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<b>\FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASe<br>
</b><br>
<b>CONTACT:</b><br>
Chris Danielsen<br>
Director of Public Relations<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<br><br>
<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Announces Winners
<br>
of 2011 Onkyo Braille Essay Contest<br>
</b></div>
<br>
<div align="center"><b><i>Competition Encourages Braille Usage among the
Blind<br>
</i></b></div>
<br>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (December 14 , 2011):</b> The National Federation
of the Blind (NFB), the oldest and largest organization of blind people
in the United States, is proud to announce the winners of the 2011 Onkyo
Braille Essay Contest. The NFB administered the Onkyo Braille
Literacy Essay Contest in the U.S. on behalf of the North
American/Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union. The essay
contest, sponsored by Onkyo Corporation, a Japanese consumer electronics
manufacturer, and the <i>Braille Mainichi</i>, part of the Mainichi
Newspaper Company in Japan, was created to promote Braille literacy and
to encourage the sharing of social and cultural information among blind
and visually impaired persons. <br><br>
The essays were required to be written in Braille and to pertain either
to how the individual gains knowledge or independence through Braille or
to an individual concept about world peace from the viewpoint of persons
with disabilities. There were two groups of competitors: a junior
category for persons up to age twenty-five and a senior category for
persons over age twenty-six. Each winner received a substantial
cash prize, a plaque, and other gifts from the Onkyo
Corporation.<br><br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“We are very pleased to have been a part of this important contest. There
can be no doubt that the ability to read and write Braille competently
and efficiently is the key to education, employment, and success for the
blind. Despite the undisputed value of Braille, however, only about
10 percent of blind children in the United States are learning it.
We congratulate the contest winners and commend them for demonstrating
the impact Braille has had on their lives through their essays and also
for raising awareness of the importance of Braille literacy throughout
their everyday lives.”<br><br>
The seven winners from the North America/Caribbean Region were as
follows:<br><br>
OOTSUKI PRIZE<br>
Kim Kilpatrick, Ottawa, Canada <br><br>
EXCELLENT WORK AWARD, SENIOR<br>
Allison O'Day, Minnesota, USA<br><br>
FINE WORK AWARDS, SENIOR<br>
Lori Miller, Indiana, USA<br>
Jason Meddaugh, Michigan, USA<br>
Khadija Mohamedbhai, Ottawa, Canada<br><br>
EXCELLENT WORK AWARD, JUNIOR<br>
Hanna Chadwick-Dias, California, USA<br><br>
FINE WORK AWARD, JUNIOR<br>
Brittany Stovall, Missouri, USA<br><br>
The NFB encouraged all countries in the North America Caribbean Region to
participate in the Onkyo Braille Essay Contest. Essays were
submitted from the United States and Canada. <br><br>
For more information about the National Federation of the Blind, please
visit <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br>
<br><br>
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</b></div>
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<br><br>
<b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</b><br>
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is
the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people
in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through
advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging
independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the
blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January
2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute, the first research and training center in the United States
for the blind led by the blind. Please visit our Web site:
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br>
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