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Post by Ms. Kathy on Dec 14, 2004 10:28:18 GMT -6
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Dec 15, 2004 10:10:37 GMT -6
NFB Jernigan Institute Online Education Program - "Training on Blindness from the Blind Themselves The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute, with support from Learning House, Inc., is pleased to offer an innovative training program--the NFB Jernigan Institute Online Education Program." FMI: www.nfb.org/nfbrti/education.htm |
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Dec 15, 2004 10:36:43 GMT -6
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Apr 6, 2005 11:34:45 GMT -6
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Apr 13, 2005 11:31:13 GMT -6
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Sept 4, 2006 22:14:03 GMT -6
Your monthly link to the latest information on the American Printing House for the Blind's products, services, and training opportunities. **Please visit our September issue, now posted on our web site: www.aph.org/advisory/2006adv09.htmlClick on the above link or copy and paste it into your favorite web browser **This Month's Headlines: " Ship About to Sail for Annual Meeting Time is running out to register for the 138th Annual Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees and Special Guests, October 12 - 14, in beautiful downtown Louisville. Your registration form should reach APH by September 8. Please make your reservations with the Marriott by September 12. " ThornAmy Press Titles listed in Louis! ThornAmy Press is now contributing information about hundreds of large print books to Louis! Currently, more than 400 titles are listed and more are being added each day. " Web Page Gets a New Look with New Features In July the Accessible Tests Web page got a new look. Easier navigation and updated links are features of the new and improved site. " APH Travel Calendar |
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Oct 16, 2006 7:47:03 GMT -6
www.news8austin.com(http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=172573&SecID=2) Museum exhibit teaches children about blindness10/15/2006 1:23:15 PM By: News 8 Austin Staff A new exhibit at the Austin Children's Museum teaches kids about how blind people sense the world. It features activities that forces participants to use senses other than sight. Children can attend Braille storytime, meet a guide dog and learn how to use a cane. They also must identify objects using their senses of smell, hearing and touch. "If we can teach children at an early age that differences are a part of who everyone is. I mean, some people have dark hair, some people have blond hair. Some people are left-handed, some people are right-handed. Some people are blind, some people are sighted. And they just do different things to get through their lives every day," Angela Wolf of the National Federation for the Blind said. October has been declared Meet the Blind Month by the National Federation for the Blind. The Beyond Sight exhibit will be featured at the Austin Children's Museum in the Community Gallery through Nov. 26. Copyright © 2006 TWEAN d.b.a. News 8 Austin
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Nov 29, 2006 13:18:58 GMT -6
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Feb 5, 2007 8:38:09 GMT -6
Braille Challenge Students let fingers do the reading Utah foundation's competition draws 36 vision-impaired participants By Roxana Orellana The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake Tribune Article Last Updated: Their fingers hustled back and forth from the pages on the table to the six-key Braille machine in front of them. No one seemed to mind the random sound of keys striking the beige paper for 25 minutes as students completed their individual tests. It was the third challenge of the day, but for most of the students, their concentration remained intact. Thirty-six students from Utah school districts and Utah School for the Blind competed at the Utah Foundation for the Blind & Visually Impaired in Salt Lake City at the third annual regional Braille Challenge. "I got kind of nervous until the test started, and then I just relaxed,'' said fifth-grader Caroline Blair. Born blind, Caroline began learning Braille when she was 3. The students in grade levels from kindergarten to high school tested their Braille literacy skills through reading speed and comprehension, Braille proofreading and Braille charts and graphs challenges. UFBVI started the regional challenge in conjunction with the Braille Institute in California in an effort to promote Braille skills among Utah's blind students. "We want to encourage students to learn Braille. It's a lot of work and we want to reward them for learning it," said Merrilee Petersen, Braille Challenge coordinator. The event also gives students a chance to interact with other visually impaired students. Petersen said often they may be the only ones in their schools who may know Braille or be visually impaired. Marla Palmer brought her two visually impaired children, Megan, 10, and Adam, 7, and family friend Asia Fowler, 8, to the challenge. "All three can visually read large print but we wanted them to learn Braille so when their eyes get tired they have an alternative way to read," Palmer said. As their eyes get tired, letters seem to get smaller, the children said. "I see double," Asia said. By noon some of the younger participants were happy to be finished with their challenges. For 8-year-old Asia, her proofreading test was a bit more difficult than she expected. "It was too hard and I didn't understand what to do," Asia said. The second-grader, who began learning Braille in preschool, was born without pigmentation in her eyes due to a form of albinism. "It's all finished and it was fun. I feel pretty good," Asia said. Top students from each age group receive prizes. The top 70 scorers across the country are invited to compete in the National Braille Challenge. --- * ROXANA ORELLANA can be contacted at rorellana@sltrib.com or 801-257-8693. * * * Braille Challenge * Participants are ranked after completing tests of their reading speed and comprehension, proofreading and reading of Braille charts and graphs. * Top students in each age group receive prizes. * The top 70 competitors from across the nation will go on to compete in the National Braille Challenge later this year. Source Link: www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5150332
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Feb 22, 2007 11:37:39 GMT -6
I like this article written by a man with a visual impairment. He says some of the things we advocate concerning those who are blind and how people act or react to them.The Blind are People tooDaniel Taverne Daniel Taverne is a legally blind disabled veteran living in Louisiana. After his service, he began college in the hopes of becoming a COTA. However, he became ill with an unknown condition with less than 1 semester of schooling left, forcing him to drop out while seeking treatment.
Daniel has a poetry blog you can visit called, 'Snapshots'. Snapshots contains both humorous stuff and not so humorous stuff. To read his poetry, please visit his website.(http://www.dtaverne.blogspot.com/)Source Link: www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=21017 Daniel Taverne February 20, 2007 The Blind are People TooBefore becoming legally blind, the idea of walking around without seeing was so foreign to me I felt awkward each time I encountered the blind out and about. That said, whenever I observed blind people strangely tapping along with those orange and white sticks, I’d make it a point to steer clear of them. Unfortunately, I think most people feel as I had and avoid them as well. To all those who are uncertain about blindness, let me enlighten you. Blindness is not a condition that indicates a person is crazy, or weird. Blindness is merely a condition that forces the affected into finding new ways of doing things. Still, there are things you should know about the blind that will help you feel more comfortable with them. The first thing you should understand is how easy it is to be accepted by someone who is visually impaired. In fact, you can feel good knowing a blind person, no matter what you look like, will judge you by your personality and character rather than by what you look like. Additionally, take it from me, nobody knows better than the visually impaired that accidents happen and you’d be hard pressed to find a sighted person who is as understanding as the impaired when it comes to accidents of your own. Something else you ought to know is that in the blind population, having a good sense of humor is just as important as having one in the sighted community. That said, I like a good joke just as much as the next guy. However, since it’s easy, and sometimes tempting, to play tricks on the blind, there is a point where humor can cross the border between funny and meanness causing a lot of pain. For instance, pulling out a chair just as a blind person sits isn’t humorous, and neither is tossing him a brick or some other hard object while yelling, “Think fast!” Be sure, therefore, that what ever tricks you play on your blind friend will not be insulting, callous or mean and that the blind person can take a joke. Another issue to consider is figuring out if a visually impaired person wants help. When considering this it’s always a good idea to ask the person if help is desired. Don’t assume it is and start helping without an invitation. This issue mainly arises for me when someone assumes I can’t find my way around a room and suddenly yanks on my arm to lead me. Additionally, there are many occasions when visually impaired people like the challenge that comes with trying to complete tasks independently only to discover half way through them that some assistance is needed. Again, don’t assume it is. Ask first. Other than their advanced ability at being creative in overcoming figurative and literal obstacles, the blind are as normal as anyone else. Don’t, therefore, be alarmed or frightened when encountering us out in the world. Simply introduce yourself, strike up a conversation, and soon you’ll understand that the blind are people too.
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Post by Ms. Kathy on May 7, 2007 9:45:49 GMT -6
Miracle in the darknessSource Link: The Times and Democrat www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2007/05/05/features/doc463d2bafa00a7141837349.txtJerry Darnell grew up in Neeses and now resides 760 miles away in Ruston, La. An industrial arts instructor, Darnell has dedicated his life to bringing the light of hope and confidence to blind students at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Darnell also teacher other instructors how to teach the blind. SONJA GLEATON/T&D By SONJA GLEATON, T&D Staff Writer In Jerry Darnell's 2,500 square foot classroom, the scent of pine and mahogany serves as a backdrop for powdery sawdust and vapors such as gums, resins and linseed oils. Instead of pencil, paper and chalkboards, classwork is completed among the hum of power saws, lathes and sanding machines. While containers of adhesive are situated at individual work-stations, the key bonding element, the sticky-stuff that holds the hand-crafted pieces together, is unwavering determination. To fully comprehend the miracle taking place in Darnell's Industrial Arts workshop, one would have to turn off the electric lights, put a pair of sleep shades on and participate in a building project while in total darkness. Darnell, a Neeses native, is an Industrial Arts instructor at the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston, Louisiana. For the past 13 years, Darnell has embraced the darkness to usher blind students into the light of hope, confidence and accomplishment. "In many ways, blinded people," Darnell says, "are no different from sighted people. Given the proper training and opportunity, blind people can equally compete with sighted people in terms of employment, in the communities in which they live and in society." Darnell teaches blind students how to design and build wooden items such as a cedar chest, entertainment center, coffee table, cutting board or mantle clock. Students get to select individual projects and they also decide on elements such as style, size, shape and color. "The tools and equipment my blind students use to build furniture," Darnell says, "are standard items that sighted people use for wood crafting." While woodworking and the use of power tools is the prescribed course for Darnell's students, the most important focus in his classroom is confidence building. He has taught building techniques to blind people from places such as Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and Mexico. Darnell said, "One of my students was blinded during the bombing of the Embassy. Even though the students are blind, I encourage each one not to give up on their dreams and to be open-minded about the new possibilities that awaits them. Many are inspired to go on and obtain degrees in law and medicine, and others have become teachers." Statistics provided by the American Foundation for the Blind show there are an estimated 10 million blind and visually impaired people in the United States, and that every seven minutes, someone in America will become blind or visually impaired. "Some people are born blind," Darnell said, "and blindness can occur suddenly through injury. Blindness may develop gradually as a result of illness or disease. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness today. But there is hope and help available for the blind, and we want to get this message out to the public: The real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight but the misunderstanding and the lack of information," Darnell said. Darnell's students range from 18 to 72 years-of-age. He maintains a close rapport with his students, and his address book and vast collection of school photographs are always close at hand. There is a story connected to every student's picture, and Darnell has recorded the details on the pages of his heart. Flipping through the photo collection, Darnell pointed to a picture of Amber Chesser and said, "Amber was born blind, and when she first came to class, the power tools and saws frightened her greatly. But look at this picture taken at a later date; Amber is confident and is completely in control of the equipment," Darnell said. Darnell remembers a student who proudly made a new front door for his house in New Orleans. "Two weeks later," Darnell said, "Katrina came ashore and he had no house for his beautiful door." There is also a picture and inspiring story about Sammy Johnson who once drove barges up and down the Mississippi River. "Blinded later in life, Johnson enrolled at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. He now teaches Independent Living skills here," Darnell said. The Louisiana Center for the Blind emphasizes that people can change their own destiny and become self-sufficient and independent through certain programs, services and training. The school is noted for the highest percentage of success in the nation in getting people back to work or school. "We also teach our students about tenacity and to go beyond their fears and all obstacles. The Industrial Arts class teaches students consistency and accuracy and helps them work their fears out. When using power tools, I teach the common sense approach and left-hand-right-hand safety. We haven't lost any fingers yet, and splinters don't count," Darnell said. While woodworking is a hands-on course, Darnell also stresses the importance of physical activity and recreation for students of all ages. "Students at the Louisiana Center for the Blind have a daily schedule of classes that typically includes keyboarding/computer instruction, Braille instruction, home economics/independent living skills instruction, industrial arts and cane travel instruction. Seminar discussions are often held. But students also go on field trips such as horseback riding, white-water rafting, rock climbing or shopping trips to the mall. Our students enjoy many of the activities that sighted people participate in," Darnell said. Darnell says with appropriate training and increased job opportunities, more blind or visually impaired people will be included in America's work force. "Approximately 46 percent of visually impaired adults are currently employed, and another 32 percent of legally blind working-age Americans are holding jobs," Darnell said. "It is very rewarding as a teacher to know that after graduation, gainful employment awaits many of our students and thousands are now living independent and rewarding lives. The Louisiana Center for the blind is dedicated to changing what it means to be blind." For more information about the Louisiana Center for the Blind, call 800-234-4166 or visit their website at www.lcb-Ruston.com. Times and Democrat Staff Writer Sonja Gleaton can be reached by email at sgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Sept 10, 2007 10:37:50 GMT -6
disABILITY: Perception, not sight, important in life
Published: September 08, 2007 10:11 am
Source Link:The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY - The Newspaper for the Heartland of New York -http://www.thedailystar.com/lifestyles/local_story_251101146.html
Would you rather be deaf or blind?
That was a question posed on a website I was on recently.
Most of the people who commented had zero faith that life would be worth living if they had to lose one of the two senses. I found the comments about blindness so interesting, though.
I’m always curious what people think of the life that someone like me is living.
Many of the comments expressed some degree of fear about blindness and others were grumbling ignorantly about everything that blind people can’t do.
Nobody had anything but negative things to say about blindness, and I felt a strange twinge of amusement mixed with disgust as I read through it all.
I know, I know. It’s scary to think about going blind.
I was scared when I was younger. Blindness was inevitable for me, although the doctors couldn’t even begin to predict when it would happen.
I’ve been totally blind now for 11 whole years. And, it’s been more like 13 years since I had any real, meaningful, useful vision.
So, maybe I’ve just completely lost my ability to understand how scary the concept seems to a person who hasn’t had a firsthand encounter with loss of his or her vision.
Let me just begin by saying that being blind doesn’t mean that your life or your dignity is taken from you.
It doesn’t mean that you will forever be dependent upon someone else to take care of you.
It doesn’t mean giving up your dreams nor your favorite pastimes. And it certainly doesn’t mean that you lose the meaning and essence of life itself.
I’m certain that some people in this world, after going blind, will never leave their houses out of fear.
Others will be told by their family, friends and community that they can’t become anything.
Those people will find someone willing enough to attend to their every need for years and years to come. It’s sad, but inevitably true for some people out there.
Personally, I cannot imagine a life like that. The day I left my mother’s womb was the day I declared my independence.
At this particular moment in my life, though, I have mastered living independently.
I do not live with my parents anymore, which means I pay my own bills, clean my own apartment, cook my own food and do every other task any other "head of household" does.
It’s not scary, it’s not really difficult, it’s just part of life and I do it all because it needs to be done.
There are inevitably going to be things I cannot do exactly like a sighted person does them. I know I can’t drive a car, but that doesn’t stop me from getting around town by foot or by bus.
I can’t read my mail or sort my laundry exactly as a sighted person does it, but that’s what a talking scanner and a talking color identifier are for.
I have a talking money identifier, talking kitchen scale, talking alarm clock, talking color identifier, talking computer, Braille labeler and Braille note taker for school.
Each one of those things are ways of making typical life more accessible to me.
Other than that, I learn how to know things by feel, sound, touch or smell. You’d be surprised at the actions or activities of daily life that seem like exclusively visual perceptions.
Think again, though. There’s likely some way, even if you have to get really creative about it, that can adapt it all for a blind person.
Enough about technical stuff, though, what about seeing the pleasurable things in life?
I do miss some things, such as seeing the fireworks and the colorful sunsets.
I find, though, that on the Fourth of July, I don’t sit around pining away about the fact I can’t see the fireworks. I really enjoyed them when I could see them, but now that I can’t see them, they’ve sort of slipped off to take a back seat to things that interest me even more nowadays.
Things such as the outdoors and nature still do interest me, but I don’t get my kicks out of watching a sunrise or a sunset. Instead, I find my interests have moved on to learning more about the birds I hear, as well as digging around in the dirt. You’d think I was a little kid again or something!
So, whether you’re sighted or blind, it doesn’t much matter, life is still a rich thing to experience either way. I might add, also, that experiences have nothing to do with 20/20 vision. They aren’t seen, they are perceived. And, thankfully, perception is a universal kind of "vision." It requires nothing more than your ability to be living, breathing and have neural messages capable of running from body to brain and back.
Kate Pavlacka, a graduate of the State University College at Oneonta, has been totally blind for 11 years.
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Sept 20, 2007 7:51:11 GMT -6
Teaching the blind September 19, 2007 Source Link: Totonto Sun torontosun.com/Money/2007/09/19/pf-4508065.htmlBlindfolded students experience the daily lives of the blind and visually impaired as part of Mohawk's O and M teaching program By DAVID CHILTON, SPECIAL TO THE SUN No one said college would be easy. Now imagine doing a good part of your studying blindfolded. Without the benefit of sight, you have to learn to do such tasks as crossing a road, cooking a meal, making a phone call, using a computer -- in short, pretty much everything sighted Canadians do without thinking twice. That's the considerable challenge facing students at Mohawk College's campus in Brantford who have enrolled for one or both of the programs that will qualify them to instruct the blind and visually impaired. "Our students experience what they will be teaching," says Cheryl Richesin, co-ordinator of the Orientation and Mobility and Rehabilitation-Teaching post-grad programs. O and M, as it's called, teaches the blind and visually impaired -- anyone from very young children to seniors -- how to get around using a long cane, a guide dog or high tech equipment such as GPS and other electronic devices. Rehabilitation-Teaching instructs everyone, again from the very young to the elderly, how to live independently; that could be learning to cook, using a talking computer or a low-vision device, Braille instruction, and so on. Both programs began at Mohawk in 1991, Richesin says, and they are the only ones of their kind taught full time in English in Canada. The O and M course accepts 10 students per year and the Rehab course accepts 20. Each course lasts 10 months -- a bit longer than the usual academic year -- because there is a work experience component to complete. Tuition for each course is about $2,800. WOMEN STUDENTS Richesin puts the average age of her students from the mid-20s up to the 30s, although "it's not unusual to have some students who are in their 50s." Women dominate both courses, with just three men enrolled this year, Richesin says. One of the few men who have been through the O and M program is Troy LaPlante, a psychology graduate of Dalhousie University in Halifax. Now a pre-school resource consultant for the W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, which teaches the blind, the deafblind and the visually impaired, LaPlante went to Mohawk as an alternative to teachers' college. "I wanted to be able to teach people, but I didn't like the idea of being in a classroom," says LaPlante, who graduated from Mohawk in 2004. LaPlante says some of the key attributes needed for anyone considering either of the Mohawk courses are an innovative outlook, problem- solving skills and the ability to work as part of a team. They also shouldn't be frightened by having plenty to do. "I didn't anticipate how much work there was going to be," LaPlante says. Deborah Despres completed the O and M program last year and is now enrolled in Rehabilitation-Teaching. A Mohawk graphic arts graduate, Despres worked at an assortment of part-time jobs -- including one as a passenger screener at Hamilton International Airport, which taught her a lot about patience -- before finding her niche. She says it's the human side of the job that attracted her, and expresses no concern about employment after she graduates next summer: "I'm pretty confident. I've taken the course seriously." And agencies such as the CNIB take the Mohawk grads seriously in return. Although starting pay isn't exceptional -- Richesin puts it in the higher $30,000 range -- she also points out there's a job for virtually every grad and even opportunities abroad. Some of her former students are now teaching in the U.S., Egypt, England and Hungary. --- QUICK FACTS - Both programs at Mohawk are post-grad and applicants need a degree or a diploma. - Each course lasts about 10 months. - A good part of the student's training is done while they are blindfolded. - Mohawk is the only college to offer these programs in English.
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Oct 4, 2007 14:37:50 GMT -6
ORBIS and Alcon Team Up to Provide Eye Care Education to School Students 'VISION for Children' teacher's guide now available October 02, 2007: 11:00 AM EST Source Link: money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYTU03602102007-1.htmNEW YORK, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- October 11th marks World Sight Day -- a day set aside to recognize the tragic fact that someone in the world loses his or her sight every five seconds, and that every minute a child goes blind. For all the daunting statistics, one matters most of all: 75 percent of those who are blind are needlessly so. In observance of World Sight Day 2007, ORBIS International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide, and its global sponsor, Alcon, Inc., the world's leading eye care company, have produced "VISION for Children," an age-appropriate lesson plan for teachers about eye care and blindness prevention. "Our eyes are the second most complex organ in our body. Eighty-five percent of what we learn is obtained through our eyes and over the course of a normal lifespan, our eyes process over 24 million images," said Geoffrey Holland, ORBIS executive director. "With 1.4 million children blind in the world many different approaches are needed to preserve and restore sight, which is why we believe that education, early intervention and access to quality eye care services are crucial so that all children may achieve their full potential." Healthy eyes are critical to the healthy development of any child. Loss of sight and low vision can lead to enormous personal, social and economic consequences that drastically affect the self-esteem, education, life choices and opportunities of otherwise healthy children. "Alcon understands, personally and professionally, what vision impairment and blindness can mean to an individual, a family member or a friend. We are pleased to support this effort and expand our partnership with ORBIS that extends more than 25 years," said Cary Rayment, Alcon's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Together, we are offering teachers educational resources that can help students discover the value of their own eyes and the importance of working to preserve eye sight worldwide." Teachers can promote eye health by encouraging their students to take basic steps to safeguard their eyesight and become advocates for sight. By visiting www.eyecareeducation.com, teachers can download for free the "VISION for Children" teacher's guide, which contains content and activities introducing children to the importance of sight -- for themselves and for those whom they have never met. Through these lessons, students will learn about the causes of blindness, how the eye works and how to keep it safe and healthy, and ways in which they can make a difference by helping eliminate avoidable blindness. The idea for the teacher's guide comes from this year's World Sight Day theme, "VISION for Children." The theme was developed by VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, a global joint initiative of the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Together with an international coalition of non-governmental organizations, professional associations, eye care institutions, and corporations, the group's purpose is to eliminate needless blindness worldwide by the year 2020. For more information about World Sight Day and the mission of VISION 2020, visit www.V2020.org. About Alcon, Inc.Alcon, Inc. is the world's leading eye care company. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for 60 years, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens care solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye. For more information on Alcon, Inc., visit the Company's web site at www.alcon.com. About ORBIS InternationalORBIS International is a nonprofit global development organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Since 1982, ORBIS programs have enhanced the skills of over 154,000 eye care professionals in 85 countries and have provided direct eye care treatment to more than 4.4 million people. To learn more about ORBIS, visit www.orbis.org. Media Contact: Ann Marie Gothard Tel. +1 646-674-5581 Annmarie.gothard@orbis.org
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Post by Ms. Kathy on Feb 25, 2008 8:36:24 GMT -6
Youngsters test their braille talents Source Link: www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-40/120383736131760.xml&coll=6Sunday, February 24, 2008 By Aaron Ogg The Grand Rapids Press GRAND RAPIDS -- Nick Stanford used his eyes not to see, but to think. The 16-year-old Wyoming Park High School student carefully walked his fingertips over a braille document Saturday at St. Isidore Elementary School, searching for grammatical errors. He paused, eyes darting back and forth, seemingly scanning for an answer. Soon, a flurry of thick, melodious clunking on the Brailler, a typewriter with six keys. Though Nick claims he's "not a very good reader," he was confident. "The Braille Challenge stuff is way below my level," he said. "Everything makes sense to me." Nick was among nine area students competing in the first Michigan Regional Braille Challenge, organized by the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 456 Cherry St. SE. He was born with Leber's congenital amaurosis, a hereditary, degenerative eye disease. So was his sister, 17-year-old Wyoming Park student Sarah Stanford, who also competed at the event. "(The contest) helps blind people get a lot better at their reading and writing," Sarah said. It took her about five or six years to become proficient at reading those little bumps, she said. For her, the competition is a useful measuring stick. "It's also helpful to know how well you're doing with everything," Sarah said. The Braille Challenge is a program of the Los Angeles-based Braille Institute, a non-profit organization aiming to improve lives of the visually impaired. The top 60 competitors in the country will compete at the national finals in Los Angeles in June. Students participated in a variety of events, including proofreading, transcription and reading comprehension. They are tested on both speed and accuracy. John Hemphill, president of Kentwood-based Helping Hands Braille Ministry, a non-profit provider of Christian braille literature, volunteered at the event. He spoke to the necessity of the blind mastering braille. "The only way that a blind person can be literate is with braille," Hemphill said. "Without braille, technically blind people are illiterate." The winners in four age categories were: Jacob Brink, a 7-year-old Bangor Primary student; Tyler Zahnke, an 11-year old Belmont Elementary student; Jordyn Castor, a 14-year-old East Kentwood student; and Nick Stanford, 16, of Wyoming Park.
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