Chapter Projects and Initiatives

One way we reach out to the blind of San Antonio is to put on various projects and events to educate our community concerning the potential of its blind citizens and to serve as a vehicle for San Antonio's blind to come together for common action and to provide services to those needing them. The San Antonio Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas also participates in various state and national initiatives. Information about various local, state, and national projects and initiatives appears below:

National Projects and Initiatives

San Antonio Federationists 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.

At its March 21st meeting the National Federation of the Blind of Texas San Antonio Chapter voted to create a team to participate in this exciting event. The Rio Racers will join thousands of blind individuals throughout Texas and the nation and to support our Imagination Fund and the programs of the National Federation of the Blind. You can help us carry this work forward by sponsoring our team with your contributions.

For more information about the Rio Racers visit:

http://www.raceforindependence.org/site/TR/Campaign/General?team_id=3331&pg=team&fr_id=1070

Straight Talk About Vision Loss is a video series produced by the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute which explores all aspects of blindness and highlights different projects and initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind. In the March 18, 2010 Episode Imagination Fund chairman Parnell Diggs discusses the Race for Independence with Mark Riccobono; Director of the NFB Jernigan Institute.

Episode 29, (WMV) 52.0 MB

Episode 29 Audio Only, (MP3) 19.8 MB

For additional information about The Rio Racers and the Race for Independence visit the NFB Race for Independence Web Site at:
http://www.raceforindependence.org

For decades, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) the country’s oldest and largest organization of blind people has been the leading champion for Braille literacy. With the passing of the Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress recognized the critical role Braille plays in the independence, freedom, and success of the blind and the central role the NFB plays in improving literacy among the blind.

Want more information? Visit our Braille Coin Promotion Center for further details about this historic initiative.

Those interested in ordering a coin should visit http://www.usmint.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). For more information about the National Federation of the Blind and the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, visit www.braille.org.