NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
WRITERS' DIVISION

Audio recordings of the 2008 National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Workshop and Business Meeting are now available to listen to or download. These presentations can be accessed by selecting the appropriate link below:

2008 Writers' Division Workshop, (Audio) 51.7 MB

2008 Writers' Division Annual Meeting,(Audio) 80.8 MB

NFB Writers? Division

Writing contests For Both Youth And Adults
Reposted Sunday December 14, 2008

The National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division wishes to announce our annual writing contests. This activity is one of several projects and initiatives undertaken by our division. Learn about our other endeavors by visiting our Projects Page.

The opening date for submissions in both the contests for youth and for adults is January 1st, with the closing on or (Post Marked) April 1st 2009. See all requirements for each contest by selecting the appropriate link below:

2009 Adult Writing Contest

Downloadable versions of contest information and requirements are available in ASCII Text, RichText,and Microsoft Word Format by selecting the appropriate link below:

Download in ASCII Text Format, (TXT)

Download in Rich Text Format, (RTF)

Download in Microsoft Word Format, (DOC)

Slate and Style, Summer 2008 Now Available
Posted Friday November 28, 2008

You can now view or download the Summer 2008 Issue of Slate and Styleon our Web Site.

National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam

July 26-August 1, 2009

Posted Friday November 14, 2008

Once again, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute will coordinate the most dynamic gathering of blind youth in the United States. Have you ever wanted to build and launch a rocket? Are you interested in learning about forensics? Or do you have an interest in journalism? Even if science isn't your thing, the possibilities are plentiful at the NFB Youth Slam!

Two hundred blind and low vision students from all across the country will attend this five-day academy that will engage, inspire, and encourage the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be impossible for the blind.

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity! If you are interested in being a youth or mentor participant, or just need more information about the program, view the 2009 NFB Youth SLAM Video or visit the 2009 NFB Youth Slam page.

You can also learn more about the Youth Slam by watching the Youth SLAM Video or visiting the NFB Youth SLAM 2007 program page.

NFB Launches Largest-ever
White Cane Initiative
Posted Wednesday August 20, 2008

On August 19, the NFB announced an initiative to ensure that any blind person in the United States and Puerto Rico who needs a long white cane will have one, regardless of ability to pay.  The NFB will provide a free cane to anyone in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico who is blind or has low vision and who uses or desires to use a white cane in order to travel independently.  For more information, please read the official press release about this landmark program.  To order a free cane, visit the Free Cane Program page.

NFB Braille Commemorative Coin-and Literacy Campaign

For decades, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the country’s oldest and largest organization of blind persons has been the leading champion of Braille literacy. With the passing of Public Law 109-247: The Louis Braille Bicentennial-Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress publicly recognize the critical role that both Braille and the NFB play in the independence, freedom, and success of the blind.  The coin design unveiling occurred at the 2008 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Dallas, Texas.  View the coin design!  Note that this is a limited edition coin, and any coins not sold by the end of 2009 will be destroyed to retain their collectible value.

The launch of the NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin by the U.S. Mint in 2009 will present a great opportunity to bring exposure to the current Braille literacy crisis facing the blind in this country. Braille is vital to all blind individuals, yet the rate of Braille literacy among blind Americans is alarmingly low. Today in America only 10 percent of blind children are learning to read Braille in school. This continues despite the fact that studies have shown that 80 percent of all employed blind people read and write Braille fluently. These studies reinforce what the NFB has been advocating for years: Braille literacy is the key to employment and full participation in society.

With the upcoming 200^th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, creator of the Braille code, there is no more fitting time to recognize the importance of Braille literacy. Please join us in honoring the achievements and mission of the National Federation of the Blind as we work to end the Braille literacy crisis.

Whether it is through purchasing an NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin, providing matching funds for the Braille literacy campaign, or simply helping to raise awareness of this important issue, we need your help. Please be sure to check, http://www.braille.org regularly for new information. Together we can change what it means to be blind.

Site Navigation

Below are links to the various areas of our new and improved Web Site. They lead to pages containing additional information about our various projects, our history, national and state conventions, and how you can become a member of our division to help us achieve our mission on behalf of blind writers. Links to various site content along with a brief description of these content areas appears below. This was done to reduce the number of links on the site's home page and to simplify navigation, and to reduce the amount of clutter on many Web site home pages. Pages containing major documents also include links that permit you to download these documents in ASCII Text, Rich Text, and Microsoft Word Formats for offline reading.

National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Home

The home page of the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division.

National Federation of the Blind

The World-Wide Web Site of the National Federation of the Blind.

National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. Named in honor of the late Dr. Kenneth Jernigan the NFB Jernigan Institute is the only research and training center operated by the blind for the blind. In its three years of operation the NFB Jernigan Institute has conducted innovative research projects and activities to inspire blind children and youth to explore careers thought to be undoable by the blind, operates the Braille Transcription and Proofreading Program in partnership with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, (NLS), and has sponsored activities for blind children, blind seniors, blindness professionals and others. The Jernigan institute and various affiliate projects are funded by grants from the NFB'S Imagination Fund.

Technology

The National Federation of the Blind is a leader in the development of innovative technology for the blind such as the Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader., and NFB Newsline for the Blind.

About

Information concerning the history of the National Federation of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division and its leaders.

Conventions

Information about the NFB National Convention and the NFB Writers' Division activities held during this annual event. This area includes text, audio and video presentations highlighting convention and division activities.

Discussion Groups

You can join our e-mail discussion group to network and share information with other blind writers.

Members

Information for division members and prospective members.

Publications

A list of newsletters and periodicals published by the National Federation of the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division. Some of these include:

Slate and Style

A quarterly publication of the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division containing information of interest to blind writers and other blind individuals.

NFB Writers' Division Podcasts

Podcasts produced by the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division covering a variety of content types.

For Further Information

For further information about the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division and its activities please contact the division's President, Robert Lesley Newman, using the information given below: