3,000 Blind People Arrive in Atlanta.Expected to be Largest Disability Conference This Year National Federation of the Blind The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is an organization of blind people in the United States. It is the oldest and most likely largest national organization to be led by blind people. Its national headquarters are in Baltimore, Maryland. :
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National Federation of the Blind Annual Convention
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June 30-July 6, 2007
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Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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265 Peachtree Center Avenue
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Atlanta, Georgia 30303
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(404) 521-0000
Attention Editors: John Lewis to Participate in March for Independence At 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 3, over one thousand blind people will gather in downtown Atlanta Downtown Atlanta refers to the largest financial district for the city of Atlanta. As defined by the Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) organization, the area measures approximately 4 mi², and was home to 23,300 as of 2006. to begin the first-ever March for Independence, the pioneer civil rights march for the blind. The March for Independence is a 5K march demonstrating the independent spirit of the nation's organized blind, their friends, family, and supporters. The honorary chair of the March is Ambassador Andrew Young Andrew Jackson Young, Jr. (born March 12, 1932) is an American civil rights activist, former mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, and was the United States' first African-American ambassador to the United Nations. . Congressman John Lewis will be participating alongside members of the National Federation of the Blind from every state in the nation. Beginning at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, the March for Independence will proceed through downtown Atlanta with a stop at Centennial Olympic Park Centennial Olympic Park is a 21 acre (85,000 m²) public park located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA that is owned and operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. for a brief ceremony. The March will conclude back at the Marriott, where NFB NFB National Federation of the Blind NFB National Film Board of Canada NFB Negative Feedback NFB No Fuse Breaker NFB Normal for Bridgewater (music album) President Marc Maurer Marc Maurer is the current president of the National Federation of the Blind. will open the 2007 national convention. Attention Education Editors: Blind Children Learn Tai Chi Tai Chi Definition T'ai chi is a Chinese exercise system that uses slow, smooth body movements to achieve a state of relaxation of both body and mind. and More at National Convention On Saturday, June 30, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC NOPBC National Organization of Parents of Blind Children ) morning program features Tai Chi for blind toddlers and preschoolers. In another highlight of the NOPBC schedule of events, attendees are invited to try the annual cane-walk for parents, kids, and teachers. This program provides a hands-on introduction to cane travel, orientation, and mobility. Blind and sighted instructors from Louisiana Tech and the Louisiana Center for the Blind take the participants on a cane-walk--a mini-lesson with NFB canes and sleep shades--throughout the hotel. Session one is Sunday, July 1, 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and session two runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, July 2, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the NFB will conduct its popular Braille Book Flea Market See computer flea market. flea market yard sale of used items at low prices. [Pop. Culture: Misc.] See : Inexpensiveness . Crowds of blind children flock to the market to browse tables of used and new Braille and print/Braille storybooks. Donations are invited and will be used to support the NOPBC's nationwide Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest and literacy programs. Attention Technology Editors: Ray Kurzweil to Promote Reading Technology for the Blind Blind people can now read print using the revolutionary Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader. The combined power of a handheld computer A computing device that can be easily held in one hand while the other hand is used to operate it. The Palm devices are a popular example. See Palm, smartphone and palmtop. and a digital camera creates the portable Reader, which is available for demonstration and sale at the convention. The world of the printed word is now open to the blind in a way it has never been before. At 2:05 p.m. on Thursday, July 5, James Gashel, vice president of marketing for K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc., will speak about the Reader and other revolutionary technology for blind people. And at 2:25 p.m. on Thursday, July 5, meet Ray Kurzweil, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. Author of four bestselling books, Kurzweil is the recipient of twelve honorary doctorates and the National Medal of Technology, the nation's highest honor in technology, from President Clinton in a White House ceremony. Attention Technology and Life Style Editors: Accessible Home Showcase to Feature GE and Whirlpool Products Flat control panels and complex LED displays increasingly prevent blind people from operating consumer electronics and home appliances. How can one recognize accessible appliances? Which stoves and microwaves can be set without looking? The NFB is working with appliance manufacturers to answer these questions. On Sunday, July 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Monday, July 2, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in International Hall on the International Level, the Accessible Home Showcase will feature accessible electronics and home appliances furnished by General Electric, Whirlpool, and Diva de Provence. Staff members of the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind will be available to discuss solutions to this vexing and growing problem for all blind consumers and seniors losing vision. In addition, NFB's Technology Day is Saturday, June 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The NFB Jernigan Institute Access Technology Team is offering four sessions covering a wide variety of topics of interest from Windows Vista The current version of Windows for the desktop. It was released in late 2006 for businesses and early 2007 for consumers. Vista adds numerous features, including improved security and advanced multimedia capabilities. to the accessibility of the Linux operating system. Attention Sports and Life Style Editors: First-ever Rowing Competition for the Blind NFB Sports and Recreation Division, Guide Dogs for the Blind This article is about the guide dog school in the United States. For the British charitable organization, see The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Guide Dogs for the Blind , and the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children are sponsoring the first-ever rowing competition for blind people. Participants will learn the basics of rowing and then compete in an indoor rowing contest. Prizes will be awarded by age group and gender. This sporting event will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, in rooms M303 - M304, Marquis Level. Rowing is quickly becoming a more accessible sport for the blind of all ages and fitness levels. The Concept 2 rowing machine has no buttons or touch screens. Concept 2 is developing software that will be downloadable to a pocket PC device with speech software, which will provide feedback on elapsed time, stroke rate, and power produced while rowing. This "Erg erg (ûrg), unit of work or energy in the cgs system of units, which is based on the metric system; it is the work done or energy expended by a force of 1 dyne acting through a distance of 1 centimeter. Chatter" software will be available for demonstration at the event. NOTE: The entire convention agenda is available at www.nfb.org. |
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