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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Parents & TVI’s,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Blind and low vision children from ages 4 to 14 are invited to attend this year’s BELL Academy (Braille Enrichment through Literacy and Learning)to be held the weeks of June 13-17 and June 20-24. The BELL Academy is designed to provide academic enrichment through blindness and low vision related skills development such as Braille, cane travel, assistive technology, independence and socialization by active participation with other blind and low vision children and adolescents. Our teachers and volunteers are, for the most part, blind and low vision themselves. They provide a wonderful opportunity for your children to meet blind and low vision adults and for you both to meet successful, blind adults living in your community. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This year, Audrey Farnum, an attorney for the Oklahoma Tax Commission, is serving as our BELL Committee Chair and Coordinator. She has some really great activities lined up for this year’s BELL Academy. BELL Academy will be held at the Trinity Baptist church located at 1329 NW 23rd Street<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Oklahoma City, OK 73127. BELL Academy will run from 9:00 to 3:30 each day. Lunch will be provided. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:red;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>*********************** Important *****************************************</span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:red'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you are interested in having your child attend, please register them by Thursday of this week. If we do not have anyone registered by that time, we will have to cancel our contract for the church location. BELL is a really great program for blind and low vision children and adolescents. It is a fun way to stay tuned in to academics and to meet new friends, young and old. Please call Audrey or myself with any questions you may have. For those of you who have had children participate in past years, you know how much fun your kids had and what they learned. For those of you who do not yet know or have experienced BELL, please check it out! The following website will take you to the BELL Academy overview and to the Oklahoma specific page:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><u>BELL Academy<o:p></o:p></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/bell-academy#Participating%20States">https://nfb.org/bell-academy#Participating%20States</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><u>Oklahoma BELL <o:p></o:p></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/bell-academy-faqs-affiliate/ok">https://nfb.org/bell-academy-faqs-affiliate/ok</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The website indicates that there is a registration fee of $250. However, there are scholarships available. Please ask about them. We want for every child who wants to attend to be able to do so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for your time in reading this. I hope to meet you and your child at BELL this summer!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Warm regards, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeannie <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Jeannie M. Massay, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>National Federation of theBlind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>505 Baker Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Norman, OK 73072<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Phone: 405-600-0695<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><a href="mailto:Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org">Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of the blind because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want.!. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>“Whatever you dare to dream, begin.” – Goethe <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Jeannie M. Massay, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>National Federation of theBlind <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Of Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>505 Baker Street<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Norman, OK 73072<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>Phone: 405-600-0695<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><a href="mailto:Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org">Jeannie.massay@nfbok.org</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day, we raise expectations of the blind because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want.!. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Cambria",serif'>“Whatever you dare to dream, begin.” – Goethe <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>