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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
<b>CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<br><br>
<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Names Janet
Bernhardt <br>
2016 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children<br><br>
</b></div>
<br><br>
<b>Orlando, Florida (July 2, 2016):</b> The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB) has named Janet Bernhardt, an educational consultant at the
Louisiana Center for the Blind, as its 2016 Distinguished Educator of
Blind Children. Ms. Bernhardt was presented with the award at the
NFB’s seventy-sixth annual National Convention, held at the Rosen Shingle
Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida.<br><br>
<br><br>
Ms. Bernhardt started teaching blind preschoolers in 1977, and since then
has worked with children of all ages. In her current role at the
Louisiana Center for the Blind, her goal is to ensure that every blind
student in Louisiana receives the quality education they deserve. She
divides her time between helping blind students learn techniques for
greater independence, and working with their teachers to encourage and
develop a course curriculum suited to the needs of those blind students.
Ms. Bernhardt also spends a significant amount of her time helping
students and their teachers learn Braille because she believes it is an
important skill to acquire on the path to independence. <br><br>
<br><br>
Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said,
“Ms. Bernhardt has dedicated her career to ensuring that blind students
are given the tools for independence and academic success, while also
ensuring that their teachers possess the necessary methods for effective
instruction. Ms. Bernhardt’s dedication is exemplified in her advocacy
for Braille instruction and her willingness to go above and beyond so
that blind students all over the state of Louisiana are given the
opportunity to succeed. The National Federation of the Blind commends Ms.
Bernhardt for her unwavering commitment to the highest quality of
education for blind children.”<br><br>
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Ms. Bernhardt received a certification in education of the visually
impaired from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s in elementary
education from Louisiana State University. She has also served
internships at the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center at the
Pennsylvania College of Optometry and the Lions Low Vision Center at
Johns Hopkins Hospital. <br><br>
<br><br>
The Distinguished Educator Award carries with it a $1,000 prize and a
trip to the 2016 NFB National Convention in Orlando. While in
Orlando, Ms. Bernhardt will address several hundred parents and educators
of blind children and have an opportunity to share her experience and
insights with many people interested in improving the education of blind
students.<br><br>
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About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
</b> <br><br>
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.<br><br>
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