2009 Louise Braille Silver Dollar Makes History
March 26, 2009 by Mike Hingson · Leave a Comment
19th Century Innovation Remains an Integral Part of Our Future
Thursday, March 26, 2009 marks a defining moment in American History: the launch of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar taking place at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille system, a vital tool used by the blind to read and write. This coin is the focal point of a national effort to bring awareness to the Braille literacy crisis.
The average person may wonder why Braille literacy is such an important issue, especially in this modern electronic age when there are so many technological alternatives to “old fashioned” reading and writing. For the blind in particular, there have been some remarkable advances in what is known as “assistive technology” to provide electronic alternatives to reading.
The world of assistive technology and the world of Braille literacy seem to be antithetical. If a blind person can use a hand-held reader, wouldn’t that mean they don’t need to be able to read Braille?
As a user of both Braille literacy and Assistive Technology, I am able to share first hand the importance of Braille literacy in the technological age. I attended the proceedings in Baltimore, as an Ambassador for Braille Literacy for the National Federation of the Blind. As many of you know, I am also the National Sales Director for the KNFB Reader Mobile, the first hand-held device that a blind person can use anywhere to access the printed word.
The launch of the newly minted 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar is a perfect opportunity to dispel the misconceptions about the role of Braille and the importance of Braille literacy in America.
To appreciate why Braille literacy still important with all the new advances in assistive technology, one must first understand that Braille is a language. Electronic media such as audio books of all genres, whether educational, recreational, or artistic, are becoming increasingly popular ways to deliver content which enriches our lives, blind and sighted alike. But the primary basis for the information that is transmitted is language.
The process of language involves reading, writing, hearing and speaking. For a blind person, Braille is written language, the only way of engaging the reading and writing components of language. The literacy rate for sighted people in this country is 98%; the literacy rate for blind people is 10%. 40 years ago, the literacy rate for blind people was 50%.
The 2009 Louis Braille Silver Dollar will help the National Federation of the Blind raise money for Braille literacy, as well as raise awareness of the crisis. One of their most important objectives is to change attitudes about Braille. As educational programs fall under the scalpel, it would be easy to be lulled into false complacency, that technology will solve all of our problems. As a nation, we cannot overlook access to language as a fundamental human right.
For blind people throughout the world, regardless of their native tongue, Braille opens up their ability to fully communicate and contribute to human culture. Despite its rich history and almost quaintly poetic story of how it originated, Braille remains as vital and “cutting edge” as the latest technology, as it is essential to our use of language and ability to communicate.
At this historic launch of the first-ever U.S. coin to feature readable Braille, we should consider the words inscribed on the coin itself: “Liberty; In God We Trust, Louise Braille 1809 2009” Liberty is one of the founding principals of our nation. The preservation and perpetuation of Braille as a vital, living language, ensures liberty and equality for everyone.
Feb. 2009 NFB Legislative Trip to Washington
March 3, 2009 by Mike Hingson · Leave a Comment
National Federation of the Blind Goes to Washington -Largest Coalition of Blind People Participates
Early February, I had the opportunity to visit Washington DC as a part of the largest group of blind people in the nation who visit their senators and representatives annually to talk about current national issues affecting blind citizens. This year, there were three major issues of concern which we discussed with the 111th Congress.
The first issue is the growing concern about quiet and hybrid cars, which are becoming an increasing danger to blind and other pedestrians.
The second issue concerns a “Technology Bill of Rights” for the blind which would mandate that manufacturers of technology build in accessibility when designing and constructing their products.
The third urgent item is a work incentive issue for blind persons which we are urging Congress to pass which would change the Earnings Limitations Requirements for blind people who are presently receiving SSI and other welfare benefits.
Please see the separate posting of the fact sheets we distributed to all 535 members of the 111th Congress: Congressional Fact Sheets, Feb. 09
Over 500 blind members of the National Federation of the Blind descended on Washington beginning on Friday, February 5. I arrived on Saturday to begin preparations for our visit with legislators and to begin my new role as the National Sales Director of the KNFB Reader Mobile sales program of the National Federation of the Blind. The Federation was recently asked to become a national distributor for the KNFB Reader Mobile by KNFB Technologies.
Note: the KNFB Reader Mobile deserves its own article, which can be accessed on my site. Suffice it to say that this device offers a totally portable way for blind people to read a significant amount of printed material using certain cell phones and special software. You can learn more about it by visiting http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com. I spent most of my week in Washington demonstrating this wonderful machine, as well as helping people upgrade to the second generation of reading software. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Anne Marie Laney of the NFB National Blindness Center in Baltimore Maryland. Anne Marie worked tirelessly helping with all aspects of our sales efforts.
On Wednesday, February 11, I spent time on Capitol Hill visiting two California legislators. In the morning I met with Congressman Wally Herger, (whom I had the opportunity to meet in 2004 while on a speaking trip to Redding California. Later that year he and his chief California aid, Fran Peace, arranged for me to meet President George W. Bush in the Oval Office). I, along with several other California residents, spoke with Congressman Herger about the earnings limitation issue as well as the proposed study on quiet cars. Congressman Herger stated that he was very supportive of the proposed changes to the earnings limitation structure, so that blind welfare and SSI recipients would lose only one dollar of their government checks for every three dollars they earn should they join the workforce. It is our hope that Congressman Herger will become a co-sponsor of the earnings limitation bill.
Congressman Herger said that he would study the quiet car issue. As he stated, while he is concerned about pedestrian safety, he wants to better understand the issues surrounding the dangers posed to pedestrians, (blind and sighted alike), by quiet and hybrid cars.
Wednesday afternoon I had the opportunity to meet with Senator Barbara Boxer during a town hall meeting that she organized for Californians who are visiting the Capitol that day. Although this was not the private meeting I desired, I did have a few moments to spend talking with the senator during a photo opportunity at the end of the meeting. Senator Boxer was one of those who supported and secured passage of the bill creating the Louis Braille coin which will go on sale on March 26 of this year to help turn around the Braille literacy crisis in this country. I had the opportunity to thank Senator Boxer for her efforts on our behalf.
She is supportive and concerned about the quiet car issue and will explore being a part of the effort to secure the Department of Transportation study which is already proposed in the House under HR734. Other members of the National Federation of the Blind of California delegation met with her staff on Tuesday to discuss our other issues.
Here is one of the pictures taken that day with Senator Boxer.
The Washington trip was successful in every way both for me and for the legislative efforts of the National Federation of the Blind. It is always heartening to be in Washington, to participate in the education process for our legislators, to bring them current on important issues which we hope they will address. Over 500 blind people comprised this vital effort, working with Capitol Hill in a very organized and professional way. It is amazing what teamwork can accomplish when everyone is on the same page.
I will keep this blog up to date with the results of the efforts we began in Washington. Your comments and feedback are welcome and very important to our success.