[Nfbv-announce] FW: Two Hundred Blind Youth From Across Nation Head to College Park

[Fredric Schroeder]

  _____  

From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org] 
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 3:17 PM
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Subject: Two Hundred Blind Youth From Across Nation Head to College Park


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


 


MEDIA ADVISORY


 


Two Hundred Blind Youth From Across Nation Head to College Park

 

Second National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam 
Focuses on Science, Technology

 

Event:   National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam

 

Dates:  July 26-August 1, 2009

 

Place:  University of Maryland

             College Park, Maryland 20742

 


Attention: Science, Education, and Feature Editors


 

Two hundred blind high school students from across the nation will converge
on College Park on July 26 for the second National Federation of the Blind
Youth Slam.  While staying at the University of Maryland, the students will
participate in five days of inspiring and engaging activities conducted by
the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute and other partners.
The purpose of this unprecedented gathering is to help the blind youth of
America find their voice and encourage them to consider pursuing careers in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics--careers that are falsely
believed to be closed to the blind.  

 

University of Maryland Dean of Education to Speak to Blind Students

 

On Monday, July 27, from 8:45-9:30 a.m., the participants will be welcomed
to the 2009 Youth Slam in a special opening ceremony at the Armory Lecture
Hall at the University of Maryland.  Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the
National Federation of the Blind; Mike May, President of the Sendero Group;
and Donna Wiseman, Dean of Education at the University of Maryland will all
speak to the blind teenagers. 

 

Blind Participants Go Bungee Jumping and Rock Climbing

 

On Thursday, July 30, the blind teenagers will get the chance to try their
hand at exciting recreational activities such as rock climbing, slip and
slide, tug of war, and even bungee jumping! These activities will take place
at the University of Maryland Fraternity Row from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.,
with help from Mid-Atlantic Adventures. 

 

Blind Students Participate in Blind Driver Challenge

 

On Friday, July 31, from 8:45-11:45 a.m., the Youth Slam participants will
have the opportunity of a lifetime as they take part in the Blind Driver
Challenge.  The Blind Driver Challenge was created in response to an
initiative proposed by the National Federation of the Blind: to create a
vehicle that is capable of being operated by a blind driver.  The project is
conducted by a senior design team comprised of about ten undergraduate
students within the Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering.  

 

The blind teenagers will get their first-ever opportunity to
drive--utilizing a specially-customized four-wheel dirt buggy created by the
Blind Driver team at Virginia Tech.   The buggy is equipped with
state-of-the-art technology and voice commands to direct the blind driver as
he or she steers, brakes, and accelerates.  The participants will drive the
buggy in a closed parking lot on the University of Maryland campus.

 

Two Hundred Blind Youth to Participate in Historic Rally at Lincoln Memorial

 

Also on Friday, July 31, at 2:45 p.m., the Youth Slam will culminate in an
historic rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Dr. Marc Maurer,
President of the National Federation of the Blind, Kareem Dale, Special
Assistant to the President on Disability Policy, and other national and
local dignitaries will speak.  The rally will be followed by a two-mile
"Youth March for Independence," in which all participants will proceed to
the Capitol Visitor Center. 

 

2009 Youth Slam Concludes at Capitol Visitor Center 

 

At 5:30 p.m., Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the
Blind and other national and local dignitaries will greet the blind students
at the Capitol Visitor Center for the celebratory closing ceremony of the
2009 Youth Slam.  The Youth Slam participants will make presentations
highlighting the achievements of the week.

 

Along with the presentations by students and dignitaries, senior NASA
officials will also present the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars
that flew on space shuttle Atlantis's mission to the Hubble Space Telescope
in May to the National Federation of the Blind at the closing ceremony.  The
coins are the first to feature tactile, readable Braille and are available
for purchase online at www.usmint.gov <http://www.usmint.gov/>  or by phone
at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

 

The 2009 Youth Slam is being conducted and supported through partnerships
with the University of Maryland, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, IEEE Foundation, Oracle, the Motorola Foundation, and Johns
Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, among others.

 

Note:  More information about the Youth Slam is available at
www.blindscience.org <http://www.blindscience.org/> .

 

 

# # #

 

 

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.

 
Jessica A. Freeh
Public Relations Specialist
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 
1800 Johnson Street 
Baltimore, Maryland  21230 
Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2348 
E-mail:   <mailto:jfreeh at nfb.org> jfreeh at nfb.org 

There is a Braille literacy crisis in America.
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