From JFreeh at nfb.org Sat Aug 1 20:10:42 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:10:42 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] National Federation of the Blind Files Complaint with Maryland Department of Education Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Melissa Riccobono, President National Federation of the Blind of Maryland (410) 235-3073 president at nfbmd.org Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, Attorney (410) 962-1030 skw at browngold.com National Federation of the Blind Files Complaint with Maryland Department of Education Advocates Say Baltimore Schools Not Educating Blind Children Baltimore, Maryland (July 29, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind and its Maryland affiliate have filed a complaint with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) alleging violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and parallel state law by the Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS). The complaint addresses systemic problems that prevent blind students in the BCPS from receiving a free, appropriate public education as required by law. Among other things, the BCPS has failed to: · Properly assess students who are blind or have low vision to determine their educational needs; · Properly train blind students in the skills of blindness, especially Braille and travel with a white cane; and · Provide access to appropriate assistive technology, such as Braille printers, Braille note-taking devices, print magnification devices, and text-to-speech screen access technology for computers. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Blind students can compete on terms of equality with their sighted peers and go on to lead productive and successful lives, but only if they are provided with an equal education. The National Federation of the Blind will do everything in our power to ensure that every blind child receives the educational services he or she needs to succeed, and that is why we have taken this action.” Melissa Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, said: “Baltimore schools have produced blind students who are functionally illiterate, cannot travel independently outside of their homes, and do not possess other critical skills that they need to compete on an equal basis with their sighted peers. The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland has a responsibility to advocate for the needs of blind students, and we cannot and will not tolerate the failure of the BCPS to abide by state and federal law and provide these students with the education they need in order to live independent and productive lives. We hope that the BCPS will accept our proposals to expand and improve their programs for blind students and work with us to ensure that blind children in Baltimore receive the equal education to which they are entitled.” A press conference about this action will be held today at 1:45 p.m. in the Members Hall of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. ### No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.32/2266 - Release Date: 07/27/09 05:58:00 From JFreeh at nfb.org Sat Aug 1 20:53:30 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:53:30 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam Ends with March and Ceremony in Washington Message-ID: 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. # # # 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. From info at michaelhingson.com Sun Aug 2 22:54:26 2009 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:54:26 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] KnfbReader Mobile pricing and seminar announcements Message-ID: Just before the NFB national convention I announced that the price for the KnfbReader when purchased from the NFB and The Michael Hingson Group was decreasing. Since there have been some questions about pricing after the convention I want to clarify that this price decrease is permanent so long as we continue to receive our present costs from our suppliers. The pricing is as follows: The Basic KnfbReader Mobile including software and the Nokia N82 phone, $1,370.00. Talks screen reader optional add-on when purchased at the same time as the Reader, $225.00. Talks screen reader when purchased at another time, $295.00. MobileSpeak screen reader purchased at any time, $295.00. WayFinder Access GPS option for the KnfbReader system, $395.00. NEW! Extended battery for the Nokia N82, $35.00. New! Bluetooth headset with ear buds, model BH-201, $50.00. New! Nokia Bluetooth headset with ear covers, $75.00. New! Nokia Bluetooth keyboard model SU-8w, $125.00. All prices are plus shipping and tax in California. If you have questions about the Reader or would like to order one please email me at info at michaelhingson.com and I will get back to you or have one of our NFB KnfbReader dealers contact you. Also, don't forget that the National Federation of the Blind has a %3 low interest loan program for those who need help in purchasing the Reader. I also want to ask if anyone would be interested in attending either an upcoming online audio seminar or a conference call teleseminar to demo the KnfbReader Mobile? If so, please email me off list at info at michaelhingson.com and tell me some times convenient for you to attend either demo and which one you would be interested in attending. Finally, over the summer many readers were sold at the various national organizational conventions. We are contemplating holding online or conference call training sessions to help people get started using their Readers. Please email me at info at michaelhingson.com if you would like to attend either kind of seminar. Please include times convenient for you to attend and which kind of seminar would be best for you. All seminars are free to everyone. I will announce the status of the seminars as soon as I get a sense from you about when and how to hold them. Please send this on to others whom you think might be interested in knowing more about the KnfbReader Mobile. Happy reading to all. Thanks for your attention and time. Best, Michael Hingson The Michael Hingson Group "Speaking with Vision" Michael Hingson, President (415) 827-4084 info at michaelhingson.com www.michaelhingson.com for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit: http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4296 (20090801) __________ From PMaurer at nfb.org Thu Aug 6 15:58:58 2009 From: PMaurer at nfb.org (Maurer, Patricia) Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:58:58 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] How many children in America are not taught to read? Message-ID: ---------- From: Marc Maurer [mailto:outreach at nfb.org] Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:14 PM To: Maurer, Patricia Subject: How many children in America are not taught to read? The answer is 90 percent if the children are blind. Most Americans are shocked to hear this statistic. And we should be. The blind read and write using Braille, so why is our educational system failing to teach Braille to so many children? Why are these children being denied the opportunities that come with a proper education? What if you could not read and write? Where would you be today? There are three primary reasons for this educational crisis: (1) there are not enough Braille teachers; (2) some teachers of blind children have not received enough training; and (3) many educators do not think Braille instruction is even necessary. To bring critically-needed attention to this educational crisis, the United States Congress authorized the minting of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar with a portion of the sale of each coin going toward a revolutionary and comprehensive Braille literacy campaign. Learning to read and write is fundamental to education, which in turn is paramount to full and equal participation in American society. This coin, the first U.S. coin to have proper tactile Braille, symbolizes independence, opportunity, and the potential of blind people to make significant contributions to society when they are taught to read and write using Braille. To learn more, read our report The Braille Literacy Crisis in America, or watch our video Making Change with a Dollar. Please purchase this unique and beautiful coin now and help solve this educational crisis for blind children in America. The law authorizing this 2009 silver dollar requires that any coins not sold by midnight on December 31, 2009, be melted down. Time is of the essence--a 90 percent illiteracy rate is not acceptable and the opportunity to purchase this coin will soon be gone. Be part of the solution. Give the gift of literacy. Create new opportunities. Buy the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar today. Marc Maurer, President NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From info at michaelhingson.com Fri Aug 7 20:44:03 2009 From: info at michaelhingson.com (Michael Hingson) Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:44:03 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] Free KNFB Reader Mobile Training Available Message-ID: LEARNING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OPERATING THE KNFB READER MOBILE If you have a KnfbReader Mobile and need some help in perfecting your operating skills this email is for you. I sent out an email last week asking if people would be interested in participating in a teleseminar to give basic training on how to use the KnfbReader Mobile. I received many positive responses. Most of the emails asked for a seminar by conference call rather than through a pc conference room. We are pleased to make this happen. On Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 5PM Pacific time, 6PM Mountain time, 7PM Central time, and at 8PM Eastern time you are welcome to dial in and participate in a KnfbReader training session. Simply call (218) 486-1600. Then when the system answers dial the access code 881686 followed by #. Finally, please please announce your name as you enter the conference. This session is intended more for current users of the system rather than for people who are interested in buying one and who wish a full product demonstration. We will conduct demo conference calls later. If you wish a demo and still want to listen into this call you are welcome, but please realize that we will be dealing with subjects and information relating to how to use the Reader and not issues relating to simple demonstrations of the unit. For current users, this is intended to be a discussion and not a one sided lecture. I encourage discussion as there often is not one single way to handle a problem. If you have specific questions you wish answered during the call please feel free to email them to me before the conference. Please RSVP if you will be attending. I look forward to seeing you next Tuesday. Happy reading, Mike Hingson The Michael Hingson Group "Speaking with Vision" Michael Hingson, President (415) 827-4084 info at michaelhingson.com www.michaelhingson.com for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit: http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com From dandrews at visi.com Wed Aug 19 02:07:29 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:07:29 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] Help Make A Difference in the education of Blind Students Message-ID: If you are ready to help make a difference in the education of blind students, then this message is for you! This fall, the National Federation of the Blind is going to kick-off an exciting new program designed to attract both perspective and current teachers into the field of blindness education. Specifically, we need volunteers for the following roles-- *Presenters: As a recruitmentPresentor, you will work with your local universities to make presentations to teacher candidates. We will provide you email templates that you can use to establish a university contact, a few presentation format options that you can easily customize to complement your personal style, and additional materials that you can use to promote this outstanding career. Blindness Education Mentors: Blindness Education Mentors serve as a local resource to teacher candidates. Your main role is to establish a connection between the future teacher and the National Federation of the Blind. Parents of blind children, current or former teachers of blind students, and others who are passionate about the education of blind children are encouraged to become mentors. Career Fair Recruitment Representatives: For this role, we need individuals who would be interested in promoting this teaching option at college, high school or community career fairs. For each of these opportunities, you will receive strong support from our national office. We will provide you training, professional outreach materials, ready-to-use presentation outlines, and related support. This project has the potential to revolutionize blindness education. Please consider lending your time and talents to ensuring that the next generation of blind students receives a first-class education! For more information on how you can make a difference, please contact Rosy Carranza at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2283, or via email at rcarranza at nfb.org. From TEOlivero at nfb.org Thu Aug 20 02:51:51 2009 From: TEOlivero at nfb.org (Olivero, Treva) Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:51:51 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] Braille Reading Pals Fall Registration is Now Open! Message-ID: From: Neubeck, Emily Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:33 AM Subject: Braille Reading Pals Fall Registration is Now Open! [] [] [] Announcing Registration is Open! Registration for the Fall 2009 Braille Reading Pals Program Program: Braille Reading Pals Registration: Parents or other caregivers of children eligible for this program can register for the Fall 2009 Braille Reading Pals Program online, by fax, or through the mail, August 18, 2009, through September 24, 2009. To register online, visit our Web site: www.NFB.org/ReadingPals Sponsor: The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute in partnership with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, a division of the NFB. Program Dates: October 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009 Purpose: The purpose is two-fold: To increase parents’ knowledge about Braille and the importance of early literacy experiences for their blind children; and to help parents promote early literacy skills, a love of reading, and a positive attitude about Braille through daily reading with their blind children over a two-month period. Eligibility: Blind and low-vision children ages 0-7 and older children with developmental delays who are not yet reading. NOTE: Parental consent is required for the program if a teacher wishes to conduct the program with his/her blind student(s). Materials: Each child will receive: a print-Braille storybook to keep, a Beanie Baby stuffed animal­the “Reading Pal,” and a sheet of Braille labels with their name in Braille for mom or dad to cut out and stick onto their favorite books. For the parents: instructions and tips; a reading journal booklet and wall chart; and literature from the NFB and the National Braille Press about Braille, early literacy, and resources for buying or borrowing print-Braille storybooks. In addition, the parents of children ages 4 and older will receive literature about how to discuss and explain blindness to children. Certificates and Prizes: Those who complete the program will get a certificate and a special prize provided by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC). The prize is a tactile, print-Braille book that the parent and child can enjoy together. For more information, contact: Braille Reading Pals Program NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Jernigan Institute 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2295 E-mail: BrailleReadingPals at nfb.org * Fax: (410) 659-5129 Sponsored by the NFB Jernigan Institute with support from The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, the National Braille Press, Capstone Press Publishers, and the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Emily Neubeck Braille Reading Pals Project Assistant Jernigan Institute National Federation of the Blind 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, MD 21230-4998 Phone: 410-659-9314 ext. 2419 E-mail: eneubeck at nfb.org Website: www.nfb.org "Success and happiness are not matters of chance but choice." - Zig Ziglar image00226.gif image00226.gif image0045.gif image0045.gif image0067.gif image0067.gif image007.wmz image007.wmz image009.wmz image009.wmz image011.wmz image011.wmz -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: 1c4afb.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1679 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 1c4b1a.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2156 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 1c4b2a.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2156 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 1c4b39.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 2156 bytes Desc: not available URL: From TEOlivero at nfb.org Thu Aug 20 18:16:15 2009 From: TEOlivero at nfb.org (Olivero, Treva) Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:16:15 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] Braille Reading Pals Fall Registration Is Now Open!!! Message-ID: Announcing Registration is Open! Registration for the Fall 2009 Braille Reading Pals Program Program: Braille Reading Pals Registration: Parents or other caregivers of children eligible for this program can register for the Fall 2009 Braille Reading Pals Program online, by fax, or through the mail, August 18, 2009, through September 24, 2009. To register online, visit our Web site: www.NFB.org/ReadingPals Sponsor: The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute in partnership with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, a division of the NFB. Program Dates: October 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009 Purpose: The purpose is two-fold: To increase parents' knowledge about Braille and the importance of early literacy experiences for their blind children; and to help parents promote early literacy skills, a love of reading, and a positive attitude about Braille through daily reading with their blind children over a two-month period. Eligibility: Blind and low-vision children ages 0-7 and older children with developmental delays who are not yet reading. NOTE: Parental consent is required for the program if a teacher wishes to conduct the program with his/her blind student(s). Materials: Each child will receive: a print-Braille storybook to keep, a Beanie Baby stuffed animal-the "Reading Pal," and a sheet of Braille labels with their name in Braille for mom or dad to cut out and stick onto their favorite books. For the parents: instructions and tips; a reading journal booklet and wall chart; and literature from the NFB and the National Braille Press about Braille, early literacy, and resources for buying or borrowing print-Braille storybooks. In addition, the parents of children ages 4 and older will receive literature about how to discuss and explain blindness to children. Certificates and Prizes: Those who complete the program will get a certificate and a special prize provided by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC). The prize is a tactile, print-Braille book that the parent and child can enjoy together. For more information, contact: Braille Reading Pals Program NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Jernigan Institute 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2295 E-mail: BrailleReadingPals at nfb.org * Fax: (410) 659-5129 Sponsored by the NFB Jernigan Institute with support from The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, the National Braille Press, Capstone Press Publishers, and the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Treva E. Olivero Coordinator, Mentoring and Outreach Projects Jernigan Institute NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: (410) 659-9314 ext. 2295 Fax: (410) 659-5129 Email: teolivero at nfb.org Visit: www.nfb.org/mentoring There is a Braille literacy crisis in America. You can be part of the solution. Buy the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar now! From qmsingleton at comcast.net Sat Aug 22 17:34:00 2009 From: qmsingleton at comcast.net (Quintina M. Singleton) Date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:34:00 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] Thruoureyes with Joe Ruffalo Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Message-ID: The next Thruoureyes with Joe Ruffalo internet radio program scheduled for this coming Wednesday August 26 at 8:00 PM EST is dedicated to the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar. Mr. Ruffalo will be interviewing very special guests Dr. Fred Schroeder and Ryan Strunk. In addition to learning more about what these beautiful coins represent, we will also be provided with more information regarding the various ways we can all participate in the promotion and support of the revolutionary Braille literacy campaign. To listen to the program via telephone, please call 1-605-475-6333, access code: 833520. To access the show online visit www.thruoureyes.org/jaws.html The call in number for anyone interested in asking a question during the interview is 1-888-572-0141 From JFreeh at nfb.org Tue Aug 25 14:58:05 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:58:05 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] National Federation of the Blind and Blind Social Security Beneficiary File Complaint with Social Security Administration Message-ID: 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 and Blind Social Security Beneficiary File Complaint with Social Security Administration SSA's Inaccessible Web Site Discriminates Against the Blind Baltimore, Maryland (August 24, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people and the leading advocate for equal access by the blind to information technology, and Margot Downey, a blind Social Security beneficiary from Buffalo, New York, filed an administrative complaint today with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The complaint asserts that the SSA's Web site violates Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act because it is inaccessible to blind people who use text-to-speech screen access technology or Braille displays to access information on the Internet. Because of the inaccessibility of the SSA Web site, blind people cannot fill out forms and questionnaires on the site or access information about their benefits. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "In an age where the Internet is a part of everyday life, blind people must have equal access to the information and resources provided on the World Wide Web. In particular, the United States government has a legal and moral obligation to ensure that the information it provides on the Internet is equally accessible to all Americans, including the blind. The National Federation of the Blind demands equal access for blind Social Security beneficiaries and will tolerate nothing less." Margot Downey, a blind Social Security beneficiary from Buffalo, New York, said: "As an active and productive blind individual, I depend on the Internet to access and update all kinds of information, including the Social Security and Medicare benefits I receive. I hope that the Social Security Administration will take swift action to correct the accessibility problems with its Web site so that blind Americans like me will have equal access to the valuable information the SSA Web site contains." Complainants are represented by attorneys Daniel F. Goldstein and Allison L. Harper of Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, 120 E. Baltimore Street, Suite 1700, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, (410) 962-1030, fax: (410) 385-0869, dfg at browngold.com, ah at browngold.com, www.browngold.com. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JFreeh at nfb.org Tue Aug 25 21:49:28 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:49:28 -0500 Subject: [Sd-talk] Unable to Read or Write, New High School Graduate Details Struggle Message-ID: 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 Unable to Read or Write, New High School Graduate Details Struggle Baltimore, Maryland (August 25, 2009): Denzel Ferges graduated from high school on June 6. But when he was asked to address a gathering of students on July 29, he had to memorize his speech rather than reading it. Denzel does not have enough vision to read print effectively, and he was not taught to read Braille. For all practical purposes, he graduated from high school unable to read. “I wish that I could be reading my remarks to you in Braille, but I am not able to do so because I was not given the opportunity to learn Braille in school,” Ferges told an audience of two hundred blind students and their mentors gathered for the National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam, a summer science academy for blind high school students. “So with that being said, I have to seek further training to learn Braille and other important blindness skills.” Denzel is not alone. In fact, nine out of ten blind children in America’s public schools do not know and are not being taught how to read and write using Braille. But reading Braille, especially when learned at an early age, is just as effective as reading print. Braille is also the only system that allows blind people to write and to read what they have written with speed and efficiency. That is why the National Federation of the Blind wants to make sure that young people like Denzel graduate from high school with the ability to read and write, and that every blind child in America and every adult losing vision is given the opportunity to learn Braille. But blind Americans need your help to address the crisis in Braille literacy. Congress authorized the minting in 2009 of 400,000 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars to mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809–1852) and to support the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind­the nation’s leading advocate for Braille­to promote literacy among blind Americans. This unique and beautiful commemorative coin is the first U.S. currency to feature tactile, readable Braille. These coins will no longer be available after December 31, 2009. Today the National Federation of the Blind is kicking off a national campaign in which its affiliates in each state (plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) and over seven hundred local chapters will sell 100,000 coins by November 1, 2009. A portion of the money from sales of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar will be used to support the NFB’s “Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign, a national initiative created to double the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015, improve certification standards for teachers of Braille, and conduct innovative programs to support Braille literacy. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “The Braille Readers are Leaders literacy campaign and the sale of these beautiful Louis Braille silver dollars are among the most important initiatives the National Federation of the Blind has ever undertaken. The education of tens of thousands of blind children across the nation and the successful rehabilitation of adults who are losing vision depend on our success. We are asking all Americans to help us in ensuring literacy, education, productivity, and success for every blind American by purchasing a Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar today.” Those interested in ordering a Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar should visit www.braille.org or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). For more information about the National Federation of the Blind and the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, visit www.braille.org. ### 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. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: