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Folsom State Prison in Northern California has dozens of rehabilitation programs to help inmates find purpose after they are released, but one is doing something very few are in the country. The inmates transcribe books from English to Braille for kids in California.The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) partnered with the Folsom Lions Club to start the program in 1989. Inmates spend four days a week transcribing books.”These books are mainly for blind children,” said inmate George Chavez. “We are wrapping up a Spanish book and we’ve been working on that for a couple months.”George Chavez, from San Fernando Valley, is serving time after he was convicted of manslaughter.”We’re responsible to aide somebody in their education,” Chavez said.Lyale Shellman has been in the program for 24 years. “I’ve done well over 1,000 books,” he said.Braille transcription is an intricate process and can only be done with proper certification from the U.S. Library of Congress. Certifications in math and music take months to complete.The program gives inmates a second chance to make a difference in society.”I was facing the death penalty,” Shellman said. “I could have been executed. But by the grace of God, I was spared.”Shellman was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He spent the last 26 years at Folsom State. Shellman said he committed other crimes he got away with, but he’s not proud of those either.”I once stole from a blind woman. You feed your habit and you don’t care,” Shellman said. “I didn’t know she was blind until later. I’ve become a Christian and one of the things we do as Christians is we make amends. I can’t make amends to her. I don’t know who she was. I carry that with me. This is the result of it. I’ve been doing braille.”Shellman has spent more hours than one could add up earning his certifications.“We found out a couple years ago that there are only 65 people in the world who are certified to translate music into Braille,” Shellman said. “What an amazing thing.”So amazing that in January, Shellman was given the biggest surprise of his life. The Folsom Lions Club awarded him the Melvin Jones Fellowship. It’s an honor that highlights someone who makes a tremendous contribution to humanity. Shellman is the only incarcerated person ever to receive the award.Shellman is now 73 years old. His vision is to one day find a path to freedom. He won’t be eligible for parole for several more years.“We as inmates are hated and we deserve the right for people to hate us, but the blind community has embraced us,” Shellman said. “We get so much more by doing what they need.”Most of the books done by the CalPIA Folsom Braille program go to the California Department of Education. There are almost 100 books at California’s School for the Blind in Fremont.”To me that’s fascinating,” said 10th-grade blind student Ian Romano. “I had no idea inmates do that. It’s kind of cool that they want to help out after what they’ve been through.”
Folsom State Prison in Northern California has dozens of rehabilitation programs to help inmates find purpose after they are released, but one is doing something very few are in the country. The inmates transcribe books from English to Braille for kids in California.
The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) partnered with the Folsom Lions Club to start the program in 1989. Inmates spend four days a week transcribing books.
“These books are mainly for blind children,” said inmate George Chavez. “We are wrapping up a Spanish book and we’ve been working on that for a couple months.”
George Chavez, from San Fernando Valley, is serving time after he was convicted of manslaughter.
“We’re responsible to aide somebody in their education,” Chavez said.
Lyale Shellman has been in the program for 24 years.
“I’ve done well over 1,000 books,” he said.
Braille transcription is an intricate process and can only be done with proper certification from the U.S. Library of Congress. Certifications in math and music take months to complete.
The program gives inmates a second chance to make a difference in society.
“I was facing the death penalty,” Shellman said. “I could have been executed. But by the grace of God, I was spared.”
Shellman was sentenced to 45 years in prison. He spent the last 26 years at Folsom State. Shellman said he committed other crimes he got away with, but he’s not proud of those either.
“I once stole from a blind woman. You feed your habit and you don’t care,” Shellman said. “I didn’t know she was blind until later. I’ve become a Christian and one of the things we do as Christians is we make amends. I can’t make amends to her. I don’t know who she was. I carry that with me. This is the result of it. I’ve been doing braille.”
Shellman has spent more hours than one could add up earning his certifications.
“We found out a couple years ago that there are only 65 people in the world who are certified to translate music into Braille,” Shellman said. “What an amazing thing.”
So amazing that in January, Shellman was given the biggest surprise of his life. The Folsom Lions Club awarded him the Melvin Jones Fellowship. It’s an honor that highlights someone who makes a tremendous contribution to humanity. Shellman is the only incarcerated person ever to receive the award.
Shellman is now 73 years old. His vision is to one day find a path to freedom. He won’t be eligible for parole for several more years.
“We as inmates are hated and we deserve the right for people to hate us, but the blind community has embraced us,” Shellman said. “We get so much more by doing what they need.”
Most of the books done by the CalPIA Folsom Braille program go to the California Department of Education. There are almost 100 books at California’s School for the Blind in Fremont.
“To me that’s fascinating,” said 10th-grade blind student Ian Romano. “I had no idea inmates do that. It’s kind of cool that they want to help out after what they’ve been through.”
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