[nfbmi-talk] lots of photos here...

[joe harcz Comcast]

Lansing State Journal coverage of the 2010 Braille-A-Thon at the State Capitol yesterday included two print articles, an online video interview with event
coordinator MCB Commissioner Geri Taeckens, and an online photo gallery.  Links and text of the two articles and links to the video and photo gallery are
pasted below.  (Note:  Two of the photos below, of Braille publications and alphabet cards, were taken at the MCB information table at the event.)

Susan Turney

Communications & Outreach Coordinator

Michigan Commission for the Blind; Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

direct line:  517-241-8631; fax:  517-335-5140; MCB toll-free: 1-800-292-4200

201 N. Washington Square, Second Floor; P.O. Box 30652; Lansing, MI 48909

www.michigan.gov/mcb
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100622/NEWS01/306220009/Braille-A-Thon-brings-awareness-for-the-blind#pluckcomments

Braille-A-Thon brings awareness for the blind

Kris Turner • knturner at lsj.com • June 22, 2010

LANSING -- Sprawled across the Capitol lawn, people gathered to bring awareness to braille education Tuesday.

Because many blind children don't receive the proper education about how to read and use braille, there needs to be more of an effort in the state, said
Geri Taeckens, who organized the second annual Braille-A-Thon.

"We are all concerned about the education of the blind in the state of Michigan," said the commissioner for the Michigan Commission for the Blind.

A number of activities under a large white tent were available for both the blind and seeing to take participate in. Several books and braille alphabets
were available to feel.

Read Wednesday's Lansing State Journal for more on this story.

Greg Botting, 16, of Ionia demonstrates a Brailler, a machine similar to a typewriter that has a key that corresponds to each of the six dots of the braille
code. Botting was one of several organizers of the second-annual Braille-A-Thon Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol.
Photo:  Greg Botting, 16, of Ionia demonstrates a Brailler, a machine similar to a typewriter that has a key that corresponds to each of the six dots of
the braille code. Botting was one of several organizers of the second-annual Braille-A-Thon Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol. (Matthew Dae Smith
| For the Lansing State Journal)

Video:  Braille-A-Thon at Lansing Capitol (00:53)

The second annual Braille-A-Thon was held Tuesday at the Capitol. Geri Taeckens, Commissioner for the Michigan Commission for the Blind talks about how
Braille is an essential skill for the blind. Video by Kristopher Turner | For the LSJ.

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/section/videonetwork?bctid=97900057001

Event at Capitol raises awareness on literacy for the blind

Advocate: Growing problem in Michigan merits more attention

Kris Turner • knturner at lsj.com • June 23, 2010

Saying it's difficult road for the blind trying to learn braille, advocates worked Tuesday at the Capitol to raise awareness of what they say is a growing
problem among Michigan's blind population.

Literacy among people who are blind is an issue that needs more attention, said Geri Taeckens, commissioner for the Michigan Commission for the Blind.

A majority of people who are blind are not taught to read properly end up unemployed, and that's unacceptable, she added.

"Our kids are not getting braille education to make them really literate," said Taeckens, who organized the second annual Braille-A-Thon on Tuesday at the
Capitol.

Michigan has more than 36,000 residents who are blind, according to Preventblindness.org.

Children don't receive continuous education about how to read braille in schools, and that contributes to the problem, Taeckens said. A reliance on technology,
such as talking computers, isn't enough. They must be able to proficiently read, she said.

Malcolm Bryant, owner of Mid Michigan Braille in Alma, said he began translating books into braille because he saw a significant need for it. Now in its
10th year, his business also trains people to do the same thing so the world can be flooded with braille books.

"It's important kids learn to read," he said at the Capitol. "It puts them on an equal playing field with sighted kids."

Some districts in Michigan that do teach braille pair students with a specialist twice a week to study the subject. That doesn't work, Taeckens said. Learning
to read braille is essentially learning to speak a new language and requires constant practice.

Even with advances in technology, there is something about being able to touch what you are reading, said Mary Wurtzel, a Lansing resident who is blind.
The fact that people aren't receiving quality braille education is sad, she added.

"I love braille," she said. "I learned braille when I was 3 years old. I don't know what I'd do without braille."

Braille-A-Thon photo gallery:

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=A3&Dato=20100622&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=6220803&Ref=PH&Profile=1001&SectionCat=NEWS

BRAILLE-A-THON AT THE STATE CAPITOL

All photos by Matthew Dae Smith for LSJ

Photo:  A Braille textbook at the Braille-A-Thon on the Capitol lawn Tuesday afternoon illustrates the history of ancient Egypt. The second annual Braille-A-Thon
was held Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol, which helped promote and celebrate the visually impaired and literacy skills

Photo:  Junior Hernandez, 9, of Zeeland does the limbo in front of the Capitol during Braille-A-Thon Tuesday afternoon. Junior and his brother Anibal, 7,
(pictured behind Junior) are both legally blind, and were part of the 2nd annual Braille-A-Thon.

Photo:  Greg Botting, 16, of Ionia demonstrates a Brailler, a machine similar to a typewriter that has a key that corresponds to each of the six dots of
the braille code. Botting was one of several organizers of the second-annual Braille-A-Thon Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol.

Photo:  [close-up of hands] Greg Botting, 16, of Ionia demonstrates a Brailler, a machine similar to a typewriter that has a key that corresponds to each
of the six dots of the braille code. Botting was one of several organizers of the second-annual Braille-A-Thon Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol.

Photo:  Acer Bowman-Tomlinson, 5, of Sterling Heights practices putting on a button at Tuesday's Braille-A-Thon at the State Capitol. Acer is completely
blind, and had little problem threading the needle or sewing on this button.

Photo:  Stacks of the papers and literature containing Braille at the Braille-A-Thon Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol. A Braille character is made
up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two columns of three dots each. A dot may be raised at any of the six positions to form 64
possible subsets.

Photo:  Stacks of the Braille alphabet at the Braille-A-Thon at the State Capitol Tuesday afternoon. Each Braille character is made up of six dot positions,
arranged in a rectangle containing two columns of three dots each. A dot may be raised at any of the six positions to form 64 possible subsets.

Photo:  Junior Hernandez, 9, of Zeeland does the limbo in front of the Capitol as an activity during Braille-A-Thon Tuesday afternoon. His brother, Anibal,
7, (middle), and Eric Decker, 13, of Mt. Pleasant cheer him on. The 2nd Annual Braille-A-Thon, held Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol helps promote
and celebrate the visually impaired and literacy skills.