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National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam

A 2007 STEM Leadership Academy

The most dynamic gathering of blind youth ever, nearly two hundred blind and low vision high school students arrived in Students explore the stars in tactile domes.Baltimore on July 30 and spent four days exploring fields falsely believed to be impossible for blind people to enter.  While staying at Johns Hopkins University, the youth were mentored by blind role models during fun, challenging, and inspiring activities meant to stretch the imagination, build confidence, and increase science literacy. 

The students were separated into "tracks" with each group focusing on a different type of science, such as rocketry, astronomy, and engineering.  The students worked within that particular science each day, but were also able to attend short sessions focused in areas like biology, chemistry, and blindness.

A student works on a chemistry experiment.The NFB Youth Slam culminated in an inspiring Youth March for Independence and a celebration at the center of innovation in the field of blindness—the NFB Jernigan Institute.

Want to know what happened at the Youth Slam from our students' perspective?  Read reports, listen to podcasts, and view the Youth Slam video!
            Slam News Page    
            Slam News Blog  

Be sure to view the Youth Slam Photo Gallery to see some of the students and mentors engaging in these exciting activities!

Check out some of the NFB Youth Slam news stories:
            WBAL, Baltimore 
            The Baltimore Sun 

Primary Collaborators in the Youth Slam:

  The Johns Hopkins University      The Whiting School of Engineering

 Partners in the NFB Youth Slam include:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration       United Parcel Service       National Science Foundation

Major supporters of the NFB Youth Slam include:

American Honda Foundation             The NEC Foundation of America

Other supporters of the NFB Youth Slam include:

M&T Bank  
Northrop Grumman Foundation  
Pepsi  
Verizon Foundation 
American Chemical Society   

Instructional Supporters:

AccessComputing Alliance   
American Printing House for the Blind  
Baltimore City Community College   
Fort Worth Star Telegram  
Maryland Space Grant Consortium   
Westminster Astronomical Society 
You Can Do Astronomy, LLC     
HumanWare   
Freedom Scientific     

Youth March for Independence Supporters:

Pepsi    
Wal-Mart   

Student sponsors for NFB Youth Slam include:

Georgia Space Grant Consortium  
National Association of Guide Dog Users   
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic  
Virginia Space Grant Consortium 

Help support the NFB Youth Slam through a donation to the Imagination FundIf you would like information on becoming a sponsor for the 2007 NFB Youth Slam, please contact:

Mark Riccobono, Executive Director
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-659-9314, Ext. 2357