<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Hello everyone,</div><div>Sharing this from our president at the National Center.</div><div><div dir="ltr">Chris Walker<div>Vice president, Winchester Federation of the Blind of Virginia<br>540-303-0080<br>chrisvinson1@gmail.com</div><div>nfb.org</div><div>NFBV.org</div><div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind" <IOF@nfb.org><br><b>Date:</b> September 16, 2024 at 11:06:06 AM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Chris Walker <chrisvinson1@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Imagineering Our Future: Building with Braille</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Bounces+r.23796.10335158.21bf23ea4fe708a0@mailings.nfb.org<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p><br>
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<td style="background-color:transparent"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35690&qid=10335158" rel="nofollow"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind Logo - Go to NFB.org" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/logo%20rect_blog_0.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 194px; margin: 0px; width: 500px;" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>
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<h1><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">IMAGINEERING OUR FUTURE</span></strong></h1>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">President's Letter</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="Mark Riccobono sitting on a sofa and reading a Braille book" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/iof-mar-braille.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">Building a movement that advances the lives of all blind people requires a belief in blind people. We demonstrate this belief every day by sharing best practices, developing local resources, and creating innovations that break down artificial barriers. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35691&qid=10335158" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">More from President Riccobono</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">NFB BELL® Academies Change Lives</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="A young boy reads Braille at a table with many tactile activity materials" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/iof-bell-boy.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">“Everyone at BELL was so welcoming, kind, and exceeded all our expectations. Amelia thrived. She learned how to travel independently, the entire Braille alphabet, her social skills exploded, and she was able to interact with peers.” <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35692&qid=10335158" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">More about Braille education</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Latest News at the NFB</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="a group of blind students with long white canes visiting a horse farm" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/IMG_9382_IOF_Images_240x120.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">NFB Dreamers team to participate in the Bay Bridge Run, Jonathan Mosen working with NFB to advance our strategic priorities and build capacity, upcoming global accessibility summit, and more. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35693&qid=10335158" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">Read the latest news</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Take Action this Month</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="Two blind sprinters compete in a race at the Paralympics" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/iof-images_paralympics-runners_240x120.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">Get involved by congratulating blind athletes who competed in the Paralympics and watch them speak with the NFB Sports and Rec Division, sign up for the Bay Bridge Run, register for the Virtual Career Fair, and more. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35694&qid=10335158" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">More ways to get involved</a>.</span></p>
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<h2><strong><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt;">Important Dates</span></strong></h2>
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<td style="vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="A panel of blind people speaking at a seminar" src="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/iof/DSC02366_IOF_Images_240x120.JPG" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:white; border-style:solid; border-width:3px; display:block; float:left; height:120px; margin:7px; width:240px" data-unique-identifier=""></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">Sign up for the M-Enabling Summit, register for the Virtual Career Fair, and more trainings, conferences, and seminars. <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35695&qid=10335158" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size:18px">Mark your calendar for these upcoming events</a>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=35691&qid=10335158" rel="nofollow" style="color: #002f6d; font-size: 18px; font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Read the complete issue online</a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:18px">The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines blind people or their future. Every day we raise the expectations of and for blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. We can live the lives we want; blindness is not what holds us back. Please join us in our work by becoming a member, attending an event, sharing this newsletter, or supporting our programs.</span></p>
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