[Pibe-division] National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam Ends with March and Ceremony in Washington

[Freeh, Jessica]

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 Youth Slam
Ends with March and Ceremony in Washington

NASA to Present Braille Coins That Flew in Space

Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2009): Two hundred 
blind high school students and their mentors from 
across the nation will close out the second 
National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam in 
the nation’s capitol this afternoon. The students 
will begin their visit to Washington at 2 p.m. 
with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial followed by 
a march down the mall to the brand new Capitol 
Visitors Center, where the closing ceremonies of 
the Youth Slam will take place at 6 p.m. The 
closing festivities will include a presentation 
by the students about their week of scientific 
study, as well as a special presentation by 
senior officials of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration. NASA will present the NFB 
with two Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver 
Dollars that flew aboard space shuttle Atlantis 
on its mission to the Hubble Space Telescope in 
May 2009. Astronaut Gregory H. Johnson will be 
among the dignitaries in attendance.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind, said: "The National 
Federation of the Blind is thrilled that our 
second Youth Slam will conclude with a ceremony 
in our nation’s capitol and will feature a 
presentation by leaders in the field of space 
exploration. This is doubtless an experience that 
the Youth Slam students­and everyone involved 
with the Youth Slam­will never forget. This 
closing event will symbolize the belief of the 
National Federation of the Blind, and all of our 
partners in the Youth Slam, that blind people, 
like everyone else, have a spirit of adventure, a 
willingness to explore new ideas and new worlds, 
and a boundless capacity to imagine a future full of possibility."

"I’m so proud of all the Youth Slam partners here 
today and the work you do every day, in every 
way. I’m also so proud of the students who’ve 
traveled from all over the country for a week of 
intense STEM training. You have so much to offer 
and deserve the opportunity to earn your stars in 
STEM fields. I am committed to making sure you 
have that opportunity," said Senator Mikulski, 
Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations 
Subcommittee that funds NASA. "I was proud to put 
$600,000 in the federal checkbook to support 
NFB's Youth Slam and to develop teaching and 
training techniques for the blind and visually 
impaired. I will continue to fight for federal 
investments in key programs like this one.





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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National 
Federation of the Blind is the largest and most 
influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States. The NFB improves 
blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, 
research, technology, and programs encouraging 
independence and self-confidence. It is the 
leading force in the blindness field today and 
the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 
the NFB opened the National Federation of the 
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and 
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.