[nfb-talk] Fwd: [Colorado-talk] Governor Ritter Signs First Colorado Commission for the Blind Bill!

[David Andrews]

>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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> 
>
>CONTACT:
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>Scott LaBarre, President                                   Joe Rice 
>
>NFB of Colorado                                             Colorado House
>of Representatives  
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>Work phone: (303) 504-5979                          Cell: (303) 667-5555
>
>Cell phone: (303) 520-3584                             joerice at aol.com
>
>slabarre at labarrelaw.com
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>
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>GOVENOR RITTER SIGNS FIRST COLORADO 
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>COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND BILL!
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>LITTLETON, CO, May 23, 2007:  Members of the National Federation of the
>Blind of Colorado will join with other blind Coloradans tomorrow in
>celebration of Governor Bill Ritter's signing of House Bill 1274, creating
>the first Colorado Commission for the Blind. The signing will take place on
>Thursday, May 24, at 4:30 p.m. in the 1st floor West foyer of the Capitol
>building.  
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> 
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>Scott LaBarre, president of the National Federation of the Blind of
>Colorado, states, "The creation of a Commission for the Blind will study
>rehabilitation and other services for the blind and make appropriate
>recommendations to the Division of Rehabilitation, the Governor, and the
>General Assembly.  Efforts to establish the Commission rose out of the need
>to find methods of training to combat the staggering unemployment rate
>(almost 80%) faced by the blind." 
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>He went on thank longtime supporter of the blind of Colorado, House
>Representative Joe Rice, a Democrat from Littleton, Colorado, and Senator
>Suzanne Williams, a Democrat from Aurora, for their sponsorship of the bill.
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>Kevan Worley of Colorado Springs and president of the National Association
>of Blind Merchants believes this Commission has the potential to bring about
>some real reforms in training for the blind. "It's just common sense to
>include blind people in the study of how training is provided, and the
>Commission brings the consumer of services to the table," he said.  "For
>example, at one time sheltered workshops-places of low pay in a custodial
>setting-were thought to be a good idea but few people believe that today.
>Blind people in the twenty-first century need twenty-first century training
>ideas," he stated. 
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>About the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado 
>
>The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado is an affiliate of the
>largest organization of the blind in America, the National Federation of the
>Blind.  The NFB of Colorado was chartered in 1955.  The NFB believes the
>real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight but rather the
>misunderstanding and lack of information which exist.  We believe that with
>proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to the level of a
>physical nuisance. 
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>For more information about the NFB of Colorado call 303-778-1130 or go to
>www.nfbco.org <http://www.nfbco.org/> .
>
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># # #
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>
>Lorinda Ann Riddle
>National Federation of the Blind
> of Colorado (NFBCO)
>2233 W. Shepperd Avenue
>Littleton, CO 80120
>Cell phone: 720-384-5871
>Work phone: 303-778-1130 Ext. 236
>Email: lriddle at cocenter.org
>www.nfbco.org
>
> 
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