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</style><title>July 24, 2002</title><div class="original-url"><br><a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/2017washingtonseminar/final_2017_nls_fact_sheet.docx">https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/2017washingtonseminar/final_2017_nls_fact_sheet.docx</a><br><br></div><div id="article" role="article" style="text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" class="system exported">
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<div class="page" style="text-align: start; word-wrap: break-word; max-width: 100%;"><h1 class="title" style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 2em; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: start; -webkit-hyphens: manual; display: block; max-width: 100%;">July 24, 2002</h1><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Appropriation to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) for the Purchase of Refreshable Braille Devices</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">An appropriation to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped will save money and lead to the proliferation of critically needed Braille material for blind Americans.</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">There are 119,487 libraries of all types operating in the United States today;</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> however, blind Americans rely on NLS to distribute Braille books across the nation</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Currently these are hardcopy offerings, but new</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> low-cost displays </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">(known as refreshable Braille displays) </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">can produce electronic Braille, saving money, saving paper, and providing a small device where formerly multiple and large volumes were required for just one book.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Until all Blind Americans have access to high-quality, reliable</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> refreshable Braille, blind people will continue to </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">encounter</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> artificial barriers in literacy, education, and employment.</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Innovative</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> advances </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">in refreshable Braille technology </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">could save NLS $10 million per year.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">A </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">recent GAO</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">report </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">indicated that the distribution of refreshable Braille devices will result in an annual cost savings of $10 million</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Since 1931, </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">hardcopy </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Braille has been </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">embossed and distributed </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">to patrons through a network of </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">regi</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">onal and subregional libraries. It is impossible to predict the titles that would be requested at any particular regional library. As a result, there could be five copies of </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">(13 volumes of Braille)</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> in Boise, Idaho and none in Richmond, Virginia where several patrons are currently waiting. </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Moreover, in 201</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">5</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> the cost of embossing, housing, and shipping hardcopy Braille vo</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">lumes </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">was</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> $17 million per year.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">T</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">echnological innovations now make it possible for Braille to be produced in electronic files</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">These</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> can be accessed on </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">refreshable Braille displays</span></span><a name="_GoBack" style="text-decoration: none; max-width: 100%;"></a><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">and distributed electronically at a cost of $7 million</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Like other types of electronic files (such as printed materials in .docx format), the same Braille book can be read by potentially thousands of patrons at the same time with refreshable Braille devices. </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Today, the mass production and distribution of Braille content is not only technologically possible; but</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> the method is cost effective</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> and vast quantities of Braille material can now be stored, transported, and instantly accessed on refreshable Braille dis</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">plays. </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Braille literacy is essential </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">to employment</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> for the blind</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">. </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Among</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> blind people who are employed</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">eighty-five percent </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">are Braille readers.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">I</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">n 1931 the Pratt-Smoot Act centralized the collection and housing of the very small number of individually produced Braille books then existing in the United States</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">But e</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">ven though library services ha</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">ve</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> been made available to blind people on a national scale</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> the broad distribution of </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">hard-copy </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Braille books </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">is not feasible. </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Eighty-six years later</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">, the unemployment rate among the blind in 201</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">4 continued</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> to hover around </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">sixty</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> percent.</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> Recognizing this fact, </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">in acknowledgement of the importance of Braille literacy, </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">the 114</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">th</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Congress amended the Pratt-Smoot Act to authorize NLS to </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">provide</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">its patrons with </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">refreshable Braille displays. </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">A one-time appropriation of five million dollars to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped would:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Enable NLS to purchase, through the bidding process, ten thousand refreshable Braille displays to be loaned to NLS patrons</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Make Braille materials more widely available to blind Americans than ever before, thereby improving Braille literacy among blind Americans and leading to increased employability</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Support Braille Literacy</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Cosponsor </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">the NLS Appropriation for Refreshable Braille Displays</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">.</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">For more information</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> contact:</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Parnell Diggs</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">, </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Director of </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Government Affairs, National Federation of the Blind</span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Phone</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">: <a href="tel:(410) 659-9314" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">(410) 659-9314</a>, extension 2222</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">, Email: </span></span><a href="mailto:pdiggs@nfb.org" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">pdiggs@nfb.org</span></span></a></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-style: italic; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">For more information visit <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a></span></span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></p><div style="max-width: 100%;"><div style="max-width: 100%;"><p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Mark Riccobono</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">,</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">President</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> | </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">200 East Wells Street </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">at Jernigan Place</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Baltimore, M</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">D</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> 21230</span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> | </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> <a href="tel:410 659 9314" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%;">410 659 9314</a></span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> | </span></span><span style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a></span></span></p></div><span style="max-width: 100%;"> </span></div></div></div></div><div><br><br>Jim McCollum<div>Legislative Co-ordinator</div><div>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut</div><div><a href="mailto:j.mccollum64@comcast.net">j.mccollum64@comcast.net</a></div><div>860-581-0430</div><div>Sent from my iPhone</div></div></body></html>