American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Special Issue: The Federation in Partnership WHAT'S HAPPENING
Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards
Learning Ally
https://portal.learningally.org
Contact: [email protected]
800-221-4792
Deadline for Applications: December 31, 2022
Blind and visually-impaired students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees who have active Learning Ally subscriptions are invited to apply for one of the Mary P. Oenslager Achievement Awards. Six scholarships will be awarded in 2023, ranging in value from $3,000 to $6,000. Scholarship awardees must be willing and able to share their personal stories and represent Learning Ally as spokespersons at virtual, local, and national events.
Early Childhood Initiatives
https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-iniatives/early-childhood-application
The National Federation of the Blind sponsors two programs for young blind/low-vision children and their families. Braille Reading Pals and Early Explorers are offered to families free of charge.
Braille Reading Pals Club
The Braille Reading Pals Club introduces young blind children and their families to literacy through Braille. The program fosters positive attitudes about Braille and helps sighted family members promote a love of reading through the shared reading of print/Braille books with their blind children. This program is designed for blind and low-vision children ages birth through eight years old. Braille Reading Pals Club members will receive at no charge:
Early Explorers
The Early Explorers program introduces young blind children and their families to the long white cane. Children will become more independent, confident, and curious travelers throughout life. The program provides strategies to teach children beginning cane travel skills. This program is designed for blind and low-vision children ages birth through eight years old.
Early Explorers will receive at no charge:
Adopt-a-Reader Program
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
https://forms.gle/P5AFiMnbZfeQGy2k9
Contact: Katelynn Lucas, 734-427-8552
Do you have a child or student with vision loss who lives in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, or Indiana? The Adopt-a-Reader Program allows blind low-vision children in these states to receive ten free Braille books of their choice once matched with a generous sponsor. Choose twelve titles and fill out the enrollment form. When the child is matched, Seedlings will send ten of the ten chosen titles free of charge.
Health Education for Students with Visual Impairments: A Guidebook for Teachers
https://www.aph.org/product/health-education-for-students-with-visual-impairments-a-guidebook-for-teachers-2
Created by APH, this book is intended to fill a longstanding educational gap by providing teachers and educators with tips, background information, and other resources for teaching health-related topics to students who are blind or visually impaired. The guidebook is not core curriculum and is not intended for use by students. Parents and educators are encouraged to use this resource when explaining issues around sexual education, including body awareness and appropriate/inappropriate touch. The book follows the National Health Education and National Sexuality Education standards. It also dispels damaging stereotypes regarding the sexuality of youths who are blind or visually impaired.
Getty Images Initiative
https://tactileimages.com
Getty Images, the National Federation of the Blind, and Tactile Images have partnered to deliver more than 45 million images to the world's blind population at museums, science centers, libraries, and government programs that serve the disabled. This initiative will significantly enhance educational opportunities and cultural inclusion for blind individuals worldwide. Tactile Images is committed to providing tactile experiences for the blind. These transformative experiences allow visitors to develop an intimate connection with a wide range of visual and graphic material. Images designed for touch provide the opportunity for visitors to acquire information independently, without relying on recorded descriptions or the interpretation of a sighted companion.
Accessible Programs
https://laufware.com
Laufware.com is a new website that provides links to more than two hundred accessible Windows programs. Software is divided into twenty-five categories with descriptions for each program. Specialty pages include keyboard shortcuts, top forty accessible programs, fifty portable programs with no installation required, and podcasts created by and for the blind and low-vision community.
Indo Jax® Surf Charities
https://indojaxsurfschool.com/outreach.php
Contact: Nikki Bascomb, [email protected]
910-233-7999
June 22-24: Riding on Insulin Surf Camp (juvenile diabetes)
July 12: Visually Impaired Surf Camp
August 2-4: Childhood Cancer Surf Camp
Based at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, Indo Jax is committed to empowering medically fragile and special-needs children by exposing them to the ocean environment and teaching them to surf. The program was shut down for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is now back in operation. Indo Jax believes that the ocean and learning to surf have profound healing properties and can build self-esteem in children with special needs. Surf camps are provided at no charge to the participants.
Blind Equestrian Community
[email protected]
Contact: Suzanne Ament, [email protected]
540-381-0963
If you are a blind rider, work with horses, or just love horses and would like to be in touch with like-minded others, the Blind Equestrian Community (BEC) is for you. BEC is trying to gather blind equestrians together to support each other, share successes and challenges, and advocate when necessary. Currently an email listserv acts as the main medium for announcements to the group. BEC will also have a presence on Facebook soon. To subscribe to the listserv, send an email to the address above and put "Subscribe" in the subject line. For further information contact Suzanne Ament. Please pass this information on to others who might be interested.