Legendary Blind Athlete Erik Weihenmayer Dedicated to Improving Literacy for Blind and Low-Vision Schoolchildren
Erik To Share His Inspiring Story with Los Angeles-Area Children at Private Reception at the Hyatt Regency in Long Beach on March 18, 2:30 p.m.
This personal gathering follows Erik's keynote address at the National Conference on Family Literacy—Appearances are on behalf of the American Foundation for the Blind and Verizon's National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology
Dallas—March 04, 2003—Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind athlete to summit the seven highest peaks on each of the world’s continents, has taken on a new challenge: Improving literacy for blind and low-vision schoolchildren. As part of this initiative, Erik will share his inspiring story with a group of Los Angeles-area schoolchildren at a private reception on March 18, following his keynote address at the concluding session of the National Conference on Family Literacy. Erik is appearing on behalf of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and Verizon's National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology—a national initiative to improve literacy for America’s blind and low-vision schoolchildren.
The private reception will be held in Seaview Room A at the Hyatt Regency, Long Beach, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. The hotel is located at 200 South Pine Ave. The event will follow Erik's 12:30 p.m. keynote address at the concluding session of the National Conference on Family Literacy at the Long Beach Convention Center, located right around the corner at 300 Ocean Blvd.
"As a former teacher, I have a special passion for the issue of literacy, particularly for young students who are blind or have low vision," said Erik, who serves as the volunteer spokesperson and Verizon Literacy Champion for the AFB National Campaign. "Through literacy, I am able to reach the summit of my dreams. I want every blind and low-vision child to have that same opportunity."
The AFB and Verizon National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology is a public awareness and advocacy program that promotes the new career of braille textbook transcriber at the federal and state levels, and raises general awareness of the needs of blind and low-vision schoolchildren for timely access to textbooks and learning materials. The campaign was developed to alleviate the critical shortage of braille transcribers throughout the United States. Because of this shortage, blind and visually impaired schoolchildren frequently receive their textbooks late and sometimes, not at all.
"Although there is a dedicated group of non-paid, volunteer transcribers, they just can't keep up with the increasing demand for braille textbooks and learning materials. Without a constant supply of transcribers, students will continue to suffer," said Mary Ann Siller, director of AFB's National Education Program and the National Campaign. "Through the National Campaign, we are advocating for the new career of braille textbook transcriber to be a paid position that is recognized by federal and state governments as critical to educating America's schoolchildren with visual impairments."
The National Campaign links transcribers, textbooks, literacy and technology. A trained and credentialed braille textbook transcriber will practice his or her career via technology receiving electronic publishers’ files to the desktop, transcribing those files electronically and returning the transcribed materials to the state-authorized entity for textbook distribution. The career can be practiced anywhere a computer and Internet access are available.
The new, community college-level program was developed to train transcribers to produce textbooks and instructional materials in braille. The first offering of the Braille Textbook Transcriber curriculum began in the fall of 2002 at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, TX, in cooperation with AFB and the Texas Education Agency, and is spreading across the United States.
March 18, 2003 Schedule of Events
| 12:30-2:00 p.m. | Erik's Keynote Address, National Conference on Family Literacy Room Hall C, Long Beach Convention Center, 300 Ocean Blvd. |
| 2:30-4:00 p.m. | Erik's Private Reception with LA-Area Blind and Low-Vision Students Seaview Room A, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 200 South Pine Ave. |
About the National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology
The American Foundation for the Blind launched the National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology in October 2002. The national campaign is a broad-based public awareness and advocacy program that promotes the new career of Braille Textbook Transcriber at the federal and state levels, and raises general awareness of the needs of blind and low-vision schoolchildren for timely access to textbooks and learning materials. Verizon's philanthropic arm, the Verizon Foundation, supports this campaign. For more information, go to www.afb.org/verizon.asp.About Verizon Reads
Verizon Reads is the umbrella organization for Verizon's national literacy platform. Verizon Reads is dedicated to the fight for a more literate America through meaningful programs that create awareness, raise funds, and encourage collaboration among literacy providers. For more information on Verizon Reads, visit www.verizonreads.net.About American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind—the organization to which Helen Keller devoted her life—is a national nonprofit whose mission is to eliminate the inequities faced by the ten million Americans who are blind or visually impaired. Headquartered in New York City, AFB maintains offices in Chicago, Dallas, a National Literacy Center in Atlanta, a National Employment Center in San Francisco, a Governmental Relations Office in Washington, DC, and a Technology and Employment Center in Huntington, WV. Visit AFB online at www.afb.org.To request media access to either event or to schedule an interview, contact:
Anna Marie Teaguedawson l duncan
214-520-7550 (office)
214-793-7164 (cell)
amteague@dawsonduncan.com
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Press Releases
- AFB and Verizon's National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology
- New Career as a Braille Textbook Transcriber
- Ways to Help Support the AFB and Verizon National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology
- AFB and Verizon Launch the National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology at a Reception in Washington, D.C.
- AFB and Verizon Unveil Poster and Materials Supporting the National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology
- Verizon Reads Poster Featuring Erik Weihenmayer
- Laura Bush Letter
- AFB and Verizon's National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology
- Video Describing the National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers, and Technology
- Legendary Blind Athlete Erik Weihenmayer in Dallas July 31 to Continue his Mission to Improve Literacy for Blind and Low-Vision Schoolchildren
- Photos from the October 3, 2002, Launch of the AFB and Verizon National Campaign
Related Announcements
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Related Links: |
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Verizon Reads Poster Featuring Erik Weihenmayer
Literacy lets you reach the summit of your dreams 
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