National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam
A 2009 STEM Leadership Academy
“The key to evolution, to teaching science, and to teaching
the blind about science is opportunity.”
—Geerat Vermeij, blind biologist
View the video featuring our student reporters from the NFB News track!
Blind and low vision students from all across the country arrived July 26 for this five-day adventure to engage, inspire, and encourage the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be impossible for the blind. While staying at the University of Maryland, College Park, students were mentored by blind role models during fun and challenging activities designed to build confidence and increase science literacy.
Some of these activities included designing an environmentally friendly house, learning about the science of sports, discovering the most effective ways to treat water, and using forensic science to solve a crime.
The NFB Youth Slam participants also had some time for fun and mingling during social activities, such as dances and a talent show. Rec X presented the students with the opportunity to do some rock climbing and mechanical bull riding! The NFB Youth Slam culminated in an inspiring rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial and a march on the Mall in Washington, D.C.!
Be sure to check back on this page for a photo gallery and articles related to the NFB Youth Slam!
From the Students' Perspective
The NFB News track was made up of eighteen students and six mentors, whose job was to report on what was happening all around campus. Throughout the week they wrote blogs and made audio podcasts. Now you can see what the NFB Youth Slam was like from the students' perspective!
2009 Youth Slam Video
2009 Youth Slam blog
2009 Youth Slam streaming audio
Partners, Sponsors, and Supporters
Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering
AccessComputing Alliance
Maryland Space Grant Consortium
Rochester Institute of Technology
Virginia Tech University
Westminster Astronomical Society
You Can Do Astronomy, LLC
Student Sponsors
Maryland Space Business Roundtable
Alabama Space Grant Consortium
Alaska Space Grant Consortium
District of Columbia Space Grant Consortium
Freedom Scientific
Illinois Space Grant Consortium
Iowa Space Grant Consortium
Missouri Space Grant Consortium
Nebraska Space Grant Consortium
New York Space Grant Consortium
North Carolina Space Grant Consortium
Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium
South Dakota Space Grant Consortium
Tennessee Space Grant Consortium
Virginia Space Grant Consortium
Montgomery County, Maryland
Learn more about the program by visiting the 2007 NFB Youth Slam page!
If you have any questions about the NFB Youth Slam, please e-mail youthslam@nfb.org or contact:
Mary Jo Hartle, Director of Education
Jernigan Institute
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
(410) 659-9314, ext. 2407
