Teach for Independence Network

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.  ~ Mark Van Doren

As teachers of blind students, you work daily to help your students discover the techniques and attitudes that are necessary for long-term independence. You assist students in discovering their own potential at school, at home, and in their communities. The National Federation of the Blind wants to support you in your efforts! We believe strongly that caring and committed teachers are crucial to prepare blind students for the opportunities that await them as they develop into confident and productive adults. We also realize that as blindness education professionals, you possess a lot of knowledge and experience that can be leveraged to both prepare the next generation of teachers of blind students, and to support our mission to end the deep-rooted educational inequities that threaten the success of blind children in this country.

The Teach for Independence Network is a program that will help you tap into the countless resources and opportunities available through the NFB. As the oldest and largest organization of the blind, the NFB can help you gain access to local, state, and national resources.

The Teach for Independence Network can:

• Match your students with successful blind role models.
• Connect the families of the students with whom you work with other families of blind children.
• Pair you with a blind person that can help answer some of your blindness-related questions.
• Provide you with information about scholarships and professional development opportunities.
• Help you access a wealth of blindness-related literature that reflects the authentic experiences of blind children, teachers of blind students, parents of blind children, and blind adults.
• Help you attend NFB national events, including our national convention and our yearly gathering in Washington, D.C.
• Put your name in our drawing for a $15 gift card to The Independence Market—our store where you can get blindness items for you and your students.
• Receive occasional e-mails about upcoming opportunities for your students.

Questions and Signing Up

To sign up for the Teach for Independence Network, please complete our brief online form. If you have any questions about this program, contact Rosy Carranza at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2283, or e-mail her at rcarranza@nfb.org.