Braille Readers are Leaders
NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin
and Literacy Campaign  
For decades, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)—the country’s oldest and 
largest organization of blind persons—has been the leading champion of Braille 
literacy. With the passing of Public Law 109-247: The Louis Braille 
Bicentennial-Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, the President of the 
United States and the U.S. Congress publicly recognize the critical role that 
both Braille and the NFB play in the independence, freedom, and success of the 
blind.  The coin design unveiling (Windows Media video) occurred at the 2008 
National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Dallas, Texas.  Note that this is a limited edition coin, and any coins 
not sold by the end of 2009 will be destroyed to retain their collectible value.
The launch of the NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin by the U.S. Mint in 2009 will 
present a great opportunity to bring exposure to the current Braille literacy 
crisis facing the blind in this country. Braille is vital to all blind 
individuals, yet the rate of Braille literacy among blind Americans is 
alarmingly low. Today in America only 10 percent of blind children are learning 
to read Braille in school. This continues despite the fact that studies have 
shown that 80 percent of all employed blind people read and write Braille 
fluently. These studies reinforce what the NFB has been advocating for years: 
Braille literacy is the key to employment and full participation in society. 
With the upcoming 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, creator of 
the Braille code, there is no more fitting time to recognize the importance of 
Braille literacy. Please join us in honoring the achievements and mission of the 
National Federation of the Blind as we work to end the Braille literacy crisis. 
Whether it is through purchasing an NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin, providing 
matching funds for the Braille literacy campaign, or simply helping to raise 
awareness of this important issue, we need your help.  Please go to our website www.braille.org periodically for updated information.  Together we can change what it means to 
be blind.
Quick Facts
Braille is equivalent to print.
  It is the only system through which children with profound or total loss of 
  sight can learn to read and write. 
  There is a significant relationship between Braille literacy and academic 
  success, higher income, and employment. 
  Braille literacy = independence, confidence, and success 
Today only 10 percent of blind children are learning Braille.
  While audio devices are useful sources of information for blind people, only 
  Braille offers complete command of written language. 
  The number of legally blind children in the United States has increased due to 
  several factors, including advances in medical care for premature infants. 
  Most blind children (85 percent) attend public schools where few teachers know 
  Braille. 
  America would never accept a 10 percent literacy rate among sighted children. 
The National Federation of the Blind is initiating a campaign to double the 
number of Braille readers by 2015.
  “Braille Readers are Leaders” is a public awareness campaign to increase 
  support for Braille literacy among blind children and adults. 
  The U.S. Mint’s NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin will be launched in 2009 to 
  celebrate Louis Braille’s 200th birthday. 
  Money raised during the campaign will be invested in Braille literacy 
  programs. 
Campaign Goals
  The number of school-age children reading Braille will double by 2015.  
  All fifty states will enact legislation requiring special education teachers 
  of blind children to obtain and maintain the National Certification in 
  Literary Braille by 2015. 
  Braille resources will be made more available through online sharing of 
  materials, enhanced production methods, and improved distribution. 
  The American public will learn that blind people have a right to Braille 
  literacy so they can compete and assume a productive role in society. 
Braille Program Development
As part of the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, the NFB is developing 
Braille literacy programs and outreach projects.  Below are descriptions some of 
these programs.  
Braille Outreach Projects
Big ideas begin with grassroots innovation.  The NFB includes seven hundred 
local chapters located in each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, 
and Puerto Rico.  Thousands of blind people come together in these local 
chapters to establish programs in partnership with members of the community to 
improve the integration of the blind into society on terms of equality.  A 
significant focus of the Braille literacy campaign will be providing local 
grants to innovative outreach and education programs around the country that 
have a clear emphasis on Braille.  
“That the Blind May Read”: An Educational Documentary
The National Federation of the Blind will raise awareness of the 2009 Braille 
campaign by helping to produce a one-hour documentary about Braille, its 
history, and the role it plays in empowering the blind all around the world.  
Never before has an accurate and in-depth educational look at Braille been 
produced in a multimedia form for a wide audience.  
Braille Reading Pals
A Braille reading-readiness program for blind infants, toddlers, preschoolers, 
and older students with reading delays will enhance literacy through early 
exposure to Braille. The program will equip parents with early literacy 
materials and will connect them with resources to support their child’s literacy 
development throughout the years such as mentoring from other parents of blind 
children and free Braille books.
“Braille Readers Are Leaders” Contest
A dynamic program encouraging Braille reading at all grade levels (K-12) and 
awarding prizes in a number of categories to students reading significant 
amounts of Braille each year.  
“Braille Is Beautiful” Curriculum
An innovative curriculum to teach sighted students how to read and write the 
Braille alphabet code and increase students’ sensitivity to and understanding of 
blind persons will be introduced.  This modular curriculum will be flexible, 
with components to serve different age ranges.  
Braille Certification Training Program
NFB will undertake an aggressive outreach effort to significantly expand the 
pool of teachers certified in standardized teaching of Braille and individuals 
certified in transcribing and proofreading Braille in all Braille codes 
(literary, math/science, and music).
Braille Research in Literacy
The National Federation of the Blind will help improve Braille-related programs 
by filling gaps in the Braille knowledge base, designing studies to evaluate the 
effectiveness of currently available Braille curricula and teaching strategies 
for blind people of all ages, measuring the blind population and Braille 
readership, and disseminating accurate information about Braille-related 
research.
Braille Technology Development
In the 21st century, literacy requires the integration of and accessibility to 
technologies that facilitate reading, writing, and access to information.  
Tremendous potential exists for stimulating such development and incorporating 
the use of Braille into technologies in order to enhance literacy for the blind. 
 Electronic refreshable Braille displays, dynamic tactile pads, new Braille 
writing technologies, and machines for producing tactile graphics are all 
examples where technology development is required.  New, low-cost Braille 
writing technologies are also needed as the current tools have not been 
significantly improved in decades.  The National Federation of the Blind will 
establish a technology development team made up of strategic university, 
industry, and other supporters to generate new Braille-related technologies and 
bring them to market at an affordable price.
Support the Braille Readers are Leaders Literacy Campaign!©2008 All Rights 
Reserved - Copyright 2008 NFB