[NFBMI-Talk] NFB BELL (R)Academy For Illinois: Looking For Out-Of-State Kids To Participate

[Kane Brolin]

Hi again.  Here's hoping that all within reach of this message are enjoying
a fabulous weekend at the start of the new month.

Debbie Stein, an active and well respected long-time leader of the Illinois
affiliate in the National Federation of the Blind, pointed something else
out in a recent email to me.

"As you may know, we’re hosting two BELL Academies here in Illinois this
summer.  ...  Our Springfield program is a week-long residential program,
and so far we only have three students signed up. We’re wondering whether
you know any students in Indiana who could benefit from BELL and who might
enjoy spending a week with us. We put up the families at a hotel and give
them a daily meal allowance. We only ask that they make a fifty-dollar
contribution, and that can be waived if it is an undue hardship. We already
have one Indiana student signed up, and she has been with us for the past
several years."

You will note that in my previous message of today, I pointed out that the
Chicago BELL® Academy of Chicago is looking for an assistant teacher, who
could come from outside the state of Illinois; but the Chicago program is
all filled up with child participants.  On the other hand, the second BELL
®Academy in Illinois happens "downstate," and it is to be held in
Springfield from July 15-19, 2024.  They need more students to take part
and are actively soliciting one or more families from out of state to sign
up.

The NFB BELL® Academy provides children with Braille and nonvisual skills
instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. The NFB BELL
Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Braille
Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL)—is a nationwide summer program
that prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and
independent blind people who live the lives they want.

Who should attend BELL® Academy?

Blind and low-vision children, ages four through twelve, who:

   - do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in
   school.
   - could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer.
   - would enjoy connecting with other blind and low-vision children.
   - would like the opportunity to learn from blind role models.


Want to find out more about NFB BELL® Academy?  Please visit this link
<https://nfb.org/index.php/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy>.

Do you want to register so a blind child under your care may attend a BELL®
Academy in Springfield, Illinois or in one of the other locations offered
throughout the country?  Fill out this form
<https://nfb.org/form/bell-combo-reg> and someone will get back to you
shortly.

If you want to contact Debbie Stein about the BELL ®Academy program in
Springfield, please give a call or send a text to (773)203-1394 or email
dkent5817 at att.net.

Thank you.

Cordially,

Kane Brolin
President, Indiana State Affiliate
National Federation of the Blind
(574)386-8868 (mobile)