[Blindtlk] BRAILLE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM OUTSOURCED TO NFB

[David Andrews]

>
>LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
>101 Independence Avenue SE
>Washington DC 20540
>Phone: (202) 707-2905
>Fax: (202) 707-9199
>Email: pao at loc.gov
>
>December 26, 2006
>
>Press contact: Donna Urschel (202) 707-1639, durschel at loc.gov Public
>contact: Judith Dixon (202) 707-0722, jdix at loc.gov
>
>NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE BLIND ANNOUNCES NEW ADMINISTRATOR OF
>BRAILLE CERTIFICATION
>
>The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS),
>Library of Congress, will turn over administrative tasks of the braille
>certification program to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB),
>beginning in early 2007.
>
>NLS recently awarded a competitive contract to NFB to conduct tasks such as
>grading the many lessons and the final test manuscript required for braille
>certification.  Authority and oversight of the program will remain with NLS;
>NFB's role is strictly administrative.
>
>"For 63 years, NLS has been solely responsible for all braille certification
>in this country, but times change," said NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke.
>"The methods of braille production have changed dramatically, and to best
>serve our patrons we must keep pace.  For that reason, we are outsourcing
>the provision of training courses and validation that are currently handled
>by our Braille Development Section.  NFB, a long-time advocate for braille
>in the United States, has demonstrated expertise in braille technology and
>is highly qualified to administer this program."
>
>Transition of these tasks from NLS to NFB is under way and will be completed
>after the first of the year.
>
>Since 1943, NLS has offered courses in literary braille transcription for
>Library of Congress certification.  Courses in mathematics and music
>transcribing, as well as literary and mathematics proofreading, were later
>added.  Transcribers determine how to accurately represent print information
>in braille and then transcribe the information, providing blind readers with
>the same materials sighted readers receive.  Approximately 200 transcribers
>and proofreaders receive certification each year.
>
>"NLS will remain the certifying authority for braille transcribers,
>guaranteeing the high standards associated with the work of its transcribers
>and proofreaders," said Cylke.
>
>Founded in 1940, NFB is the largest organization of the blind in America and
>includes more than 50,000 members, with affiliates in all 50 states and more
>than 700 local chapters.  NFB's International Braille and Technology Center
>for the Blind (IBTC) is a comprehensive evaluation, demonstration and
>training center, with more than $2.5 million worth of nearly all the tactile
>and speech-output technology now available to the blind community.
>
>"NFB's mission is to provide support and advocacy for blind persons and
>their families.  One of the ways we achieve this is through the development
>and evaluation of technology," said Betsy Zaborowski, executive director of
>NFB's Jernigan Institute.  "With the resources available through IBTC and
>the braille literacy programs we already have in place, NFB is equipped and
>eager to take on the administration of the braille transcriber education and
>certification program."
>
>NLS will continue to produce braille materials through its contractors for
>more than 42,000 patrons who read braille.  NLS produces about 600 braille
>books each year that are distributed through the NLS national network of
>braille-lending local libraries.  It also provides 33 braille magazines to
>nearly 700 subscribers.
>
>Contact information for current and prospective braille transcribers will be
>provided shortly after the transition has taken place.  For further
>information, contact NLS Consumer Relations Officer Judith Dixon, (202)
>707-0722, jdix at loc.gov
>
># # #
>PR06-236
>12/22/06
>ISSN: 0731-3527