Diane Croft Wins NFB Bolotin Award
National Braille Press VP Honored for Braille Literacy Contributions
Aug 20, 2009
Diane Croft, vice president of publications and product development for the National Braille Press (Boston, Mass), last month received a prestigious Bolotin Award from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) during its annual conference in Detroit.
The award program, named for pioneering blind physician Dr. Jacob Bolotin (1888-1924), recognizes individuals and organizations in the blindness field that have made outstanding contributions towards the equal integration of blind persons into society. The NFB administers the awards, made possible by the Alfred and Rosalind Perlman Trust, a bequest of Bolotin’s late niece and nephew.
Croft is Tireless Advocate for Braille Literacy
Dr. David Ticchi, a braille reader and past president of NFB’s Massachusetts affiliate, nominated Croft for her unparalleled effort to ensure that blind readers have access to relevant and popular books in a timely manner, a factor uncommon in the world of braille publishing.
“Diane Croft is a tireless advocate for braille literacy and affordable braille production for blind people of all ages” Ticchi wrote. “Her work has enhanced and touched the lives of thousands around the world. Totally committed and creative, she is respected by the entire blind community.”
Croft joined National Braille Press in 1982 after receiving her Masters in Education from Harvard University. She oversees all publishing efforts, new product development, and braille product marketing. Among Croft’s achievements was founding the Children’s Braille Book Club, which makes print/braille books available for parents to share with their young children and designing an accessible traveling exhibit in honor of Louis Braille's Bicentennial which is currently touring the US.
Diane Croft’s Braille Publications
Croft is a published author and editor of several original blindness-related publications, including:
- Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius (publisher)
- Finding eBooks on the Internet (publisher)
- Captured by the Net: An Internet Guide for Blind Users (editor)
- Solutions: Access Technologies for the Blind (co-author)
- Take Charge: A Strategic Guide for Blind Job Seekers (co-author)
- The CD-ROM Advantage for Blind Users (co-author)
- Safe Without Sight: Crime Prevention and Self-Defense Strategies (photographer)
- A Beginner’s Guide to Personal Computers for the Blind (co-author)
About the National Braille Press
The National Braille Press (NBP) is a nonprofit publishing house founded in 1927 to ensure that blind people have the same access to information as sighted people in a medium they can read—braille. National Braille Press supports braille literacy and provides access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs.
About the National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, MD, is the largest membership organization of blind people in the United States with more than 50,000 members. The NFB enables blind people to work collectively to improve their lives and to educate the public about the true ability of blind people to function at the same level as their sighted peers.
Croft’s receipt of the Bolotin Award reinforces NFB’s mission and underscores similar initiatives of the National Braille Press, including the Touch of Genius Award, which recognizes innovative achievements in the promotion of braille literacy.
 |
