Comments on: Braille Commemorative Coin to Launch into Space with Atlantis http://www.coinnews.net/2009/05/08/braille-commemorative-coin-to-launch-into-space-with-atlantis/ CoinNews delivers breaking coin news, unique coin articles, coin news videos and free numismatic services for new and experienced coin collectors. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:25:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: John Greer http://www.coinnews.net/2009/05/08/braille-commemorative-coin-to-launch-into-space-with-atlantis/comment-page-1/#comment-9360 John Greer Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:03:16 +0000 http://www.coinnews.net/?p=1694#comment-9360 I am just wondering how much money the NFB spent lobbying for NASA to do this? Could the money not been better spent training teachers to teach braille? I am just wondering how much money the NFB spent lobbying for NASA to do this? Could the money not been better spent training teachers to teach braille?

]]> By: Donna W. Hill http://www.coinnews.net/2009/05/08/braille-commemorative-coin-to-launch-into-space-with-atlantis/comment-page-1/#comment-8980 Donna W. Hill Sat, 09 May 2009 17:49:10 +0000 http://www.coinnews.net/?p=1694#comment-8980 Thank you for posting this. The reason the coin exists and that the NFB is promoting it so heavily is that America is in the midst of a Braille literacy crisis. Only 10% of America's blind kids (down from 50% in the '60s) are taught to read & write Braille, still the only tool offering true literacy to blind people on a par with print. It affects all of us , because it results in lower employment of blind adults & the need for tax-payer support of intelligent and willing people. Seventy percent of working-age, blind adults are unemployed. Of the thirty percent who work, ninety percent read Braille. Congress recognized this problem and authorized the minting of the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar. The coin supports the Braille Readers are Leaders" campaign of the National Federation of the Blind, which seeks to double the number of blind kids learning Braille by 2015. Unfortunately, there have only been a handful of articles nationwide and the public doesn't understand yet how bad things really are. If anyone has any tips on getting articles posted elsewhere, please contact me through the form at: http://wwww.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885 Thank you for posting this. The reason the coin exists and that the NFB is promoting it so heavily is that America is in the midst of a Braille literacy crisis. Only 10% of America’s blind kids (down from 50% in the ’60s) are taught to read & write Braille, still the only tool offering true literacy to blind people on a par with print. It affects all of us , because it results in lower employment of blind adults & the need for tax-payer support of intelligent and willing people. Seventy percent of working-age, blind adults are unemployed. Of the thirty percent who work, ninety percent read Braille.

Congress recognized this problem and authorized the minting of the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar. The coin supports the Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign of the National Federation of the Blind, which seeks to double the number of blind kids learning Braille by 2015.

Unfortunately, there have only been a handful of articles nationwide and the public doesn’t understand yet how bad things really are.

If anyone has any tips on getting articles posted elsewhere, please contact me through the form at:
http://wwww.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885

]]>