American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Winter 2024 WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Ring the BELLS in 2024!
Launched in Maryland in 2008, the NFB BELL® Academy has become one of the flagship programs of the National Federation of the Blind. In states across the country, preparations are now underway for the 2024 BELL Academies.
"We have a student who has attended BELL Academy every summer from the age of four, and one summer she attended two different BELL programs," says Jenny Carmack, a BELL teacher from Missouri. "Her parents tell us that after she attended her first BELL she insisted on coming back each year, and that her insistence increased as she grew older. The family made summer plans around BELL. This student stated repeatedly that her favorite thing about BELL is that so many teachers and volunteers are blind, so they understand the students better than most other people do."
The NFB BELL Academy is a one- or two-week summer program that gives blind children ages four through twelve the opportunity to build their Braille skills. BELL is an acronym that stands for Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning. Throughout each program BELL students are mentored by blind adults who serve as volunteers. The program is designed to help blind kids discover that reading can be fun and that Braille skills can be part of activities that include travel, cooking, and conducting science experiments.
In 2020, when COVID-19 transformed the world overnight, the NFB redesigned BELL Academy for the new reality. Though it wasn't safe for students to gather in person, it still was important for blind children to be exposed to Braille in fun and exciting ways. With only a few weeks to plan, the NFB created the NFB BELL In-Home Edition. Each student who signed up for the program received a jumbo box of supplies in the mail. During daily online sessions students read stories, played games, and followed Braille instructions as they worked on crafts and science projects. Each online class was taught by an experienced teacher of blind students. In addition, families were connected with blind mentors from their state. Between sessions families met with the mentors by phone, asking questions and building connections.
In 2022 several states held in-person BELL Academies again, while BELL In-Home Edition continued for students who could not attend a face-to-face program. More BELL Academies were held last summer. There is nothing like the opportunity for blind children to gather in the same space with peers and successful blind adults!
Today teachers and volunteers are preparing for the 2024 NFB BELL Academies. Students will spend time working on Braille, cane travel, and other skills of blindness while having fun and being exposed to a positive philosophy of blindness. Incidental learning during the program can be just as important as the planned lessons. Children may find out how to put a straw into a juice box independently, how to cut paper with a scissors, or how to find a dropped object on the floor.
Most BELL Academies are two-week day programs, running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Some states also run residential BELL programs, bringing students together for a week of intensive training and fun activities.
Louisiana is one of the states that has already mapped out its plans for this summer's BELL Academies. It will host two programs, one for students ages four to ten (June 2-8, 2024) and one for students ages eleven to fourteen (July 21-27). Both programs will be held at the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston. NFB of Louisiana President Pam Allen explains, "BELL is for all blind children, including low-vision students who receive insufficient Braille instruction, students who are new to vision loss, students who have been blind since birth, and blind students with additional disabilities."
For questions or additional details about the Louisiana programs, contact Krystal Guillory at 318-245-8955 or [email protected].
The most powerful recommendations for BELL Academy come from parents whose children have taken part. "I just wanted to send you a quick note, as I'm too emotional to tell you in person," wrote one mom. "I'm forever grateful for you all! Truly, I never imagined that camp would be this amazing! I know that all moms believe in their children, but getting others to believe in my son has been a struggle. You all have readily accepted his challenges and pushed him to persevere, and he is thriving because of you! He's so worth it! My only regret is not finding you all sooner, as we would have been back every summer until he aged out!"
Registration for the 2024 NFB BELL Academies opened in February. To learn more and to register your child, please visit nfb.org/bell.