[Blindtlk] National Federation of the Blind Commends United States Mint on Release of Braille Education Set

[Freeh, Jessica]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org


National Federation of the Blind Commends United States Mint
on Release of Braille Education Set


Set Features the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar


Baltimore, Maryland (October 8, 2009): The 
National Federation of the Blind, the nation’s leading advocate for Braille,
is pleased to announce that the United States 
Mint released today the limited edition Braille Education Set.
The set will include a beautiful 2009 Louis 
Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar presented in a collectible folder
designed to highlight the life and legacy of 
Louis Braille, as well as the importance of 
Braille in the lives of blind people all over the world.

Congress authorized the minting in 2009 of 
400,000 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars 
to mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the 
birth of Louis Braille (1809–1852) and to support 
the efforts of the National Federation of the 
Blind to promote literacy among blind 
Americans.  This unique and beautiful 
commemorative coin is the first U.S. currency to 
feature tactile, readable Braille.



A portion of the proceeds from sales of the 2009 
Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar  and 
Braille Education Set will be used to support the 
NFB’s “Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign, a 
national initiative created to double the number 
of blind children learning Braille by 2015, 
improve certification standards for teachers of 
Braille, and conduct innovative programs to support Braille literacy.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: “We are pleased 
that the United States Mint is recognizing the 
critical importance of Braille literacy for the 
blind by releasing this limited edition Braille 
Education Set.  There can be no doubt that the 
ability to read and write Braille competently and 
efficiently is the key to education, employment, 
and success for the blind; yet only one in ten 
blind children in the United States are currently 
learning it.  We are asking all Americans to help 
us in ensuring literacy, education, productivity, 
and success for every blind American by 
purchasing a 2009 Braille Education Set today.”



Those interested in ordering a 2009 Louis Braille 
Bicentennial Silver Dollar or the Braille 
Education Set should visit 
<http://www.braille.org./>www.braille.org or 
<http://www.usmint.gov/>www.usmint.gov or call 
1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).  The Louis Braille 
Bicentennial Silver Dollar and the Braille 
Education Set will only be available until 
December 11, 2009.   For more information about 
the National Federation of the Blind and the 
Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, visit 
<http://www.braille.org/>www.braille.org.





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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.