[Colorado-talk] National Federation of the Blind Announces New Summer Program to Empower Blind Teens

[David Andrews]

>
>----------
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>CONTACT:
>John G. Paré Jr.
>Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives
>National Federation of the Blind
>(410) 659-9314, extension 2227
>(410) 913-3912 (Cell)
><mailto:jpare at nfb.org>jpare at nfb.org
>
>National Federation of the Blind Announces New 
>Summer Program to Empower Blind Teens
>
>Students will Build Skills, Increase Confidence, and Gain Work Experience!
>
>Baltimore, Maryland (February 26, 2008): The 
>National Federation of the Blind, the largest 
>and most influential organization of the blind 
>in America, today announced that it will hold 
>the first-ever Teen Empowerment Academy at the 
>NFB headquarters in Baltimore.  The Teen 
>Empowerment Academy is the newest program in a 
>series of initiatives striving to drastically 
>increase the educational, social, and vocational 
>opportunities for blind youth.
>
>The eight-week residential training program, led 
>by blind instructors and occurring from June 15 
>to August 9, 2008, is designed to help blind and 
>visually impaired teens develop the blindness 
>and job-readiness skills necessary for success.
>
>The first part of the program will focus on 
>helping teens develop their blindness 
>skills.  Highly qualified blind role models will 
>teach courses in Braille, technology, mobility, 
>and daily living skills.  During the second part 
>of the program, students will enter the working 
>world at a level suitable for teens.  Each 
>student will work fifteen to twenty hours per 
>week earning minimum wage.  With the support of 
>mentors, students will also be responsible for 
>residential tasks like preparing meals, 
>maintaining a clean living environment, and 
>doing their own laundry.  Additionally, students 
>will participate in various recreational and challenge activities.
>
>Marc Maurer, president of the National 
>Federation of the Blind, said: “By demonstrating 
>the true capabilities of blind teens, the 
>academy will encourage independence and raise 
>the expectations students have for their own 
>lives.  Many job fields are falsely believed to 
>be closed to the blind, and we want blind 
>teenagers to know that they do not have to limit themselves or their dreams.”
>
>The Teen Empowerment Academy will combine a 
>rigorous blindness skill-building curriculum 
>with a work experience component to help all 
>students gain new ability and capacity and 
>develop long-lasting confidence.   Contact Rosy 
>Carranza at (410) 659-9314, extension 2283, or 
>via e-mail at 
><mailto:rcarranza at nfb.org>rcarranza at nfb.org for 
>additional information.  Interested persons may 
>visit <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org to download an application.
>
>
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>
>
>About the National Federation of the Blind
>
>With more than 50,000 members, the National 
>Federation of the Blind is the largest and most 
>influential membership organization of blind 
>people in the United States.   The NFB improves 
>blind people’s lives through advocacy, 
>education, research, technology, and programs 
>encouraging independence and 
>self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the 
>blindness field today and the voice of the 
>nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened 
>the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan 
>Institute, the first research and training 
>center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.
>