[blindkid] Blind Student & The Sighted Band Camp

[Brandy W., with Discovery Toys]

I am forwarding your email to someone who may be able to help you. While I
agree band camp is great, and attending a blind camp for blind children as
others have mentioned may be a helpful experience I also strongly believe
that camp with sighted children is that much more valuable. Good luck.

Bran


-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Crystal
Schumacher
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2014 11:42 PM
To: blindkid ask
Subject: [blindkid] Blind Student & The Sighted Band Camp

My son Ben is 13 years old and is in 7th grade. He is blind with light
perception. He attends middle school with seven hundred other students. He
has an aide in 3 of his classes, Science, Math, & English. His GPA is 3.8.
He is in his second year of band and plays the trumpet by ear. He has just
recently started learning the Braille music code. He wants to attend a band
camp, which is a private camp that we would pay for. If you are a special
needs student, you must first get permission from the camp to register.
 
I called and talked to the camp and in the 40 years of existence they have
never had a blind student attend. The camp does not offer or is unwilling to
provide any additional support. I think the only support Ben would need is
in navigating the camp, as it is very large. I have told them that Ben would
do orientation and mobility training before the camp starts, as well as
create a tactile map, use a Braille copy of the schedule, and a talking
watch to get to places on time. They are unwilling to allow Ben to attend
without an Aide. I was trying to avoid an Aide because it gets in the place
of making friends and Ben wants to be as independent as possible. They said
if he had a friend going, who would be his buddy, we may be able to avoid
the Aide. He really doesn't have that kind of a friend, more acquaintances.
One point of him going was to try and make a friend or connection. 
 
I am wondering if anyone out there has been in this situation. What did you
do? Did you go as your child's Aide? Did you hire someone? Did you pay for
another student to attend with your child? Did you give up? I have already
sent a dozen emails and on top of it his school found out about his desire
to go to band camp. They made it a topic during his IEP meeting and wanted
input from his teachers as to weather he should be allowed to attend. But
mind you, it is a private camp that I would be paying 100% of the tuition,
and has nothing to do with public school. Frustrated in Oregon!
 
Crystal
 		 	   		  
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