[Greater-baltimore] National Federation of the Blind Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Louis Braille

[Danielsen, Chris]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind 

(410) 659-9314, ext. 2330

(410) 262-1281 (cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org

 


 


National Federation of the Blind Celebrates 
the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Louis Braille


 

Events to be Held Nationwide in Over One Hundred Locations

 

Baltimore, Maryland (December 29, 2008): The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB), the nation's largest and oldest organization of blind
people, will hold events nationwide on Sunday, January 4, 2009, to
promote Braille literacy and help celebrate the two-hundredth
anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809-1852), the inventor of
the reading and writing code for the blind that bears his name.  In over
one hundred bookstores, libraries, and other venues all across the
nation, National Federation of the Blind representatives will
demonstrate Braille and the power of Braille literacy.

 

"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.  Despite the undisputed value of Braille, only
about 10 percent of blind children in the United States are currently
learning it.  These events will help raise awareness of the importance
of Braille literacy and are an integral part of our nationwide campaign
to reverse the downward trend in Braille literacy and to ensure that
equal opportunities in education and employment are available to all of
the nation's blind," said Marc Maurer, President of the National
Federation of the Blind.  

 

The events are being held nationwide as part of the National Federation
of the Blind's Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, a national
initiative to promote the importance of reading and writing Braille for
blind children and adults.  The Braille Readers are Leaders campaign
kicked off in July of 2008 with the unveiling of the design of a
commemorative coin to be minted in 2009 in recognition of the
two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille.  The
commemorative coin design will also be previewed at the events.

 

 

For more information about the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign,
please visit www.braille.org <http://www.braille.org/> .  To find out
about events in your area, please contact Fredric Schroeder at 
fschroeder at nfb.org <mailto:fschroeder at nfb.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.  Please visit our Web site: www.nfb.org
<http://www.nfb.org> .

 

 

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