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.

BBC News - A watch for blind people (with Thanks to Eric Guillory)

From: Eric Guillory To: Eric Guillory &Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 10:20 AMSubject: BBC News - A watch for blind 

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I've seen one of these timepieces and really like it. I plan to make it my Christmas/birthday present this year. There was a time when I used to wear a talking or glowing watch, but, as is true for using one's cell phone to check the time, these devices are not always practical. And, as much of a champion as I am of Braille literacy (I use Braille every day), the Braille watch just hasn't worked out well for me, as I am apparently too bombastic when checking the time and can accidentally move the hands. It is not inexpensive, but that is the case for any fashionable watch. I'm passing this along as an FYI for you/your students.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26920782?ocid=socialflow_twitter#story_continues_3

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."

National Certification in Literary Braille

Thanks to Eric Guillory for forwarding this:

If you have not yet taken the NCLB test, or if you need to recertify, we have a great opportunity for you to take it in Baton Rouge immediately prior to the NFB of Louisiana State Convention.  Please see the details below, and spread the information far and wide.  A flyer is attached.

 

 

Distinguish yourself among teachers of the blind and visually impaired!  Don't miss this unique opportunity to take this nationally-recognized exam!

 

The National Certification in Literary Braille (NCLB) test will be administered by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) immediately prior to the

NFB of Louisiana State Convention on Friday, March 14, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 4728 Constitution Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

 

Deadline for Registration is March 4

 

Please go to our website, www.nbpcb.org/nclb, for more information and to register for this important test. If you have any questions or wish to inquire about future testing possibilities in your area, please contact us at braille@nbpcb.org.

 

 

Thanks!

 

Laura Bostick, MAEd, NCLB

Instructor, Professional Development

and Research Institute on Blindness

Louisiana Tech University

318-257-4554

lbostick@latech.edu

P.O. Box 3158

Ruston, LA 71272

www.pdrib.com

 

Louis Braille

 Somewhere among my "teacher stuff" I have a book about Louis Braille. I think it was published by The American Prinitng House for the Blnd but I can't remember. 

At any rate here's another version from the AFB on their web site for kids called "Braille Bug." I like this version as well. Happy Birthday Louis Braille!

[ Source Link: http://braillebug.afb.org/louis_braille_bio.asp ]

Louis Braille (1809-1852)

Six dots. Six bumps. Six bumps in different patterns, like constellations, spreading out over the page. What are they? Numbers, letters, words. Who made this code? None other than Louis Braille, a French 12-year-old, who was also blind. And his work changed the world of reading and writing, forever. 

	Louis was from a small town called Coupvray, near Paris—he was born on January 4 in 1809. Louis became blind by accident, when he was 3 years old. Deep in his Dad's harness workshop, Louis tried to be like his Dad, but it went very wrong; he grabbed an awl, a sharp tool for making holes, and the tool slid and hurt his eye. The wound got infected, and the infection spread, and soon, Louis was blind in both eyes.
	All of a sudden, Louis needed a new way to learn. He stayed at his old school for two more years, but he couldn't learn everything just by listening. Things were looking up when Louis got a scholarship to the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris, when he was 10. But even there, most of the teachers just talked at the students. The library had 14 huge books with raised letters that were very hard to read. Louis was impatient.
	Then in 1821, a former soldier named Charles Barbier visited the school. Barbier shared his invention called "night writing," a code of 12 raised dots that let soldiers share top-secret information on the battlefield without even having to speak. Unfortunately, the code was too hard for the soldiers, but not for 12-year-old Louis!
	Louis trimmed Barbier's 12 dots into 6, ironed out the system by the time he was 15, then published the first-ever braille book in 1829. But did he stop there? No way! In 1837, he added symbols for math and music. But since the public was skeptical, blind students had to study braille on their own. Even at the Royal Institution, where Louis taught after he graduated, braille wasn't taught until after his death. Braille began to spread worldwide in 1868, when a group of British men, now known as the Royal National Institute for the Blind, took up the cause.
	Now practically every country in the world uses braille. Braille books have double-sided pages, which saves a lot of space. Braille signs help blind people get around in public spaces. And, most important, blind people can communicate independently, without needing print.
	Louis proved that if you have the motivation, you can do incredible things.

I'm Excited!!! A New Braille Source in Louisiana!

We order our students' textbooks, some materials and equipment from a lending library hosted by the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired called Louisiana Instructional Materials Resource Center or LIMC. Those of us who are intinerant have to work very closely with the staff there.
Recently, Robin, the lady who runs it mentioned something I had thought of earlier and she's just the person to get it started! She knows I do prison ministry, particularly Kairos Prison Ministry, at Angola and she would like to start a braille textbook industry there like they have at other prisons
across the country.

Lot's of wonderful, productive industries happen at Angola as well as a strong Christian community so I am hoping that Warden Caine approves this idea. I would certainly like to help and would be interested in teaching the use of the computer transcribing programs.

It would make getting textbooks out to our kids a lot easier and bring down the cost of ordering them from out-of-state sources. I'm excited about this!

NCLB Exam

[So sorry to post this one so late. ~K]

Please see below. Braille Rocks!

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."

From: Braille

Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 8:06 AM
To: eguillory

Subject: NCLB Exam

Eric,

Would you please forward this announcement far and wide about the up-coming NCLB exam in Ruston. There is also an attachment with a flyer containing similar information that can be used for either posting on a tangible bulletin board or handing out to potentially interested individuals.

Thank you,

Maria

******\

 Distinguish yourself among teachers

of the blind and visually impaired!

Don't miss this unique opportunity to take this

nationally-recognized exam in your own back yard.

The National Certification in Literary Braille (NCLB)

test will be administered by the

National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB)

in

Ruston, Louisiana

Saturday, March 23, 2013

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

at

Louisiana Tech University

Woodard Hall Room 210

Deadline for registration is March 20

Please go to our website, www.nbpcb.org/nclb,

for more information and to register for this important test.

braille@nbpcb.org                       Professionals: $200

(318) 257-4554                           Students: $100

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