Good morning, Southwest friends,
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here is a message from Penny, Tina, Susan, and Sara with an opportunity to support Project INSPIRE and math/science learning for students with visual impairments.
Jenny
The Project INSPIRE team knows our programs are impactful when a blind middle school student reflecting on our Nemeth in a Box program shares, “I enjoyed the fact that I learned a lot more [Nemeth] symbols while still having fun.” There aren’t too many middle school students who would say this about a math program they attended virtually for 6 Saturdays in a row!
Programs such as Nemeth in a Box and the Mathlete Competition give braille readers throughout the U.S. opportunities to build their STEM and braille skills through engaging activities. We want to continue to offer these activities in 2026! Due to discontinuation of our federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education, we’re now seeking donations from individuals and foundations to continue our work.
Your tax-deductible donation will allow our team to:
- Finalize six lessons for our Math Codes in a Box program where students can choose to use materials in Nemeth Code or Unified English Braille.
- Offer Math Codes in a Box to up to 50 U.S. braille readers during spring 2026.
- Design competition rounds for our 2026 Mathlete Competition.
- Hold the Mathlete Competition for up to 30 U.S. braille readers in spring 2026.
This Giving Tuesday, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support braille readers in accessing and participating in STEM learning. You can donate on the University of South Carolina Upstate website or by using the attached PDF form.
Thank you,
Tina Herzberg, HERZBERG@USCUPSTATE.EDU
L. Penny Rosenblum, rosenblu@arizona.edu
Sara Larkin, sara.larkin@iaedb.org
Susan Osterhaus, osterhauss@tsbvi.edu