[NFBMI-Talk] NFB BELL (R)Academy For Illinois: Looking For Out-Of-State Kids To Participate

[Pauline Smith]

Good Evening,

The participants in the Springfield BELL program get a chance to take part
in a wide range of activities that enhance skills and introduec new ones.
These include walking to and from the activity site, visiting a place that
has a wide variety of low and high-tech items to increase independence, and
preparing a meal to share with their families. I had the opportunity to be
assistant instructor in that program last year and enjoyed the experience,
even though I felt like a sore thumb that didn't fit in with the skill
competence of the other blind adult volunteers.

Pauline


On Sat, Jun 1, 2024 at 1:04 PM Kane Brolin via NFBMI-Talk <
nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi again.  Here's hoping that all within reach of this message are enjoying
> a fabulous weekend at the start of the new month.
>
> Debbie Stein, an active and well respected long-time leader of the Illinois
> affiliate in the National Federation of the Blind, pointed something else
> out in a recent email to me.
>
> "As you may know, we’re hosting two BELL Academies here in Illinois this
> summer.  ...  Our Springfield program is a week-long residential program,
> and so far we only have three students signed up. We’re wondering whether
> you know any students in Indiana who could benefit from BELL and who might
> enjoy spending a week with us. We put up the families at a hotel and give
> them a daily meal allowance. We only ask that they make a fifty-dollar
> contribution, and that can be waived if it is an undue hardship. We already
> have one Indiana student signed up, and she has been with us for the past
> several years."
>
> You will note that in my previous message of today, I pointed out that the
> Chicago BELL® Academy of Chicago is looking for an assistant teacher, who
> could come from outside the state of Illinois; but the Chicago program is
> all filled up with child participants.  On the other hand, the second BELL
> ®Academy in Illinois happens "downstate," and it is to be held in
> Springfield from July 15-19, 2024.  They need more students to take part
> and are actively soliciting one or more families from out of state to sign
> up.
>
> The NFB BELL® Academy provides children with Braille and nonvisual skills
> instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. The NFB BELL
> Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Braille
> Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL)—is a nationwide summer program
> that prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and
> independent blind people who live the lives they want.
>
> Who should attend BELL® Academy?
>
> Blind and low-vision children, ages four through twelve, who:
>
>    - do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in
>    school.
>    - could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer.
>    - would enjoy connecting with other blind and low-vision children.
>    - would like the opportunity to learn from blind role models.
>
>
> Want to find out more about NFB BELL® Academy?  Please visit this link
> <https://nfb.org/index.php/programs-services/nfb-bell-academy>.
>
> Do you want to register so a blind child under your care may attend a BELL®
> Academy in Springfield, Illinois or in one of the other locations offered
> throughout the country?  Fill out this form
> <https://nfb.org/form/bell-combo-reg> and someone will get back to you
> shortly.
>
> If you want to contact Debbie Stein about the BELL ®Academy program in
> Springfield, please give a call or send a text to (773)203-1394 or email
> dkent5817 at att.net.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Kane Brolin
> President, Indiana State Affiliate
> National Federation of the Blind
> (574)386-8868 (mobile)
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