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BUDDY PROGRAM 2015<br>
Putting the Pieces Together<br>
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<div align="center"><b>Come and join us for a summer of fun and
learning!<br>
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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>
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Many blind children have misconceptions about their blindness due to the
lack of positive blind role models and to the negative stereotypes about
blindness 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, camping, bowling, roller skating, and field trips.<br>
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<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150125000529.0518d358@visi.com.7" width=322 height=429 alt="Title: Ethan on cane travel">
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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 holds them
back. Rather, it is the negative attitudes and misconceptions about
blindness that may prevent blind children from reaching their potential.
At the close of the program, parents are REQUIRED to attend a Parents’
Weekend. This weekend 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 blind role models is how
the Louisiana Center for the Blind is “changing what it means to be
blind.”<br>
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The Louisiana Center for the Blind will sponsor two sessions of the Buddy
Program in 2015--from June 7-27 and July 19-August 8 respectively.<br>
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Perhaps we will have the opportunity to work with your child this summer.
We know it will be a memorable experience for both you and them. All
interested families should visit
<a href="http://www.louisianacenter.org">www.louisianacenter.org</a> for
more details and to apply. Please also feel free to contact our Director
of Youth Services, Eric Guillory before April 13. Please email Eric at
<a href="mailto:eguillory@louisianacenter.org">
eguillory@louisianacenter.org</a> or call 800-234-4166.<br>
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<b>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 $1,000which is all-inclusive save for transportation to and
from the program. The fee for Louisiana students is $500.<br>
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<div align="center">Aunya at
graduation<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150125000529.0518d358@visi.com.8" width=326 height=326 alt="Title: Aunya at graduation">
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<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150125000529.0518d358@visi.com.9" width=221 height=288 alt="Title: Greg climbing toward zipline">
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<b> <br>
2015 SUMMER TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT PROJECT (STEP) Program<br>
STRIVING FOR SUCCESS<br>
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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>
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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>
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<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150125000529.0518d358@visi.com.10" width=170 height=224 alt="Title: Katie grilling up burgers">
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150125000529.0518d358@visi.com.11" width=272 height=200 alt="Title: Animal groomers work experience">
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The combination of work experience and blindness-related skills--along
with fun-filled activities such as cookouts, swimming, and various other
outings--will foster self-confidence and independence in young blind
teenagers. During the week of July 5th through July 10th, students will
attend the national convention of the National Federation of the Blind in
Orlando, Florida. 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>
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Training will begin June 14 and conclude August 8. Please visit
<a href="http://www.louisianacenter.org">www.louisianacenter.org</a> to
learn about more program specifics and to complete an application. <br>
<b> <br>
Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will be
granted enrollment, and applicants must have an open case with their
state’s vocational rehabilitation agency or other funding entity to cover
program costs. <br>
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Questions? Please call our Director of Youth Services, Eric Guillory at
800-234-4166 or email him at
<a href="mailto:eguillory@louisianacenter.org">
eguillory@louisianacenter.org</a>. "Together, we are changing what
it means to be blind." Check out STEP and find out how.<br>
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<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150125000529.0518d358@visi.com.12" width=384 height=216 alt="Title: graduation ceremony">
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Eric Guillory, Director of Youth Services<br>
Louisiana Center for the Blind<br>
101 South Trenton Street<br>
Ruston, LA 71270<br>
Voice: 800-234-4166<br>
Fax: 318-251-0109<br>
Twitter: ericguillory<br>
Skype: brllovingdad<br>
<a href="http://www.louisianacenter.org">www.louisianacenter.org</a><br>
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<b>“Together, we are changing what it means to be blind.”<br>
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