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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'> <o:p></o:p></p><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'>National Federation of the Blind Announces Winners of 2017 Onkyo Braille Essay Contest<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'>Competition Encourages Braille Usage among the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>Baltimore, Maryland (January 4, 2018):</b> The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), in celebration of World Braille Day, is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Onkyo Braille Essay Contest. The NFB administered the Onkyo Braille Essay Contest on behalf of the North America/Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union and encouraged all countries in the Region to participate<br><br>The essays were required to be written in Braille and could cover a variety of proposed topics related to the importance of Braille. There were two groups of competitors: a junior category for persons up to age twenty-five and a senior category for persons aged twenty-six or older. Each winner received a substantial cash prize, a plaque, and other gifts from the Onkyo Corporation.<br><br>The seven winners from the North America/Caribbean Region were as follows:<br><br> <br><br><i>Otsuki Prize<br><br></i>Jessie Mabry, Connecticut, US<br><br> <br><br><i>Excellent Work Award, Senior<br><br></i>Tammy Frost, Minnesota, US<br><br> <br><br><i>Fine Work Award, Senior<br><br></i>Jennifer Spears, Colorado, US<br><br>Jamie Lloyd, St. Catherine, Jamaica<br><br> <br><br><i>Excellent Work Award, Junior<br><br></i>Kristen Steele, Iowa, US<br><br> <br><br><i>Fine Work Award, Junior<br><br></i>Fernando Reyes, New Mexico, US<br><br>Hannah Neils, Minnesota, US<br><br>The essay contest, sponsored by Onkyo Corporation, a Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer, and the Braille Mainichi, part of the Mainichi Newspaper Company in Japan, was created to promote Braille literacy and to encourage the sharing of social and cultural information among blind and low-vision persons.<br><br>Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We are pleased, once again, to have been a part of this important contest. There can be no doubt that the ability to read and write Braille competently and efficiently is the key to education, employment, and success for the blind. Despite the undisputed value of Braille, however, less than 10 percent of blind children in the United States are learning it. We congratulate the contest winners and commend them for demonstrating the positive impact Braille has had on their lives through their essays, and for raising awareness of the importance of Braille literacy as they live the lives they want.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'> <br><br><b>###<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br></b>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9899&qid=2093365">www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br> <br><br><b>CONTACT:<br><br></b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>Director of Public Relations<br><br>National Federation of the Blind<br><br>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0><tr><td width=472 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=472 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>