edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins
The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned.
To submit items for this column, send a message to [email protected], or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
NRTC Recruiting Applicants for Vision Specialist Program
The NRTC is recruiting for the next class of vision specialists in vocational rehabilitation. The online graduate certificate program, funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, lasts one year and consists of four courses, including a 100-hour hands-on practicum course. All four courses are designed for professionals to help them become more effective in their work with individuals who are blind or low vision.
The program starts in January and concludes in December 2022. Applications will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2021. For more information, email [email protected]. To apply, visit www.distance.msstate.edu/vision.
Lions Eye Institute Expands Reach with New Partnership
Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research (LEITR) will continue to expand its ability to serve patients worldwide through its new partnership with Mid-America Transplant (MAT). MAT is one of the premiere organ, tissue and eye bank operations in the country. Together, they will promote the most advanced technologies in ocular tissue processing for ophthalmologists and their patients in the U.S. and across the globe. For more information, visit www.lionseyeinstitute.org.
National Braille Press Announces 2021 Volunteer Awards
National Braille Press recently presented its annual volunteer awards. The winner of the Group Volunteer Award is Gay4Good. Gay4Good mobilizes LGBTQ+ people to volunteer in the broader community to promote diversity, foster inclusion and strengthen communities. Since 2015, the organization has helped assemble more than 2,000 print-braille books.
The Sue Ammeter Individual Volunteer Award was given to Francheska Torres. Ms. Torres is a recent graduate of Northeastern University, and has volunteered with NBP since 2015. Among other key roles, during the pandemic, she transcribed the captions for the virtual gala.