Happy Birthday Louis Braille Events
The National Federation of the Blind Celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Louis Braille's Birth
On January 4, 2009, people all over the world celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, the young pioneer who brought true literacy to blind people everywhere. Though the system of Braille was not embraced in
It is a sad fact that 70 percent of blind people are unemployed in this country. But did you know that of those blind people who are employed, 85 percent of them use Braille in some form on the job? There is no doubt that being literate can lead to quality employment, confidence, independence, and success.
Yet today, only 10 percent of blind children in the
On January 4, the members of the National Federation of the Blind held dozens of events across the country to commemorate the birth of Louis Braille and to help spread the message about the staggering illiteracy crisis among the blind. We know that it is only through widespread education and dedicated collective action that we will truly be successful in making illiteracy among the blind a thing of the past.
We hope that you will come and be a part of our activities throughout the year and help us change what it means to be blind. For information about activities in your area, please click on your state's abbreviation code below.
AL / AK / AZ / AR / CA / CO / CT / DE / DC / FL / GA / HI / ID / IL / IN / IA / KS / KY / LA / ME / MD / MA / MI / MN / MS / MO / MT / NE / NV / NH / NJ / NM / NY / NC / ND / OH / OK / OR / PA / PR / RI / SC / SD / TN / TX / UT / VT / VA / WA / WV / WI / WY
Alabama
State Contact Name: Dezman Jackson
E-mail: jackson.dezman@gmail.com
Phone: 251-689-4623
Alaska
Are you interested in becoming the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign contact for the state of Alaska? If so, please e-mail fschroeder@nfb.org
Arizona
State Contact Name: Allison Hilliker
E-mail: nfbarizona@gmail.com
Events
The NFB of Arizona, East Valley Chapter, had planned two events to commemorate the birthday of Louis Braille. The first event occurred on January 3, 2009, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., at the Mesa Downtown Public Library. There was a table in the front lobby, where Braille alphabet cards and NFB brochures were distributed and names were written in Braille.
Mesa Downtown Public Library
64 East 1st Street
Mesa, AZ 85201
If you have questions, please contact Mary Hartle-Smith at hartlesmith@cox.net or Allison Hilliker at nfbarizona@gmail.com.
There will be an event at the East Valley Chapter meeting on January 17, 2009.
Members of the West Valley Chapter of the NFB held an event on January 20, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Glendale Public Library. The chapter featured a reading describing the life of Louis Braille.
Arkansas
State Contact Name: Matt Lyles
E-mail: lyles_j@sbcglobal.net
California
State Contact Name: Tina Thomas
E-mail: tinadt@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 323-751-6205
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of California, San Joaquin Chapter, had an event from noon to 4:00 p.m. on January 4, 2009, at their local Barnes & Noble.
Barnes & Noble
(in Weberstown Mall)
Phone: 209-472-1885
The National Federation of the Blind of California, River City Chapter, had an event on Sunday, January 4, 2009, at Dalton's Bookstore.
Dalton's Bookstore
7742 Eastgate Avenue
916-966-8822
For more information about this event please contact Tiffany Manosh via e-mail at tmanosh@sbcglobal.net
Colorado
State Contact Name: Chris Foster
E-mail: cfoster@nfbco.org
Phone: 303-635-6583
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, Colorado Springs Chapter, celebrated and demonstrated the use of Braille on Sunday, January 4, 2009, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Briargate Barnes & Noble bookstore.
Briargate Barnes & Noble
1565 Briargate Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
For more information about the event, please contact Chapter president Kevan Worley at 719-527-0488 or via e-mail at: kevanworley@blindmerchants.org
The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, Pueblo Chapter celebrated and demonstrated the use of Braille on Sunday, January 4, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Pueblo Barnes & Noble book store.
Pueblo Barnes & Noble
4300 North Freeway
Pueblo, CO 81008
For more information about the event, please contact chapter board member Rick Holcomb at 719-778-8597.
Connecticut
State Contact Name: Jason Cichocki-Barone
E-mail: mountida1@comcast.net
Phone: 860-953-5111
Delaware
State Contact Name: Richard Bennett
E-mail: rhbennett.nfb@comcast.net
Phone: 302-999-7242
District of Columbia
State Contact Name: Erick Smith
E-mail: smith990@gmail.com
Phone: 202-638-5689
Florida
State Contact Name: Sherrill O'Brien
E-mail: sherrill.obrien@verizon.net
Phone: 813-935-0474
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Florida celebrated Louis Braille's birthday with Braille activities and a cake on Sunday, January 4, 2009, 9:45 a.m., at Grace Lutheran Church in Tampa, Florida. For more information about the event, please contact Nadine Anderson at 813-961-8747.
Georgia
State Contact Name: Bonnie Lucas
E-mail: lucas.bonnie@gmail.com
Phone: 770-544-7523
Hawaii
State Contact Name: Charlene Ota
E-mail: caota@hawaii.rr.com
Phone: 808-734-0612
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, celebrated and demonstrated the use of Braille on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at Borders bookstore at Windward Mall in Kaneohe. To find out more about the event please contact Charlene Ota via e-mail at caota@hawaii.rr.com or call 808-734-0612.
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State Contact Name: Susan Bradley
E-mail: CRAFTISUE@HOTMAIL.COM
Phone: 208-794-9431
Events
Treasure Valley Chapter held an event at Hastings on January 3, 2009, to celebrate the two-hundredth birthday of Louis Braille and to let people know about the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin. Braille alphabet cards were distributed. Additionally, twin vision books, an astronomy book with Braille and raised pictures, and tactile maps were displayed. Some event guests even participated in solving Braille riddles.
The Panhandle Chapter also had an event at a book store on Sunday, January 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Illinois
State Contact Name: Debbie Stein
E-mail: dkent5817@worldnet.att.net
Phone: 773-631-1093
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, Chicago Chapter, sponsored a Louis Braille event on January 4, 2009, at Barnes & Noble, dePaul Center, in downtown Chicago. For more information about this event please contact Debbie Stein.
Indiana
State Contact Name: Tami Jones
E-mail: tamidjones@netnitco.net
Phone: 219-548-0076
Iowa
State Contact Name: April Enderton
E-mail: endertona@wildblue.net
Phone: 515-282-0049
Kansas
State Contact Name: Leonard Silkey
E-mail: l.silkey@cox.net
Phone: 316-440-5669
Kentucky
State Contact Name: Lora Felty
E-mail: lorafelty@windstream.net
Phone: 606-324-3394
Louisiana
State Contact Name: Eric Guillory
E-mail: eguillory@lcb-ruston.com
Events
There was a Braille event on Sunday, January 11, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish Library.
Maine
State Contact Name: Sally Laughlin
E-mail: sallylaughlin@earthlink.net
Phone: 207-221-6710
Maryland
State Contact Name: Pat Maurer
E-mail: pmaurer@nfb.org
Phone: 410-455-9223
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, Sligo Creek Chapter held a Louis Braille 200th Birthday Celebration celebrating Braille Literacy at the Rockville Library on Sunday, January 4, 2009, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Rockville Library is located at 21 Maryland Avenue, in the Rockville Town Center. For more information contact the Rockville Library at 240-777-0140.
This past October the Social Security Administration and the Advisory Council for Employees with Disabilities recognized Louis Braille's 200th Birthday at their Annual Diversity Celebration. Braille materials and handouts were provided.
The Office of Publications and Logistic Management, Braille Services Branch, will host a series of open houses to the Headquarters' employees. For a two week period, January 12 through January 23, they have invited the employees to visit the Braille Services Branch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for handouts and demonstrations on different tools used to produce Braille. In addition, during this two week period they are displaying posters and handouts throughout the complex with interesting information about Louis Braille's life.
Massachusetts
State Contact Name: Kobena Bonney
E-mail: kvbonney@yahoo.com
Michigan
State Contact Name: Mary Ann Rojek
E-mail: brightsmile1953@comcast.net
Phone: 517-784-8834
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan,
Minnesota
State Contact Name: Dick Davis
E-mail: ddavis@blindinc.org
Blaine High School will celebrated Braille during the week of January 12, 2009, with Braille trivia and information during morning announcements on January 12, 13 and 14. Additionally, during lunch on January 14, a table was set up to collect donations for the Braille literacy campaign.
There was a table with information about Braille at the Emma B. Howe YMCA in Spring Lake Park on Monday, January 19, 2009, at 3:00 p.m.
The Rochester Chapter had a table in the public library, and gave information and Brailled people's names.
The Riverbend Chapter in New Ulm held a Braille display in their public library.
Mississippi
State Contact Name: Gwen Byrd
E-mail: glsbyrd@att.net
Phone: 601-668-1019
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Mississippi, held a Louis Braille celebratory event at Barnes and Noble bookstore on January 10, 2009. For more information about the event, please contact Gwen Byrd.
Missouri
State Contact Name: Fred Olver
E-mail: goodfolks@charter.net
Phone: 734-634-5678
Montana
State Contact Name: Dan Burke
E-mail: burke.dall@gmail.com
Phone: 406-546-8546
Nebraska
State Contact Name: Barbara Loos
E-mail: beloos@neb.rr.com
Phone: 402-486-3679
Nevada
State Contact Name: Raquel Silva
E-mail: rssilva@nvdetr.org
New Hampshire
State Contact Name: Marie Johnson
E-mail: jomar2000@comcast.net
Phone: 603-225-7917
New Jersey
State Contact Name: Mary Jo Partyka
E-mail: choirnfb@gmail.com
New Mexico
State Contact Name: Sharon Dandy
E-mail: sdandy51@msn.com
Phone: 505-798-0192
New York
State Contact Name: Chancey Fleet
E-mail: chancey.fleet@gmail.com
Phone: 757-254-6533
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North Carolina
State Contact Name: Gary Ray
E-mail: ghray@charter.net
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North Dakota
State Contact Name: Maria Vazquez
E-mail: mariavazquez6@msn.com
Phone: 701-232-1555
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota, held a Louis Braille 200th Birthday Celebration celebrating Braille Literacy at the VA Medical Center in Fargo on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
VA Medical Center
2101 N. Elm Street
Fargo, ND 58102
For more information about the event, please contact Maria Vazquez mariavazquez6@msn.com or call 701-232-1555.
Ohio
State Contact Name: Debbie Baker
E-mail: lahm@pobox.com
Phone: 937-322-2240
State Contact Name: Susan Day
E-mail: tday24@woh.rr.com
Phone: 937-252-7151
Ohio held several events on January 4, 2009 to celebrate Louis Braille's 200th Birthday. Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton held events at the Barnes and Nobles bookstores in their communities. Abraille story was read, members gave demonstrations of braille techniques, displays of braille games and adaptive tools were available as well as information about braille literacy and the new coin coming out in March. We will be holding another event scheduled at the end of January at the Clark County Public Library in Springfield, Ohio.
Oklahoma
State Contact Name: Jeannie Massay
E-mail: jmassay1@cox.net
Oregon
State Contact Name: Leone Holden
E-mail: leoneirene@yahoo.com
Phone: 541-512-1625
Pennsylvania
State Contact Name: Helen Stevens
E-mail: hstvns24@ptd.net
Phone: 570-983-7867
Puerto Rico
State Contact Name: Vasthi Pérez
E-mail: vasthipj@yahoo.com
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Rhode Island
State Contact Name: Antonio Guimaraes
E-mail: iamantonio@cox.net
Phone: 401-434-2781
South Carolina
State Contact Name: Liz Lewis
E-mail: liz4jesus@gmail.com
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, Belvedere Chapter, held a Louis Braille celebratory event at the Aiken County Public Library on January 4, 2009, from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Aiken County Public Library
314 Chesterfield Street SW
Aiken, SC 29801
For more information about the event, please contact Liz Lewis for more information.
The National Federation of the Blind will be displaying literature and conducting Braille reading and writing skills at the South Carolina Book Festival in February.
South Dakota
State Contact Name: Ken Rollman
E-mail: gatorbumps@rap.midco.net
Phone: 605-721-3311
Tennessee
State Contact Name: Michael Seay
E-mail: mseay@lcb-ruston.com
Texas
State Contact Name: Tommy Craig
E-mail: tecraig@earthlink.net
Phone: 512-323-5444
Utah
State Contact Name: Karl Smith
E-mail: karl@axistech.net
Phone: 801-967-5655
Vermont
State Contact Name: Franklin Shiner
E-mail: fshiner@verizon.net
Phone: 802-229-0748
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Virginia
State Contact Name: Sandy Halverson
E-mail: sandyh50@verizon.net
Phone: 703-379-1141
Events
The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, Greater Eastern Shore Chapter, held a Louis Braille celebratory event on Tuesday, January 6, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at The Book Bin in Onley, Virginia. For more information about the event, please contact chapter president Rick Holley holleymanor@verizon.net or call 757-824-3233.
Washington
State Contact Name: Noel Nightingale
E-mail: Noel.Nightingale@ed.gov
Events
On Wednesday, January 9, 2009, the Starbucks Access Alliance celebrated Braille Literacy by distributing 1,500 Braille alphabet cards
at the Starbucks home office in Seattle, Washington.
The Bellingham branch of the Whatcom County Public Library in Whatcom County, Washington, hosted a month long display in Louis Braille's honor. There are Braille cards, literature packets, Kernel books, and much more for citizens interested in the NFB and blindess to take home with them.
West Virginia
State Contact Name: Karen McDonald
E-mail: karen@eioproductions.com
Phone: 304-788-0129
Wisconsin
State Contact Name: Stacy Fuehrer
E-mail: precious1205@charter.net
Phone: 715-781-5918
Wyoming
Are you interested in becoming the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign contact for the state of Wyoming? If so, please e-mail fschroeder@nfb.org.
