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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>Career Opportunities…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal>Please see below a job posting for a paralegal-reader to work with two blind attorneys at the Department of Justice. Though the position supports work in the section that has cases in the Western Region, meaning California and other West Coast locations, the position is in the DC area. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal>Please distribute to those who you think may be interested.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Vacancy Announcement – Paralegal Specialist (Special Assistant), Civil Trial Section, Western Region</span></u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Tax Division is advertising for a Paralegal Specialist (Special Assistant) for the Civil Trial Section, Western Region. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply. More information about the position and the application procedures can be found at <a href="https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/725960500">https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/725960500</a> (merit promotion/special hiring authorities ) and <a href="https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/725961500">https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/725961500</a> (open to the public). </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on <b>Monday, June 12, 2023.</b> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=xxmsonormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:1.0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;margin-left:0in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:#1F497D'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='color:#1F497D'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Things to do and places to go…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><p><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017JP5nrIDt2WO-rFvvhvvdsUEOyIilcNFlYjGnpuK5h8e3tHlDJPduMCppwJFuxw1jipU3aTx44TomWktC5RAwaZ0CZMUQDyEMLORbFVbLWoDV0r0oPUudbB0MSOnD8MQTukh8LQZfm_9FWj81vuacZ5PA002nOH2bz4wQQF9F-nNF1E5Zsck97huLSB6FR7lloxmMMuIeKVd8C0jT5K3kdeEyp7xg7pyVKg1iOnqXOn7XhUgW3h9YSebqx9UEZ3FIi3EMYwnz65uqy3vZIzx0tUDtntWbfZkYSiFSIsXuSBjMOPrTGruO8BYeFhuG-cMvmT8BsB8fH1nKud970OL0xK4RtaicLPWWjD-PPTZ_6lk82EqBBjJ8TWpyk_4KIETpsEiPKQSVTnGberX_vy4IGWHOcMJkx28afEtZKesXezuzrvn11ptFLDws-YVfNrfsbNQqoWTuEw7ai5j3-y0QyMRA7Q2vr3n5GSCJZdGx3LDH34gRJiruhfnKwU80T6Z82oxceT8RrX0qMxb-Bs5J_2L5ypq7j68cJUmna4JHEOdyzXWEkXDtw==&c=8N39l0jmG8pPF-KVeHTKaIhifNPlbha_s4db3InvDZhFpP9aCL8h0g==&ch=d34C4N120h2wJR42CSCdZAOtW8fmpaJ3tgSgctiOcXZy8CjNPSjXXg==" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#294B93;text-decoration:none'>Port Warwick Summer Concert Series</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#294B93'> Kick Off</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <o:p></o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:7.5pt 15.0pt 7.5pt 15.0pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=right style='margin-left:3.5pt'><tr style='height:.75pt'><td width=15 valign=top style='width:11.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-line-height-alt:.75pt'><img border=0 width=15 height=1 style='width:.1583in;height:.0083in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://imgssl.constantcontact.com/letters/images/sys/S.gif"><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 7.5pt 0in;height:.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017JP5nrIDt2WO-rFvvhvvdsUEOyIilcNFlYjGnpuK5h8e3tHlDJPduMCppwJFuxw15NBOKgu12_ErXUEW6SfAg4HAwN3XWsPmIymOOTwDVQuElS_aly0SeNPj7x-x0t7PoOq2MqSdgMuTKA6DcEmNB0xZKhIhKeVbVa7Z0O_IV4J9HDwVuaH_gA==&c=8N39l0jmG8pPF-KVeHTKaIhifNPlbha_s4db3InvDZhFpP9aCL8h0g==&ch=d34C4N120h2wJR42CSCdZAOtW8fmpaJ3tgSgctiOcXZy8CjNPSjXXg=="><span style='color:#D4840D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=275 style='width:2.8666in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://files.constantcontact.com/ba2dbf70701/a2f4f035-bcc3-437d-a429-212c087e6c1c.jpg?rdr=true"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>The <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017JP5nrIDt2WO-rFvvhvvdsUEOyIilcNFlYjGnpuK5h8e3tHlDJPduMCppwJFuxw15NBOKgu12_ErXUEW6SfAg4HAwN3XWsPmIymOOTwDVQuElS_aly0SeNPj7x-x0t7PoOq2MqSdgMuTKA6DcEmNB0xZKhIhKeVbVa7Z0O_IV4J9HDwVuaH_gA==&c=8N39l0jmG8pPF-KVeHTKaIhifNPlbha_s4db3InvDZhFpP9aCL8h0g==&ch=d34C4N120h2wJR42CSCdZAOtW8fmpaJ3tgSgctiOcXZy8CjNPSjXXg==" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D4840D'>2023 Port Warwick Summer Concert Series</span></a> begins May 24, and runs every Wednesday through Aug. 30, from 6 - 9 p.m. at William Styron Square in Newport News.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>These concerts are free, family-friendly, and open to all. <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017JP5nrIDt2WO-rFvvhvvdsUEOyIilcNFlYjGnpuK5h8e3tHlDJPduE_xVyI8Vq2WoE1TxO_NHXefqV5Y5I-VplXKbLpT9ZDG2Q43y8BmPHCD0IEwGs1AiYjA5vj5PwSonwgFJHz5uKZ-vODQwMc8CHt8JCNt5-fzpoanNWMXFKM1FMZmoghQdOuX0MELD85e4vS17cGFR14LRQbFI1tAq2qkVisx7IP_&c=8N39l0jmG8pPF-KVeHTKaIhifNPlbha_s4db3InvDZhFpP9aCL8h0g==&ch=d34C4N120h2wJR42CSCdZAOtW8fmpaJ3tgSgctiOcXZy8CjNPSjXXg==" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D4840D'>View the entire summer schedule of bands</span></a>. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, tents are reserved for sponsors. Pack a picnic or select from food trucks: Big</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>Daddy’s BBQ, Boyd’s Tasty Dogs, Pop’s Kettle Corn, Kona Ice, and Scratch Bakery</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>or take out from one of the many Port Warwick restaurants, and BYOB. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>This Wednesday <a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017JP5nrIDt2WO-rFvvhvvdsUEOyIilcNFlYjGnpuK5h8e3tHlDJPduHT_sVzQG3PujD982lrtJB1aijknMVC-IMDG3A9Vx_wrxjLTnoJ3WJn5L4j-4FkirFsDNEmeOFUY6jH3lXFRI3A9FeZ4rIcVHg==&c=8N39l0jmG8pPF-KVeHTKaIhifNPlbha_s4db3InvDZhFpP9aCL8h0g==&ch=d34C4N120h2wJR42CSCdZAOtW8fmpaJ3tgSgctiOcXZy8CjNPSjXXg==" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D4840D'>BrassWind</span></a> kicks off the summer with a big horn band sound, Motown, and R&B.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='text-align:justify'><i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'>Weather Policy: Concerts are rain or shine. Should weather conditions cause a cancelation a decision will be made by 5:30 p.m. and posted on the </span></i><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017JP5nrIDt2WO-rFvvhvvdsUEOyIilcNFlYjGnpuK5h8e3tHlDJPduMCppwJFuxw15NBOKgu12_ErXUEW6SfAg4HAwN3XWsPmIymOOTwDVQuElS_aly0SeNPj7x-x0t7PoOq2MqSdgMuTKA6DcEmNB0xZKhIhKeVbVa7Z0O_IV4J9HDwVuaH_gA==&c=8N39l0jmG8pPF-KVeHTKaIhifNPlbha_s4db3InvDZhFpP9aCL8h0g==&ch=d34C4N120h2wJR42CSCdZAOtW8fmpaJ3tgSgctiOcXZy8CjNPSjXXg==" target="_blank"><i><span style='color:#D4840D'>website</span></i></a> <i>and </i><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017JP5nrIDt2WO-rFvvhvvdsUEOyIilcNFlYjGnpuK5h8e3tHlDJPduMCppwJFuxw1G02LmmBWj6I27SZyzj7SV-KH7mImbUav-SsKvHJ2m_w_NtoBvmQvrurrQlYptRYtxbRKK319Xa6k2rEQOvxWGyVXUtw-5oSfk3o2df-JMtWO3cjeNVpDYg==&c=8N39l0jmG8pPF-KVeHTKaIhifNPlbha_s4db3InvDZhFpP9aCL8h0g==&ch=d34C4N120h2wJR42CSCdZAOtW8fmpaJ3tgSgctiOcXZy8CjNPSjXXg==" target="_blank"><i><span style='color:#D4840D'>Facebook page</span></i></a><i>.</i></span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Articles…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Thought I'd share this great article.... <o:p></o:p></span></p><h1><span style='font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>For blind Naval Academy midshipman, an outlook on graduation unlike any other<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span class=tracked-custom-tight><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>By </span></span><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>REBECCA RITZEL <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'><br><span class=secondary-font>THE CAPITAL, ANNAPOLIS, MD. </span><span class=byline-spacer>•</span> <span class=secondary-font>May 26, 2023</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Midshipman Alberto Destarac was to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy Friday, May 26, 2023, even though he is going legally blind from a health condition. (Facebook) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>(Tribune News Service) — Like any responsible college student coping with a chronic health condition, Alberto Destarac emailed his professors last August to let them know he may need extra accommodations. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>But for Destarac's professors at the U.S. Naval Academy, a school that ties graduate rates to the survival of the fittest, the emails were a shock. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"So, I'm going to be going blind this semester,'" Destarac recalled writing as he relaxed with his parents at City Dock during Commissioning Week and reflected on a yearlong roller coaster of diagnostic testing, tough decisions and unprecedented perseverance. Although Destarac, 23, is not being commissioned to serve in the U.S. military, given long-standing policies disallowing blind Americans, he will receive his degree and become, as far as he knows, the academy's first blind graduate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>“The academy works on this whole principle that no one who enters has any medical problems," Destarac said. "They couldn't really kick me out, but I had to prove that I could stay.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Over the past nine months, Destarac not only proved he could stay, he distinguished himself academically, socially and physically. On Monday, he received the first John Johnson Award for Mental Toughness, an honor bestowed in memory of a Naval Academy senior who died in a 2020 drowning accident. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"John Johnson consistently achieved excellence in every aspect of the USNA mission," Commandant of Midshipmen J.P. McCollough wrote in a February memo establishing the award. Lt. Ryan Tran, an engineering instructor and Cdr. Andrew Ledford, a professor in the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the academy, both thought of Destarac when they saw the memo. Johnson's family established the award, which comes with an engraved sword and Luminox Navy SEAL watch. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>For Dr. Luis and Aida Destarac, devoted Catholics who immigrated from Guatemala to Texas 30 years ago, the award ceremony was bittersweet, filling them with pride, but also forcing them to confront the reality that due to a rare degenerative optic nerve condition, their son has no need for a fancy Swiss watch. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>“We are very emotional," Dr. Destarac said. "He has demonstrated a lot of determination. He is like a superman. A superhero.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"I wish I could donate my eyes to you," Aida said, her own brown eyes welling up with tears as she reached across the table to a son who can no longer see her. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>The midshipman first noticed his left-eye vision was blurry in March 2022. He sought testing at Walter Reed Medical Center, and was initially misdiagnosed with optic neuritis. Steroid shots brought no improvement. But over the summer, while he was deployed on a training mission, his right eye also began failing. The realization of how serious the problem was came a bit later, at a particularly poignant moment; Destarac was flying to London for a family wedding, and kept waving to his girlfriend, fellow midshipman Maura Dawson, after she dropped him off at the airport. When Dawson called later, they were both in tears. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"I had walked away, and you kept waving," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>“That was a big realization: I couldn't see that well," Destarac recalled. "That was tough.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>The official diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing in August: Destarec had Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, otherwise known as Leber's syndrome. One of his mother's cousin's sons has the same condition, which afflicts about one in every 50,000 people, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The disease affects central vision as if there's a blank space when patients look straight ahead. Although some Leber's patients retain peripheral vision, 95% are legally blind by age 50. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Military medical specialists told Destarac his vision was deteriorating quickly. Some even advised him to leave the academy, "see the sights" while he still could, and rethink how to finish college once he had adapted to vision loss. Another option was to immediately transfer, and given that he was leaving for medical reasons, he'd be exempt from repaying his Naval Academy tuition. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Other schools, Destarac knew, "were going to have a lot more accommodations" for disabled students. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"The third option was to try and ride it out," Destarac said, but if his grades started slipping, and he was kicked out of the academy for failing academically, he would have to pay back his tuition. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Destarac chose to ride it out. He sent his fall professors that I'm-going-blind email and agreed to check in with his battalion officer six weeks into the semester. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>“Six weeks in, my grades were really good," Destarac said. "I got the best grades ever this semester and last.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Tran and Ledworth don't take credit for Destarac's success, but they do believe "it took a team effort to lift him across the finish line," Tran said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>When Destarac joined Tran's Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering class last fall, the instructor immediately went to his department chair for help supporting Destarac. Any special technology devices had to be approved by the provost, as did extensions. Dr. Destarac, a pulmonologist, worked all of his connections back home at the University of Texas at Tyler and found two options to help his son: a pair of magnifying goggles that made Destarac look like he was playing 3D video games in class (he wasn't) and a CCTV magnifying camera that enlarged documents. He was also given double time to complete his exams, and even the provost took a turn serving as an exam proctor. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"It was a collective effort," Tran said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>If there was an award for good attendance at office hours, known as "Extra Instruction" at the Naval Academy, Destarac would win hands down. Often, Tran and his colleagues would use the time to make giant large-print photocopies of important charts and graphs to help him memorize everything from diagrams of ships to principles of thermodynamics. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>What Tran said he'll remember most about Alberto isn't his worsening blindness, but his never changing good attitude. "He was so positive in class," the lieutenant said. "He didn't just want to pass, he wanted to do well, and that's what he did. I didn't just teach him; I'm still processing what he taught me." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Despite Destarac's outstanding grades, the U.S. Navy held to a long-standing policy of not accepting a blind service member because he would not be "globally deployable." Destarac said heknew flying helicopters was out, but his Plan B is to become a lawyer, and he would love to have joined the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"I could definitely do a lot there," Destarac said. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>His immigrant parents are especially disappointed that their son won't be commissioned. "It's so strange," Dr. Destarac said. "Why not, when he has a real interest in serving the country?" <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>Wars these days are not fought "soldier to soldier," Dr. Destarac said, "They are fought computer to computer." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>The doctor isn't alone in feeling that his blind son still has much to offer the U.S. Armed Forces. Since 1991, the Baltimore-based National Federation of the Blind has been lobbying to have the armed forces recruit blind service members. Christopher J. Danielsen, a blind lawyer and self-described "Army brat" who serves as director of public affairs for the federation, said Destarac is a poster student for changing the policy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>“It is something that we have long advocated needs to be changed," Danielsen said. "Because there are a lot of talented people who could be serving.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>A resolution passed by the federation in 1991 states that failing to "exploit fully the resource of qualified blind persons ... would constitute discriminatory treatment and a denial of their opportunity fully to exercise their rights and responsibilities as first-class citizens." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>February's Ship Selection night, when seniors receive their first military assignments, was particularly crushing for Destarac. But he has since rebounded and was excited to celebrate with friends and family at a graduation party on Thursday. His immediate plan is to "take a gap a year" and learn how to be a blind person, from experimenting with technology to considering getting a service dog. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"I don't know how to live on my own," he said. Walking around downtown Annapolis. Destarac cuts an imposing man-in-uniform figure; a 6-foot, 6-inch former swimmer who needs his father's help navigating sidewalks. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>"I need to master these things," Destarac said. So, he'll relearn how to walk, take the LSAT, or Law School Admission Test, and go to law school. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>“I think it's something I can do pretty well in," he said. "I'm super excited for the next challenge.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'>(c)2023 The Capital (Annapolis, Md.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>Visually impaired Accessible technology - BingNews - Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 9:36 AM<o:p></o:p></p><h1>Mastercard rolls out its first inclusive credit card for visually impaired consumers in the U.S.<o:p></o:p></h1><p>Mastercard Inc. will roll out its first U.S. credit card for visually impaired consumers, done in partnership with Citizens Financial Group. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=attribution>© Mastercard</span><span class=caption> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p>Citizens’ new private-client credit card will feature a square notch on the side of the card meant to signify to blind and partially sighted customers that the card is a credit card, the company said Wednesday. Citizens ultimately intends to roll out the accessible cards across its broader portfolio, including debit cards, which will feature round notches, and prepaid cards, which will have triangular notches. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Load Error<o:p></o:p></p><p>Linda Kirkpatrick, Mastercard’s North America president, said she expects the card to help the 12 million people in the U.S. who are either blind or partially sighted. <o:p></o:p></p><p>“It’s something you don’t necessarily think about when you’re not visually impaired, but this unlocks a lot of potential for those in that scenario,” she told MarketWatch, as the notches will allow consumers to distinguish between their cards.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Mastercard began working on the Touch Card technology in 2019, and while it’s done some limited programs internationally, the Citizens card marks the first time it’s implemented a globally consistent standard. <o:p></o:p></p><p>All cardholders of the new Citizens product will receive cards with the designated notch, not just customers who are blind or partially sighted.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>See also: <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/exclusive-mastercard-expands-relationship-with-citizens-in-exclusive-arrangement-11674133427?mod=search_headline&mod=article_inline">Mastercard expands relationship with Citizens in exclusive arrangement</a></span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>Brendan Coughlin, Citizens’ head of consumer banking, said at a media presentation that Citizens started the Touch Card rollout with its Private Client World Elite Mastercard simply because the card is new to the market. <o:p></o:p></p><p>“There wasn’t a dramatic strategic reason why private client versus the non-private client versus the debit card,” he said. “The idea is to get into the whole portfolio and this just happened to be the first product that we were otherwise innovating on.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/mastercard-rolls-out-its-first-inclusive-credit-card-for-visually-impaired-consumers-in-the-us/ar-AA1bCpuj">Continue Reading</a> <span class=disable-readmore-text>Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours.</span> <o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=646e12dcc519497999b7befc7c894c62&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.msn.com%2fen-us%2fmoney%2fcompanies%2fmastercard-rolls-out-its-first-inclusive-credit-card-for-visually-impaired-consumers-in-the-us%2far-AA1bCpuj&c=4158725818791693254&mkt=en-us">http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=646e12dcc519497999b7befc7c894c62&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.msn.com%2fen-us%2fmoney%2fcompanies%2fmastercard-rolls-out-its-first-inclusive-credit-card-for-visually-impaired-consumers-in-the-us%2far-AA1bCpuj&c=4158725818791693254&mkt=en-us</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> David Goldfield <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Assistive Technology Specialist<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Goods and services…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>RISE/Silver Bells Outreach Coordinator<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com"><span style='color:blue'>mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="tel:(757)291-1789" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>tel:(757)291-1789</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='color:#222222'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>www.nfbv.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Follow us on Twitter @NFBVirginia<br>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='color:#222222'>Live the life you want.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'>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</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>