[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] NFB Launches New On-Line Publication

[David Andrews]

National Federation of the Blind Launches New On-line Publication
The National Federation of the Blind has launched a brand new Web-based 
publication called the Voice of the Nation’s Blind.  The inaugural issue of 
the publication can be found at 
<http://www.voiceofthenationsblind.org/>www.voiceofthenationsblind.org.

The purpose of the Voice of the Nation’s Blind is to use the full power of 
the Internet to bring content about the Federation and its activities, as 
well as other matters of interest to the blind community, to the widest 
possible audience, and to present this content in new and exciting 
ways.  The VNB Web site will feature an abundance of audio and video 
material, as well as written articles.  The publication will also provide 
readers with opportunities to interact with its editor and staff at the 
National Center for the Blind via the Internet to submit articles, make 
comments and suggestions on existing and future content, and pose questions 
to the editor.

The goals of the Voice of the Nation’s Blind are:

·        To provide exclusive on-line content about the National Federation 
of the Blind, the National Center for the Blind and NFB Jernigan 
Institute,  and our activities;
·        To publish in-depth coverage of issues that are important to the 
blind community;
·        To profile leaders in the Federation and other interesting blind 
individuals;
·        To discuss new technologies that may assist the blind, as well as 
the access issues we face with existing commercial technologies and the 
Internet;
·        To discuss the interaction of blindness and blind people with the 
media and the arts and to provide a forum for artistic expression in the 
blind community;
·        To discuss legal matters involving the Federation and 
Federationists, as well as other legal issues that affect the blind;
·        To allow NFB members to pose questions and comments directly to 
the magazine’s editorial staff and the staff here at the National Center 
for the Blind; and
·        To talk about the many ways in which our 52 state and regional 
affiliates and hundreds of local chapters are helping the blind and 
advancing the cause of the Federation in their own communities, and to 
serve as a sounding board for ideas on how affiliates can continue to 
support this big program of serving the blind at the local level.


The inaugural issue of the Voice of the Nation’s Blind includes:

·        An extensive feature package on electronic voting machines, 
including an article about the recent controversy surrounding these devices 
and how the blind community can respond effectively and an audiovisual 
demonstration of three accessible voting machines;
·        A new perspective on the life of NFB founder Dr. Jacobus tenBroek 
from one of his distinguished colleagues in the California legal community;
·        Extensive audio and video coverage of the third annual 
Possibilities Fair for Seniors held at the NFB Jernigan Institute in May of 
this year, including the featured speakers and an interview with a 
participant; and
·        The story of an innovative computer training program run by the 
NFB of South Carolina and how it’s being expanded to help blinded veterans 
learn about adaptive computer technology.

There’s more in the inaugural issue and more to come, so please visit us on 
the Web today, and don’t hesitate to comment on this new publication, 
submit articles, and make suggestions as to what you think we should 
include in future issues.  Happy browsing!


Chris Danielsen, Editor

Voice of the Nation’s Blind