[nfbwatlk] Fw: Senator Mikulski to Speak at the National Federation of the Blind

[Mike Freeman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Pare, John
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 5:24 AM
Subject: Senator Mikulski to Speak at the National Federation of the 
Blind


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senator Mikulski to Speak at the National Federation of the Blind

Event to Honor the Life and Legacy of Dr. Betsy Zaborowski

Baltimore, Maryland (January 24, 2008): Maryland Senator Barbara 
Mikulski will speak at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) on 
Sunday, January 27, at an event to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. 
Betsy Zaborowski.  Dr. Zaborowski, the first executive director of the 
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, died on November 
29, 2007, after a nine-month battle with a rare form of cancer.  The 
event will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the headquarters of the National 
Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. 
Over six hundred friends, colleagues, and blind Americans are expected 
to attend.

"All who knew Dr. Zaborowski knew her as an amazing activist - intrepid, 
unrelenting, and determined.  We all know 'I'll get back to you' did not 
work with Dr. Z!  But it wasn't about her; it was about empowerment," 
said Senator Mikulski.  "Dr. Z turned her passion into action.  She 
understood that when you provide the resources and tools, people can 
follow their dreams and they can change their destinies.  I was so proud 
to know her, and I am so proud to join the NFB in honoring her memory."

"We are pleased that Senator Mikulski will be joining us to celebrate 
the life of our beloved Dr. Zaborowski," said Dr. Marc Maurer, president 
of the National Federation of the Blind.  "Senator Mikulski helped us 
get funding for our Jernigan Institute, a project that was so important 
to Dr. Zaborowski.  The senator was present at our groundbreaking for 
the new building and we appreciate her long-standing support.  The youth 
programs and technologies spearheaded under Dr. Zaborowski's leadership 
of the Jernigan Institute will continue to improve the lives of all 
blind individuals.  These innovations would not be possible without the 
support of Senator Mikulski."

>From December of 2003 until the spring of 2007, Dr. Zaborowski served as 
the first executive director of the National Federation of the Blind 
Jernigan Institute, the Federation's research and training facility. 
During her tenure as Jernigan Institute director, Dr. Zaborowski 
established and oversaw innovative programs designed to provide 
opportunity for blind Americans of all ages.  Her initiatives included 
the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a program 
encouraging blind youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, 
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-fields falsely believed to be closed 
to the blind.  Dr. Zaborowski also oversaw the Jernigan Institute's 
International Braille and Technology Center, the largest center for the 
evaluation of technology for the blind anywhere in the world, and the 
Accessible Home Initiative, which helps blind people to identify 
appliances and consumer electronics that they can use independently.

In 1998 and 2000, the Daily Record selected Dr. Zaborowski as one of 
Maryland's Top 100 Women.  In 2004, Smart Woman magazine featured her on 
its cover, and the next year, Smart CEO featured her as one of 25 
admired Maryland leaders.  She served on the Maryland Information 
Technology Board and as the first chairwoman of the Mayor's Commission 
on Disabilities. She also served two terms on the Baltimore City Women's 
Commission.

# # #


About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is 
the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people 
in the United States.   The NFB improves blind people's lives through 
advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging 
independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the 
blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 
2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan 
Institute, the first research and training center in the United States 
for the blind led by the blind.



-------------- next part --------------
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:JPare at NFB.ORG Pare, John
Sent:
Thursday, January 24, 2008 5:24 AM
Subject:
Senator Mikulski to Speak at the National Federation of the Blind
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Senator Mikulski to Speak at the National Federation of the Blind
 
Event to Honor the Life and Legacy of Dr. Betsy Zaborowski
 
Baltimore, Maryland (January 24, 2008): Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski will speak at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) on Sunday, January 27, at an event to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Betsy Zaborowski.  Dr. Zaborowski, the first executive director of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, died on November 29, 2007, after a nine-month battle with a rare form of cancer.  The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. at the headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.  Over six hundred friends, colleagues, and blind Americans are expected to attend.
 
"All who knew Dr. Zaborowski knew her as an amazing activist - intrepid, unrelenting, and determined.  We all know 'I'll get back to you' did not work with Dr. Z!  But it wasn't about her; it was about empowerment," said Senator Mikulski.  "Dr. Z turned her passion into action.  She understood that when you provide the resources and tools, people can follow their dreams and they can change their destinies.  I was so proud to know her, and I am so proud to join the NFB in honoring her memory."
 
“We are pleased that Senator Mikulski will be joining us to celebrate the life of our beloved Dr. Zaborowski,” said Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind.  “Senator Mikulski helped us get funding for our Jernigan Institute, a project that was so important to Dr. Zaborowski.  The senator was present at our groundbreaking for the new building and we appreciate her long-standing support.  The youth programs and technologies spearheaded under Dr. Zaborowski’s leadership of the Jernigan Institute will continue to improve the lives of all blind individuals.  These innovations would not be possible without the support of Senator Mikulski.”
>From December of 2003 until the spring of 2007, Dr. Zaborowski served as the first executive director of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the Federation’s research and training facility.  During her tenure as Jernigan Institute director, Dr. Zaborowski established and oversaw innovative programs designed to provide opportunity for blind Americans of all ages.  Her initiatives included the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a program encouraging blind youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)—fields falsely believed to be closed to the blind.  Dr. Zaborowski also oversaw the Jernigan Institute’s International Braille and Technology Center, the largest center for the evaluation of technology for the blind anywhere in the world, and the Accessible Home Initiative, which helps blind people to identify appliances and consumer electronics that they can use independently. 
 
In 1998 and 2000, the Daily Record selected Dr. Zaborowski as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women.  In 2004, Smart Woman magazine featured her on its cover, and the next year, Smart CEO featured her as one of 25 admired Maryland leaders.  She served on the Maryland Information Technology Board and as the first chairwoman of the Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities. She also served two terms on the Baltimore City Women's Commission. 
 
# # #
 
About the National Federation of the Blind
 
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States.   The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.