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<h3><b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE</b></h3><font face="Garamond"><b> <br><br>
CONTACT:<br><br>
</b></font><font face="Garamond" color="#0000FF">Chris
Danielsen
<br><br>
Director of Public
Relations
<br><br>
National Federation of the
Blind
<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, ext. 2330 <br><br>
</font><font face="Garamond">(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
</font><font face="Garamond" color="#0000FF">
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
</font><font face="Garamond"> <br><br>
<br>
</font><div align="center"><h1><b>Two Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver
Dollars to Go Into Space Today<br><br>
<br>
National Federation of the Blind Launches Program<br>
to Sell 50,000 Coins before the Shuttle Returns</b></h1></div>
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<b>KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (May 11, 2009):</b> When the space shuttle
Atlantis takes off today, it will carry two Louis Braille Bicentennial
Silver Dollars. This unique coin commemorates the birth of the
inventor of the reading and writing code for the blind and is the first
United States coin to contain tactile, readable Braille. At the
same time, the National Federation of the Blind will launch a program to
sell 50,000 of these limited edition coins to raise funds to advance
Braille literacy in the United States before the shuttle returns to earth
in eleven days.<br><br>
<br><br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“This is an exciting moment because the general public has the chance to
buy a piece of historya coin that not only represents knowledge and
empowerment for blind people but that also will visit the Hubbell Space
Telescope. Just as the Hubbell telescope has advanced our knowledge
of the universe, purchasing the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar
will advance the cause of equality for the blind.”<br><br>
<br><br>
Mark Riccobono, executive director of the National Federation of the
Blind Jernigan Institute, said: “Blind children in America are facing a
crisisonly 10 percent of them are learning Braille, leaving 90 percent
illiterate. It is imperative that the general public act swiftly to
reverse illiteracy among blind children. That is why we are asking
everyone to purchase a Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar before
Atlantis returns to earth.” <br><br>
<br><br>
To purchase the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar, please visit
</font><a href="http://www.usmint.gov/">
<font face="Garamond" color="#0000FF">www.usmint.gov</a></font>
<font face="Garamond"> or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The proof
silver dollar is $41.95 and the uncirculated silver dollar is
$33.95. For more information about the National Federation of the
Blind and the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, please visit
<a href="http://www.braille.org/" eudora="autourl">www.braille.org</a>
.<br><br>
<br><br>
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