[Nmabs] How many children in America are not taught to read?

[NMABS President]

hi all, please forward this email to all you know, so they can buy the coin.
Thanks
Tara


On 7/31/09, David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com> wrote:
>  From Dr. Maurer:
>
> Subject: [Brl-campaign] How many children in America are not taught to read?
>
> The answer is 90 percent if the children are
> blind.  Most Americans are shocked to hear this
> statistic.  And we should be.  The blind read and write using
> Braille, so why is our educational system failing
> to teach Braille to so many children?  Why are
> these children being denied the opportunities that come
> with a proper education?  What if you could not
> read and write?  Where would you be today?
>
> There are three primary reasons for this
> educational crisis: (1) there are not enough
> Braille teachers; (2) some teachers of blind children have not received
> enough training; and (3) many educators do not
> think Braille instruction is even necessary.
>
> To bring critically-needed attention to this
> educational crisis, the United States Congress
> authorized the minting of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial
> Silver Dollar with a portion of the sale of each
> coin going toward a revolutionary and
> comprehensive Braille literacy campaign.
>
> Learning to read and write is fundamental to
> education, which in turn is paramount to full and
> equal participation in American society.  This coin, the
> first U.S. coin to have proper tactile Braille,
> symbolizes independence, opportunity, and the
> potential of blind people to make significant contributions
> to society when they learn to read and write
> using Braille.  To learn more, read our report
> The Braille Literacy Crisis in America,
> or watch our video
> Making Change with a Dollar.
>
> Please purchase this unique and beautiful coin now
>   and help solve this educational crisis for blind children in America.
>
> The law authorizing this 2009 silver dollar
> requires that any coins not sold by midnight on
> December 31, 2009, be melted down.  Time is of the essence­­a
> 90 percent illiteracy rate is not acceptable and
> the opportunity to purchase this coin will soon be gone.
>
> Be part of the solution, give the gift of
> literacy, and create new opportunities.
> Please buy the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar now.
>
> Marc Maurer, President
>
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
>
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