American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Convention 2018 CONVENTION PERSPECTIVES
Going to the Fair
by Krystal Guillory
From the Editor: Krystal Guillory is a teacher of blind students in Louisiana. As a teacher she knows firsthand the value of reading for all children, including those who are blind. When she had the opportunity to coordinate the annual Braille Book Fair at the NFB National Convention, she pitched in with unrestrained enthusiasm. Here is what she has to say about the 2018 Braille Book Fair.
Each year at the NFB National Convention, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), a proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, sponsors the Braille Book Fair. The Braille Book Fair is a celebration of Louis Braille's eponymously named code that opens worlds of exploration and opportunity to blind readers, just as print does for their sighted counterparts. This one-of-a-kind gathering, a staple of Division Day at national convention, brings together book lovers of all ages. Many of them cannot resist taking time out to begin reading favorite selections in the midst of the enthusiastic browsing and chatter going on all around them.
Hundreds of students and their parents, as well as working-age and older readers, look forward with relish to this convention mainstay. The Braille Book Fair would not be possible without the tremendous generosity of our literacy partner, Wells Fargo, along with the tireless dedication and professionalism of the UPS volunteers who package and ship the highly prized titles directly to the homes of delighted bibliophiles.
"I began volunteering when the book fair was still called the Book Flea Market under the tutelage of Barbara Cheadle," tweeted @braillerocks. "I was hooked! Some of my favorite moments are seeing kids so excited to get their hands on Braille that they literally sit on the floor to start reading! I fondly remember helping Anna find all the missing Babysitters Club series she needed."
Alabama's Joy Orton says, "Braille Book Fair means tons of books for my daughter to read. When we have had a chance to attend the Braille Book Fair, we sometimes end up with more than one box of books going to our house. Then we have plenty of books to choose from, just like the sighted kids have lots of books to choose from at the local library. My daughter is a reader today because of the early exposure to Braille and the volume of books we had from the Braille Book Fair."
While the books are free of charge, the NOPBC gladly accepts monetary donations to purchase titles as well as the donation of gently used books to be enjoyed anew by others. Contributions may be made on the day of the event or throughout the year. Parents and others happily volunteer their time to receive and collate titles into various categories, including print/Braille, children's fiction and nonfiction, books for adults and young adults, poetry, and reference and religious materials. Once on location at the convention hotel, additional volunteers work diligently to unbox and display the volumes for browsing by eager hands.
Hardworking teacher Jeanne Lee says, "It is the highlight of the convention for my students. I look forward to it, too, because I can get a few new books for the kids who don't get to attend." Emily Boney, a blind mom whose toddler daughter is also blind, reflects on both the past and future with these words, "The Braille Book Fair is how most of my library was built. I can't wait to help Charity do the same."
NOPBC board member and New Hampshire mom Penny Duffy says, "It's a true celebration of Braille. We have so many good memories. Every year it means something different, but it's all remarkable. When Abby first became blind and started learning Braille, she asked where the Braille section was at the local bookstore. At the Braille Book Fair you ask where the Harry Potter books are."
"It's like Christmas in July!" says Teresa Romero of Maryland. "My twelve-year-old daughter has been attending for years, and she makes a wish list in hopes she will find the books she wants. This year Nancy Drew and Harry Potter were a big hit, along with some others to pass on to her friends. Then the wait till they arrive home begins."
Finally, Christine White speaks to the importance of access and inclusivity by saying, "My daughter and nephew have always loved to read. She was always disappointed with how we can find his books at basically any store, and there was nowhere for her to browse. This year my parents took her, and she was sooo excited. She called to tell so many people about all the books she got."
For more information about this wonderfully enjoyable initiative, please don't hesitate to email me at [email protected]. Braille Rocks!
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