[NFBMD] October Programming - Please Share Widely

Thu Sep 24 14:14:54 UTC 2026

Hi everyone,

Below are free events that we ask you to share widely with your network.
They are free and open to the public, but registration is required.

If you have any questions, please let me know

Best,

Ashley
BRAILLED IT Movie Watch Party

October 7 - October 13

Registration Link
<https://marylandlibraries.libcal.com/calendar/ExternalCalendar/BrailledItMovie>

Maryland LBPD, the Friends of Maryland LBPD, and Artifact Studios is proud
to invite you to watch the movie in preparation for the October 13, 2026
movie discussion. Please register here to obtain access to the movie. The
film will only be viewable from October 7, 2026 through October 13, 2026
and registration is required.

Movie Description

Every year, the top under-18 Braille readers and writers from across the
English-speaking world gather in Los Angeles to compete in the Braille
Challenge. For one weekend, blind and low-vision kids are no longer the
minority in the room. They make new friends, face off against old rivals,
and chase a rare chance to be recognized not for their disability, but for
their skill.

In BRAILLED IT, the camera is placed directly in their hands. As the kids
document the competition themselves, their fragmented imagery and candid
moments of nerves, boredom, joy, and triumph invite audiences to experience
the event on their terms. Designed with audio description and accessibility
at its core–not as an afterthought but as a fundamental creative tool–the
film shifts authorship and perspective to the community on screen,
revealing a world defined not by limitation, but by mastery, ambition, and
the transformative power of literacy.

BRAILLED IT is proud to partner with All4Access. To experience the film in
real time using braille, download the All4Access app.
BRAILLED IT Panel Discussion

Tuesday, October 13

7:00 p.m. EST

Registration Link
<https://marylandlibraries.libcal.com/calendar/ExternalCalendar/BrailledItDiscussion>

Join us for a special panel discussion exploring BRAILLED IT, a documentary
that puts the camera directly into the hands of young Braille readers and
writers competing in the Braille Challenge.

Hear more about the experiences captured in the film, the importance of
Braille literacy, and how accessibility and audio description were
incorporated as fundamental parts of the filmmaking process. The
conversation will also explore what it means for blind and low-vision young
people to tell their own stories and be recognized for their skill,
ambition, and achievements.

The discussion will be moderated by Hadley and the National Library Service
for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS).
IEPs and Print Disabilities

Tuesday, October 20

7:00 p.m. EST

Registration Link
<https://marylandlibraries.libcal.com/calendar/ExternalCalendar/IEP26>

Navigating the special education system can feel overwhelming, especially
when you're advocating for a child with a print disability, which may
include visual, physical, or reading disabilities such as dyslexia. Join a
panel featuring an education attorney, a parent advocate, and a dyslexia
specialist who will explain what an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
is, what it is not, and how it differs from a Section 504 Plan. The
discussion will also explore when families should consider working with an
educational advocate and what that support can look like throughout the
process. Whether you're just beginning your journey or looking to better
understand your rights and options, this program will provide practical
information to help you advocate with confidence.
Neuroscience of Dyslexia

Thursday, October 22

7:00 p.m. EST

Registration Link
<https://marylandlibraries.libcal.com/calendar/ExternalCalendar/ScienceofDyslexia26>

In this talk, Dr. Donald Bolger
<https://education.umd.edu/directory/donald-bolger> will discuss the
neuroscience of Dyslexia and how the new definition of Dyslexia released in
October by the International Dyslexia Association reflects 20 years of new
research and thinking. Dr. Bolger will discuss cognitive and
neurobiological research on reading difficulties and how it shapes our
thinking about a "constellation approach" from a scientific perspective. He
will discuss how diagnosis takes shape under this approach and what factors
we should pay attention to. Lastly, he will discuss how brain science
supports foundational principles of explicit, systematic intervention
approaches.
Stroke and Dyslexia

Tuesday, October 27

7:00 p.m. EST

Registration Link
<https://marylandlibraries.libcal.com/calendar/ExternalCalendar/StrokeDyslexia>

Learn about the types of reading difficulties that individuals may
experience after a stroke, often referred to as "acquired dyslexia." Some
of these difficulties may be similar to traditional print difficulties
related to low vision or vision loss, but others are quite different. While
reading may seem “easy” and “automatic”, it may become suddenly very
difficult after a stroke. You will learn about the different mental
operations that are involved in the very complex task of reading. Because
of this complexity, a stroke may disrupt different components of the
reading process, leading to distinct types of deficits. We will discuss
some of the different types of deficits that have been identified and how
testing can be used to identify them. This talk is being given by Dr.
Barbara Rapp <https://cogsci.jhu.edu/directory/brenda-rapp/>.

-- 

*Ashley M. Biggs*
*Marketing & Outreach Librarian*
Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled
Maryland State Library Agency
415 Park Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3603

410-230-2430 (office) | 667-209-1563 (cell) | 410-333-2095 (fax)
ashley.biggs1 at maryland.gov

Click here <https://msla.maryland.gov/Pages/LBPD.aspx> to visit the
Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled website and sign up
for weekly updates.

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