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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'>The Cleveland Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, ,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'>Recognizes, </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;background:white;mso-highlight:white'>Daniel Martinez</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'>In Celebration Of Hispanic Heritage Month</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;background:white;mso-highlight:white'>Daniel Martinez - A Proud Hispanic</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;background:white;mso-highlight:white'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:20.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;background:white;mso-highlight:white'>“As a mentor, I believe that my responsibility is to support the personal growth of my protege. Mentoring is a way to lead by example, and to share the skills and confidence that I learned from my own mentors.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black'>Daniel Martinez is a Blind Children’s Specialist and Mentor in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas who helps people with disabilities learn how to effectively advocate for themselves. He believes everyone has the potential to accomplish their own personal goals and live fulfilling lives. He defies society’s misconceptions and low expectations as he believes that disabilities do not stop people from being successful. He trusts that high expectations help challenge people with disabilities to push themselves a little further.</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black'>As a member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) since 2007, Daniel has served as a mentor to blind children, teens, and adults across Texas and beyond. He joined the Federation as a protégé in the NFB of Texas Mentoring Program, and became a mentor himself in 2015 to share the skills and confidence he gained with others.</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black'>Daniel holds several leadership positions. Currently he is a board member of the NFB of Texas, and Vice President of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter and the Texas Association of Blind Students. He has coordinated, instructed, and collaborated in programs such as the Texas Braille Enrichment for Learning and Literacy (BELL) Academy for blind children ages 3-12, NFB-NEWSLINE Texas Silver Bells Senior Training, and the Cambiando Vidas programs for blind Spanish speakers. In 2019, the NFB’s President, Mark Riccobono, reached out to Daniel and gave him the opportunity to become the Spanish interpreting chairman at the NFB’s national convention.</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black'>In May 2018, Daniel played a major role in coordinating a training weekend for 16 Spanish speaking blind south Texas residents and their families, sponsored by the NFB of Texas and METAS. He led the recruitment effort, coordinated logistics, and provided one-on-one mentorship to participants and family members at the Cambiando Vidas program. The program provided hands-on workshops in topics such as braille literacy, cane travel, adaptive technology, daily living skills and aids, and positive blindness philosophy. Subsequently, the NFB of Texas entrusted Daniel as Coordinator of the Cambiando Vidas events in Matamoros, Mexico and in Pharr, Texas. </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black'>In 2018, Daniel joined the METAS team in their efforts to empower the blind in Mexico. He attended a week long training at a school for the blind, where he provided instruction in cane travel skills and in Braille literacy; even jamming out with the children playing guitar and imparting the federation’s philosophy through music from the Rhythm of the Movement Album. Then in July of 2019 he had the honor of presenting at the Cambiando Vidas Conference, in Guadalajara, where he imparted seminars regarding Braille literacy, adjustment to blindness, adaptive technology, and regarding the importance of mentoring in the blindness community.</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black'>Daniel is passionate about helping others, particularly those who are in need. He is currently enrolled at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley pursuing his graduate degree in Early Childhood Special Education to compliment his skill set and enable him to help an even broader spectrum of people with disabilities.</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;color:black'>Daniel’s hobbies include playing guitar, accordion, and other musical instruments. He can often be found playing guitar at Sunday mass and rocking out at family parties at night.</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>