[Greater-baltimore] Blind Industries and Services of Maryland's return of Independence 2012 and introduces Independence "101"

[Amy Phelps]

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland is pleased to announce the return of our highly successful Independence 2012 program and our NEW! Independence "101".
Independence 2012 is an eight-week residential program for blind and low vision high school students who are entering/in high school in the fall 2012. Students will live in apartments with blind adult instructors/mentors where they will learn how to cook, clean, grocery shop, manage money, and wash clothes while having lots of fun. Classes include: cane travel, Braille, computer/technology, independent living (Home Ec.), and daily seminar class.  In addition to learning the skills of blindness, participants will have the opportunity to gain paid community work experience during the last two weeks of the program.
Independence 2012 will attend the national convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Dallas, TX, where they will meet successful blind people from around the world, attend the National Association of Blind Students Seminar, learn self-advocacy, check-out the latest access technology, and attend a wide array of blindness related seminars. While attending convention, students will learn about what is happening on a national level regarding blindness legislation, education, and rehabilitation. During the eight-weeks, we explore Baltimore, New York City,  and our nation's capital, attend an O's game, go swimming, go to the movies, visit a farmer's market, attend a street festival, and new in 2012...learn how to sail!  There are also those nights of playing cards and board games until the wee hours of morning.
Dates for Independence 2012: June 17 - August 10, 2011
Independence "101" is a three-week residential program for blind and low vision students who are entering into the 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grades in the fall of 2012. Students will live in apartments with successful blind instructors/mentors and participate in daily classes where they will learn: to travel independently using a long white cane, to read and write Braille, how to access information through computer literacy and technology, and how to participate actively in household chores such as cooking, cleaning, and how to develop and use organizational skills. While learning the alternative skills of blindness students will have the opportunity to have lots of fun by going bowling, horseback riding, shopping, swimming, attend an O's game, and visit a local festival while learning firsthand from their instructors how they travel, shop and do things nonvisually.
Parents of Independence "101" are required to attend the Independence "101" Parents Retreat which begins the afternoon of August 9 and concludes with Independence "101" graduation on August 11.
Dates for Independence "101": July 22 - August 11
For more information about the programs, the application process, and cost and funding resources, please contact Amy Phelps at 410-274-1647, aphelps at bism.org<mailto:aphelps at bism.org> or Dezman Jackson at 410-737-2676, djackson at bism.org<mailto:djackson at bism.org>. Please feel free to share this email with other parents, teachers, counselors, and students.
Warm regards,

Amy C. Phelps, CRC, NOMC

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Blind Industries and Services of Maryland
3345 Washington Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21227
Phone: 410-737-2642
Mobile: 410-274-1647
Fax: 410-737-2689
Toll Free: 888-322-4567
E-mail: aphelps at bism.org<mailto:aphelps at bism.org>

"...given proper training and opportunity, the average blind person can do the average job in the average place of business and do it as well as his or her sighted neighbor..." --Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, quoted in "Freedom for the Blind" by James H. Omvig




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