chapter or division meeting by reaching out to your state affiliate president. Membership in a chapter or division will automatically grant you membership in your state affiliate and the national organization.</span><span lang=EN> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/join-us"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Come join us!</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>