[Nfbn-announce] 2017 NFB BELL Academy of Nebraska

[Jamie K. Richey]

Horizontal Color NFB BELL Academy Logo

 

Growing Readers and Growing Leaders

 

    Announcing the 2017 National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Braille
Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy of Nebraska and the
immediate release of its application form.

 

    Today, fewer than 10 percent of blind children are learning Braille in
US schools. Too many blind students are denied Braille literacy because
teachers and administrators falsely believe that audio can replace reading
or that extreme print sizes and slow reading speeds are acceptable.
Furthermore, parents of young blind children are frequently unaware of
methods and resources for introducing Braille to their children early and
unnecessarily delay Braille exposure beyond age-appropriate milestones.

 

    The NFB of Nebraska works to reverse the missteps that have created an
illiteracy epidemic among blind people in this state. The NFB of [Nebraska
provides educational programming for blind youth and adults, as well as
parents and educators of blind children. One such program, the NFB BELL
Academy, has delivered Braille education, nonvisual instruction, and
resources to hundreds of blind students and their parents in states across
the country. At NFB BELL Academy sites, children ages four through twelve
participate in hands-on activities designed to increase students' facility
with Braille and nonvisual techniques. 

 

    The NFB BELL Academy began as a model initiative in Maryland in 2008 and
has since expanded: there will be forty-five NFB BELL Academy sites in more
than thirty states in the summer of 2017, including Nebraska.

 

Here's what a few of last year's students had to say about the academy:

 

"Using a slate and stylus is a lot of fun and makes braille writing easy." -
Lynn-Marie age 12

 

"I wish BELL Academy was all year long!" - Gage age 7

 

"I'm so excited to have my first cane!  Now I'm like all the other kids!" -
Kadee age 9

 

    The 2017 NFB BELL Academy of Nebraska will be held in Lincoln June
12-16th and June 19-23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  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. 

 

    Attached is a flyer which can be printed or distributed electronically
to potential BELL Academy families.  Additionally parents can get more
information about this year's academy by visiting the academy website

Here <https://nfb.org/bell-academy> 

 

Or complete the online application

Here <https://nfb.org/bell-student-application-form> 

 

Print applications are available for those who don't have access to a
computer.  Contact coordinator Jamie K. Richey for questions or to receive a
paper application.  She can be reached by phone at (308) 520-9024 or email
at bell at ne.nfb.org.

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future.  Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back!

 

 

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