[nfbmi-talk] High Priority: braille coin project, Activity Overview/first e-mail of three

[Mary Ann Rojek]

    Hello everyone,
I'm sending information regarding the braille
 coin project in three e-mails.
The information entitled
Activity Overview is in this e-mail.  The second e-mail is entitled January 4, 2009
Literacy Event
Promotional Materials Request Form.  The third e-mail is entitled sample letter to a bookstore that can be sent to a Barnes and Noble or other bookstore.

Feel free to distribute this information to anyone else
who would be willing to take part in promoting the braille coin project.

Thank you very much in advance for your willingness to help.  If you have questions
regarding the project or ideas for promoting braille literacy, feel free to contact
me by e-mail or phone.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Rojek
Braille Coin Coordinator for Michigan
e-mail:
brightsmile1953 at comcast.net
cell phone: 517-879-9595


Activity Overview
Literacy Event for January 4, 2009
Purpose:
*
To demonstrate the necessity of Braille in the lives of the blind
*
To spread awareness of the literacy crisis among today's blind youth
*
      To promote the National Federation of the Blind
Venue:
This document is written primarily to apply to Barnes and Noble bookstores. For those
cities which do not possess a Barnes and Noble, however, this document can be applied
to any local bookstore with a minimum of modification. For maximum effect, the event
should take place for at least four hours. To reach a greater number of people, we
suggest beginning the event no earlier than 12:00.
Scheduling:
Community events at Barnes and Noble stores are scheduled with a Community Resource
Manager. When you contact the store where you would like to hold your event, ask
to speak with that person. We suggest strongly emphasizing the literacy angle of
the event, as this will be the most relevant issue to the store.
Your local Barnes and Noble should be able to provide you with a table and chairs,
but you will be responsible for providing any of the materials suggested below.
Suggested Interactive Materials:
*
Slate and stylus
*
      Braille label tape
*
      Perkins Braille Writer
*
      Index cards (3 by 5 minimum)
*
      Braille notetaker
*
8 ½ by 11 or 11 ½ by 11 paper for larger demonstrations (math problems, pictures,
etc.)
*
      Twin Vision® or adapted book
*
      Braille playing cards
*
Labeled objects, such as cans, timer, or clothing tags
*
      Anything else which clearly demonstrates Braille
Promotional Materials:
Each state affiliate can request activity packets free of charge from the National
Center. All packet request forms must be submitted to
emakowske at nfb.org
 by 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2008. All promotional materials required by the event
will be contained within these packets.
Each packet will include:
Forms for collecting e-mail addresses
New Braille alphabet cards
Take-one flyer explaining the campaign and promoting the
www.braille.org
 Web site
Framed poster for displaying at the event
Labeled donation box
Louis Braille Commemorative Coin pins to identify NFB representatives at the event
Collecting Contact Information:
We need to build a large database of people who want to be informed about the progress
of the Braille Readers are Leaders initiative. Please encourage customers to visit
www.braille.org
 and ask if they would like to have their e-mail addresses signed up for news about
the initiative. Any email addresses you are given can be compiled and forwarded to
your state's Braille campaign committee coordinator (the NFB does not sell or trade
e-mail addresses.)
Procedure:
This event is designed to promote Braille literacy and to spread awareness among
the public about the literacy crisis. To that end, the event should serve as a demonstration
of the uses of Braille and the capabilities of blind people, as well as an opportunity
for the public to experiment with our various adaptive devices and equipment.
We leave the exact structure of the event to each local chapter; however, we have
placed some suggestions below to aid in planning your event. Please feel free to
change or amend any of the below to suit your purposes.
Getting the Kids Involved:
Because students are the largest population to be affected by the sweeping changes
we plan to make for Braille literacy, why not let them in on the action? Besides
which, kids reading Braille are a huge draw for people. If you have interested young
people, have them read Braille at your table to draw in customers.
Braille Demo:
It's
 one thing to have lots of equipment and books at your table but quite another for
people to see them in action. While you are at the table, and not directly involved
in speaking with anyone, feel free to use the equipment. Write or read Braille, make
labels, play with Braille cards.
Reading a Story:
Especially if you have a Twin Vision®
 book, you can catch children's attention by reading a picture book out loud. Try
reading with any interested children, trading off pages.
Happy Birthday:
It's Louis Braille's two hundredth birthday, after all, so why not celebrate with
some sweets? If members of your local chapter are good cooks, ask them to bake cupcakes
for the birthday celebration. Give them away or sell them; it's up to you.
Louis Braille Picture Book:
The National Braille press recently released a picture book about the life of Louis
Braille. The Braille alphabet, along with numbers, appears in both print and Braille
on a special page at the back of the book. The book retails for $6.95 and can be
purchased at the following link. It can make an attractive addition to your table.
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/LOUIS.html
Brailling Names:
Everyone likes to see their name in Braille. Offer to Braille names for people either
on an alphabet card or on an index card. If they like, and you have the time, you
might teach them how to Braille their own names.