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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
<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>
<div align="center"> <br><br>
</font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica"><b>National Federation of the
Blind <br>
Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy<br><br>
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<font face="Garamond" size=5> <br><br>
</font><font face="Garamond"><b>Baltimore, Maryland (November 16,
2009):</b> Once again, Santa has enlisted the help of the elves at
the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute to get
Braille letters out to hundreds of blind boys and girls this Christmas
season. <br><br>
<br><br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“Santa approached the National Federation of the Blind a couple of years
ago and asked us to be his helpers. I’m quite fond of the fellow
and was delighted that we could assist him in his work. Braille
literacy is the key to success and opportunity for the blind, but
unfortunately too few blind children are learning it today. This
program will not only be jolly good fun but will also serve an important
educational purpose, as blind children will be able to practice reading
Braille as they enjoy their letter from Saint Nicholas.”<br><br>
<br><br>
Between November 16 and December 20, parents can go online at
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/" eudora="autourl">www.nfb.org</a> and fill
out a Santa Braille Letter request form. The form can also be
printed and faxed to (410) 659-6893. Beginning December 1, the
Braille letters from Santa will start going out to boys and girls around
the country. The Braille letter will also be accompanied by a print
copy (for mom and dad to read), and parents can choose the contracted or
uncontracted form of Braille for the letter. Requests for letters
must include the writer’s name, the child’s name, birthday, gender,
mailing address, and a telephone number or e-mail address in case Santa’s
helpers at the National Federation of the Blind have questions.<br><br>
<br><br>
The Braille letters from Santa program is part of the National Federation
of the Blind’s national Braille literacy campaign, the largest ever
undertaken in United States history. Congress authorized the
minting in 2009 of 400,000 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars to
mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille
(1809–1852) and to support the efforts of the National Federation of the
Blind to promote literacy among blind Americans. This unique and
beautiful commemorative coin is the first U.S. currency to feature
tactile, readable Braille. <br><br>
<br><br>
A portion of the proceeds from sales of the 2009 Louis Braille
Bicentennial Silver Dollar will be used to support the NFB’s
“Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign, a national initiative created to
double the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015, improve
certification standards for teachers of Braille, and conduct innovative
programs to support Braille literacy.<br><br>
<br><br>
</font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica">The deadline for letter requests
is December 20, to ensure that a return letter in Braille is received
before Christmas. For more information about this and other
programs of the National Federation of the Blind, please visit our Web
site at <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>.
</font><font face="Garamond">Those interested in ordering a 2009 Louis
Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar or the new Braille Education Set,
which features the coin in a collectible folder designed to highlight the
life and legacy of Louis Braille, should visit
<a href="http://www.braille.org./">www.braille.org</a> or
<a href="http://www.usmint.gov/">www.usmint.gov</a> or call
1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver
Dollar and the Braille Education Set will only be available until
December 11, 2009. <br><br>
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<br><br>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b>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: <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br>
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