[Nfbv-announce] National Federation of the Blind Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Louis Braille

[Fredric Schroeder]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind 

(410) 659-9314, ext. 2330

(410) 262-1281 (cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org

 


 


National Federation of the Blind Celebrates 
the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Louis Braille


 

Events to be Held Nationwide in Over One Hundred Locations

 

Baltimore, Maryland (December 29, 2008): The National Federation of the
Blind (NFB), the nation's largest and oldest organization of blind people,
will hold events nationwide on Sunday, January 4, 2009, to promote Braille
literacy and help celebrate the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of
Louis Braille (1809-1852), the inventor of the reading and writing code for
the blind that bears his name.  In over one hundred bookstores, libraries,
and other venues all across the nation, National Federation of the Blind
representatives will demonstrate Braille and the power of Braille literacy.

 

"There can be no doubt that the ability to read and write Braille
competently and efficiently is the key to education, employment, and success
for the blind.  Despite the undisputed value of Braille, only about 10
percent of blind children in the United States are currently learning it.
These events will help raise awareness of the importance of Braille literacy
and are an integral part of our nationwide campaign to reverse the downward
trend in Braille literacy and to ensure that equal opportunities in
education and employment are available to all of the nation's blind," said
Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind.  

 

The events are being held nationwide as part of the National Federation of
the Blind's Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, a national initiative to
promote the importance of reading and writing Braille for blind children and
adults.  The Braille Readers are Leaders campaign kicked off in July of 2008
with the unveiling of the design of a commemorative coin to be minted in
2009 in recognition of the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis
Braille.  The commemorative coin design will also be previewed at the
events.

 

 

For more information about the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, please
visit  <http://www.braille.org/> www.braille.org.  To find out about events
in your area, please contact Fredric Schroeder at
<mailto:fschroeder at nfb.org> fschroeder at nfb.org.

 

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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.  Please
visit our Web site:  <http://www.nfb.org> www.nfb.org.

 

 

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