Welcome to the home of the National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin.

Our Mission:

The mission of the National Federation of the Blind is to achieve widespread emotional acceptance and intellectual understanding that the real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the misconceptions and lack of information which exist. We do this by bringing blind people together to share successes, to support each other in times of failure, and to create imaginative solutions.

Voice of the Nation's Blind

2010 National Convention Highlights

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Audio

Video

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Audio

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Audio

Video

Braille: DID YOU KNOW?

73% of blind people are unemployed or underemployed.

Only 9% of blind and visually impaired people in the United States read Braille

90% of Braille readers are employed!

Learn more at www.braille.org!

NFB Files Complaints Against Nine Law Schools

The NFB announced today that it has filed complaints with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, requesting investigations of nine prominent law schools for violating the civil rights of blind and other print-disabled law school applicants.  The NFB filed the complaints because the law schools require applicants who wish to have the convenience of applying online to use a centralized Internet-based application process provided by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) through its Web site (www.lsac.org) that is inaccessible to blind law school applicants.  While sighted law school applicants can use the LSAC system to submit multiple law school applications at once, blind students must seek sighted assistance to use the LSAC system.  Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires these law schools to offer equal access to their programs and services.  The nine law schools named in the complaints are The University of Chicago Law School, Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, Washington and Lee University School of Law, University of Miami School of Law, William Mitchell College of Law, Gonzaga University School of Law, and Northeastern University School of Law.  The complaints ask the Justice Department to require these law schools to suspend use of the LSAC application system until it is accessible to blind and other print-disabled students and to require each law school to provide the same application process in a format available to all students. The NFB already has a lawsuit pending against the LSAC for violating California law by maintaining an inaccessible Web site.  For more information on this important matter, please read the official press release.

NFB Takes Action

On May 5, the NFB filed complaints with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, requesting investigations of nine prominent law schools for violating the civil rights of blind and other print-disabled law school applicants.  The NFB filed the complaints because the law schools require applicants who wish to have the convenience of applying online to use a centralized Internet-based application process provided by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) through its Web site that is inaccessible to blind law school applicants.  While sighted law school applicants can use the LSAC system to submit multiple law school applications at once, blind students must seek sighted assistance to use the LSAC system.  Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires these law schools to offer equal access to their programs and services.  For more on this critically important matter, please read the official press release.

Join the 2010 Race for Independence!

On January 19, the NFB announced the 2010 Race for Independence, a fundraising effort focused on improving access to technology by blind Americans and supporting other NFB initiatives.  The Race for Independence is designed to raise funds for the National Federation of the Blind Imagination Fund, which supports the education, technology, and research projects of the NFB Jernigan Institute, as well as programs conducted by the fifty-two affiliates and over seven hundred local chapters of the Federation.  The Race for Independence will also bring public attention to the need for full and equal access for blind Americans to modern technology, in everything from home appliances to automobiles.  For more information on the Race, please visit www.raceforindependence.org or watch the newest Straight Talk About Vision Loss video with Imagination Fund Chairman Parnell Diggs.

Live Stream!

The NFB of Wisconsin is streaming our convention live on the Internet. When the convention is not live we will bring you other NFB items.

We will be streaming at the following times:
Sat April 24 – 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sat April 24 – 7:00pm – ?
Sunday April 25 – 7:30am – 11:00am

Recorded audio will be posted soon.

Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind Introduced

Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today introduced the Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind (H.R. 4533), which will mandate that all consumer electronics, home appliances, kiosks, and electronic office technology provide user interfaces that are accessible to the blind. For more information on this exciting development, please read the official press release.

BRAILLE MONITOR January 2010

The Braille Monitor is the leading publication of the National Federation of the Blind. It covers the events and activities of the NFB and addresses the many issues and concerns of the blind.

The Braille Monitor offers a positive philosophy about blindness to both blind readers and the public at large; serves as a vehicle for advocacy and protection of civil rights; addresses social concerns affecting the blind; discusses issues relating to employment, education, legislation, and rehabilitation; and provides news of products and technology used by the blind.

Read the January Braille Monitor

Scholarships for blind college students

Are you researching scholarships for college in the fall of 2010? Our National Federation of the Blind 2010 Scholarship Program for the United States and Puerto Rico (wherever we have an affiliate) is up and running, with its deadline coming up March 31, 2010. For the ins and outs of making an application, you can go to www.nfb.org/scholarships to read the SUBMISSION CHECKLIST and the FAQ; then fill out and submit the application form (online or in print).

2010 Junior Science Academy

Gear Up for Greatness!

National Federation of the Blind

2010 Junior Science Academy

Baltimore, Maryland, at the NFB Jernigan Institute

A STEM Program for Blind Children Ages 8-12

In 2008, the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a program of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, offered its first Science Academy program for elementary students. Once again, we are making this program possible for children in grades three through six. The NCBYS developed its Junior Science Academy (JSA) in 2004 in order to spark and enhance blind students’ interest in scientific study, an academic area that many falsely believe is too difficult for the blind. This year, with hands-on experiences, tactile materials, and innovative nonvisual teaching methods, the JSA will open its doors again to young explorers with two sessions of the program. Applicants can apply for one of the following dates:

Session 1: July 28-August 1, 2010

Session 2: August 4-August 8, 2010

The Junior Science Academy is a four-day session that will expose blind children to the excitement of science in real-life applications. The students will learn about how much fun science can be through hands-on instruction, field trips, and interactive activities. Attending parents will participate in a corresponding seminar with workshops designed to focus on meeting the needs of their blind children.

Program Costs

There is a $150.00 registration fee for accepted pairs of students and parents/chaperones. All other expenses, including travel, room, board, and program materials will be covered by the NFB Jernigan Institute for all participants, including accepted mentors.

Mentors Needed

We are also looking for mentors to work in one or both sessions of the program. mentors help facilitate student activities while parents are engaged in parent programming. Mentors can apply online at the site below. Please visit this page to learn more about this opportunity and to apply to be a mentor this summer.

How to Apply

Whether you are an interested family, or someone who is interested in serving as a mentor, please visit http://www.blindscience.org/ to learn more about this exciting event, or to apply. You may also contact the NFB Jernigan Institute at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2407.

Come join us!

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