[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind and Louisiana Tech Launch National Reading Media Assessment

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Fri Nov 16 03:39:29 UTC 2012




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of 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 and Louisiana Tech Launch
National Reading Media Assessment

Assessment to Determine Best Reading Medium for Blind Students

Baltimore, Maryland (November 15, 2012): <http://www.nfb.org>The 
National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest organization 
of blind people in the United States and the leading advocate for 
Braille literacy, today announced that its 
<http://www.nfbnrma.org/>National Reading Media Assessment (NRMA) is 
now available.  Developed and tested over a three-year period in 
collaboration with the Professional Development and Research 
Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University, the NRMA is the 
first nationally validated assessment of its kind for youth with low 
vision.  The assessment was developed to determine the most 
appropriate reading medium for students who are blind or have low 
vision, to ensure that the reading medium is appropriately identified 
both for current and future need, and to ensure that student success 
is not hampered by incorrect identification of literacy needs.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the 
<http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind>National 
Federation of the Blind, said: "Many young students today with visual 
impairments are not classified as blind and as such do not receive 
training in the proper reading medium.  For instance, far too many 
students with low vision are mistakenly taught to read large print 
instead of Braille and end up functionally illiterate.  The NRMA aims 
to change this harmful trend and ensure that every student with a 
visual impairment receives training in the proper reading medium and 
is set on the path to future success."

Dr. Edward Bell, principal investigator of the research, said: "The 
primary findings from our assessment showed 14 percent more youth as 
needing Braille than prior assessments, and 36 percent more youth as 
needing Braille than who are actually getting it. Clearly this new 
approach is sorely needed in order to improve the education of blind children."

To learn more or participate in the National Reading Media 
Assessment, please visit <http://www.nfbnrma.org>www.nfbnrma.org.

The National Federation of the Blind needs your support to ensure 
that blind children get an equal education, to connect blind veterans 
with the training and services they need, and to help seniors who are 
losing vision continue to live independent and fulfilling lives. To 
make a donation, please go to <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.


###



About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, 
and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind 
people in the United States.  Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for 
the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops 
innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide 
the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to 
become independent and successful.  We need your support.  To make a 
donation, please go to <http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.


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