First Annual Braille-a-Thon

First Annual Braille-a-Thon

Submitted by gregbotting on Wed, 04/15/2009 - 20:00.
Last updated on Sun, 08/23/2009 - 16:18.

Vital Stats

Project Type: project idea

Start Date: 02/09/2009

End Date: 06/23/2009

People Impacted: 12

People Involved: 8

Money Raised: $500 so far

The Problem

We are attempting to spread awareness of the usefulness of Braille to blind and low vision students, as well as the larger community.

Why It's Important

Some of my blind friends are not reading Braille as well as they should. I can help to solve this problem because I am a blind student who knows Braille and is successful. I also know what can and does happen when Braille is not taught. Braille has given me the ability to keep up with my classmates. On the other hand, if someone does not read print or Braille, life is much more difficult, and it is especially hard to find a job.

The Plan Of Action

Our plan of action is to have a Braille-a-thon on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 on the lawn of the Lansing (Michigan) state capital.

How Can Others Get Involved?

Website:

Spread the word about the Braille-a-Thon, and come if you can. It is our hope that people who come to the event will spread the information they learn to others in their communities, and that those people pass it on.

Project Updates

08/23/09

Update: BRAILLE-A-THON FOLLOW-UP REPORT Event Basics Date: June 23, 2009 Location: The south lawn and east steps of the state capitol located in Lansing, Michigan Time: 11 AM to 3:00 PM Main Objective: To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille, bring about awareness to the educational system and members of Michigan’s legislators and community as to the importance of Braille literacy and skills of blindness, the capabilities and potential capability of blind students, and the importance of the overall quality education for blind and visually impaired children. To provide an enjoyable event which includes social networking between blind and visually impaired adult roll models and blind and visually impaired children and their parents; resulting in feelings of confidence, capability, and the sense of belonging to a valid cultural group of people. Attendance: About two hundred people Number of People Impacted: 200 + as the event was covered by television, radio, and news papers throughout the state. Income $500 from the Do Something Team $400 from table rentals by 16 vendors at $25 per table $993 Donations from various private donors and blind related organizations Total: $1893 Expenditures: $311 for capital lawn labor and sound equipment rental. $635 Tent and table rental $383.45 prizes $37.16 printing $203.50 Student transportation $250 Event liability insurance Total: $1820.11 Balance: $73.39 Will we be doing this again? Yes, on 6-22-2010. Details As the above information shows the Braille-a-thon (BAT) was a success. Although we do not know how many people information may have reached, we speculate that two hundred + people were involved with the event. We had sixteen vendors at the event. There were 4 blind food vendors selling pop corn, hot dogs, and other goodies. The other blind related vendors displayed informational literature, adaptive technology, blind related products, Braille books, and other items. T-shirts related to blindness were given away to interested participants. Organizations involved included: Quality Education Team for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired, (QET,) Michigan Parents of the Visually Impaired (MPVI,) Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB,) National Federation for the Blind, (NFB,) Michigan Council for Blind and Visually Impaired, (MPBVI,) Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, (OUB,) Michigan State Library for the Blind, Bear Lake Camp, Lions Club, Seedlings Braille Book Store, MEE-INC. assistive technology for the blind, and the Michigan State University Disability Office. There were several games and contests including Braille games for pre-Braille readers, beginning Readers, moderate readers, and advanced Braille readers. Other games and contests included Limbo under the White Cane, Braille Feud, Braille Bingo, and a scavenger hunt. Prizes were awarded to all student participants, and distributed according to level of achievement in contests and amount of participation. Prizes were all accessible to blind users and included an auditory-Braille map puzzle of the United States, Braille key chains, slates and stylus for writing Braille, and shirts that said, “Walking Along with my dog” with a picture of Iris and her guide dog Seemore, and “Blind People are out of Sight!” a picture of a smiling face with no eyes. (See attached picture.) There was also entertainment and testimonies on the importance of Braille literacy on the east steps, or grand entrance into the state’s capital. In addition to several talks about stands on Braille Literacy there were several musical performances. The youngest performer was age 7 and the oldest presenter was age 81. I started off the event by presenting a report I wrote on the history of Louis Braille. Later, I played my violin. There were 30 blind students who participated in the BAT. Many parents and siblings attended as well. Several teachers for the visually impaired, orientation and mobility instructors and other blind and sighted professionals working with person’s who are blind or visually impaired were present. Several state legislators visited the event during their lunch period. Many people from the area also stopped to ask questions and learn more about the event. Many learned who Louis Braille was, and his importance to literacy for the blind, why Braille literacy is important, that students who are blind are able to do many things, that there is a lot of assistive technology and services for blind children, that there is a strong need to improve educational services for blind children, and that 90% of gainfully employed blind adults are Braille literate. As a result of this event, many e-mails have been sent to the event coordinator, Geri Taeckens, expressing appreciation for this event and desires to help with next year’s Braille-A-Thon. There are also reports of increased contacts by parents of blind children with several of the blind organizations that were present. Communication with 5 state legislators has taken place with plans to tour the capital during next year’s event. There may also be an opportunity for participants to speak at the beginning of the legislative session to communicate the needs and goal of this group. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me or one of the event planning team members. Greg Botting, student representative 989-855-2430, E-mail: debate912@gmail.com Geri Taeckens, Event Coordinator Phone: 906-635-3439, e-mail: geri.taeckens@isahealthfund.org Gwen Botting chair of the QET and President of MPVI Phone: 989-855-2430, E-mail: MPVI@intergate.com

08/23/09

Update:

Additional people impacted: 200
Additional people involved: 20

Final Grant Update

08/23/09

Greg Botting

Number of people in the organization: Approximately 20
Number of people impacted: Approximately 200 people attended - others were impacted through media coverage.
Describe the impact the grant had: The grant helped us to provide a tent and chairs for protection from the sun and/or rain (no rain this year!), and helped pay the fees needed to use the capital lawn.
Project highlights: Testimonials - Attendees were invited to speak about the importance of Braille literacy in their lives and there were also several musical performances. The participants ranged in age from 7 to 81. Limbo - A giant pole was streched across a portion of the the capital lawn, and participants would attempt to pass under the pole without touching the pole or touching the ground except for their feet. Braille Bingo - During the lunch break bingo was played with Braille cards.
How did the project unfold and develop? The Braille-a-thon (BAT) was a success. Although we do not know how many people information may have reached, we estimate that two hundred + people were involved with the event. We had sixteen vendors at the event. There were 4 blind food vendors selling pop corn, hot dogs, and other goodies. The other blind related vendors displayed informational literature, adaptive technology, blind related products, Braille books, and other items. T-shirts related to blindness were given away to interested participants. Organizations involved included: Quality Education Team for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired, (QET,) Michigan Parents of the Visually Impaired (MPVI,) Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB,) National Federation for the Blind, (NFB,) Michigan Council for Blind and Visually Impaired, (MPBVI,) Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, (OUB,) Michigan State Library for the Blind, Bear Lake Camp, Lions Club, Seedlings Braille Book Store, MEE-INC. assistive technology for the blind, and the Michigan State University Disability Office. There were several games and contests including Braille games for pre-Braille readers, beginning Readers, moderate readers, and advanced Braille readers. Other games and contests included Limbo under the White Cane, Braille Feud, Braille Bingo, and a scavenger hunt. Prizes were awarded to all student participants, and distributed according to level of achievement in contests and amount of participation. Prizes were all accessible to blind users and included an auditory-Braille map puzzle of the United States, Braille key chains, slates and stylus for writing Braille, and shirts that said, “Walking Along with my dog” with a picture of Iris and her guide dog Seemore, and “Blind People are out of Sight!” a picture of a smiling face with no eyes. There was also entertainment and testimonies on the importance of Braille literacy on the east steps, or grand entrance into the state’s capital. In addition to several talks about stands on Braille Literacy there were several musical performances. The youngest performer was age 7 and the oldest presenter was age 81. I started off the event by presenting a report I wrote on the history of Louis Braille. Later, I played my violin. There were 30 blind students who participated in the BAT. Many parents and siblings attended as well. Several teachers for the visually impaired, orientation and mobility instructors and other blind and sighted professionals working with person’s who are blind or visually impaired were present. Several state legislators visited the event during their lunch period. Many people from the area also stopped to ask questions and learn more about the event. Many learned who Louis Braille was, and his importance to literacy for the blind, why Braille literacy is important, that students who are blind are able to do many things, that there is a lot of assistive technology and services for blind children, that there is a strong need to improve educational services for blind children, and that90% of gainfully employed blind adults are Braille literate. As a result of this event, many e-mails have been sent to the event coordinator, Geri Taeckens, expressing appreciation for this event and desires to help with next year’s Braille-A-Thon. There are also reports of increased contacts by parents of blind children with several of the blind organizations that were present. Communication with 5 state legislators has taken place with plans to tour the capital during next year’s event. There may also be an opportunity for participants to speak at the beginning of the legislative session to communicate the needs and goal of this group.

Location

Related Causes:

Education