Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
[STK]
[IN] AIR TRN
[SU] NPT DIS
-- WITH PHOTO -- TO LIFESTYLES, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Blind Man to Drive Motorcycle at Thunder in the Valley Air Show
COLUMBUS, Ga., March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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
Riccobonobecame 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 ChallengeT, 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.
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.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120815/MM57966LOGO
SOURCE National Federation of the Blind
-0- 03/11/2014
/CONTACT: Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations, National Federation of the Blind, (410) 659-9314, extension 2330, (410) 262-1281 (Cell), cdanielsen@nfb.org
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120815/MM57966LOGO
/Web Site: http://www.nfb.org
CO: National Federation of the Blind
ST: Georgia
IN: AIR TRN
SU: NPT DIS
PRN
-- DC81237 --
0000 03/11/2014 18:28:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
