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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Buddy
Program - Putting the Pieces Together</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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’ Weekendwhich 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.<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>This year, the Buddy Program will be held
from Sunday, July 15 through Saturday, August 4. </span></b>If you have any
questions, please call Eric Guillory at 800-234-4166 or email him at <a
href="mailto:eguillory@lcb-ruston.com">eguillory@lcb-ruston.com</a>. Interested
families may also apply their students electronically at <a
href="http://www.lcb-ruston.com">www.lcb-ruston.com</a>. <br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee
that every applicant will be granted enrollment.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>STEP
2012<br>
<br>
Summer Training and Employment Project – Striving for Success</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>This year, the STEP Program will be held from
Sunday, June 3 through Saturday, August 4including a one-week break in July
following the NFB’s national convention. </span></b>If you have any questions,
please call Eric Guillory at 800-234-4166 or email him at
eguillory@lcb-ruston.com. Interested families may also apply their students
electronically at <a href="http://www.lcb-ruston.com/" eudora=autourl>www.lcb-ruston.com</a>.
<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee
that every applicant will be granted enrollment.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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