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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><a href="https://www.wkyc.com/section/life/heartwarming">HEARTWARMING</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Massillon teen wins Ohio Regional Braille Challenge<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cammie Gattuso, 18, was born blind, but her ability to read and write braille has taken her to many different cities to win national competitions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#8D8D8D'>Author: </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>Lindsay Buckingham </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#8D8D8D'>Published: </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>1:03 AM EDT March 12, 2020 </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#8D8D8D'>Updated: </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333'>1:03 AM EDT March 12, 2020 </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>MASSILLON, Ohio — <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Every year in Cincinnati, the Clovernook Center hosts a competition for the blind and visually impaired. They're challenged in several categories of reading and writing braille. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>One competitor, here at home, has been a champion at the Ohio Regional Braille Challenge three times. Her name is Cammie Gattuso, an 18-year-old senior at Tuslaw High School in Massillon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><div class="ad__nojs-placeholder" style="height:90px;border:2px solid #e6e6e6"></div> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>She's been blind since birth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“I can’t see colors or shapes, but I can see shadows, though. I’ve spent long stretches of time, sitting in front of the TV, looking at the lights and shadows because it was so cool," Cammie told us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>It's the only life she's ever known.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Born at 23 weeks, with underdeveloped retinas and other health complications, some doctors weren't sure if she would make it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“We actually had a physician tell us we should plan a funeral," Cammie's grandmother, Sandy Gattuso told us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>There was no funeral; just an abundance of hope and love, thanks to Cammie's grandparents, who adopted her after she was born.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“I said yes in a heartbeat," Sandy said of her decision.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cammie has a magnetic personality. But, sometimes, it's just tough to navigate life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“Fitting in socially – there are some things that I think are funny, that other people don’t think is funny at all," Cammie said of making friends. “There have been some who haven’t gotten to know me, so they’re missing out.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>She's got support from her school. They've even made special modifications for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> “They tried really hard to help me and, it worked. And I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the wonderful, wonderful school district," Cammie said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>She also found camps with others just like her, helpful. She mastered braille, and it shows.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“I utilize braille every day, and I read very often, and I write a lot. You should see how fast I write!” Cammie said confidently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>She's so fast, in fact, she's won the Ohio Regional Braille Challenge three times. The competition brings challenge camaraderie, and fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Being a champion has it's perks, but what Cammie really wants is friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>”Although I’m soft spoken, I do have a lot of interesting things to say when I do decide come out of my shell. I’m also very good-natured and it doesn’t take very much to please me," Cammie said. “I would love to have a circle of friends, at least that I can, that I can rely on that will have my back, that will, come over to my house and hang out.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cammie has trouble seeing the world, but she somehow always manages to find the light.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“My family has supported me every single day. Every step of the way. Every single time I have a problem," Cammie said. They say, 'I love you so much. And I say, 'I love you so much, as well.'"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cammie also wants to speak out for people who are challenged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>"I want to be able to advocate for people who are disabled. And who have gone through or who are facing challenges such as blindness or cerebral palsy or down syndrome or whatever. I just want to be able to advocate for them," Cammie said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Sandy Gattuso says her pride for her granddaughter is endless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“I am very proud of everything that she does. She’s a young lady in her own right, and she is certainly proving it … proving it to not just her teachers, but to everybody.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>And to no one's surprise, Cammie won the Ohio Regional Braille Challenge this year, jfor the fourth time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>She's waiting to find out if she advances to California for the national finals.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio (NFBO)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Suzanne Turner, Ohio Affiliate Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Cleveland Chapter, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> (216) 990-6199<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Please click on the links below to learn more about the organization<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The Ohio Affiliate<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_Hlk18941617"></a><a name="_Hlk14090147"></a><a name="_Hlk14085768"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'></span></span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8</span></span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'></span></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> 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class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'></span></span></span></span><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'>https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/</span></span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'></span></span></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18067489'></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk18941617'></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14090147'></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk14085768'></span><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>