[rehab] National Federation of the Blind Launches 28th Annual Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest

[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)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org



National Federation of the Blind Launches 28th Annual
Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest



Baltimore, Maryland (October 1, 2010): The 
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), in 
conjunction with the National Association to 
Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB) and the 
National Organization of Parents of Blind 
Children, today launched the 28th annual Braille 
Readers Are Leaders contest for students grades 
K–12.  The contest, which seeks to help develop 
and encourage blind children’s Braille skills, 
awards cash prizes to blind students based on the 
number of Braille pages they read.



As in previous years, contest participants will 
read as many Braille pages as they can in two 
months (November 1, 2010, through January 4, 
2011) to compete for ribbons, cash prizes, and a 
trip to the 2011 NFB National Convention in 
Orlando, Florida.  In addition to the contest for 
K–12 students, the NFB is again offering the 
Braille Readers Are Leaders contest for adult 
Braille readers.  Adults will compete for cash 
prizes, national recognition, and bragging rights!



“As blind people, we know from personal and 
empirical evidence that Braille literacy is a key 
component of success for the blind,” said Dr. 
Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation 
of the Blind and a lifelong Braille 
reader.  “Studies have shown that among blind 
people who are employed, approximately 85 percent 
read Braille.  Encouraging blind children to 
begin learning and reading Braille as early as 
possible is one of the best things parents and 
teachers can do to insure the child’s future 
success.  That is why the National Federation of 
the Blind has created and continues to sponsor 
these important Braille literacy programs.”



Registration for the Braille Readers Are Leaders 
contest begins October 1, 2010.  For detailed 
information about the contest please visit 
<http://www.nfb.org/bral>www.nfb.org/bral, e-mail 
<mailto:BrailleReadersAreLeaders at nfb.org>BrailleReadersAreLeaders at nfb.org, 
or call (410) 659-9314, extension 2293.



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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 <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = 
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" 
/>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.





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