[Arizona-students] Fwd: [nfb-talk] NASA helps bring space and science to blind students

[David Andrews]

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>Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 07:01:15 -0500
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>Subject: [nfb-talk] NASA helps bring space and science to blind students
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>NASA helps bring space and science to blind students
>NASA NEWS RELEASE
>Posted: July 26, 2004
>
>NASA is making available its resources and facilities as part of a program
>to provide the first-ever science camp for blind
>middle- and high-school students from all over the United States.
>
>Created by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), Baltimore, the
>weeklong science camp for middle school students began
>last week. A second weeklong session for high school students will take
>place in August. The camp will expose students to the
>excitement of science in real-life applications and career possibilities
>with the Vision for Space Exploration.
>
>The Vision calls for NASA to finish building the International Space
>Station, develop a new space vehicle to replace the
>Space Shuttle, return to the Moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars and
>worlds beyond.
>
>"NASA's goal is to inspire the next generation of space explorers and to
>encourage them to follow the stars, regardless of
>their race, creed or physical abilities. This experience will shatter the
>myth that challenging sciences are too dangerous
>for blind youth," said Dr. Adena Williams Loston, Chief Education Officer,
>NASA Headquarters, Washington. "The use of NASA
>facilities and personal interaction with the agency's blind scientists and
>engineers will allow these students to build
>confidence in performing challenging science activities from which they
>generally are excluded in public schools," she said.
>
>Activities will include classroom projects that focus on the connection
>between life and ecosystems. Students will also visit
>NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., and other scientific
>organizations and museums in the Washington area.
>During the second session, students will develop, build and launch a 12-foot
>rocket at NASA's Wallops Space Flight Facility,
>Va.
>
>"Generations of blind youth have been discouraged from pursuing scientific
>careers by well-meaning parents and educators who
>falsely believed that only the sighted could fully appreciate the wonders of
>the universe and the extraordinary diversity of
>life on this planet," said Marc Maurer, President of the NFB. "The NFB is
>committed to breaking down artificial barriers to
>knowledge by developing educational programs and tactile teaching tools that
>will ensure that no blind student is ever again
>denied the opportunity to experience the full range of scientific learning
>and pursue career dreams to their fullest
>potential," he said.
>
>NASA currently is adapting its educational materials for blind students. One
>recent project is the book "Touch the Universe:
>A NASA BraiIle Book of Astronomy." The book features stunning imagery taken
>by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Through tactile
>illustrations of stars, planets and heavenly bodies, blind students can
>touch the universe and experience its beauty for the
>first time. NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston is also working on computer
>software that will enable blind students to
>track the progress of rocket launches through sound.
>
>The science camps are free and made possible by funding and support from
>NASA; the NFB; Lockheed Martin Foundation, Bethesda,
>Md.; Maryland Space Grant Consortium Baltimore; Southeast Regional
>Clearinghouse, Charleston, SC; and the Maryland Science
>Center, Baltimore.
>
>© 2004 Pole Star Publications Ltd
>
>http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0407/26blind/
>
>
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