[Nfbkabs] National Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa Claus to Support Braille Literacy

[David Andrews]

>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>CONTACT:
>Christopher Danielsen
>Public Relations
>National Federation of the Blind
>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>(410) 262-1281(Cell)
><mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>National Federation of the Blind Partners
>  with Santa Claus to Support Braille Literacy
>
>Blind Children to Receive Letters from Santa in Braille
>
>North Pole­ Once again, Santa Claus has enlisted 
>the help of the National Federation of the Blind 
>to respond to letters from young Braille 
>readers.  Blind children who wish to receive 
>Braille letters from Santa can submit their 
>letters online to the National Federation of the 
>Blind Jernigan Institute, which will then Braille Santa’s response.
>
>Marc Maurer, President of the National 
>Federation of the Blind, said: “We are pleased 
>and proud to partner with Santa Claus to assist 
>him in making Christmas even more fun for blind 
>children.  This enormously successful program 
>not only assists St. Nicholas in his work, but 
>also helps to promote Braille literacy among 
>blind children.  Braille literacy is the key to 
>success and opportunity for the blind.  Writing 
>a letter to Santa Claus and receiving his 
>response in Braille is an exciting and fun way 
>for blind children to practice their Braille skills.”
>
>The National Federation of the Blind will send 
>Braille replies from Santa to letters received 
>from blind children and their parents.  Each 
>reply will be in Braille and print so that 
>parents and children can read together.  The 
>replies will be in contracted Braille unless otherwise specifically requested.
>
>Letters from Santa may be requested at 
><http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.  Submissions 
>must include the writer’s name, the child’s 
>name, birthday, and gender, mailing address, and 
>a telephone number in case Santa’s helpers at 
>the National Federation of the Blind have questions.
>
>Requests for Braille letters from Santa must be 
>received by December 18 to ensure that Santa’s 
>response arrives before Christmas.  For more 
>information about this and other programs of the 
>National Federation of the Blind, visit our Web 
>site at <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.
>
>
>###
>
>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.
>
>----------
>Jessica A. Freeh
>Public Relations Assistant
>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>1800 Johnson Street
>Baltimore, Maryland  21230
>Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2348
>E-mail:  <mailto:jfreeh at nfb.org>jfreeh at nfb.org
>