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<h1><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></h1><b> <br>
CONTACT:<br>
</b>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>
<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind and Louisiana
Tech Launch<br>
National Reading Media Assessment<br>
</b></div>
<br>
<div align="center"><b><i>Assessment to Determine Best Reading Medium for
Blind Students<br>
</i></div>
<br>
Baltimore, Maryland (November 15, 2012):
</b><a href="http://www.nfb.org">The National Federation of the
Blind</a>, the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the
United States and the leading advocate for Braille literacy, today
announced that its <a href="http://www.nfbnrma.org/">National Reading
Media Assessment (NRMA)</a> 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. <br>
<br>
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind">National
Federation of the Blind</a>, 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.” <br>
<br>
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.”<br>
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To learn more or participate in the National Reading Media Assessment,
please visit <a href="http://www.nfbnrma.org">www.nfbnrma.org</a>. <br>
<br>
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 <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a>.<br>
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About the National Federation of the Blind<br>
</b>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 <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a>.<br>
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