National Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy

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@nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind
Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy

Baltimore, Maryland (November 16, 2015):  Once again, Santa has enlisted the help of the elves at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute to get Braille letters out to hundreds of blind boys and girls this Christmas season. 

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: ?Santa approached the National Federation of the Blind several years ago and asked us to be his helpers. Knowing how much he means to children everywhere, including my own, I am pleased that we will once again be assisting St. Nicholas this year. Braille literacy is the key to success and opportunity for the blind, but unfortunately too few blind children are learning it today. This program is a fun way for blind children to practice their Braille skills while receiving a holiday greeting from Santa himself.?

Between November 16 and December 18, parents of very young children, under the age of ten, can visit www.nfb.org and fill out a Santa Braille Letter request form. The form can also be printed and faxed to (410) 685-2340. Beginning November 30, the Braille letters from Santa will start going out to blind boys and girls across the country. The Braille letter will also be accompanied by a print copy (for mom and dad to read), as well as some other fun Christmastime activities. Requests for letters must include the writer?s name, the child?s name, birthday, gender, mailing address, a telephone number, and e-mail address in case Santa?s helpers at the National Federation of the Blind have questions.

The deadline for letter requests is December 18, to ensure that a return letter in Braille is received before Christmas. 

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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

Two Links of Interest

Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T


-------- Original message --------
Subject:Two Links of Interest
From:Eric Guillory

Greetings Colleagues,

Below, please find two links of interest. We are particularly grateful to Dianne Read for contributing so generously toward our efforts to raise funds for Louisiana's NFB BELL Program and hope you will have a look at the first link and consider purchasing some of her fine products.

http://is.gd/zQzpeM

The second link is to a new summer offering by the NFB's Jernigan Institute in Baltimore for students in grades 8-12. Have a look and share widely with your students.

http://www.blindscience.org/stemx

Have a marvelous evening and a very Happy Easter!

EG

Eric Guillory, Director of Youth Services

Louisiana Center for the Blind

101 South Trenton Street

Ruston, LA 71270

Voice: 800-234-4166 (extension 3009)

Fax: 318-251-0109

Skype: brllovingdad

"Together, we are changing what it means to be blind."

NFBL Scholarship Deadline Reminder

Greetings All,

Just a friendly reminder that the deadline for submitting a National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana scholarship application is only two weeks away—March 15. If you or someone you know is a legally blind Louisiana resident and planning to attend an accredited institution of higher learning (e.g., college, university, technical school) in the fall of 2013, you need to act quickly if applying. If you have not already done so, you can find the application on our affiliate's website at www.nfbla.org. If that presents difficulty for you or you have additional questions after looking at the document, please either call or email me.

Wishing each of you a great weekend!

Eric Guillory, Scholarship Committee Chair

Director of Youth Services

Louisiana Center for the Blind

101 South Trenton Street

Ruston, LA 71270

Voice: 800-234-4166 (extension 3009)

Fax: 318-251-0109

Skype: brllovingdad

"Together, we are changing what it means to be blind."

Visual Impairments Specialist Scotlandville Magnet High School of Excellence http://lee.ebrschools.org/kathynicholslee
http://www.kathyskids.org
http://teacherweb.com/LA/RobertELeeHigh/MrsMichael/t.aspx
http://mskathyskids.blogspot.com

Louisiana Center Announcements--February, 2012

Greetings All,

Please see the links below to download files related to a variety of
items of interest. For those familiar with Dropbox, these links are to
files contained in my Dropbox folder. This process is more expeditious
than sending file attachments and means that the email will be far
less likely to be targeted as spam or have the attachments stripped
from it.

Please distribute widely, and never hesitate to contact me with
questions or concerns. I hope each of you are enjoying a good 2012!

NFB of Louisiana Scholarship Application (deadline March 15, 2012)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5954260/NFBL%20Scholarship%20Application.doc

NFB of Louisiana 2012 State Convention Flyer
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5954260/State%20Convention%20Flyer%202012.doc

NFB of Louisiana 2012 State Convention Preregistration Form
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5954260/pre-registration%20form.doc

Louisiana Center Buddy Program (deadline April 6, 2012)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5954260/Buddy%20Brochure%202012.doc

Louisiana Center STEP Program (deadline April 6, 2012)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5954260/STEP%20brochure%202012.doc

NFB 2012 National Convention Flyer
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5954260/National%20Convention%20Flyer%202012.doc


Please see below for an announcement hot off the presses.

The National Federation of the Blind Announces the 2012 NFB Project
Innovation Program

Students Charting Their Own Course Into Scientific Exploration
July 25-29, 2012*

In 2012, the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a
program of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, is
introducing an exciting science program for students ages 7-11 and
14-18 called NFB Project Innovation.  This pioneer program will focus
on fostering a sense of innovation and autonomy in young students by
allowing them to determine their course of study during the week of
the program. Students will ultimately focus on one investigation which
they will showcase at the Innovators Expo. However, multiple branches
of science will be explored throughout the program through extension
activities.

A unique component of NFB Project Innovation is how it will serve two
unique age groups simultaneously. The first of these two groups will
be comprised of students in grades 3-6 (ages 7-11).  This group,
called Junior Innovators, will stay at the NFBJI for three days, July
25-29.**  Twenty blind students will be accepted into this group.
Each student will be required to attend with an adult chaperone. In
this age group, students will interact with science professionals,
blind mentors, and Senior Innovators. They will have the opportunity
to show off their final innovations, which reflect their own personal
interests and research, at the Innovators Expo.

The high school students, called Senior Innovators, will serve as
junior advisors.  They will not only participate in this science
program but will model blindness skills, scientific investigation
skills, and techniques to their younger counterparts. Senior
Innovators will also have the opportunity to exhibit at the Innovators
Expo. Students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) are eligible to apply to be
a Senior Innovator.  The Senior Innovators will stay at the NFBJI for
four days, July 24-29, 2012.**  Ten blind students will be accepted
into this group.

There will be a $250 fee for each Junior Innovator/Chaperone pair and
a $250 fee for each Senior Innovator attending. Other expenses, such
as the cost of travel, room, board, and program materials, will be
covered by the NFB Jernigan Institute for all students and
student/chaperone pairs.

Apply now at www.blindscience.org. Applications are due by April 1,
2012. For more information on this exciting new program, please
contact Abby Bispo at 410-659-9314, extension 2312 or by email at
abispo@nfb.org

*Exact program dates differ based on grade level
**Date range reflects travel time.



Eric Guillory, Director of Youth Services
Louisiana Center for the Blind
101 South Trenton Street
Ruston, LA 71270
Voice: 800-234-4166 ext. 3009
Fax: 318-251-0109

emailed from

Visual Impairments Specialist Scotlandville Elementary http://lee.ebrschools.org/kathynicholslee
http://www.kathyskids.org
http://teacherweb.com/LA/RobertELeeHigh/MrsMichael/t.aspx
http://mskathyskids.blogspot.com

Congressman Mica to participate in NFB blind Driver Challenge

Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver Challenge™
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/congressman-mica-to-participate-in-nfb-blind-driver-challenge-114713349.html

Twelve Tips for Classroom Teachers

An NFB Article by a mom of a visually impaired student.

http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr19/fr05si10.htm

Visual Impairments Specialist
Westminster Elementary School
http://lee.ebrschools.org/kathynicholslee
http://www.kathyskids.org
http://teacherweb.com/LA/RobertELeeHigh/MrsMichael/t.aspx
http://mskathyskids.blogspot.com

National Federation of the Blind and Motorola to Cooperate on MakingCell,Phones Accessible to the Blind

National Federation of the Blind and Motorola to Cooperate on Making

Cell Phones Accessible to the Blind.

BALTIMORE, and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization
of blind people and the leading advocate for making mainstream devices
accessible to the blind, and Motorola Inc., a leading manufacturer of cell
phones and other mobile communications devices, announced today that they have
entered into a cooperation agreement to promote technologies that improve the
accessibility of cell phones to blind consumers.

Certain future Motorola cell phones will provide verbal readouts of
information such as the time and date, battery level, signal strength, user's
phone number, caller ID information for incoming calls, missed and received
calls, and voice mail alerts. Blind users will also be able to take advantage
of verbal readouts and voice-command features for ring tone status, inputting
and accessing contacts, and various other settings. Motorola expects these
cell phones to be available in 2010. The parties have also agreed to work
together to make additional phones and features accessible to blind users.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "In
an age where productivity and success increasingly depend on access to mobile
technology such as cellular telephones, it is critical that blind Americans
have equal access to today's cell phones through user interfaces that do not
require vision. The National Federation of the Blind appreciates Motorola's
commitment to making the features of its cell phone products accessible to
blind users without the need for third-party software, and we look forward to
working together with Motorola to make future improvements to the
accessibility of telecommunication technology."

SOURCE: National Federation of the Blind.

Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations, National Federation of the
Blind, +1-410-659-9314, extension 2330, cell: +1-410-262-1281,
cdanielsen@nfb.org; or Jennifer Erickson, Motorola, Inc., +1-847-435-5320,
Jennifer.erickson@motorola.com