For those in the Louisville, KY area

Action-Packed Week Planned for Blind and Sighted Youth Visiting Louisville

Washington, DC 20005

July 1 2008

Contact: Patti Cox, ChairYouth Activity Center (YAC)Phone: (502) 897-3864 or (after July 2) (502) 905-0869E-mail: patti0912@bellsouth.netLOUISVILLE, July 1, 2008 -- More than 2,000 blind and low-vision people and their children will gather at the Galt House Hotel & Suites, phone (502) 589-5200, from July 4-12 for the 47th annual national convention of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). While conventioneers tend to business, kids 6 to 17 can enjoy a great week of fun and activities in the Youth Activity Center (YAC)."ACB recognizes the importance of the family by offering our members an opportunity to bring their children to the convention and know that they will be entertained and supervised by qualified volunteers of the Youth Activity Center," stated Mitch Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind.The Sunday, July 6 sign-in kicks off with a pool party at 1:30 p.m. Besides games, movies, pizza and crafts, kids can look forward to roller coaster rides and serious water fun at Splashin' Safari. They'll tour the Louisville Slugger facility, the Science Center and a candy factory. Artisans will demonstrate glass blowing. Kids will get to check out displays from the Royal Armories and the Tower of London. If that's not enough action, throw in a fully explained sword fight re-enactment. Friday is a night on the town with horse-drawn carriage rides and a 4-seater bike ride through Waterfront Park. Dr. Ron Milliman, chair of the ACB public relations committee, says, "The YAC activities sound like so much fun that I wish I were a ten-year-old again!" Some YAC activities will also include students from the Kentucky School for the Blind. In all, nearly 70 children are expected to participate.While their kids are having fun, the parents will discover all sorts of information and support at the ACB convention. The American Foundation for the Blind is giving a presentation Monday night at 7 p.m. showing new web resources like FamilyConnect, an online community for parents of children with visual impairment: http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsitehome.aspThe American Council of the Blind is a national membership organization. Its members are blind, visually impaired, and fully sighted individuals who are concerned about the dignity and well-being of blind people throughout the nation. Formed in 1961, the Council is the largest organization of blind people in the United States, with more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates and a nationwide network of chapters and members.For more information about the American Council of the Blind or the ACB national convention, contact: Melanie Brunson, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666 http://www.acb.org.

Sharon Lovering (slovering@acb.org) Editor American Council of the Blind 1155 15th St. NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone : 202-467-5081 ext. 15 Fax : 202-467-5085