[Nfbn-announce] Louisiana Center for the Blind Summer Programs

[Amy Buresh]

Buddy Program - Putting the Pieces Together

 

Since 1989, the Louisiana Center for the Blind has offered an innovative
summer program for blind children in grades four through eight. This summer,
the "Buddy" Program promises to be full of learning opportunities, new
friendships, and fun-filled activities.

Many blind children have misconceptions about their blindness due to the
lack of positive blind role models and to negative stereotypes in society.
Unlike other summer programs for blind children, the "Buddy" Program is
directed and staffed by competent blind adults. Classes in cane travel are
taught to instill independence and self-confidence. The knowledge of Braille
enables the blind child to compete on terms of equality with sighted peers
in the classroom and provides a solid background in spelling and other
grammatical skills. Computer literacy classes expose a blind child to
available adaptive equipment. Classes in daily living skills promote equal
participation in household duties such as cooking, shopping, and cleaning.
In addition to learning valuable alternative techniques of blindness,
children will enjoy participating in a wide variety of exciting activities
such as swimming, cookouts, bowling, roller skating, and other outings.

The combination of hard work and fun activities will provide a rewarding
experience that children will cherish. Involvement in the "Buddy" Program
helps blind children realize that it is not blindness that poses the
greatest problem. Rather, it is the negative attitudes and misconceptions
about blindness that may prevent them from reaching their potential. At the
close of the program, parents are REQUIRED to attend a Parents'
Weekend-which will allow them to interact with other parents of blind
children and to learn what their children have discovered about their
blindness and themselves. Friendship, training, fun, growth and interaction
between blind children and positive role models is how the Louisiana Center
for the Blind is "changing what it means to be blind" for tomorrow's
generation.

This year, the Buddy Program will be held from Sunday, July 15 through
Saturday, August 4. If you have any questions, please call Eric Guillory at
800-234-4166 or email him at eguillory at lcb-ruston.com. Interested families
may also apply their students electronically at www.lcb-ruston.com. 

Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will be
granted enrollment.

Please note that the fee for students not from Louisiana is $1,000- which is
all-inclusive save for transportation to and from the program. 

 

STEP 2012

Summer Training and Employment Project - Striving for Success

 

 

Since 1985, the Louisiana Center for the Blind has been changing what it
means to be blind for adults from across America. In 1990, a program was
created to address the needs of blind high school students. The Summer
Training and Employment Project (STEP) Program is designed to introduce
blind teenagers to positive blind role models and to provide participants
with summer work experience.

The eight-week summer program will consist of two components. During the
first part of the program, competent blind counselors will instruct the
students in the alternative techniques of blindness. Classes in Braille,
cane travel, computer literacy, and daily living skills will be taught by
qualified blind instructors. In addition, seminars will be conducted in the
areas of job readiness, job interviewing skills, resume writing and job
responsibilities. The second part of the program will continue all aspects
of training and expand to include an employment dimension. Students will
have the opportunity to work fifteen to twenty hours a week at a local
business for which they will receive the federal minimum wage. The staff
will attempt to meet the job interests of the students. Instructors from the
Louisiana Center for the Blind will be available to provide on-the-job
assistance as needed.

The combination of work experience and blindness-related skills--along with
fun-filled activities such as cookouts, movies, swimming, and various other
excursions--will foster self-confidence and independence in young blind
teenagers. Students will attend the national convention of the National
Federation of the Blind in Dallas, Texas. This exciting conference will
allow them to meet thousands of competent blind people from across the
country. The students will also have the chance to participate in a wide
variety of informative seminars. At the close of the program, parents will
be REQUIRED to attend a Parents' Weekend which will enable them to discover
how much their children have learned throughout the summer. The STEP program
is designed to provide invaluable work experience, friendships,
opportunities for personal growth, and cherished memories.

This year, the STEP Program will be held from Sunday, June 3 through
Saturday, August 4-including a one-week break in July following the NFB's
national convention. If you have any questions, please call Eric Guillory at
800-234-4166 or email him at eguillory at lcb-ruston.com. Interested families
may also apply their students electronically at www.lcb-ruston.com
<http://www.lcb-ruston.com/> . 

Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will be
granted enrollment.

Please note that the program tuition is $6,500- which is all-inclusive save
for transportation costs associated with getting the student to and from
Ruston, Louisiana at the start and conclusion of training. Applicants must
have an open case with their state's vocational rehabilitation agency or
other entity for funding to cover costs. 

 

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