<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; background-color: white;">Hi everyone,</span><br><div dir="ltr"><div class="WordSection1">

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Here is information on the 2020 NFB BELL Academy from the NFB website. Please pass this along to anyone who you think may benefit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The NFB BELL Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning</span><sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">®</span></sup><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">—is

 a nationwide (United States and Puerto Rico) summer program that prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and independent blind people who live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">In addition to Braille crafts, games, and other engaging projects, children learn vital independent living skills, and interact with blind adult mentors. Through these activities and

 interactions, the children learn that blindness or low vision does not define them or their future. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span style="font-size:27.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">Who Should Attend<o:p></o:p></span></h2>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Blind and low-vision children, ages four through twelve, who:<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in school<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white;box-sizing: border-box">

<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:white;box-sizing: border-box">

<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Would enjoy connecting with blind role models<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>

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<i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">To be honest, for a mother with a low-vision child, I was very uneducated by the blind word, and I didn't think he could attend an event like it…A friend that was taking her son, told

 me that I should try and we did. The first day was like a whole new world of possibilities and knowledge opened up for me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>

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<span style="font-size:27.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;font-weight:normal">Register<o:p></o:p></span></h2>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">While we are living in unprecedented times, we know that the National Federation of the Blind has and will continue to meet the challenge of the times with hope, love, and determination.

 One of the commitments we made early in this COVID-19 pandemic was to provide resources for blind children and their families, and to support the teaching of critical nonvisual techniques and Braille literacy at home. We want to make sure that students, parents,

 and volunteers have the best NFB BELL Academy experience possible. We are condensing our academies into three nationally taught and coordinated sessions with support from NFB affiliates. This summer, two-week-long sessions of NFB BELL Academy will take place

 at 11:00 a.m. ET and at 6:00 p.m. ET. Each session will last for forty-five minutes during the following dates:<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">June 1, 2020 through June 12, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white;box-sizing: border-box">

<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">June 22, 2020 through July 3, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white;box-sizing: border-box">

<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">July 27, 2020 through August 7, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Please note the 11:00 a.m. session taking place June 22, 2020 through July 3, 2020 will be conducted in Spanish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Each registered student will receive the materials to complete all lessons alongside their parent/guardian via mail. Each day during the two-week session, there will be two opportunities

 to connect via web or phone with an experienced teacher. This gives students and families the opportunity to ask questions and get to know each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://www.nfb.org/form/nfb-bell-academy-home-edition"><span style="color:#005AA3">Complete the registration form</span></a> to sign up for one of our NFB BELL Academy sessions

 (spaces are limited). The cost of this program is free to participating families. However, if you wish to support our efforts in providing Braille literacy please visit

</span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.nfb.org/donate"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#005AA3;background:white;text-decoration:none">https://www.nfb.org/donate</span></a></span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">.</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">If you have any questions or would like additional information specific to Colorado’s NFB BELL, please contact Martin Becerra-Miranda at

<a href="mailto:mbecerra@cocenter.org">mbecerra@cocenter.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Be Kind, Be Safe & Be Fair,<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Martin Becerra-Miranda, NOMC<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">Director of Youth Services<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Colorado Center for the Blind<o:p></o:p></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal">303.778.1130 Ext: 223<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:mbecerra@cocenter.org">mbecerra@cocenter.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>

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