[Nfb_of_georgia] NFB 2010 Junior Science Academy

[Anil Lewis NFBGA]

In 2008, the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a program
of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, offered its
first Science Academy program for elementary students.  Once again, we are
making this program possible for children in grades three through six. The
NCBYS developed its Junior Science Academy (JSA) in 2004 in order to spark
and enhance blind students' interest in scientific study, an academic area
that many falsely believe is too difficult for the blind.  This year, with
hands-on experiences, tactile materials, and innovative nonvisual teaching
methods, the JSA will open its doors again to young explorers with two
sessions of the program.  Applicants can apply for one of the following
dates:
 
Session 1: July 28-August 1, 2010
Session 2: August 4-August 8, 2010
 
The Junior Science Academy is a four-day session that will expose blind
children to the excitement of science in real-life applications.  The
students will learn about how much fun science can be through hands-on
instruction, field trips, and interactive activities. Attending parents will
participate in a corresponding seminar with workshops designed to focus on
meeting the needs of their blind children.
 
Participation is free to accepted students and parents. The cost of travel,
room, board, and program materials will be covered by the NFB Jernigan
Institute for all student and parent/chaperone pairs.
 
About the NCBYS
 
For too long blind youth have been denied full participation in public
school science classrooms.  Are dissections too dangerous? Should blind
youth sit on the sidelines rather than participate and make their own
observations? Is it too difficult to understand the stars if you cannot
visually observe them in the sky? The answer to these questions is most
certainly "no," but all too often parents, teachers, and blind students are
simply not aware of how a blind person might actively participate in these
activities. Insufficient hands-on materials, few teachers who understand
tactile learning, and lack of access to blind adult role models and
resources have placed artificial barriers on blind youth in the sciences.
The NFB Jernigan Institute recognizes the urgent need to address these
artificial barriers and equip regular education teachers, parents, and blind
youth themselves with the tools and knowledge to provide greater
opportunities in science to blind youth across the nation. Our Science
Academy programs help to tackle these issues in small ways by exposing
children and youth to a variety of challenging opportunities.  We hope you
will learn more about our programs and encourage your child to participate
in these exciting, dynamic opportunities.  Learn more about these and other
initiatives of the NCBYS at www.blindscience.org
<http://www.blindscience.org/> .
 
To learn more about this exciting event, or to apply, visit
www.blindscience.org <http://www.blindscience.org/>  or contact the NFB
Jernigan Institute at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2407.  
 
Come join us!
 
Emily Neubeck
 
Project Assistant
Jernigan Institute
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street
       at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230-4998
Phone:  410-659-9314  ext. 2419
E-mail:   <mailto:eneubeck at nfb.org> eneubeck at nfb.org
Website:   <http://www.nfb.org> www.nfb.org
 
 
"Success and happiness are not matters of chance but choice." - Zig Ziglar
 
 
 
Mr. Anil Lewis, President
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia, Inc.
"Everyday People Living Life Every Day"
 
315 West Ponce de Leon Avenue
Suite 1020
Decatur, Georgia 30030
 
(404) 371-1000 (Voice)
(404) 371-1002 (Fax)
(866) 316-3242 (Toll Free)
WWW.NFBGA.ORG