National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
An organization of and for the Blind
“Everyday People, Living Life Every Day”
Welcome to the Web Presence of
the NFB of Georgia
About the NFB of Georgia
Negative attitudes and mistaken perceptions about
blindness are the largest barriers to our independence and full participation
in society. Unfortunately, the general
public believes that blind people should be relegated to the role of dependent,
custodial beneficiaries of society’s good will.
Equally as offensive, others feel the blind are extraordinary simply
because we perform the fundamental tasks, and accept the basic
responsibilities, that are expected from all citizens. To counter these negative attitudes and
mistaken perceptions, the NFB of Georgia works aggressively to empower blind
people with a positive self-concept of independence and self-worth, while
simultaneously educating the public about the true potential of the blind. We strive to promote positive, inclusive,
perceptions of blind people, so that we can exercise our right, like any other
American, to live, work, and play in our communities and be appreciated as
everyday people living life every day.
Visit the following links for more information
about our:
Constitution
* Board of Directors * Local Chapters and Divisions
The National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
(NFBGA) is a 501-C(3) non-profit volunteer organization, all donations are
tax-deductable. Established in 1972, and chartered in 1973 as a state affiliate
of the largest organization of blind people in the nation, the National
Federation of the Blind. Our national
organization is composed of more than 50 affiliates, with 700 local chapters,
consisting of over 50 thousand blind individuals.
Visit this link
to learn more about our national organization.
Make a Gift to the NFB of Georgia
Upcoming
Events
NFB National Convention
Please join us for the 2009
NFB convention, which will be held at the Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center
July 3-8, 2009. The National Federation of
the Blind convention is the largest gathering of blind people (more than 2,500)
to occur anywhere in the nation each year.
Blind youth and adults are able to meet other blind people who are
successfully functioning in a variety of chosen professions or occupations, and
exchange information and ideas. Federal
officials, members of Congress, and the makers and distributors of new
technology attend Federation conventions.
Above all, a broad cross section of the most active segment of the blind
population of the U.S. will be present to discuss common problems and plan for
concerted action. It is an interesting
and exciting week. You won't want to
miss the excitement!
For more information, and registration, visit
our National Convention Web Page.
NFB March for Independence
The March for Independence -- A Walk for
Opportunity, is a 5K walk-a-thon fundraising event and celebration
demonstrating the independent spirit of the nation's organized blind, their
friends, family, and supporters.
The event relies on volunteers to register and
participate in a 5K walk and to raise donations for walking. The donations raised, support the National
Federation of the Blind's Imagination Fund.
The Imagination Fund supports local and state
outreach efforts benefiting blind people in your local community. Blind
children, teens, youth, college students, adults, and seniors losing their
vision as well as the programs and initiatives of the National Federation of
the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute.
Visit this link for
more information on the March for Independence.
NFB Youth Slam
During the week of
July 26-August 1, 2009, at the University of Maryland, Two hundred blind and low vision students from all across the
country will attend this five-day adventure that will engage, inspire, and
encourage the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed
to be impossible for the blind. Have you ever wanted to build and launch
a rocket? Are you interested in learning about forensics? Or
do you have an interest in journalism? The possibilities are plentiful at
the NFB Youth Slam!
Visit
this link for more information about youth Slam.
NFBGA State Convention
The state Convention of the National Federation
of the Blind of Georgia is the largest gathering of the blind in the
state. Over 250 blind people, family
members, friends, and blindness service providers come together for a week of
seminars, presentations, workshops,and general discussions on training,
technology, and strategies for improving
the quality of life of blind people.
This year, our State Convention will be held in Macon, Georgia at the
Marriott from Thursday, October 8 thru Sunday, October 11. Check back for updated information.
Black tie – White Cane Appreciation Banquet
This will be our Eighth Annual Black Tie-White
Cane appreciation Banquet. Check back
for updated information.
Projects and Programs of the NFBGA
Georgians Empowered through Mentoring Success
(GEMS)
The aim of the
Georgians Empowered through Mentoring Success (GEMS) program is to link blind and
low vision young adults throughout Georgia, ages sixteen to twenty-six, with
successful blind and low vision adult mentors for the purpose of increasing
their knowledge and participation in their educational and vocational
rehabilitation processes with a resulting outcome of increased post-secondary
academic success, high-quality employment, and community integration.
Visit
this link for more information about the GEMS Program
NFB-NewsLine®
Georgia Audible Universal Information Access
service (AUIAS)
Blind and print disabled citizens of Georgia
can use a touch-tone telephone to access over 250 newspapers and magazines that
provide timely information concerning our communities, cities, nation and the
world. The Georgia Audible Universal
information Access Service is more than just a way for blind and print disabled
Georgian’s to receive the latest information from national, state, and local
print publications. The service is a
tremendously empowering asset to the blind and print disabled citizens of
Georgia. It makes it possible for us to
stay connected to the social and political life of Georgia and the world, and
continue to be informed, participating, contributing members of society.
Visit this link for more
information about the NFB-NEWSLINE® serving as the Georgia AUIAS
National Braille Literacy Initiative
This year we celebrate the two hundredth
anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. We celebrate not only his life but
also the countless lives impacted by the code that bears his name. Through his creation of the Braille code,
Louis Braille equipped the blind with an essential tool for independence and
success. He empowered us with the knowledge that we could compete on the basis
of equality, and for the first time in history, he afforded us the opportunity
to both read and write.
Now, some two hundred years later, as we
celebrate how far we have come, we must also remember how far we have to go.
The National Federation of the Blind
established an unprecedented and comprehensive initiative in Braille
literacy in July 2008. This coincided with the unveiling
of the design (Windows Media video) for the Louis Braille
Commemorative Coin from the United States Treasury in honor of Braille’s two
hundredth birthday. The initiative will be marked by the most significant
investment in literacy for the blind ever—raising $8 million for Braille
literacy programs into the future—and an innovative network of programs that
dramatically enhance opportunities and education for the blind.
So as we celebrate Braille's birth and advance
the Braille Readers are Leaders literacy campaign, we urge you to support the
NFB's Braille literacy initiative in any way that you are able. Whether it is
through purchasing an NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin, providing matching funds
for the Braille literacy campaign, attending Braille events, or simply helping
to raise awareness of this important issue, we hope that you will join us in
our efforts to end the Braille literacy crisis.
Visit this link to learn more about our Braille Literacy Campaign.
Free White Cane Program
The White Cane is a tool used by the blind to
travel independently as contributing, productive members of our communities and
is recognized everywhere as a symbol of independence.
The NFB is giving, free of charge to the user,
straight fiberglass canes. The canes are available in the following
lengths: 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, and 63 inches.
Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico may request a cane for their personal use. Requests may be
made as often as every six months.
Visit this link to order
your free white cane.
News and
Press Releases
**********
NFB of Georgia
315 West Ponce de Leon Avenue
Suite 1020
Decatur, Georgia 30030
(404) 371-1000 (Voice)
(404) 371-1002 (Fax)
(866) 316-3242 (Toll Free)
Theblind
(Email)
Last Revised
Sunday, May 31, 2009