[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind and Louisiana Tech Launch National Reading Media Assessment
David Andrews
dandrews at visi.com
Fri Nov 16 03:39:29 UTC 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
National Federation of the Blind and Louisiana Tech Launch
National Reading Media Assessment
Assessment to Determine Best Reading Medium for Blind Students
Baltimore, Maryland (November 15, 2012): <http://www.nfb.org>The
National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest organization
of blind people in the United States and the leading advocate for
Braille literacy, today announced that its
<http://www.nfbnrma.org/>National Reading Media Assessment (NRMA) is
now available. Developed and tested over a three-year period in
collaboration with the Professional Development and Research
Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University, the NRMA is the
first nationally validated assessment of its kind for youth with low
vision. The assessment was developed to determine the most
appropriate reading medium for students who are blind or have low
vision, to ensure that the reading medium is appropriately identified
both for current and future need, and to ensure that student success
is not hampered by incorrect identification of literacy needs.
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the
<http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind>National
Federation of the Blind, said: "Many young students today with visual
impairments are not classified as blind and as such do not receive
training in the proper reading medium. For instance, far too many
students with low vision are mistakenly taught to read large print
instead of Braille and end up functionally illiterate. The NRMA aims
to change this harmful trend and ensure that every student with a
visual impairment receives training in the proper reading medium and
is set on the path to future success."
Dr. Edward Bell, principal investigator of the research, said: "The
primary findings from our assessment showed 14 percent more youth as
needing Braille than prior assessments, and 36 percent more youth as
needing Braille than who are actually getting it. Clearly this new
approach is sorely needed in order to improve the education of blind children."
To learn more or participate in the National Reading Media
Assessment, please visit <http://www.nfbnrma.org>www.nfbnrma.org.
The National Federation of the Blind needs your support to ensure
that blind children get an equal education, to connect blind veterans
with the training and services they need, and to help seniors who are
losing vision continue to live independent and fulfilling lives. To
make a donation, please go to <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.
###
About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest,
and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind
people in the United States. Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for
the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops
innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide
the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to
become independent and successful. We need your support. To make a
donation, please go to <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.
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