<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:dt="uuid:C2F41010-65B3-11d1-A29F-00AA00C14882" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta name="Microsoft Theme 2.00" content="blends 111"><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
panose-1:2 11 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
margin-top:24.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;}
h2
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char";
margin-top:10.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;
font-weight:normal;}
h3
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3 Char";
margin-top:10.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;
font-weight:normal;}
h4
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 4 Char";
margin-top:10.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;
font-weight:normal;}
h5
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 5 Char";
margin-top:10.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;
font-weight:normal;}
h6
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 6 Char";
margin-top:10.0pt;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
page-break-after:avoid;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;
font-weight:normal;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#993300;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
color:windowtext;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;
font-weight:bold;}
span.Heading2Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2";
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;}
span.Heading3Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 3 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 3";
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;}
span.Heading4Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 4 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 4";
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;}
span.Heading5Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 5 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 5";
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;}
span.Heading6Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 6 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 6";
font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";
color:black;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white background="cid:image001.gif@01CCCEC9.6418FF90" lang=EN-US link="#993300" vlink=blue><img src="cid:image001.gif@01CCCEC9.6418FF90" v:src="cid:image001.gif@01CCCEC9.6418FF90" v:shapes="_x0000_Mail" width=0 height=0 class=shape style='display:none;width:0;height:0'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<v:background id="_x0000_s1025" o:bwmode="white" o:targetscreensize="1024,768">
<v:fill src="cid:image001.gif@01CCCEC9.6418FF90" o:title="blegtext" type="frame" />
</v:background></xml><![endif]--><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Blind Industries and Services of Maryland is pleased to announce the return of our highly successful Independence 2012 program and our NEW! Independence “101”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Independence 2012</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dates for Independence 2012:</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> June 17 – August 10, 2011 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Independence “101” </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>is a three-week residential program for blind and low vision students who are entering into the 5<sup>th</sup>, 6<sup>th</sup>, 7<sup>th</sup>, or 8<sup>th</sup> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dates for Independence “101”:</span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> July 22 – August 11<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For more information about the programs, the application process, and cost and funding resources, please contact Amy Phelps at 410-274-1647, <a href="mailto:aphelps@bism.org">aphelps@bism.org</a> or Dezman Jackson at 410-737-2676, <a href="mailto:djackson@bism.org">djackson@bism.org</a>. Please feel free to share this email with other parents, teachers, counselors, and students.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Warm regards, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Amy C. Phelps, CRC, NOMC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Follow us: Facebook – Bism YouthPrograms <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Twitter @BISM_Youth<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Help sponsor our youth program activities <a href="https://npo.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=1003647"><span style='color:#3333CC'>Donate</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Blind Industries and Services of Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>3345 Washington Blvd<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Baltimore, MD 21227<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Phone: 410-737-2642<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Mobile: 410-274-1647<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Fax: 410-737-2689<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Toll Free: 888-322-4567<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>E-mail: <a href="mailto:aphelps@bism.org"><span style='color:blue'>aphelps@bism.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>"...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<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>Confidentiality Note: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>