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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>“When are we going to take action so that more blind people are fully employed.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Repeatedly, I hear this frustration with the 70% unemployment/underemployment rate for blind people. We all feel this pain. Together, we are taking steps towards addressing this challenge. We need you to be at the convention to help spread the success.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Come to the convention to hear about the many steps we are taking together to advance getting blind people into good jobs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Our National Rep, Denise Avant, will share about our efforts to eliminate sub-minimum wages, provide tax breaks for acquiring assistive technology, and build programs that help blind people to get and succeed in their jobs.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Geena Kline will talk about a transformative new initiative called SmartJob to address employment and wealth for people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director of the U. S. Access Board will share his own story to achieve success<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Jacki Bruce will explain Why She Is a Federationist and what she is doing to achieve her personal and employment goals<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Brittany Ingram, Cynthia Brandon, and Elana Crew will share how they achieved employment success through volunteering themselves into paid work.<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Our Project RISE students will talk about their internships and summer jobs<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) will provide details about how they are helping blind people throughout the Commonwealth.<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our NFB of Virginia convention provides great content, great opportunities to build your network and fun ways to grow and learn. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our convention needs you to register and participate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Additionally, we’d like to provide you a chance at $100 in your pocket from our early registration drawing. But you must act today to register.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Register today at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfbv.org/registration">https://www.nfbv.org/registration</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tracy Soforenko<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>202 285-4595<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbv.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<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></div></body></html>