[Iabs-talk] Host Family for Blind Exchange Student

[Patti Gregory-Chang]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jessica Garcia" <mrsjessicagarcia at yahoo.com>
To: "Patti Gregory" <pattichang at att.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 1:38 PM
Subject: Re: Host Family for Blind Exchange Student


The following could be used for an email or newsletter submission. You will 
notice that it mentions both the deaf and blind communities and that is 
because we are also looking to place a deaf student this year. If you would 
like to tailor it to just the blind community, please feel free to adjust 
the sentence.
Thank you again for you assistance. I'm really looking forward to working 
with all of my students and their families this year.Jessica
American Councils is looking for host families for high school exchange 
students for the upcoming school year. Our students are winners of various 
U.S. State Department merit scholarships. As part of the competitive process 
to be selected, students undergo assessment of their English-language 
ability, motivation in wanting to spend a year abroad, and ability to adapt 
to a foreign culture. Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply for 
these scholarships. Disability communities in many foreign countries are 
very different from the US. Thus, we are looking for host families that are 
tied into the U.S. deaf and blind communities to help the year abroad be an 
empowering experience for our students. These experiences are something that 
they can “take home” with them as alumni.
Anyone can host! Host families are volunteers and provide the student with a 
bed of their own (they may share a room), three meals a day and a place to 
study (table or desk). Students receive a monthly stipend, health insurance 
and funds for enrichment and school related expenses. They excel 
academically, perform community service, make cultural presentations and 
learn about the components of a civil society. They return home prepared to 
lead their country's next generation.
If you would like more information about hosting, please contact Jessica 
Garcia at 708-799-5886 or mrsjessicagarcia at yahoo.com.
--- On Tue, 5/24/11, Patti Gregory <pattichang at att.net> wrote:

From: Patti Gregory <pattichang at att.net>
Subject: Re: Host Family for Blind Exchange Student
To: "Jessica Garcia" <mrsjessicagarcia at yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 8:50 AM

Do you just want Illinois?

Patti S. Gregory-ChangNFB, Scholarship Comm. Chair
Sent from my iPhone
On May 24, 2011, at 8:48 AM, Jessica Garcia <mrsjessicagarcia at yahoo.com> 
wrote:

Thank you. I'll forward something shortly. I have to run some preschoolers 
around but should have that to you by noon.
Jessica

--- On Tue, 5/24/11, Patti Gregory-Chang <pattichang at att.net> wrote:

From: Patti Gregory-Chang <pattichang at att.net>
Subject: Re: Host Family for Blind Exchange Student
To: "Jessica Garcia" <mrsjessicagarcia at yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 7:37 AM

I sent a note to a family I know that does take exchange students. Also, if 
you send me what you want sent on I will be happy to send it out to our 
contact list.



----- Original Message ----- From: "Jessica Garcia" 
<mrsjessicagarcia at yahoo.com>
To: <pattichang at att.net>
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 7:57 AM
Subject: Host Family for Blind Exchange Student


Good Morning Ms. Chang,
I got your contact information from Jemal. I had the pleasure of meeting him 
while he was on his way to work at the vision information fair in Homewood 
this weekend. He said that you may have some ideas or contacts that could be 
helpful to one of my students.

I work with American Councils as a local coordinator that finds homes for 
high school exchange students. All of our students are U.S. State Department 
Scholarship winners and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 
Disability communities in many foreign countries are very different from the 
U.S. This year we are
 looking for host families that are tied into the U.S. deaf or blind 
communities to help the year abroad be an empowering experience for two of 
our students.
Students are in the U.S. for 10 months living with a family and attending a 
local public or private school. Families provide 3 meals a day and snacks as 
they would any of their own children, a bed (room may be shared) and a 
loving environment. Students receive a monthly stipend for expenses and have 
their own health insurance. Scholarship requirements include completing 
volunteer hours, learning about government and speaking to others about 
their home communities.
If you have any ideas, or a newsletter where we could post some information, 
I would love to hear from you.
Thank you,
Jessica Garcia, American Councils Local Coordinator708-799-5886 or 
mrsjessicagarcia at yahoo.com