Make Change With A Dollar and Support

Braille Literacy

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.

Since 2009 brings the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, creator of the primary system of reading and writing used by people who are blind, there is no more fitting time to recognize the history, achievements, and mission of the National Federation of the Blind.

The launch of the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar by the U.S. Mint in 2009 presents a great opportunity to raise visibility about the importance of Braille literacy. This helps promote how vital Braille is to this nation’s blind citizens, young and old alike.

What Braille Means to the Blind

The following documents and presentations present information about the history of Braille, its uses by blind children and adults, and will highlight the Braille literacy crisis in America and how your purchess of a Louis Braille Comemorative Coin will help us increase the number of blind children and adults that are Braille literate by developing innovative programs and services to train blind youth and adults in its use, train blindness professionals in methods of effective Braille instruction that work,develop effective methods of assessing a child's need for Braille instruction along with many other programs and initiatives to foster an increased use of Braille and its importance in the lives of the blind:

>

Presentation

The design of the commemorative Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar was unveiled during the 2008 March for Independence Rally. U.S. Mint Director Ed Moy conducted the official unveiling and public presentation of the coin’s design. The commemorative dollar became available for purchase on March 26, of 2009. View the 2008 March Rally by selecting the link below:

2008 March for Independence Rally Program, (WMV) 56 MB

Presentation

In an exciting new video, "Braille, Unlocking the Code" the history and power of Braille is explored with commentary from successful Braille readers.

Braille: Unlocking the Code
(Video 37 MB)

Presentation

In "Measure for Measure", blind musicians talk about the importance of learning to read Braille music and share how Braille music is created and transcribed.

Measure for Measure Achieving Equality Through Braille Music Literacy, (WMV) 20 MB

Presentation

The launch of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar occurred on March 26, 2009 at the NFB Jernigan Institute in Baltimore. The festivities included a launch ceremony and other activities for all ages. the NFB Jernigan Institute's groundbreaking report describing the Braille literacy crisis in America was released. During the dceremony a NASA official announced that two of the Lewis Braille Coins would fly on STS 125; the last Space Shuttle Mission to service the Hubbble space Telescope. It was the first opportunity for attendees and others to purchase the Louis Braille Coin.

Lewis Braille Silver Dollar Launch March 26, 2008, (WMV) 174 MB

Lewis Braille Silver Dollar Launch March 26, 2008, (Audio) 66 MB

To the delight of everyone present, three young Federationists, Marché Daughtry, Brandon Pickrel, and Jason Polansky, demonstrated the value of Braille when they read a resolution emphasizing the importance of the code. The text of their resolution follows:

[Brandon] WHEREAS, I, Brandon Pickrel, am a first grader who is proud to be one of the 10 percent of blind children who can read and write Braille, and
therefore, I am more likely to graduate from high school and pursue advanced education; and

[Jason] WHEREAS, I, Jason Polansky, am a seventh grader who reads Braille and,
therefore, I am more likely to be successfully employed in my field of choice; and

[Marché] WHEREAS, I, Marché Daughtry, am a sixth grader who loves to read Braille and therefore salute the members of Congress for authorizing the Louis Braille Silver Dollar, which will provide funds to the National Federation of the Blind to ensure that many other blind children and adults have the opportunity to be literate: Now, therefore,

[All three] BE IT RESOLVED that we will use the power of knowledge to build a future full of opportunity with the support of the National Federation of the Blind; and

[Brandon] BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that I will go to college because of the investment in the next generation made by the National Federation of the Blind; and

[Jason] BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that I will graduate from high school, go to college, and be successful in my personal life and my career because of the unwavering commitment to Braille literacy of the National Federation of the Blind; and

[Marché] BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that I will be a midwife because the members of the National Federation of the Blind will seize this moment in time to make change with a dollar.

[All three] Ladies and gentlemen, we are Braille readers, and therefore we’ll be leaders. Please follow our lead and help us build a brighter future by giving the gift of Braille to every blind person in America.

Coin Description

Below is a detailed description of the coin, which represents the importance of Braille literacy even in its appearance:

The coin obverse, or heads side of the coin, features a handsome image of Louis Braille from the neck up, facing forward. This image captures him as the energetic, confident, and successful young man he was, and the image fills the center of the coin. He is wearing a jacket and collar in the style of the early eighteen hundreds, and his hair is fashionably wavy. The coin also bears the inscription “Liberty” along the curve of the coin above his head and the words “Louis Braille” underneath his portrait. “In God We Trust” is inscribed to the right of Braille’s image at cheek level. The date “1809” appears on the left, and “2009” appears on the right, both at collar height.

On the coin reverse the most prominent image is a boy who looks to be about eight or nine sitting at a table reading a book in Braille. He is wearing a T-shirt and has the top of a cane resting on his left arm. The word “Braille” in tactile Braille—abbreviated “B-r-l” as it is in the English Braille code is produced on the upper half of the coin. The spacing , size, and height of the dots adheres to the Braille standard set forth by the Braille Authority of North America.

On the left in the background, the word “Independence” is written along the top of a bookshelf full of books. The inscription “United States of America” is at the top of the curve of the coin, “One Dollar” is at the bottom, and “E Pluribus Unum” is to the right of the seated child reading Braille.

How You can Help

The National Federation of the Blind is asking the American public, through purchasing this stunning silver dollar, to join its campaign to bring literacy, education, opportunity, and success to the blind of America. The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar went on sale to the general public on March 26, 2009 at noon. 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 http://www.braille.org.