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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'>NFB of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'>Braille Literacy Committee<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'>2021-2022<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'>Shelley Coppel and Jamie Allison, Co-Chairs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'>Introduction Meeting, October 11<sup>th</sup>, 2021<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'>Meetings to be held on the second Monday of every other month, starting in November 2021<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>The goals of the Braille Literacy are:<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>To support Braille readers of all ages and at all levels of proficiency within the state, whether part of the affiliate or prospective members<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>To support others within the affiliate who wish to learn Braille with information, resources, and when and where possible, direct instruction in learning the Braille code<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>To encourage and emphasize the use of Braille as a nonvisual equivalent to print within the affiliate and in the state<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:5.25pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:5.25pt'>Current Initiatives<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The committee held sessions via zoom on transitioning from EBAE (English Braille American Edition) to UEB (Unified English Braille) on Saturday mornings during the summer and early fall of 2021. Approximately a handful of participants attended regularly, and the sessions were recorded and hopefully will be archived and made available later on the state web site. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The committee sponsored and held beginner Braille classes via zoom for four readers during the fall of 2021. These classes will continue until completed for the current group. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The committee announced the national Braille Readers are Leaders contest in 2021 and tried to garner support for members within the state reading for the contest. However, only a very few people participated. <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:5.25pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing>Moving Forward’<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The co-chairs would like to make participating in the National Braille Readers are Leaders contest a bigger focus this year. Specific strategies will be discussed to let more people know about the contest and come up with some incentives, either tangible or otherwise, to encourage more people to read. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The co-chairs would like to assist strong Braille readers within individual chapters across the state with teaching Braille to other members. Since chapters can more readily facilitate in-person small group instruction, we feel this would be a better way to teach Braille to beginners than trying to use zoom. Strategies need to be devised to help facilitate this and be sure that those doing the instruction have the support they need to carry it out with quality results. <o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The co-chairs would like to continue to have instructional events, such as classes and workshops either on zoom and when applicable and preferably in-person if/when/as gathering in slightly larger groups can be permitted. It was found that while zoom worked sufficiently for some events, such as the transition to UEB sessions, it did not work as well for others such as the Beginner Braille classes because of the challenges faced because a tactile medium was being learned through an auditory medium. Some other suggestions have been given, such as immersion weeks/weekends at more central locations within the state, such as the Federation Center or the RBCCB. The committee would need to decide which types of events are needed, the maximum number of participants, and locations within the state for them to be held. <o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:5.25pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:5.25pt'>Agenda for October<o:p></o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Personal introductions - All participants will be asked to share your name, home county or chapter, your general level of Braille proficiency and a bit about why you want to participate<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Brief overview of goals and initiatives<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Preliminary idea-sharing about initiatives or any new ideas that might have come to mind during the beginning of the meeting<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:-12.75pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>November meeting time and date announcement<o:p></o:p></li></ul><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='margin-left:5.25pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Steve Cook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>District 2 State Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President of the Columbia chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of SC owns and operates Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center. Below is a link to read more about Rocky Bottom and to make a reservation for a mountain retreat!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://rockybottomofsc.com/"><span style='color:blue'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please join the National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book at any of the below links!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/NatFedofSouthCarolina/"><span style='color:blue'>National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Computer-Science-Technology-Division-of-the-NFB-of-SC-343263089815304/"><span style='color:blue'>Computer Science & Technology Division of the National Federation of the Blind of SC</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/RockyBottomofSC/"><span style='color:blue'>Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center</span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/Scabs1944/?refid=46&__xts__%5B0%5D=12.%7B%22unit_id_click_type%22%3A%22graph_search_results_item_tapped%22%2C%22click_type%22%3A%22result%22%2C%22module_id%22%3A1%2C%22result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22session_id%22%3A%22dde06b014c19c1fa49889d82a62edcda%22%2C%22module_role%22%3A%22ENTITY_PAGES%22%2C%22unit_id%22%3A%22browse_rl%3Aaed5eb18-5eed-4148-8ec7-5150ce26bf7b%22%2C%22browse_result_type%22%3A%22browse_type_page%22%2C%22unit_id_result_id%22%3A103680927718372%2C%22module_result_position%22%3A0%7D"><span style='color:blue'>South Carolina Association of Blind Students</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://m.facebook.com/groups/375092969314880?_rdr"><span style='color:blue'>South Carolina Parents of Blind Children</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>