NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MICHIGAN

Program A: Education, Civil Rights, and Self-Organization: Operated community outreach offices to provide information to the public about blindness and how to help blind people and to locate blind persons in need of assistance. Provided assistance to blind people to attend seminars and workshops designed to assist the blind in learning methods and techniques of organizing local groups of blind people for self-help and in learning about library services, rehabilitation services, new technology, aids, devices, and other resources and materials. Developed, produced, or distributed in print, Braille, and/or recorded media materials relating to blindness. Provided information to individuals, employers, governmental agencies, and the public through written, telephone, personal, and media contacts. Developed and strengthened state and local organizations of the blind (self-help and support groups) and provided legal assistance, encouragement, information, or advocacy assistance to blind persons. Worked to educate government officials and the public on accessible voting for blind people. Worked to improve services of governmental and private agencies established to give services to the blind through consumer input, technical assistance, and monitoring. It is estimated that educational activities in one way or another impact upon at least one million individuals in this state annually. Such services are available to and benefit all of the blind of this state. Additionally, since improvements for blind persons in this state affect all blind persons in the country, these activities potentially benefit more than half-a-million blind people.