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<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>We are excited to announce the fifth BELL Academy program for
2018.</DIV>
<DIV>Please read and share with others.</DIV>
<DIV>We have provided an oberview for this years program, photographs from
2017
and a sponsorship request for your consideration.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Let’s continue to give the gift of literacy to the next
generation!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">We
care. We
share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo, President <BR>National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Raising
Expectations To Live The Life You Want.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Your
old
car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your unwanted
vehicle
to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or call 855 659
9314<BR></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>**</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy & Learning) Academy</DIV>
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<DIV><<A
href="https://www.nfbnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/NFB-BELL-Academy-Logo.jpg">https://www.nfbnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/NFB-BELL-Academy-Logo.jpg</A>></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>The National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey (NFBNJ) will
be</DIV>
<DIV>sponsoring its fifth BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy &
Learning)</DIV>
<DIV>Academy held weekdays, July 16 through July 27, 2018 between the hours
of</DIV>
<DIV>9:00 am and 3:00 pm. The program will be held at the Puerto Rican</DIV>
<DIV>Association for Human Development (PRAHD), Inc. located at:</DIV>
<DIV>101 First Street</DIV>
<DIV>Perth Amboy, New Jersey 08861</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>The BELL Academy will provide instruction in Braille and daily living
skills</DIV>
<DIV>to children ages 4 through 12 who have lacked the opportunity and
sufficient</DIV>
<DIV>exposure to these important areas. In addition, the children will form
new</DIV>
<DIV>friendships with other vision impaired/blind children and adults,
and</DIV>
<DIV>interact with sighted children who will attend the PRAHD's own
summer</DIV>
<DIV>program. Highlights from last year's BELL Academy included working
with</DIV>
<DIV>model trains, building a toolbox, enjoying hands on activities at
Turtle</DIV>
<DIV>Back Zoo, building motorized cars and helicopters with Lego's,
played</DIV>
<DIV>goalball, and participating in science experiments pertaining to
chemistry</DIV>
<DIV>and magnetism.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The children will have access to blind adults that will serve as
mentors
and</DIV>
<DIV>facilitators of our program.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Our goal is to enable the children to live the lives they want
through</DIV>
<DIV>upbeat and positive attitudes, skills, and experiences provided by the
BELL</DIV>
<DIV>Academy.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If you would like to review and/or complete an application for the
BELL</DIV>
<DIV>Academy, please visit <<A
href="https://nfb.org/bell-student-application-form">https://nfb.org/bell-student-application-form</A>></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="https://nfb.org/bell-student-application-form">https://nfb.org/bell-student-application-form</A>.
You can also read the</DIV>
<DIV>affiliate-specific Frequently Asked Questions brochure for New Jersey
at</DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://nfb.org/bell-academy-faqs-affiliate/nj">https://nfb.org/bell-academy-faqs-affiliate/nj</A>></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="https://nfb.org/bell-academy-faqs-affiliate/nj">https://nfb.org/bell-academy-faqs-affiliate/nj</A>.
For more information, please</DIV>
<DIV>contact Mary Jo Partyka, our state BELL coordinator, at</DIV>
<DIV><mailto:choirnfb@gmail.com> choirnfb@gmail.com or by phone at
609-888-5459. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Pictures - 2017</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BELL Academy student Luke is having fun playing with a train. Picture
taken</DIV>
<DIV>by Barbara Grames.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BELL Academy students Luke and Nate are practicing walking with their
canes</DIV>
<DIV>while carrying trays. Picture taken by Barbara Grames.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BELL Academy students Luke and Zora having fun while at the Turtle Back
Zoo.</DIV>
<DIV>Picture taken by Barbara Grames.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BELL Academy students Ryan and Luke are using nonvisual techniques
to</DIV>
<DIV>perform a science experiment. Picture taken by Barbara Grames.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BELL Academy students are practicing using their cane skills while at
the</DIV>
<DIV>2017 NFBNJ BELL Academy. Picture taken by Barbara Grames.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BELL Academy Sponsorship Request for 2018</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You Can Help Sponsor This Summer's BELL Academy</DIV>
<DIV>From Ice Cream to T-Shirts, Braille Paper to Pizza</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Please consider the opportunity to help sponsor some part of the
Braille</DIV>
<DIV>Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy this summer, to
be</DIV>
<DIV>conducted in Perth Amboy, NJ. The BELL Academy dates for 2018 are July
16th</DIV>
<DIV>to 27th.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The BELL Academy is a two-week program for visually impaired and
blind</DIV>
<DIV>children ages 4 through 12, many of whom have had minimal exposure
to</DIV>
<DIV>braille. The program presents opportunities to enhance braille and
blindness</DIV>
<DIV>skills. Instruction in activities of daily living furthers the
children's</DIV>
<DIV>independence and self-sufficiency. Blind mentors and volunteers
provide</DIV>
<DIV>excellent role models, keeping expectations high and proving that
blindness</DIV>
<DIV>is not the characteristic that defines one's future. All BELL
Academy</DIV>
<DIV>children receive a free white cane and a free slate and stylus from the
NFB.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Please review and consider the following list of sponsorships. Thank
you.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $200 Tee shirts for
all
participants</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $200 Supplies for
arts
and crafts</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $150 Christmas in
July
party with Santa</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $100 Louis Braille
birthday party</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $100 Various games:
Twister, Bingo, etc.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $50 Ice cream at the
beach</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $30 Mid-week pizza
party</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $30 Braille
paper</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $20 Dark lined
paper</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $15 20/20 pens</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $10 Snacks per
day</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>* $5 Water for each
day</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Sponsorship for Tactile Graphic Products</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Competence in understanding and using tactile/raised-line illustrations
is</DIV>
<DIV>critical for blind children both for academic and expressive needs.
The</DIV>
<DIV>following five items promote this important but often
less-recognized</DIV>
<DIV>subject area.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1. 4 or more Sensational Graphics
Blackboards at $49.95. Here's a</DIV>
<DIV>short video: <<A
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxHt_QYMg8E">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxHt_QYMg8E</A>></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxHt_QYMg8E">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxHt_QYMg8E</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2. 3D Doodler Pens, $100 each with
"ink" strands. More packs of "ink</DIV>
<DIV>strands" cost $12.00 for a 25-pack.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>3. InTact Sketch Pad $125.
<<A
href="http://www.easytactilegraphics.com/">http://www.easytactilegraphics.com/</A>></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.easytactilegraphics.com">http://www.easytactilegraphics.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4. InTact Sketch Pad electric
eraser
$150</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>5. Extra InTact Sketch Pad paper:
100
sheets for $24.00</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: We have received several sponsorships prior to this posting, and
we</DIV>
<DIV>thank those that have made the donation.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Once again, thanks for your interest and support to drive the BELL
Academy</DIV>
<DIV>vehicle along the road to literacy and learning for blind
children.</DIV>
<DIV>Together, with love, hope and determination, we transform dreams
into</DIV>
<DIV>reality.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Please make checks payable to NFBNJ and mail to:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Joe Ruffalo, President</DIV>
<DIV>254 Spruce Street</DIV>
<DIV>Bloomfield, NJ 07003</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In the memo, please write "BELL." Any sponsorship in any amount will
be</DIV>
<DIV>appreciated.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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