American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Special Issue: COVID and Beyond ANNOUNCEMENTS
2021 BELL Academy In-Home Edition
by Karen Anderson
Each summer for more than ten years the National Federation of the Blind has been holding BELL® Academies across the country. BELL, which stands for Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning, is a two-week program that gives blind children ages four through twelve the opportunity to work on their Braille skills. Students are mentored by blind adults, and the program is designed to help kids realize that reading can and should be fun.
In 2020, as Covid-19 changed our world, we recognized that the NFB BELL Academy needed to change, too. Though it wasn't safe for students to gather in person, we knew that it was still important for blind children to be exposed to Braille and alternative techniques in a fun way. For this reason we created the NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition.
Thanks to an incredible team of organizers and teachers, we are bringing back the NFB BELL Academy In-Home Edition this coming summer. Once again families will be able to choose among three sessions. Session One will run from June 7-18, Session Two will run from July 19-30, and Session Three will run from August 9-20. We encourage families to apply for the session that fits best within their summer schedule.
We learned a great deal last year while we conducted our first NFB BELL Academy In-Home sessions. This year we will build upon that learning to offer students a Braille learning experience that will be more tailored to their abilities and needs. Within each session we will divide students into three classes, based on their current knowledge of the Braille code. Families will be sent all of the materials for their class prior to the start of the session, so there is no need for families to go out and shop for materials. Each class will be taught by an experienced teacher of blind students. In addition, families will be connected with blind mentors who can work with them to answer any questions they might have. All of the activities will be fun, and they will continue to grow students' love of reading and of Braille.
For more information about the 2021 NFB BELL Academy, or to apply for the program, please visit nfb.org/bell. We look forward to getting to know your children and your entire family this summer!