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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>What a wonderful article and kudos to
Russell.</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=nfbmo@nfbnet.org href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">Linda Coccovizzo via
NFBMO</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=nfbmo@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">'NFB of Missouri Mailing List'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=linda@coccovizzo.com
href="mailto:linda@coccovizzo.com">linda@coccovizzo.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, November 2, 2023 10:31
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NFBMO] Featuring one of our
own! A Student’s Experience Winning a Polly</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<DIV>
<P>American Printing House - Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at
9:22 AM<o:p></o:p></P>
<H1>A Student’s Experience Winning a Polly<o:p></o:p></H1>
<P>Fourth grader Russell Dorn put all three of his entries into an access
technology raffle at the National Federation of the Blind convention in July.
His hopes were realized when he won a Polly from APH. We spoke with Russell
about his experience with this braille learning tool.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P>Polly is an electronic Wi-Fi enabled braille learning device that teaches
reading, typing, writing, vocabulary, and spelling in both contracted and
uncontracted braille using a gamified approach. With immediate feedback,
incorporation of music, and competitive games, Polly puts the fun into
learning braille! This device includes multiple input methods, a speaker for
instruction and feedback, and an online teacher portal that allows remote
access and progress monitoring for educators/parents. Polly contains both a
6-dot braille keyboard and an electronic slate to accommodate the preference
of the user.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P>After Russell received his device, he played a couple of its braille
learning games: Whack a Key and Whack a Braille, which was his favorite. To
play Whack a Braille, Russell explained, “A single dot goes up on the bigger
braille display that has two cells, and then you push it down with your
finger. You have to do it as fast as possible.” Russell recommends others
purchase Polly because, “It’s really fun… and you learn a lot through these
basic games.” He believes that if his teacher at the Kansas State School for
the Blind gave him the Polly to use in class, it would occupy his time for
about an hour and help him brush up on his braille contractions. Russell’s
teacher also encourages him to continue practicing his braille skills. Last
year, Russell composed a Christmas story in braille and enjoys labeling his
belongings with a braille label maker.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P>Along with Polly, Russell utilizes other APH products in school including
the <A
href="https://www.aph.org/product/aph-light-touch-perkins-brailler/">APH
Light-Touch Perkins Brailler®</A>, <A
href="https://www.aph.org/search-results/?fwp_search_term=building%20on%20patterns">Building
on Patterns,</A> <A
href="https://www.aph.org/product/tactile-world-globe/">Tactile World
Globe</A>, <A
href="https://www.aph.org/product/tactile-town-3-d-om-kit/">Tactile Town: 3-D
O&M Kit</A>, and <A href="https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks/">LEGO
Braille Bricks</A>. He loves creating cities using LEGO Braille Bricks and
Tactile Town during his time in school. Russel said to all APH, “Thank you
everyone for being able to give us so many great things.”<o:p></o:p></P>
<P>To learn more about Polly, visit the <A
href="https://www.aph.org/product/polly/">Polly shopping
page</A>.<o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>NFBMO mailing
list<BR>NFBMO@nfbnet.org<BR>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org<BR>To
unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
NFBMO:<BR>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/julie.magnolia62%40gmail.com<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>