Future Reflections Special Issue: Technology
BRAILLE BOOKS
2012 Braille Book Fair
Coordinator: Barbara Cheadle, (410) 747-3472
It's that time again--time to sort through all those boxes of Braille books in your basement or spare room. Please donate your gently used but no longer needed books to the 2012 Braille Book Fair sponsored by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) and the National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB). The primary goal is to get more Braille books into the hands of children, youth, and beginning adult readers. Most needed are books in good condition, print/Braille books, and leisure reading (fiction or nonfiction). Cookbooks are always in demand, as are books about sports. Children are so hungry for their very own books that every year, despite generous donations, most of our books for young children are gone in less than an hour. Ship your donations as Free Matter for the Blind to Vanessa Pena, 10155 Monroe, Dallas, TX 75229.
CONTEST
Talking LabQuest Giveaway
Independence Science
<independencescience.com/blog>
Every person who signs up for the Independence Science newsletter from January 1 through July 31, 2012, will enter a drawing to win a Talking LabQuest software package. The LabQuest allows blind students almost complete access to the science laboratory curriculum.
CONFERENCES
Tactile Graphics Conference
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
<www.nfb.org/tactilegraphics>
Contact: Clara van Gerven, (410) 659-9314, Ext. 2410
[email protected]
November 30-December 1, 2012
The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute will present a two-day conference on how tactile graphics can be made and how they enhance STEM education for blind students. A variety of sessions on general topics will be followed by breakout sessions on how to create and evaluate tactile graphics, basic and advanced techniques for creating tactile graphics, and the creation and use of three-dimensional models.
Conference for Deafblind Persons
Sight and Hearing Encouragement Program (SHEP)
<www.shep-ok.org>
Reed Convention Center, Oklahoma City, OK
October 12-13, 2012
Contact: Jeri Cooper, [email protected]
Come join the first deafblind conference sponsored by SHEP. The theme is "You Can Do It: Advocacy and Self-Determination, Keys to Your Future."
TRAVEL
Israel on the Horizon
Summer Experience in Israel for Blind and Visually Impaired Youth
Contact: Bob Fenton, [email protected]
The Israel National Association of Parents of Blind and Visually Impaired Children and the Jewish Institute for the Blind in Jerusalem are planning the first Israel summer tour program for blind and visually impaired Jewish youth ages 15-21. The pilot program will run for twelve days, including educational tours throughout the country, outdoor activities, and social programs with Israeli youth. The 2012 program will include youth from North America, England, and Australia.
NEW BOARD
In November 2011 the Colorado Parents of Blind Children elected the following board of directors: president, Andrew Trunfio; vice president, Everett Romero; secretary, Lisa Felix; treasurer, Julie Hunter; and board members Connie Casias and Sarah McCandless.