[Oabs] [Fwd: [Ohio-talk] National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Release of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar]

Thu Mar 26 15:44:38 UTC 2009

Hey guys,

Someone else is probably going to beat me to forwarding this on but it's 
worth being read several times.  :P.  We're all college students so 
delving into our pockets for money is often difficult but I would ask 
all of you who are able to support the initiative to order a coin!  I 
will be placing my order as soon as possible.

Thanks,
Robby

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Ohio-talk] National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Release 
of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar
Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:45:25 -0500
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
Reply-To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List 
<ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, ext. 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind Celebrates
Release of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar
NFB Jernigan Institute Releases
Report to the Nation on Braille Literacy Crisis

Baltimore, Maryland (March 26, 2009): The
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the
nation’s oldest and largest organization of blind people and the leading
advocate for Braille literacy, today celebrates
the release of the 2009 Louis Braille
Bicentennial Silver Dollar.  This historic commemorative coin, the
first-ever U.S. coin to contain tactile, readable
Braille, will be launched at a special ceremony
at the headquarters of the National Federation of the
Blind in Baltimore beginning at 10:00 a.m. on March 26, 2009.

The NFB Jernigan Institute, the research and
training arm of the National Federation of the
Blind, will also release a report to the nation on the literacy
crisis facing the blind in America.  “The Braille
Literacy Crisis in America: Facing the Truth,
Reversing the Trend, Empowering the Blind” describes the
factors that have contributed to the shocking
illiteracy rate of 90 percent among blind
children and outlines steps to reverse this trend.

A portion of the money from sales of the 2009
Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar, which
was authorized by a law signed by President George W. Bush
in 2006, will be used to support the NFB’s
“Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign.  The
campaign is a national initiative created to double the number
of blind children learning Braille by 2015.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
Federation of the Blind, said: “If the blind can
read, the blind can achieve.  The Louis Braille Bicentennial
Silver Dollar celebrates the man who gave
literacy to the blind and is a unique and
beautiful keepsake, but it is also a coin with a mission: to make sure
that every blind child and every adult losing
vision in our nation has the opportunity to learn Braille.”

Dr. Fredric K. Schroeder, first vice president of
the National Federation of the Blind and
coordinator of the NFB’s national Braille Readers are Leaders
campaign, said:  “Braille is not being taught to
many blind children and adults because there are
myths and misconceptions surrounding the code.  Braille
is said to be slow and inefficient, difficult to
learn, unnecessary in light of new technology,
and something that isolates blind students from their sighted
peers.  But the blind know these myths to be
false, and studies have shown that Braille leads
to employment opportunities, independence, and self-confidence
for blind people.”

The program celebrating the launch of the Louis
Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar will feature:

·        The presentation of the report

·        Remarks by Dr. Marc Maurer, President of
the National Federation of the Blind

·        Remarks by Dr. Abraham Nemeth, who
invented the Braille code used for mathematics
and scientific notation in the United States

·        Demonstrations by proficient Braille readers, including blind 
children

·        A message from United States Senator
Christopher J. Dodd, chairman of the Committee on
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and the sponsor of the
legislation authorizing the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar

·        Ed Moy, director of the United States
Mint, who will give remarks and sign certificates of authenticity

·        A “Braille Fair” featuring fun
activities for children and adults who want to learn about Braille

The National Federation of the Blind is asking
the American public, through purchasing this
stunning silver dollar, to join its campaign to bring literacy,
education, opportunity, and success to the blind
of America.  The Louis Braille Bicentennial
Silver Dollar goes on sale to the general public at noon today.
  Those interested in ordering a coin should visit
www.usmint.gov
  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.

###

David Andrews and white cane Harry.

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-- 
Robert Spangler
The University of Toledo
Student Senate - Recording Secretary
Ohio Association of Blind Students - President