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<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=4><b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE<br><br>
</font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=5> <br><br>
</font><font face="Garamond">CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<br><br>
</font><div align="center"><h2><font size=4><b>National Federation of the
Blind Names Laurel Hudson<br><br>
<br>
2010 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children</b></font></h2></div>
<font face="Garamond"><b> <br><br>
Baltimore, Maryland (June 21, 2010):</b> The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB) has named Laurel Hudson, a teacher of blind students at the
Coralwood Diagnostic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, as its 2010
Distinguished Educator of Blind Children. <?xml:namespace prefix
= st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/>Hudson will be presented with the award at the NFB’s seventieth
annual national convention, to be held July 3–8, 2010, at the Hilton
Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.<br><br>
<br><br>
Hudson has taught blind students for more than thirty-nine years.
She began working with blind children at the Perkins School for the Blind
in Watertown, Massachusetts, and then switched to working in mainstream
settings within public schools. She has taught as both a teacher of
students with visual impairments and an orientation and mobility
specialist. In her current role at the Coralwood Diagnostic Center,
Hudson teaches orientation and mobility, Braille literacy, and technology
skills to students aged four to fourteen. <br><br>
<br><br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“Laurel Hudson’s dedication to blind
</font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">students
</font><font face="Garamond">is unparalleled. As an orientation and
mobility specialist and a teacher of Braille, Hudson gives her students
the tools for independence and academic success. With only one out
of ten blind children learning Braille today, it is clear that many
teachers of blind students are simply not teaching Braille.
Hudson’s conviction in the importance of Braille literacy sets her apart
and makes her an obvious choice to be the NFB’s Distinguished Educator of
the year. The National Federation of the Blind commends Hudson for
her commitment to the education of blind students.”<br><br>
<br><br>
Hudson received her master of education in orientation and mobility and
her doctorate in visual impairments and blindness from Boston
College. She was previously honored with the Georgia Distinguished
Educator of Blind Children Award in 2009.<br><br>
<br><br>
The Distinguished Educator Award carries with it a $1,000 prize and an
all-expense-paid trip to the 2010 NFB National Convention in
Dallas. While in Dallas, Hudson will address several hundred
parents and educators of blind children and have an opportunity to share
her experience and insights with many people interested in improving the
education of blind students.<br><br>
<br><br>
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<b># # #<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
<br><br>
<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
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.<br><br>
<br>
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