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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Military Space Available Accommodation Expanded to More Veterans with Disabilities</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind Commends Congress and the President</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Baltimore, Maryland (August 20, 2018):</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> The National Federation of the Blind commented today on the inclusion of language expanding eligibility for the Space Available program in the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act that was recently signed into law by President Donald J. Trump. The Space Available Program allows certain categories of individuals to travel on military flights if space is available.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“The National Federation of the Blind has long fought for all veterans with service-connected disabilities to be granted equal access to the Space Available program,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “Thanks to the hard work of our membership and our allies in the United States Congress, an oversight which excluded many Vietnam-era veterans who are blind or have other disabilities from participation in this program has now been corrected. This is a great victory for the National Federation of the Blind, but more importantly, for thousands of blind and otherwise disabled veterans who earned this privilege by their honorable service to our nation.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>###</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>CONTACT:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Chris Danielsen</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Director of Public Relations</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>