[Ohio-talk] 2012 NFB BELL Program?

[Everett Gavel]

Hi Emily, and All,

 

Thanks for the further description and help
understanding the program better. You said two things I
was personally looking for, which helped me: 

 

You said, "...it was long enough to change attitudes
and instill a love of braille in children," and,
"...it's been found that while the NFB BELL program is
great for low vision kids who aren't necessarily
getting enough braille in their local schools, it's
also a great refresher course and way to introduce
positive philosophy to blind kids who know braille."

 

Additionally, I was reminded last night that my
soon-to-be stepdaughter Rebekah was in the CCB's teen
program this past summer, and for her week-long
work-program ended up working in Colorado's BELL
program -- and absolutely loved it. I'm going to be
getting more details from her today, as to why. ;-)

 

You also said, "...and it does make a difference in the
lives of blind children." That's what matters. That's
what it's all about. Thanks again.

 

I look forward to hearing more from this affiliate on
the BELL program. And all, please forgive me if this is
old news to you and we've discusssed it to death or
whatever. It's one of many great things the NFB is
doing, and sometimes things get bypassed in the
shuffle. This hit me last night in a way it hasn't
previously. It has my attention at the moment, and so
I'm inquiring further is all. I know we most likely
don't have any budget for it right now. But the future,
well, I'll leave that up to God. He knows what He
wants, and He knows what we need. ;-)

 

Thanks again, Ms. Gibbs. 

 

 

Strive On!

Everett

 

 

 

-----original message----- 

From: Gibbs, Emily [mailto:egibbs at nfb.org] 

 

Hello Ohio!

 

All the information about the BELL program including
information about past programs is on the website at
www.nfb.org/BELL.  I'd also like to tell you about it.

 

The Bell program started with the Maryland affiliate in
2008.   Maryland planned 2 weeks of intensive braille
education for low vision kids.  These were kids who
don't necessarily get braille in their schools.  It was
a very successful program and in 2009 it was adopted by
the NFB Jernigan Institute.  The NFBJI hired three
Teachers of Blind Students to work that summer and plan
a curriculum that then could be used at the satellite
sites to teach braille lessons.  The teachers, one of
which is now Director of Education, Natalie Shaheen,
worked in both Maryland and Georgia that summer
teaching braille to kids.  They found that while 2
weeks seemed like a short time, it was long enough to
change attitudes and instill a love of braille in
children.   The program a success and expanded again in
2010.  Georgia added a second program site while Texas,
Utah and Virginia came on as additional BELL sites.
All states were provided the curriculum and a 2 day
training at the NFBJI about BELL with past
participants.  New states received an on-site TVI to
help make programs run smoothly.  Finally, this past
year, 2011, BELL expanded again.  Programs were held in
seven states, Maryland, Georgia, Texas, Utah, Virginia,
Colorado and North Carolina.  Several states had
multiple BELL locations.  Georgia and Texas had two,
Virginia had three.

            Through the course of this program it's
been found that while the NFB BELL program is great for
low vision kids who aren't necessarily getting enough
braille in their local schools, it's also a great
refresher course and way to introduce positive
philosophy to blind kids who know braille.  The
curriculum is flexible and can be adjusted whether the
children registered for BELL are multiply impaired,
special needs or gifted.

            If Ohio is selected as a BELL state, you
will receive support from the NFBJI in the form of a
full curriculum, suggested budget, registration
documents, timeline, on-site training at the NFBJI
about the NFB BELL program and a TVI at your program to
help make sure it's a success its first year.

            This program is inspirational, it is
exceptional and it does make a difference in the lives
of blind children.  I'm sorry that didn't come out in
my first email.

 

Please let me know any other way I can help you.

Emily Gibbs  

 

 

-----original message----- 

From: Everett Gavel [mailto:everett at everettgavel.com] 

 

Hi All,

Forgive me, but, what's the point of this program? I
haven't been keeping up with it if there's been
previous discussion on the BELL program. It's rather
brief and vague below. We could get this here for
Ohio's kids to help learn and use braille. I get that.
I'd like that. But, why this over other programs and
efforts. 

I get that it's to help kids learn to read, not
continue their reading. But it's so vague below that it
only has one sentence of actual program description. It
says, "The Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning
(BELL) Program is an intense two-week program that
introduces children to Braille through engaging
activities." 

Do we decide what 'activities' we use? Is there a list
of ideas to choose from? Is there a site where we can
go to learn about others' involvement and efforts in
the past on this program? Such as the section of the
site where all efforts NFB chapters put forth in Meet
the Blind month are aggregated in a long list on one
page?