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 
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.
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:
Partners in the NFB Youth Slam include:
Major supporters of the NFB Youth Slam include:
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:
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 Fund. If 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
