[Nfbn-announce] Summer 2016 NFB Bell Program

[NFB of Nebraska Info]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Amy Buresh, President
National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
(402) 477-7711 president at ne.nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
to Hold Local Braille Training Academy for Blind Children

Lincoln, Nebraska June 7, 2016: The National Federation of the Blind of
Nebraska NFBN) will hold a two-week Braille training academy for blind
children on June 13-24, 2016. The NFB Braille Enrichment for Literacy and
Learning (BELL) Academy is designed to provide blind children and children
with low vision ages four through twelve with two weeks of intense Braille
instruction via hands-on learning and fun.

The NFB BELL Academy, which was developed by members of the NFB of Maryland
in 2008, brings together successful blind mentors and students, enabling
the students to foster a positive attitude about Braille and an
understanding that Braille is an invaluable tool for completing a wide
variety of tasks. Including Nebraska, 31 affiliates of the NFB will host
the NFB BELL Academy in 2016.

The academy run by the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska is
being held at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
During the academy, the attendees will become acquainted with how useful
Braille can be as an alternative to reading print. They will learn about
the Braille code through an engaging combination of arts and crafts, games,
outdoor activities, and field trips.

Amy Buresh, president of NFBN, said: “Today, despite the fact that Braille
literacy is one of the highest predictors of success for blind youth, only
one in ten blind children are learning Braille in school. We are raising a
generation of functionally-illiterate blind children who are unable to read
or write as well as their peers because they don’t have the correct tools
or training. The NFB BELL Academy seeks to reverse that downward trend in
Braille literacy by exposing young blind children to Braille and setting
them on a path to a life of Braille literacy and success.”

A parent of a previous participant in the BELL Academy had this to say
about the experience: “The most valuable thing my daughter learned is that
she isn't alone.  She is the only child in her school with a visual
impairment and enjoyed knowing there are other kids out there who are like
her and face some of the same vision-related difficulties.  The instructors
and volunteers pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped her find
success in mobility activities she has never had a chance to try at
school.  We will be asking many questions in our next IEP team meeting!”

For more information about the NFB BELL Academy, please visit
www.nfb.org/BELL.
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