[Community-Service] Joanna-CS-NFB Bell Academy

[Darian Smith]

Hi Joanna,
 It is great to hear of your participation in our New Jersey Affiliate, as the work on the affiliate  level  makes it possible for the successes we have in securing greater opportunity for the blind. 
It is on the grass roots level  where we work to secure   victories for the blind such as protecting the rights of blind parents through parental rights legislation, and develop innovative programs that educate blind students such as our Braille Enrichment for  Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy, two things you are very passionate about.
 We know that blindness is not the characteristic that defines us or our  future in the NFB. 
Thank you for doing the work on the affiliate level that makes a difference to yourself and others, and please believe that what you do makes that difference.
 Thank you for showing that vision is not a requirement for showing the way for what is possible.
  Best,
  Darian            .           
      

> On Jun 9, 2020, at 7:52 AM, joanna mallard via Community-Service <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Greetings, 
> I Joanna Benthall have been the assistant teacher for the NFBNJ Bell Academy since July 2019. It has been an honor and a privilege to be working side-by-side with New Jersey affiliate in regards to our youth of today! Being the assistant teacher I assist lead teacher in class assignments, such as mobility, reading and writing braille, activities of daily living, self advocacy, and life skills. We do take the students on one trip per week. Our program is a two week program Monday through Friday 9 AM until 3 PM. Outside of assisting in a classroom setting, I make routine phone calls to parents and students in reference to their blind skills progression. Developing this type of relationship is vital to our world and I will always put our youth of today at the forefront. It takes a village to raise a child! I will be part of the village.
> -- 
> ”I may have lost my eye sight, but I didn’t lose my vision”
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