BUNKER HILL — Offenders at the Miami Correctional Facility are giving something back to the community by helping out the blind and in turn helping themselves.
Offenders have already transcribed 15,000 Braille pages of textbooks and are currently working on transcribing 3,500 graphic pages as part of the Miami Braille Project, which began at Miami Correctional Facility last year.
“It’s growing by leaps and bounds,” Robert Eutz, project program director, said of the program.
The project teaches offenders how to transcribe school textbooks into low-cost quality Braille textbooks, which will be used by Indiana’s school-age children in grades K-12. The books are provided in a timely and efficient manner while teaching a valuable skill to the participants of the correctional facility that will increase post-release employment.
Braille transcription services cost schools thousands of dollars for one textbook. The project, which is a collaborative effort between the Indiana Department of Correction, Industries Division PEN Products, the Indiana Department of Education, Center for Exceptional Learners and the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, officially began in May 2008 with 20 men.
PEN Products is a division of the Indiana Department of Correction. PEN’s mission is to employ offenders within Indiana’s correctional facilities by providing meaningful jobs, instilling a work ethic and providing marketable skills.
Initially, Eutz expected it would take six months to a year for the offenders to earn their certificates, but they have done that and more. The program now has 24 men with 19 holding certifications as Literary Braille Transcribers. Four others are waiting on their grades for their certification and one is a visually-impaired offender, learning to read Braille to enhance his computer skills.
“The goal with the visually impaired student is to get him efficient enough to be certified as a proofreader and possibly get a job with the IRS,” said Eutz.
Even with their certifications, the learning continues, he said.
The offenders who have earned their certificates are now studying Textbook Formats Course offered by the National Braille Association. The offenders are constantly working under a deadline, which has intensified now that school has begun.
“We are a year ahead of time,” Eutz said of the program. “We are working the kinks out of the program now, and we thought it would be three years before we would see much of a benefit. We’re already showing progress and making a dent in the needs of visually impaired students.”
With the costs to produce Braille pages between 50 cents and $5, Eutz believes the program has already saved the state thousands of dollars this year alone with the work the offenders have completed.
“We were excited to get this unique program at Miami Correctional Facility and are proud it is making the lives of the state’s visually impaired children easier,” said Sally Stevenson, acting superintendent of the prison.
“It’s a win-win situation,” she said. “The program gives offenders a marketable skill, while providing a much needed service to the community and the state as a whole.”
Along with helping the blind, the project is turning offenders into tax-paying citizens upon their release.
“This program is right there on the forefront of change,” Eutz said of the possibilities. He believes there are growth and expansion possibilities and he sees nothing but positive for the program’s future.
• Mike Fletcher is the Kokomo Tribune crime reporter. He can be reached at (765) 454-8577 or mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com.
Local News
Jailed offenders transcribing textbooks
Director says Miami Correctional Facility Braille project is growing
- Local News
-
-
Venue change doesn't deter crowds from Chocolate Celebration
It was a different shell for Kokomo’s biggest candy event, but the chocolaty tastes and aromas inside were the same as always.
-
Walk will honor shooting victims
Following a string of random shootings that left two Kokomo residents dead and three others hospitalized, several members of the shaken community have been moved to organize a Peace Walk to pray for the victims and their families.
-
Peru to cut 2012 budget
The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance issued a mandate last week requiring the city of Peru to cut $783,000 from its 2012 budget.
-
Haynes records $8.4M profit
Earnings fell short of what Haynes International Inc. originally expected for its first fiscal quarter of 2012, as the company profited $8.4 million.
-
Brady’s admission catches NFL off guard
NFL Super Bowl officials were hoping to score some major media attention with the arrest of a “web pirate” accused of illegally streaming sporting events over the Internet.
-
Haynes International posts $8.4M profit
The Kokomo-based high-performance-alloy manufacturer's profits are up more than $3 million from a year earlier.
-
Crash claims one
A 21-year-old Sharpsville woman died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on U.S. 31 near the Tipton-Howard county line, which was one of two serious crashes in Howard County Thursday.
-
Newville is found guilty in rape case
Jurors in Howard Circuit Court took just four hours Thursday afternoon to convict 49-year-old Steven Newville of attempted rape, criminal confinement, battery and receiving stolen property.
-
The Material Girl comes to Indianapolis
Suddenly, she arrived, with her famous bleach blond hair, the almond-shaped eyes, the ruby-red lips.
Madonna, in the flesh, was standing in front of about 500 media members, in Indianapolis.
-
Police: Struggle leads to K-9 bite
A man police say punched and choked a police K-9 during a foot chase Wednesday faces multiple charges, including battery on a police service animal.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
