[Nfbnet-members-list] Blind Students from Across the Nation Come to Baltimore for Hands-on Engineering Program

[Danielsen, Chris]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blind Students from Across the Nation Come to Baltimore for Hands-on 
Engineering Program
National Federation of the Blind Conducts First NFB EQ Program under 
New NSF Grant

Baltimore, Maryland (July 24, 2018): The National Federation of the 
Blind (NFB) will welcome thirty blind high school students to its 
Baltimore headquarters next week for a summer engineering program 
called NFB EQ ("Engineering Quotient"). NFB EQ will be a jam-packed 
week of fun and learning. Students will spend each day in activities 
designed to strengthen their knowledge of engineering and 
problem-solving skills. In the evenings, they will explore the 
Baltimore community and participate in a range of interactive 
recreational activities that supplement and enhance their learning in 
the classroom.

This is the first of five new NFB EQ programs supported by a 
multi-year 
<https://nfb.org/national-federation-blind-receives-grant-national-science-foundation-0>grant 
from the National Science Foundation. In addition to making blind 
youth aware of techniques to help them succeed in engineering and 
other STEM disciplines, the programs will contribute to important 
research on the development of spatial reasoning, the ability to 
mentally manipulate and comprehend 2D and 3D objects, in blind 
children and youth.  Students will learn the basics of tactile 
sketching and technical drafting, create multi-view drawings and 
diagrams that represent forces and vectors, and develop their 
capacity to interpret 3D objects tactilely and represent them in 
drawings. They will also learn about architectural design and will 
explore the process from their own original sketches through to the 
building of their unique structures by the end of the week.

"For well over a decade now, the National Federation of the Blind has 
encouraged blind students to participate in STEM subjects and 
developed techniques for helping them to do so," said Mark Riccobono, 
President of the National Federation of the Blind. "We are pleased to 
once again have the opportunity to welcome blind high school students 
to Baltimore for a week of empowerment, learning, and fun, while at 
the same time enhancing the understanding of tools and techniques 
that will help these students in STEM studies and beyond."

For more information on NFB EQ, including testimonials from 
participants in past programs, please visit 
<https://blindscience.org/nfbeq>https://blindscience.org/nfbeq. 
Members of the media interested in reporting on the program during 
the week should contact Chris Danielsen at 410-262-1281 or 
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org to schedule a visit.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science 
Foundation under Grant No. 1712887. Any opinions, findings, and 
conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those 
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 
National Science Foundation.

###

About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in 
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind 
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, 
and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. 
The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides 
information and support to families with blind children, older 
Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes 
and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into 
reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at 
<http://www.nfb.org>www.nfb.org.

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


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