Blind Industries uses grant to buy high-tech equipment

2/10/10: Blind Industries and Services of Maryland will utilize a $24,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to purchase new adaptive technology, such as Braille displays, scanning software and Braille keyboards for blind and low-vision adults and seniors participating in BISM's rehabilitation programs.

"With this new technology, we can better teach real-world skills to blind adults, seniors and youth all while helping to build their self-confidence," said Christina Davis, senior director of the organization on 3345 Washington Blvd. in Lansdowne.

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland currently offers its Seniors Achieving Independent Living (SAIL) program in its Cumberland, Salisbury and Lansdowne locations.

The organization also offers CORE, an intensive eight-month residential training program for adults, at its Lansdowne location.

Both curriculums provide comprehensive instruction in Braille, adaptive computer technology, cane travel and independent home living.

Both programs area also are free of charge for Maryland residents.

Next year, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland's Youth services division will offer "Independence 2010," a summer residential program aimed at providing blind teens with the life skills to succeed in college, the workplace and at home.

For information, call 410-737-2600 or go to www.bism.org.

Let Freedom Ring: Braille Letters to President Obama Available to Read Online

In the fall of 2009, the National Federation of the Blind put out a call for Americans to write letters to President Barack Obama expressing the role that being able to read and write Braille plays in their lives. The NFB was flooded with
responses from a large variety of blind and sighted people¬from school children to working professionals to retired senior citizens. While there are great variances in the people who responded, one factor was the same: that Braille plays a vital role in their lives and is an important, and indeed necessary, tool for the blind.

We have compiled one hundred of these letters into a book intended to be presented to President Barack Obama. This morning, February 1, 2010, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan received the publication on behalf of the President at a ceremony at the United States Department of Education.

During the event, Secretary Duncan, other dignitaries from the Department of education, and leaders of the NFB heard from various speakers, including Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, two school children, and
a parent of a blind child. Fredric K. Schroeder, First Vice President of the NFB, presented the book and asked the Secretary to support the NFB's goal of doubling the number of school-age children reading Braille. Secretary Duncan left the event with the knowledge that Braille is vital to the independence of the blind. And he
left armed with the book that will give President Obama this knowledge as well.

Let Freedom Ring: Braille Letters to President Barack Obama is now available for you to read on the NFB Web site


Mark A. Riccobono
Executive Director, Jernigan Institute
National Federation of the Blind

San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind One of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas 2010, Only Non-Profit Selected

The San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind was recognized and honored at the Best Companies to Work for in Texas Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Texas Association of Business 2010 Annual Conference in Austin. The San Antonio Lighthouse ranked 17 in the large company category out of 30 and was the only non-profit in the State to be honored among the top 85.

This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Texas, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses. The Best Companies to Work for in Texas 2010 list was made up of 85 companies which included the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Companies to Work for in Texas. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Texas and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind makes SKILCRAFT products and works with National Industries for the Blind and the AbilityOne Program to create and sustain jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Media Contact: Nancy Lipton – Public Relations Director
Phone: 210 531-1533 Cell: 210 771- 5300
Email: nlipton@salighthouse.org