Oracle Helps Bring Science To Life For Blind Youth

Grant Helps Fund First Youth in Science’s 2008 Junior Science Academy
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., FEB-2008

Oracle and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute’s National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS) today announced that they will work together to help open the door for young scientific explorers. As part of this collaboration, Oracle will help fund the NCBYS’s first Youth in Science’s 2008 Junior Science Academy (JSA) as a way to make science come to life for blind students across the United States.

“Oracle is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s science academy and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the NFB,” said Peter Wallack, Accessibility Program Director, Oracle. “Oracle is committed to raising awareness of the importance of accessibility and we are equally committed to advancing education, particularly in the areas of math and science. Our support of the JSA allows us to address both of these passions.”

“The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute has been dedicated to improving educational opportunities for blind youth since its inception,” said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We imagine a future where the blind are encouraged and empowered to apply their diverse capabilities to the exploration of new horizons along with their sighted peers. Programs like the JSA help make this vision a reality. We thank Oracle for their partnership and support.”

The 2008 Junior Science Academy will be open to children in grades 3-6 and is designed to expose blind children to the excitement and fun of science through real-life applications. Students will take part in hands-on instruction, field trips, and interactive activities as they learn about how different aspects of the environment work together to create the world around them. In addition, the JSA will have corresponding parent workshops to provide parents/guardians with the tools and knowledge that they need to help their child succeed. For more information on how to apply for the JSA, visit http://www.blindscience.org.
Oracle’s Commitment to Accessibility
Oracle recognizes the need for its applications, and its customers’ and partners’ products built with Oracle tools, to be usable by the disabled community. The Oracle Accessibility Program Office, reporting to the office of the Chief Corporate Architect, is responsible for defining the corporate standards for accessibility, and developing materials to train all employees so that they can successfully create products that meet those standards.

“Oracle products are used across all industries, including a variety of sciences, such as Aerospace, Chemicals and Life Sciences,” said Luke Kowalski, Oracle Corporate Architecture Group. “We recognize that the accessibility features built into our products can enable the employment of persons with a wide range of disabilities. Through sponsorship of programs like the JSA and by working closely with organizations like the NFB, Oracle is helping raise awareness of the importance of accessibility within our own company, and with our customers.”
For more information on Oracle’s Accessibility programs visit: http://www.oracle.com/accessibility.
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