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

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Blind Man to Drive Motorcycle at Thunder in the Valley Air Show

Columbus, Georgia (March 11, 2014): The National Federation of the Blind today announced that one of its members, Dan Parker, an experienced racecar builder and driver who lost his sight as the result of a racing accident in 2012, will again independently operate a three-wheeled motorcycle with the help of a GPS system that gives him audible cues in order to help him maintain a straight course. Mr. Parker will drive his custom-built motorcycle on the runway as part of the Thunder in the Valley Air Show in Columbus, Georgia, this weekend.

On August 27, 2013, Dan Parker became the second blind man to publicly operate a vehicle independently and the first blind man to race at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Parker completed a two-mile run on the famed Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching an officially recorded top speed of 55.331 mph.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “We in the National Federation of the Blind know that blindness is not what defines a person or his future. Dan Parker exemplifies that belief by continuing to live his dream to be a high-speed motorcycle driver. We wish him success in his run at the Thunder in the Valley Air Show and look forward to future collaborations with him in our ongoing efforts to break down misconceptions about the capacity of blind people. ”

Mr. Parker said: “When I first lost my sight, I wasn’t sure if I could continue my lifelong dream of building and racing motorcycles. With the help of my friends in the National Federation of the Blind, I realized that I can have the life I want; blindness is not what holds me back. I look forward to demonstrating this truth to the general public at the Thunder in the Valley Air Show this weekend. “

On January 29, 2011, the National Federation of the Blind’s Mark Riccobono became the first blind person to operate a vehicle on the Daytona International Speedway as a demonstration of technology that helped him navigate the course and avoid obstacles. More information about this initiative, the NFB Blind Driver Challenge™, along with information about Dan Parker, is available at www.blinddriverchallenge.org. Also be sure to visit Dan Parker’s Facebook page, as well as the NFB’s Facebook and Twitter feeds, for continuous updates on this groundbreaking initiative.

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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in the United States. Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become independent and successful.

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