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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Awesome! I did not know that we have a world record holder with us! Congrats Wilbert!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks Suzanne for sharing!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I have a small question about the weight of the ball Wilbert is using: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">They are saying it is a <span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">16-pound ball? Is that correct?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Thanks and take care.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Ali<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText">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></p><p class="MsoPlainText">***<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Suzanne Turner <smturner.234@gmail.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 16, 2020 5:42 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List' <ohio-talk@nfbnet.org>; NFBOH-Cleveland@nfbnet.org; 'Lisa Bostick'' <lbostick04@jcu.edu>; Victory71351@AOL.COM; AlexisTyson2000@Yahoo.com; wturner@clevelandsightcenter.org; 'Edgarsfarm' <edgarsfarm@aol.com>; 'Sandra Krems' <slkrems@yahoo.com>; milenacleve@roadrunner.com; bdowdy1983@gmail.com; shawgriff781@gmail.com; Leeth123@roadrunner.com; cantseecutie@att.net; Nricks123@me.com; stuff12993@aol.com; william.h.turner@ssa.gov; wTurner@clevelandsightcenter.org; lmr.upshaw@gmail.com; MichaelSwinney05@gmail.com; 'kiana hill' <kiah976@att.net>; Dr.Carolyn.Peters@gmail.com; 'Dave Bertsch' <dwbertsch@hotmail.com>; patrinkle@icloud.com; 'Ali Benmerzouga'' <ali.benmerzouga@hotmail.com>; jimweiss72@icloud.com; Dorothea.Davis4444@gmail.com; regina.mason216@gmail.com; ccjeff@ameritech.net; Alex.French2.usaF@gmail.com; Arringtonrs@gmail.com; NFBOH-Cleveland@nfbnet.org; Victory71351@AOL.COM; BigPapaZo@roadrunner.com; WO.Turner5@sbcglobal.net; Kinshuk.tella@gmail.com; jessicajones0199@gmail.com; jessecooperhall@gmail.com; 'Heather Ways' <heatherways@yahoo.com>; jtschwoebel@gmail.com; lewisbarbee@yahoo.com; remacd3@gmail.com; Chefgreen56@gmail.com; delcenia@prodigy.net; Campbelllegal87@gmail.com; riscw619@gmail.com; abcfamily89@gmail.com; davidgGray1984@gmail.com; dwjann57@gmail.com; jimweiss72@icloud.com; abcfamily89@gmail.com; charlenebolden@att.net; BillieGraham38@gmail.com; williamsjoann@outlook.com; garwilli4luv@yahoo.com; Butler.Henry@icloud.com; TMcKenney51@Icloud.com; lelinda@roadrunner.com; rskill2008@bellsouth.net; TurnerW794@gmail.com; info@onhconsulting.com; 'ali benmerzouga' <ali.benmerzouga@hotmail.com>; Tawnt@yahoo.com; PaigeRackley2@gmail.com; nnulite@sbcglobal.net; 'INFOWARRIOR-YVONNE BELL' <byvonne06@gmail.com>; thorpe.ronda@gmail.com; auntro3135@gmail.com<br><b>Cc:</b> 'Suzanne Turner' <smturner.234@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Wilbert Turner's News Interview on, Blind bowlers break barriers <o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h1><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Blind bowlers break barriers, and throw plenty of strikes <o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><img width="1280" height="720" style="width:13.3333in;height:7.5in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D68D04.1B092CA0" alt="items.[0].videoTitle"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">There’s nothing as sweet as a strike — especially when you’re as competitive as Wilbert Turner.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><img width="1280" height="720" style="width:13.3333in;height:7.5in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D68D04.1B092CA0"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="accent"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">By:</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova"> <a href="https://www.news5cleveland.com/homa-bash">Homa Bash</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="accent"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#4D4D4D">Posted at</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#4D4D4D"> 3:23 PM, Sep 15, 2020 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="accent"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#4D4D4D">and last updated</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:proxima-nova;color:#4D4D4D"> <span class="last-updated-date">2020-09-16 15:02:19-04</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">There’s nothing as sweet as a strike — especially when you’re as competitive as Wilbert Turner.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Wilbert is the former president of a local bowling league, a world-record holder, and — he’s been blind since birth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“I never liked being thought of as just that poor blind guy,” Wilbert said. “I think I can do pretty much everything you do with the exception of being able to see.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">With every swing of the 16-pound ball, Wilbert proves that over and over again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“I have the tendency to run off the floor when I throw a strike,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Rich Williams is a certified bowling coach — dedicating his time to helping blind bowlers get better at Nautical Lanes in Avon Lake.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“For me, it’s been fantastic because I’ve coached pro bowlers, adult league bowlers, high school bowlers, special needs bowlers,” Williams said. “But of all those, it has been most unique and challenging and rewarding to work with this group.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Tom Norton’s vision impairment started when he was in his 30s. By the time he reached his 80s, Tom was legally blind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“I simply see dark shadows,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Blindness can lead to isolation, depression, and withdrawing into your home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Norton and his family wanted to combat all that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“Blind people tend to shelter in and have lots of issues and problems because of that,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">So when Norton came across the Blind Bowling League, he wanted nothing more than to spread the word.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">There are roughly 30,000 blind people in Cuyahoga County, according to the Cleveland Sight Center.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">Norton and his wife created a foundation to provide free bowling lessons to anyone in need at Nautical Lanes, hoping to grow the Blind Bowling League more and more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“I began to realize out of the 24 people that belong to the blind bowling league here in Cleveland, only 12 of them are blind. The other 12 are helpers,” Norton said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“Helpers” — usually family or friends who help these bowlers find the finger holes, get back to their seats, cheer them on with every spare, strike, or even single pin down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">And even though they can’t see them tumble down — these bowlers can feel it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">The best part of the blind bowling league, they say, is getting that social interaction with others right alongside quality time with family in a sport *everyone can take part in.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">And hey, if you win against a sighted person here and there — that only makes the strike that much sweeter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span lang="EN" style="font-family:proxima-nova">“I’m OK with you having a little doubt in the beginning because I’m usually here to prove you wrong,” Wilbert said.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>