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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">COVID Access Line for Blind and Low Vision Washingtonians Opens</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:28.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#5A5A5A">BLIND COVID opens a telephone line to assist blind and low vision individuals with access to testing and vaccine resources in Washington. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#5A5A5A"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"color:#5A5A5A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#5A5A5A">February 16, 2021</span></b></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#5A5A5A"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Funded by a grant from WA Department of Health, Washington State School for the Blind began working on ways to increase awareness of accessible resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic
through the creation of BLIND COVID. On February 1, BLIND COVID opens the COVID Access phone line so that blind and low vision individuals can call to speak with an individual to access resources relating to accessible testing and vaccine information in Washington.
The BLIND COVID Access line will provide broader access to individuals who may not have the technology skills to navigate complex web pages where most critical information is being published. Callers may leave a voicemail and a BLIND COVID representative will
return their call during business hours. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Blind and low vision individuals can call<b> 360-947-3330
</b>to ask questions regarding access to resources related to COVID-19. No medical advice will be given, as the purpose of BLIND COVID access line is to provide access to information over the phone that may otherwise be difficult to locate through the web
or other means. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">In recent focus groups conducted by BLIND COVID, blind and low vision participants shared:</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4">"It has been so frustrating not being able to reach a real person when I have questions that aren't answered on the website." </span></i></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4">"There needs to be a person that can answer questions that I have and that they understand that I am Blind."</span></i></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4">"I don't have the technology or skills to access testing and vaccinations for COVID-19 and there has been no way to book appointments over the phone. Sadly, that has left me with little
chance of getting in for either."</span></i></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#4472C4"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">BLIND COVID’s mission is to empower blind and low vision individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. BLIND COVID aims to do this through increasing awareness of accessible resources, providing
strategies, and <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">sharing stories for blind and low vision Washingtonians. BLINDCOVID.COM is currently being developed to house the most current resources for walk-up and accessible testing and vaccine sites.
In addition, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">BLINDCOVID.COM will have additional media and a podcast specifically focused at providing information related to navigating daily life throughout the pandemic. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"> </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">BLIND COVID Contact: Scott McCallum / Phone 360-947-3301 / Email:
<a href="mailto:blindcovid@wssb.wa.gov">blindcovid@wssb.wa.gov</a></span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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