[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Receives Grant from National Science Foundation
National Federation of the Blind
webmaster at nfb.org
Wed Feb 14 01:24:04 UTC 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Federation of the Blind Receives Grant from National Science
Foundation
Five-Year Grant Will Allow Blind Youth to Explore Engineering and
Yield Innovative Research in Informal Education
Baltimore, Maryland (February 13, 2018): The National Federation of
the Blind (NFB) has received a $2 million grant from the National
Science Foundation (NSF) that will allow blind students to explore
the field of engineering and provide useful educational research.
Working with researchers from Utah State University and educators
from the Science Museum of Minnesota, the National Federation of the
Blind will gather blind high school students from across the country
to attend weeklong summer programs called "NFB EQ" (Engineering
Quotient). These programs will teach engineering through hands-on
activities and connect students with blind adult mentors. The NFB and
its partners will research the spatial abilities of blind youth and
develop model practices and nonvisual tools to strengthen those
abilities. Toolkits based on project activities will be produced so
that other parents and educators will be able to use these practices.
Many blind people struggle with spatial skills and mental mapping.
This is primarily because blind students do not have access to
educational opportunities that foster the development of these
skills. Among the STEM disciplines, engineering relies most heavily
on spatial reasoning skills, so these programs will provide ample
opportunities for students to utilize and strengthen them. This will
help blind youth to develop engineering skills, prepare them for
success in STEM fields, and strengthen their ability to travel
independently with a white cane or guide dog.
"A combination of lack of knowledge about nonvisual techniques and
society's low expectations for the blind prevents too many blind
youth from developing spatial reasoning skills and, if they desire,
participating in engineering or other fields that use these skills,"
said Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the
Blind. "We have dedicated significant resources to changing this
unacceptable status quo, and we thank the National Science Foundation
and our partners at Utah State and the Science Museum of Minnesota
for helping us accelerate our progress and broaden our reach."
"Since we know that spatial ability is such a strong indicator of
success in STEM education and STEM professions, we need to understand
how it is developed in our blind youth and how they utilize it in
solving engineering problems," said Dr. Wade Goodridge, Assistant
Professor in Engineering Education at Utah State University. "We can
then develop methods to leverage spatial thinking and help our
students have better chances to succeed. My team seeks to develop
nonvisual techniques to facilitate, motivate, and open pathways
towards engineering, allowing blind youth to pursue a profession they
may have previously thought was not within their reach. We hope to
initiate a momentum that will enhance their engineering educational
opportunities."
"At the Science Museum of Minnesota, showing those who visit us and
participate in our programs that we are all scientists is at the
heart of what we do," said Alison Rempel Brown, president of the
Science Museum of Minnesota. "We're so pleased to partner with the
National Federation of the Blind and Utah State University to develop
ways to bring engineering education to blind students and create new
pathways to success in the STEM disciplines."
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science
Foundation under Grant No. 1712887. Any opinions, findings, and
conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the
National Science Foundation.
###
About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters,
and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides
information and support to families with blind children, older
Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes
and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into
reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10394&qid=2130118>www.nfb.org.
CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
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(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
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