Convention
Report
Louis
Braille:
From Literacy to Liberty 2009
CANADIAN
FEDERATION OF THE BLIND CONVENTION
Louis Braille Birthday Bash
The fourth
annual Canadian Federation of the Blind Convention was held at
the Traveller’s Inn, City Centre, from April 30 to May 3,
2009.
This year’s
theme, “Louis Braille: From Literacy to Liberty,”
was special because it commemorated the great inventor Louis Braille,
born on January 4, 1809, who created the six-dot reading system.
On Friday
May 1, the convention officially began with Vice-President Mary
Ellen Gabias’ fabulous Braille workshop. Mary Ellen showed
us how to use the slate and stylus. Some of us, who had some experience
with this tool, practiced making tactile pictures; others learned
how to Braille the alphabet.
For
the entire report... CLICK HERE>>
2008
Convention Report >> Read Here
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Featured Events
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President's Message
President's
Message
I was elected president of
the Canadian Federation of the Blind In June 2003, and I am proud
to lead a group of strong, positive and forward-thinking people.
In this message I will set out who we are and what we stand for
to help people differentiate us from other blindness groups and
to understand why we are here and what we are doing.
>>
Read Full Message
***
News Release ***
The
Canadian Federation of the Blind is celebrating the two-hundredth
anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809-1852), the inventor
of the reading and writing code for the blind that bears his name.
"The ability to read and write Braille competently and efficiently
is the key to education, employment and success for blind people,”
says Elizabeth Lalonde, President of the Canadian Federation of
the Blind.
Despite the undisputed value of Braille, Braille instruction is
in decline. Blind children are being denied the opportunity to
master this essential skill. Braille is currently taught to only
about 10 percent of blind school children. Many blind post-secondary
students are unable to receive their text books in Braille.
“We must raise awareness of the importance of Braille literacy,
reverse the downward trend in Braille literacy and make sure equal
opportunities in education and employment are available to all
blind people.”
Braille IS literacy. Reading Braille for the blind is what reading
print is for the sighted.
The Braille code, a system of making raised dots on paper to form
letters and words that are read by the blind with their fingertips,
became dominant in North America during the twentieth century,
and served as a gateway to education for the blind.
Braille readers can read up to four hundred words per minute,
comparable to the speed of print readers. Braille is also essential
for note-taking, mathematics, and the study of foreign languages.
The Federation works to increase awareness of Braille and its
importance in the literacy of blind people; one of the Federation’s
major goals is to re-emphasize Braille in education for the blind.
The Canadian Federation of the Blind is a grassroots movement
of blind people committed to the equality and independence of
blind people. The Federation educates the public about the abilities
of blind people; promotes learning blindness skills such as Braille
and travel with the long white cane, and provides blind people
with mentoring, role modeling and a positive perspective on blindness.
The
Life of Louis Braille
a story by Doris Belusic ... READ >>>
In
Praise of Louis Braille
a poem by Dr. Abebe Teklu ... READ >>>
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