[Nfbwv-talk] Thank You to Ed McDonald

[C. Smyth]

I would like to extend my thanks to Ed McDonald for putting together an event and taking the time to let the Keyser area know about the NFB's Louis Braille Coin Campaign and the importance of Braille literacy.  

Please review the article below to learn more.

Charlene Smyth
NFBWV President


The Keyser (Mineral County) Public Library and the National Federation of
the Blind (NFB) joined forces over the weekend to celebrate the 200th
anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille.  Born January 4, 1809, Louis
Braille was the inventor of the reading and writing code for the blind that
bears his name.
Keyser resident Ed McDonald, first vice-president of the National Federation
of the Blind of West Virginia, spent Saturday morning at the library
demonstrating and discussing Braille with interested patrons.  He shared
Braille alphabet cards with many of the children who visited the library and
showed them how their names look when written in Braille.
On behalf of the Federation, McDonald also presented librarian Connie Sutton
with a recently-published biography of Louis Braille to be added to the
library's collection.  In his book "Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius,"
author Michael Melor tells the story of the life and work of the young blind
student in Paris who created the raised dot system of reading and writing.
This method of reading by touch has brought literacy to blind people all
over the world.  Drawing on primary sources that sort fact from fiction, the
book is a full-color biography that tells of Braille's life as a child and
student, talented musician, beloved teacher, astute businessman, and genius
inventor.
Saturday's event in Keyser was part of the Federation's nationwide
celebration of Louis Braille's 200th birthday.  In over one hundred
bookstores, libraries, and other venues all across the nation, National
Federation of the Blind representatives demonstrated Braille and the power
of Braille literacy.
"There can be no doubt that the ability to read and write Braille
competently and efficiently is the key to education, employment, and success
for the blind.  Despite the undisputed value of Braille, only about 10
percent of blind children in the United States are currently learning it.
These events will help raise awareness of the importance of Braille literacy
and are an integral part of our nationwide campaign to reverse the downward
trend in Braille literacy and to ensure that equal opportunities in
education and employment are available to all of the nation's blind," said
Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind.
"We're grateful to Connie for enabling us to celebrate Louis Braille's
birthday with patrons of the library," McDonald said.  "As Americans
celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, I hope they will
also take time to learn more about another heroic individual who was born
the same year." McDonald and his wife Karen are devoted advocates on behalf
of Braille literacy.  Throughout the coming year, they plan to participate
in other public awareness efforts as part of the National Federation of the
Blind's Braille Readers are Leaders campaign.  This national initiative will
promote the importance of reading and writing Braille for blind children and
adults.  Local schools, service clubs, and other organizations and
individuals interested in learning more about Braille and its importance in
the lives of blind people are invited to contact the McDonalds at 788-0129.
Later in 2009 the United States Mint will release commemorative coins
recognizing not only Lincoln but also Louis Braille.  Proceeds from the sale
of the Louis Braille coin will support the NFB's Braille Readers Are Leaders
campaign.
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