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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span lang=EN style='color:black'>National Federation of the Blind Condemns New Public Charge Rule<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind commented today on the new “public charge rule” issued on August 12. Our statement follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>Pursuant to our diversity statement contained in our Code of Conduct, the National Federation of the Blind does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination based on citizenship, among other characteristics or intersectionality of characteristics. From this flows an obligation to fight for the rights of undocumented blind people when they experience discrimination. To that end, in December of 2018 we submitted <a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/nfb-response-dhs-docket-no-uscis-2010-0012-final.pdf" target="_blank">public comments</a> to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, regarding proposed changes to what is known as the “public charge rule.” The public charge rule is intended to ensure that people seeking admission to the United States for permanent lawful resident status are “self-sufficient” and “do not depend on public resources to meet their needs.” We expressed our concern that the then-proposed changes to the definition of “public charge” did not adequately consider the circumstances and unique needs of undocumented blind people and other undocumented individuals with disabilities or their families. We were particularly concerned that parents of blind children would not seek services to which their children are entitled, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (which have not previously been included in the public charge consideration), and that blind adults would be adversely affected if they used rehabilitation services or disability, housing, and food assistance benefits. We urged the withdrawal of the new proposed rule in its entirety, or revisions to reflect the unique barriers faced by blind people in obtaining and retaining employment, as well as other factors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>The new public charge rule has now been issued and is set to take effect on October 15, 2019. The Rule as published does not reflect any of the concerns we expressed. We are profoundly disappointed in this development and remain deeply concerned that the new rule will have a chilling effect on undocumented blind people and their families, who will be forced to choose between keeping their families together, and going without critical services to which they and/or their children are eligible. Blind people should not be penalized for accessing benefits and programs to which they are legally entitled, especially those which are specifically designed to help them to overcome the barriers created by the low expectations of society and to become independent and self-sufficient. Blind individuals are contributing significantly in all sectors of the American economy today, but the current rule sends the message that the participation of the blind in the workforce is not valued. The National Federation of the Blind will continue to seek lawful ways to help blind people who are affected by this discriminatory rule change.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>###</span></strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><br>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/">nfb.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>CONTACT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>410-659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>410-262-1281 (cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;vertical-align:top'><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:#005AA3;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=800 height=291 style='width:8.3333in;height:3.0312in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D55389.92867D10" alt="National Federation of the Blind. Click to return to Homepage."></span></a><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem11 align=center style='margin-left:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;vertical-align:top'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/donate">Donate</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem11 align=center style='margin-left:0in;text-align:center;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;vertical-align:top'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/get-involved/join-us">Join Us</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:18.75pt'><strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind</span></strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><br>200 East Wells Street <em><span style='font-family:Lato'>at Jernigan Place</span></em><br>Baltimore, Maryland 21230<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:18.75pt'><strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'>Phone</span></strong><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'> <a href="tel:+14106599314">410-659-9314</a><br><strong><span style='font-family:Lato'>Email</span></strong> <a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org">nfb@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:7.5pt;text-align:center;background:#005AA3;vertical-align:top'><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:Lato;color:white'>Connect with Us<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=menuitem12 align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#005AA3'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind/" target="_blank">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem12 align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#005AA3'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_voice" target="_blank">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem12 align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:#005AA3'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NationsBlind" target="_blank">YouTube</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;background:#005AA3'><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/imagineering-our-future"><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#01893E;border:solid #01893E 1.0pt;padding:8.0pt;background:white'>Subscribe to Our E-newsletter</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;background:#F2F2F2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/our-community">Our Community</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo3;background:#F2F2F2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/our-community/people-who-are-blind">People Who Are Blind</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo3;background:#F2F2F2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/our-community/people-losing-vision">People Losing Vision</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=menuitem style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level2 lfo3;background:#F2F2F2'><![if !supportLists]><span lang=EN style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>o<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Lato;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/our-community/parents-blind-children">Parents of Blind Children</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>