[Ohio-Talk] BELL

[Richard Payne]

Since its founding in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind and its
affiliates (including the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio) has been
committed to creating opportunities for blind children to learn Braille and
the many other blindness skills they will need in order to live full and
productive lives as blind adults. One of the programs we have used to
accomplish this is the BELL Braille Enrichment For Literacy and Learning
Academy. It has become clear to us that we will not be able to move forward
with our plans to conduct a BELL Academy in mid June at the Ohio State
School for the Blind as previously announced. We apologize to any families
who are disappointed or inconvenienced by this decision. We regret missing
the opportunity to get to know and work with your blind student. Finally,
thank you to all of the volunteers who were already making plans to work in
the BELL Academy this coming summer. 

Our commitment to the blind youth of Ohio is that, having now made this
decision, we will begin considering the changes we must make in order to
ensure that there will be a BELL Academy in the summer of 2026. We will seek
the advice and input of families of blind students and our friends and
partners in the blindness field. We are determined to bring the people,
resources, creativity, and innovation together in a way that will ensure
that we have a successful BELL Academy in 2026. Listen for the bells to
begin ringing soon, and have a terrific summer. 


Richard Payne, President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

937/829/3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com> 

www.nfbohio.org <http://www.nfbohio.org> 

The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.


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