National Federation of the Blind of Texas, Inc.

The BELL Academy is a summer program designed to introduce Braille to blind children, ages 5-12. Students are also introduced to other non-visual techniques. BELL Academies are held in two to three locations each summer. The program is supervised by a certified teacher of the visually impaired, and blind adults act as both instructors and role models for blind and visually impaired students.

Silver Bells Senior Training is intended to introduce blind and visually impaired seniors to both our audio newspaper service and other non-visual techniques. As a part of the program, seniors attend weekend-long retreats that teach them how to utilize the NFB-NEWSLINE, introduces them to cane travel, and provides them with an introduction to simple access technology. Blind instructors serve as role models and participate in Q&A sessions that allow for the free exchange of ideas about how to accomplish every day tasks. Many seniors are new to blindness, and the intent of this program is to begin the process of demystifying blindness so they understand that they can continue to live a meaningful and productive life after losing sight.

This program provides blind and other print disabled Texans with access to more than 400 print publications. Subscribers can access content by using technology as simple as a touch-tone telephone. Or, they can utilize more complex methods such as an iPhone app, online access, and email access to publications. In Texas, we are in the process of building out a special channel to provide our users with access to information from state and local agencies, schools and universities, and other local and statewide information sources.