3,000 Blind People Arrive in Dallas
6/26/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:Chris Danielsen
Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind(
410) 659-9314, extension 2330
Cell: (410) 262-1281
E-mail: cdanielsen@nfb.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
3,000 Blind People Arrive in Dallas
Expected to be Largest Disability Conference This Year
Event: National Federation of the Blind Annual Convention
Dates: June 29–July 5, 2008
Place: Hilton Anatole Hotel 2201 Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75207 (214) 761-7500
Attention Editors:
Congressman Pete Sessions to Participate in Second Annual March for Independence
At 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, over one thousand blind people will gather in Dallas for the second annual March for Independence—A Walk for Opportunity. The March for Independence is a 5K march demonstrating the independent spirit of the nation's organized blind, their friends, family, and supporters. The honorary chair of the March is Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32), who will be participating alongside members of the National Federation of the Blind from every state in the nation. Beginning at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, the March for Independence will proceed through Dallas with a stop at American Airlines Center for a special ceremony. The highlight of the ceremony will be the unveiling of the design of a United States commemorative coin by the director of the United States Mint. This coin will be the first United States coin to include standard Braille and will be minted in 2009 in commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille and to support the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to promote Braille literacy. The March will then return to the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
Attention Education Editors:
The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children to Celebrate 25th Anniversary
On Sunday, June 29, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with all-day events, beginning at 8:00 a.m., and culminating in a celebratory dinner and program at 6:00 p.m. Founded in 1983, the NOPBC is a national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children reaching out to each other to provide vital support, encouragement, and information. There are over three thousand members in all fifty states and divisions or parent contacts in about thirty states plus Puerto Rico.
Some of the seminar topics sponsored by the NOPBC on Sunday include educational tips for blind and multiple-disabled students, learning how to battle low expectations for low vision students, and numerous other relevant and important topics for parents of blind children.
Attention Technology Editors:
New Reading Technology for the Blind to be Demonstrated at National Convention
Blind people can now read print using the revolutionary knfbREADER Mobile. K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc., a company combining the research and development efforts of the National Federation of the Blind and Kurzweil Technologies, Inc., has paired its world-renowned reading software with the Nokia N82 mobile phone to create the smallest text-to-speech reading device in history.
This truly pocketsize Reader enables users to take pictures of and read most printed materials at the push of a button. Blind users hear the contents of the document read in clear synthetic speech, while users who can see the screen and those with learning disabilities can enlarge, read, track, and highlight printed materials using the phone’s large and easy-to-read display.
The knfbREADER Mobile will be available for demonstration and training on Sunday, June 29; Monday, June 30; and Tuesday, July 1; from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The world of the printed word is now open to the blind in a way it has never been before.
Attention Sports and Life Style Editors:
Paralympic Athletes to Provide Training and Fun to Blind Participants
As part of the program of the NFB’s Sports and Recreation Division, many different sporting events will be held at the national convention. Blind people are often told they cannot participate in regular physical activities such as swimming, and the Sports and Recreation Division works to dispel that misconception with exciting activities throughout the convention.
The Sports Extravaganza kicks off on Sunday, June 29, with a spirited session of goalball. Blind people will receive training from four Paralympians and an experienced Texas coach from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Veranda Club in Anatole Park. On Monday, June 30, the Paralympic Sports Team will be holding a swimming clinic in the Veranda Club pool at Anatole Park from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. and from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. And for the second year in a row, the Sports and Recreation Division will offer an indoor rowing lesson and competition on Tuesday, July 1, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
NOTE: The entire convention agenda is available at www.nfb.org.
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6/26/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:Chris Danielsen
Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind(
410) 659-9314, extension 2330
Cell: (410) 262-1281
E-mail: cdanielsen@nfb.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
3,000 Blind People Arrive in Dallas
Expected to be Largest Disability Conference This Year
Event: National Federation of the Blind Annual Convention
Dates: June 29–July 5, 2008
Place: Hilton Anatole Hotel 2201 Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75207 (214) 761-7500
Attention Editors:
Congressman Pete Sessions to Participate in Second Annual March for Independence
At 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, over one thousand blind people will gather in Dallas for the second annual March for Independence—A Walk for Opportunity. The March for Independence is a 5K march demonstrating the independent spirit of the nation's organized blind, their friends, family, and supporters. The honorary chair of the March is Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32), who will be participating alongside members of the National Federation of the Blind from every state in the nation. Beginning at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, the March for Independence will proceed through Dallas with a stop at American Airlines Center for a special ceremony. The highlight of the ceremony will be the unveiling of the design of a United States commemorative coin by the director of the United States Mint. This coin will be the first United States coin to include standard Braille and will be minted in 2009 in commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille and to support the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to promote Braille literacy. The March will then return to the Hilton Anatole Hotel.
Attention Education Editors:
The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children to Celebrate 25th Anniversary
On Sunday, June 29, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) will celebrate its 25th anniversary with all-day events, beginning at 8:00 a.m., and culminating in a celebratory dinner and program at 6:00 p.m. Founded in 1983, the NOPBC is a national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children reaching out to each other to provide vital support, encouragement, and information. There are over three thousand members in all fifty states and divisions or parent contacts in about thirty states plus Puerto Rico.
Some of the seminar topics sponsored by the NOPBC on Sunday include educational tips for blind and multiple-disabled students, learning how to battle low expectations for low vision students, and numerous other relevant and important topics for parents of blind children.
Attention Technology Editors:
New Reading Technology for the Blind to be Demonstrated at National Convention
Blind people can now read print using the revolutionary knfbREADER Mobile. K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc., a company combining the research and development efforts of the National Federation of the Blind and Kurzweil Technologies, Inc., has paired its world-renowned reading software with the Nokia N82 mobile phone to create the smallest text-to-speech reading device in history.
This truly pocketsize Reader enables users to take pictures of and read most printed materials at the push of a button. Blind users hear the contents of the document read in clear synthetic speech, while users who can see the screen and those with learning disabilities can enlarge, read, track, and highlight printed materials using the phone’s large and easy-to-read display.
The knfbREADER Mobile will be available for demonstration and training on Sunday, June 29; Monday, June 30; and Tuesday, July 1; from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The world of the printed word is now open to the blind in a way it has never been before.
Attention Sports and Life Style Editors:
Paralympic Athletes to Provide Training and Fun to Blind Participants
As part of the program of the NFB’s Sports and Recreation Division, many different sporting events will be held at the national convention. Blind people are often told they cannot participate in regular physical activities such as swimming, and the Sports and Recreation Division works to dispel that misconception with exciting activities throughout the convention.
The Sports Extravaganza kicks off on Sunday, June 29, with a spirited session of goalball. Blind people will receive training from four Paralympians and an experienced Texas coach from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Veranda Club in Anatole Park. On Monday, June 30, the Paralympic Sports Team will be holding a swimming clinic in the Veranda Club pool at Anatole Park from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. and from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. And for the second year in a row, the Sports and Recreation Division will offer an indoor rowing lesson and competition on Tuesday, July 1, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
NOTE: The entire convention agenda is available at www.nfb.org.
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