United States Secretary of Transportation to Address Convention of National Federation of the Blind

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen@nfb.org United States Secretary of Transportation to Address Convention of National Federation of the Blind Baltimore, Maryland (June 4, 2012): The National Federation of the Blind, the nation’s largest organization of blind Americans, is pleased to announce that the Honorable Ray LaHood, United States Secretary of Transportation, will address some 3,000 attendees of the NFB National Convention in Dallas this summer. Secretary LaHood will speak to the gathering on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 3, at 4:30 p.m. CDT. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We are pleased to welcome Secretary LaHood, a longtime friend to blind Americans, to our convention. The ability to travel safely and independently is critical to the blind, and effective and rigorously enforced transportation policy is needed to secure this right. We look forward to hearing Secretary LaHood’s thoughts on this important topic.” Secretary LaHood said: “The President has called on us to build an America where everyone gets a fair shot and everyone does their fair share. That starts with providing quality transportation options to all communities, ensuring that all Americans have the opportunity to get where they need to go, whether it’s to work, school or the doctor. I look forward to discussing the work that DOT is doing to ensure those opportunities with the National Federation of the Blind.” 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.