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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>FYI. Let’s get Iowa’s congressional delegation on board with this one! My other email is still not functioning, so feel free to pass this around to those who may not be on this list! Thanks!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><a href="mailto:scott.nfbi@gmail.com">Email</a> <span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><br><i><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/">Website</a> <br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts">Facebook</a> <br><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa">Twitter</a> <br>Live the life you want.<br></i></span><br>The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa 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><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <state-affiliate-leadership-list-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Danielsen, Chris via State-Affiliate-Leadership-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 31, 2019 8:19 AM<br><b>To:</b> Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen@nfb.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Danielsen, Chris <CDanielsen@nfb.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] National Federation of the Blind Applauds Introduction of Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN) Act<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext'>National Federation of the Blind Applauds Introduction of <br>Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN) Act</span></b><o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoSubtitle align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext'>Urges Swift Passage of Legislation to Preserve Independence of Blind People in their Homes</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Baltimore, Maryland (July 31, 2019): </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans, today applauded the introduction of the Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN) Act of 2019 in the House of Representatives. The bill was introduced by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA). This legislation directs the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the “Access Board”) to develop a minimum nonvisual access standard for home-use medical devices, exercise equipment, and home appliances, and provide for the enforcement of the standard.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“The inaccessible design of most current appliances, home-use medical devices, and fitness equipment makes their controls difficult, or even impossible, to use by blind people,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “Inaccessibility is not a mere inconvenience. Full access to all features of a device are necessary for the privacy, wellbeing, and independence of blind Americans. We therefore commend Representative Schakowsky for introducing this legislation and urge members of Congress to act swiftly to pass it.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>###</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>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 </span><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>www.nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>CONTACT:</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Chris Danielsen</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Director of Public Relations</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This press release is also available at: <span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-greater-access-and-independence">https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-greater-access-and-independence</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314, Ext. 2330 | <a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Twitter: @rlawyer <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 style='width:2.1833in;height:.7916in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt=Facebook></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt=Twitter></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <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><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>