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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Announcement from Melissa Riccobono,</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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NOPBC is trying something new during convention this year. We are planning to have open IEP discussions on Friday, July 9 from 9:30-10:30 am, and Saturday, July 10, from 10:30-11:30 am. In order for these discussions to be successful, we would love your help with two things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First of all, please circulate the following announcement to any parents in your state who might be interested in providing topic suggestions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) is planning something new for IEP discussions at this year’s national convention. On Friday, July 9 from 9:30-10:30 am, and Saturday, July 10, from 10:30-11:30 am, we are going to hold IEP discussion sessions with various breakout rooms. In order to make these sessions a success, we need to hear from you! What IEP topic would you be interested in discussing during one of these sessions? What IEP questions would you like answered? Please send suggestions to Melissa Riccobono at<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:MelissaARiccobono@gmail.com">MelissaARiccobono@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please put “NOPBC IEP” in the subject of your email. We will do our best to provide a breakout room to discuss your topic, and other related topics. Thank you in advance for helping us learn what you would like to learn during these sessions! We look forward to speaking with you soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The other thing we could use your help with is people to help in breakout rooms. If you feel pretty confident about answering various IEP questions, or passionate about a specific topic, please let me know by emailing me off list. <a href="mailto:MelissaARiccobono@gmail.com">MelissaARiccobono@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Finally, if you’d like training in IEP advocacy let me know, as we may be able to provide a breakout room about this topic during one or both of these sessions, or perhaps hold other webinars about this after the convention. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks so much in advance for your help!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Melissa<o:p></o:p></p><div id=DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><hr size=1 width="99%" noshade style='color:#909090' align=center></div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td style='padding:0in 11.25pt 0in 6.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.avast.com/antivirus"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://static.avast.com/emails/avast-mail-stamp.png" alt="Avast logo"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#3D4D5A'>This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. <br><a href="https://www.avast.com/antivirus">www.avast.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>