NFB Bell Program Expands

An email from the National Federation of the Blind:

The National Federation of the Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Program has expanded exponentially this year. Modeled after a successful summer program created by the Maryland affiliate in 2008, the BELL Program has grown to 19 programs in 10 states. The NFB Bell Program is designed to provide children ages 4-12 with two weeks of intense Braille instruction through fun, hands-on learning and activities. The program targets children who may not be receiving adequate Braille instruction during their school day. In addition to Braille, children will also make crafts, play games, and engage in other projects. Children may also have the opportunity to attend field trips related to the NFB BELL curriculum.

~Get involved! The easiest way is to send your kids to the BELL Program for two weeks of Braille fun. However, if you don't have or know of any children to encourage to attend, there are still many ways to help with the NFB BELL Program! There is a job for everyone! If you like to cook, you could help plan meals. If you like to network and meet people, you could find donations or plan field trips. If you don't have a task in mind but want to help anyway, we always need help preparing materials for crafts projects. The NFB BELL Program is an important program that changes the lives of both the children who attend and the adults who volunteer. You have an exciting chance to be a part of that!

The 2012 NFB BELL States are:

Colorado
Colorado Springs: Diane McGeorge at rmcgeorge@comcast.net or 303-321-4268
Metro Denver: Diane McGeorge at rmcgeorge@comcast.net or 303-321-4268

Georgia
Atlanta: Shelby Ball at sball@nfbga.org or 678-814-3372
Savannah: Denise Howard at dhoward@lifecil.com or 912-925-3860
Valdosta: Shaquantaey Mack at taey06@gmail.com or 478-232-3971

Idaho
Contact Ramona Walhof at ramona.walhof@gmail.com or 208-338-1595

Maryland
Baltimore: Melissa Riccobono at president@nfbmd.org or 410-235-3073
Glendale: Melissa Riccobono at president@nfbmd.org or 410-235-3073

Massachusetts
Contact Kristina Constant at kristinaconstant66@gmail.com or 413-532-5654

Nebraska
Contact Kim Adams at kmadams@nntc.net or 402-666-5505

North Carolina
Contact Gary Ray at ghray@charter.net or 828-505-0299

Texas
Abilene: Sylvia Eckdahl at spedsyl@aol.com or 325-823-4060
Austin: Richie Flores at flores.richie@gmail.com or 512-796-9638
Beaumont: Richie Flores at flores.richie@gmail.com or 512-796-9638
Houston: Louis Maher at ljmaher@swbell.net or 713-444-7838

Utah
Contact Wendy Bybee at wendy@thebybees.net or 801 965-1113

Virginia
Arlington: Sandy Halverson at sandyh50@verizon.net or 703-379-1141
Richmond: CJ Fish at cjwfish@yahoo.com or 252-916-4655
Virginia Beach: Theresa Willis at theresa_willis@hotmail.com or 757-286-9407

The NFB BELL homepage is available at www.nfb.org/BELL . Apply Online!!


For general BELL questions, or how you can become an NFB BELL state next year, please contact:

Emily Gibbs M.Ed NCLB
Education Program Specialist
Jernigan Institute
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314 ext. 2407
Fax: (410) 659-5129
Email: EGibbs@nfb.org
Web: www.nfb.org/education