[Nfbv-announce] FW: National Federation of the Blind and Wal-Mart Foundation Partner to Promote Braille Literacy

[Fredric Schroeder]

  _____  

From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org] 
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 4:32 PM
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Subject: National Federation of the Blind and Wal-Mart Foundation Partner to
Promote Braille Literacy



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org


National Federation of the Blind and Wal-Mart Foundation 
Partner to Promote Braille Literacy


Wal-Mart Foundation to Sponsor Web Site
 for Exchange of Braille Reading Materials


 

Baltimore, Maryland (February 2, 2009): The National Federation of the
Blind, the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the United
States and the country's leading advocate for Braille literacy, and the
Wal-Mart Foundation are partnering to bring Braille reading materials to
those who need them.  The Wal-Mart Foundation is sponsoring NFB
ShareBraille, a Web site to facilitate the exchange of Braille books through
a community-run library.   NFB ShareBraille will help connect those who want
Braille with those who want to give Braille away, thus increasing the life
of Braille materials.  The Web site is located at www.nfbsharebraille.org
<http://www.nfbsharebraille.org/> .  

 

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"There are many contributing factors to the decline in Braille literacy
among the nation's blind children and adults, but access to Braille reading
materials is one such factor.  That is why the National Federation of the
Blind has launched NFB ShareBraille to help students, professionals, and
avid readers find the Braille materials they need for enlightenment,
productivity, and success.  We deeply appreciate the Wal-Mart Foundation
sponsoring this important effort."

 

Crosby Cromwell, manager of disability markets for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
said: "Literacy is critically important to a fulfilling and productive life,
and this is no less true for the blind than it is for anyone else.  That is
why we are proud to work with the National Federation of the Blind to
increase the availability of Braille books and to support literacy for all
blind Americans." 

 

NFB ShareBraille is part of the NFB's Braille Readers are Leaders campaign,
a national initiative to promote the importance of reading and writing
Braille for blind children and adults.  One of the campaign goals is to make
Braille resources more available through online sharing of materials,
enhanced production methods, and improved distribution. NFB ShareBraille is
designed to help in meeting this goal by encouraging blind people to trade
Braille books and build their personal libraries.  Frequently, Braille
materials in good condition are discarded because a new home for the
materials cannot be found. NFB ShareBraille now offers a way for a community
to close that gap and keep Braille reading materials circulating.  

 

The Braille Readers are Leaders campaign kicked off in July of 2008 with the
unveiling of the design of a commemorative coin to be minted in 2009 in
recognition of the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille.
The coin, which will feature the word "Braille" written in tactile Braille,
will be released on March 26, 2009.  The Wal-Mart Foundation plans to
support other aspects of the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign in
addition to sponsoring NFB ShareBraille.  For more information about the
campaign, please visit www.braille.org <http://www.braille.org/> . 

 

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About the National Federation of the Blind


 

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the
largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the
United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy,
education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and
self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field today and
the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.