[Nfb-idaho] BELL Program

[Ramona Walhof]

I keep asking people to use this listserv.  I guess I better take my own 
advice.

Last Friday we completed the first Braille Enrichment for Learning and 
Literacy Program for blind children in this State.  We had five students, 
and I think it went very well for the first year.  We had two five-year-olds 
starting to kindergarten this fall, a six-year-old, and nine-year-old, and a 
young man who just turned 14, older than the recommended age, but it was 
really good for him.  I think it was good for all the kids.

We had lots of help, and I thank all those who worked.  Our drivers were 
Mary Symms Pollot and Brian Jain.  Our teachers were Carlton Walker from 
Pennsylvania, Jan Zollinger and Jeanne-Marie Kopecky from IESDB; Susan Ford, 
Sue Sebranek.  Susan MCCoy, Dana Ard, and Mike Gibson came in for an 
afternoon each.  Our cooks were Susan Bradley and Linda Lindley.  Ray 
Halverson, Harry Gawith, Larry Sebranek, and Cassandra Parks also helped 
haul things in and out.  St. Joe's Catholic School where we held the classes 
was very accomodating.
It was a lot of work, but worth every minute of it, I think.  I think the 
kids learned a lot, and so did the bolunteers.

We had music first thing in the morning, Braille reading, Braille writing, 
travel, other non-visual techniques, and Journaling what happened each day. 
We had three field trips, and the other afternoons we did a wide variety of 
different things.  The Commission for the blind helped a lot  with funding, 
and the School for the Blind let us use a van and other equipment and 
supplies.  It takes a  lot to set up a school, even if it is only for two 
weeks.
I think we can be proud of this project, and I thank all who helped and all 
who cheered us on.

Ramona