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<div align="center"><h1><font size=5><b>PRESS RELEASE<br><br>
<br>
August 2009<br><br>
</b></font></h1></div>
<h2><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</i></b></h2> <br><br>
CONTACT: Judith Dixon, Chairperson<br><br>
Braille Authority of North America<br><br>
PHONE: 1-202-707-0722<br><br>
E-MAIL: <a href="mailto:jdix@loc.gov">jdix@loc.gov</a><br><br>
<br><br>
<div align="center"><h2><b>BANA Sponsors Open Forum and Holds Fall
Meeting</i></b></h2></div>
<br><br>
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) will hold its fall meeting
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from September 25-27, 2009. This meeting is
being hosted by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), a BANA
member organization.<br><br>
<br><br>
A centerpiece of the two and a half day meeting will be the Open Forum,
which BANA holds during each of its semiannual meetings.<br><br>
<br><br>
Saturday, September 26, 2009, 10:00 a.m-12:00 p.m. <br><br>
BANA Open Forum -- Tell it to BANA! <br><br>
<br><br>
Location: <br><br>
5<sup>th</sup> Floor Colloquium Room<br><br>
W.W. Posvar Hall (School of Education Building)<br><br>
230 South Bouquet Street<br><br>
University of Pittsburgh<br><br>
<br><br>
Judith Dixon, BANA Chair, and the other members of the Braille Authority
of North America are extending an invitation to this forum because we
want to hear from braille readers (of all ages) and from educators,
transcribers, proofreaders, and parents regarding their thoughts about
braille. There will be plenty of opportunity for participants to learn
more about how BANA functions and about current BANA projects. Don't miss
this opportunity to ask questions and voice your opinions on braille by
attending this Open Forum. To reserve your spot at the Forum and to help
ensure accurate counts for handouts, contact Frances Mary D'Andrea at
412-521-5797 or e-mail fmd22@pitt.edu no later than Monday, September 14.
<br><br>
<br><br>
The three-day fall board meeting of the Braille Authority of North
America will be held at the University of Pittsburgh, in Posvar Hall in
the 5<sup>th</sup> Floor Colloquium Room. The BANA meeting begins at 9:00
a.m. on Friday, September 25, and ends at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, September
27th. <br><br>
<br><br>
Guests are welcome to attend any portion of the BANA meeting and observe
the deliberations. Space is limited, so to reserve a seat, please contact
BANA Chair Judith Dixon to register your desire to observe any or all of
the BANA proceedings.<br><br>
<br><br>
The mission and purpose of the Braille Authority of North America are to
assure literacy for tactile readers through the standardization of
braille and/or tactile graphics. BANA promotes and facilitates the use,
teaching and production of braille. It publishes rules, interprets and
renders opinions pertaining to braille in all existing codes. It deals
with codes now in existence or to be developed in the future, in
collaboration with other countries using English braille. In exercising
its function and authority, BANA considers the effects of its decisions
on other existing braille codes and formats; the ease of production by
various methods; and acceptability to readers.<br><br>
<br><br>
For additional resource information, visit
<a href="http://www.brailleauthority.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.brailleauthority.org</a>.<br><br>
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