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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What do we want? Equal access! When do we want it? Now! The time has come to have high expectations for blind students in post-secondary educational settings—we seek to aim high. For too long we have pushed and pulled and fought with inaccessible technology, but we are no longer willing to tolerate this inequality, so we say “don’t deny.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The United States Capitol Police have just confirmed our demonstration permit for Tuesday, January 31, 2017, so if you have not already done so, please make plans to attend our NFB student rally for equal access. I know some of you will be unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, but I hope that if you are planning to participate in our 2017 Washington Seminar, and will not be in an appointment during this time, that you will join us to demand equal access for blind students in classrooms nationwide. If you know of blind students or interested supporters who will not be participating in Washington Seminar, please encourage them to join us to aim high for blind students on January 31. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We’ll gather at the Upper Senate Park, located on the west side of the Russell Senate Office Building along Constitution Avenue, between Delaware and New Jersey Avenue, and our rally will begin promptly at 12:00 p.m. No one moves a policy agenda like the National Federation of the Blind, and I am confident that with our love, hope, and determination, we will encourage members of Congress to promptly move our AIM HE legislation along with all of our other legislative priorities for 2017. It’s time for Congress to #DontDenyAimHigh!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Spread the word: Let’s have the largest gathering of blind students ever on the capitol grounds. Let’s demonstrate to all the importance of this issue. If you have questions about the rally, please contact Gabe Cazares at <a href="mailto:gcazares@nfb.org">gcazares@nfb.org</a> or 410-659-9314, extension 2206.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mark A. Riccobono<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314 | <a href="mailto:officeofthepresident@nfb.org">officeofthepresident@nfb.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D26F44.97165C50" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image002.png@01D26F44.97165C50" alt=Facebook></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image003.png@01D26F44.97165C50" alt=Twitter></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image004.png@01D26F44.97165C50" alt=Youtube></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. <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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>