“Pennsylvania Association for the Blind Increases Braille Literacy for Students with Visual Impairment”

March 11, 2010

The Pennsylvania Association for the Blind (PAB) is pleased to announce a $24,500 grant from Verizon Foundation. This funding will help PAB in its Increasing Braille Literacy for Students with Visual Impairment Project.

PAB will establish 13 regional computer centers that will utilize interactive web and teleconference features to unite professionals and persons in the blind community.

Through partnerships with Thinkfinity.org, Verizon’s free educational Web site, and Vision Aware, training curriculum will be developed to address the use of access technology for the blind and visually impaired, and to promote Braille literacy.

“The Verizon Foundation has provided us the resources to begin unlocking doors to the world of education and literacy to the blind community. Only 10% of persons who are blind can read Braille, and this same group of people may not be trained in the use of access technology for computers,” said Elaine Welch, President/CEO of the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind.

“Verizon’s goal is to help individuals to be successful; enabling teachers, parents and caregivers to help children learn; and educating adults so they are prepared to achieve their goals and contribute to their communities,” said Douglas R. Smith, vice present of external affairs with Verizon Pennsylvania. “We are happy to partner with PAB to help the blind and visually impaired to achieve the skills they need and have the Braille tools and resources needed to live, learn and work in the 21st Century. Visit www.thinkfinity.org to learn more.

Over the next year, PAB with be purchasing the necessary equipment for their 1,000 square foot interactive support/training room, creating new access technology and Braille program content, will be administering training programs to their 29 member agencies across the state of Pennsylvania, and will be updating their website as a vehicle to promote Braille literacy.

In addition, PAB will work to address this cause by creating a task force comprised of public and private services providers, educators and parents in an effort to make Braille instruction more readily available for school children.

The Verizon Foundation’s mission is to help transform the lives of current and future generations by helping to improve literacy and education through the use of technology and the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind is proud to be a part of this wonderful effort.

For more information visit; www.pablind.org or www.verizonfoundation.org.