[Njabs-talk] NFB Launches 28th Annual Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest

[EVELYN E. VALDEZ]

This is to alert everyone to the launch of the Braille Readersare 
 Leaders contest for 2010-2011. I would appreciate it if you can 
 circulate this message. It would be great if we had good 
 representation from New Jersey both from children and adults. Entering 
 the contest is fun and it's a good way to practice Braille skills. The 
 Braille Division will recognize the contest participants from New 
 Jersey after the participant list is published.

 Mary Jo Partyka
President, NJ Association to Promote the Use of Braille


 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 Launches 28th Annual Braille Readers 
 Are Leaders Contest

Baltimore, Maryland (October 1, 2010): The National Federation of the 
 Blind (NFB), in conjunction with the National Association to Promote 
 the Use of Braille (NAPUB) and the National Organization of Parents of 
 Blind Children, today launched the 28th annual Braille Readers Are 
 Leaders contest for students grades K-12.  The contest, which seeks to 
 help develop and encourage blind children's Braille skills, awards 
 cash prizes to blind students based on the number of Braille pages 
 they read.

As in previous years, contest participants will read as many Braille 
 pages as they can in two months (November 1, 2010, through January 4,
 2011) to compete for ribbons, cash prizes, and a trip to the 2011 NFB 
 National Convention in Orlando, Florida.  In addition to the contest 
 for K-12 students, the NFB is again offering the Braille Readers Are 
 Leaders contest for adult Braille readers.  Adults will compete for 
 cash prizes, national recognition, and bragging rights!

"As blind people, we know from personal and empirical evidence that 
 Braille literacy is a key component of success for the blind," said 
 Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind and a 
 lifelong Braille reader.  "Studies have shown that among blind people 
 who are employed, approximately 85 percent read Braille.  Encouraging 
 blind children to begin learning and reading Braille as early as 
 possible is one of the best things parents and teachers can do to 
 insure the child's future success.  That is why the National 
 Federation of the Blind has created and continues to sponsor these 
 important Braille literacy programs."

Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest begins 
 October 1, 2010.  For detailed information about the contest please 
 visit www.nfb.org/bral, e-mail 
BrailleReadersAreLeaders at nfb.
 org, or call (410) 659-9314, extension 2293.