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<div align="center">Warm Greetings from BLIND, Incorporated:<br><br>
It is once again time to start planning for our 2015 Buddy program!
<br><br>
This three-week summer fun and learning program is for children ages 9 to
13. <br><br>
The dates are July 18, 2015 through August 7 2015. <br><br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150324235905.04d34668@visi.com.0" width=144 height=115 alt="Shop">
The Buddy Program offers an opportunity for blind children to make
friends and have fun in a positive and secure setting. Students
will learn and practice alternative techniques of blindness while
building self-confidence. <br><br>
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The training in alternative techniques includes instruction in reading
and writing Braille, basic cane travel, cooking skills, and introductions
to independent living skills. Students may learn to pour liquids,
carry a food tray, do laundry, follow a recipe, and much more while
building self- confidence and problem solving skills. <br><br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150324235905.04d34668@visi.com.1" width=120 height=120 alt="Home Management">
Students also participate in "talk time," where they discuss
important issues about blindness with blind peers and instructors.
This time gives the students a chance to discuss their feelings about
blindness, their frustrations with uncomfortable situations, and helps
them to problem-solve and develop a positive attitude about blindness and
their abilities as blind students. <br><br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150324235905.04d34668@visi.com.2" width=111 height=154 alt="Rock Climbing #2">
In addition, students participate in many exciting activities in the Twin
Cities area, such as visits to nature parks, Wild Mountain Water Park,
and rock climbing. These activities allow students to develop their
socialization skills. Activities are well supervised and mentoring
for the children is provided by active blind role models. Lifelong
friendships begin during this brief summer experience.<br><br>
One of our goals during these recreational\educational activities is to
teach our students the alternative techniques of blindness and help them
gain the self-confidence that would allow them to return home and
actively participate in even more fun activities with their sighted
friends. <br><br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150324235905.04d34668@visi.com.3" width=131 height=108 alt="Grilling">
Activities are excellent opportunities to teach and reinforce a wide
variety of alternative techniques, as they apply to real life.
These learning experiences are usually most effective when there is
plenty of fun involved!<br><br>
If you have questions or would like an application please call
612-872-0100 (ext. 251), toll-free <br><br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20150324235905.04d34668@visi.com.4" width=124 height=126 alt="BuddyGirlChick 3647 - Copy">
800-597-9558, or email
<a href="mailto:cguggisberg@blindinc.org">cguggisberg@blindinc.org</a>
. You may complete an application which is included in this
announcement. <br><br>
Sincerely,<br><br>
Charlene Guggisberg, Admissions and Special Programs
Manager<br><br>
<div align="center"><i>Blindness: Learning In New Dimensions, Inc. <br>
<br>
</i><b>THE BUDDY PROGRAM APPLICATION</b> <br>
(For children ages 9-13)<br><br>
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<b>(NOTE: This form can be filled out on your computer, but it must be
printed using your browser's print function.)</b> <br><br>
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Top of Form<br><br>
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Child's Name: <br><br>
Parent's Name(s): <br><br>
Address: <br><br>
City:
State:
Zip: <br><br>
Home
Phone:
Work
Phone:
Cell Phone: <br><br>
Email: <br><br>
Name of child's vision teacher: <br><br>
Name of child's vocational rehabilitation counselor (if any): <br><br>
<u>INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD</u> <br><br>
M/F:
Age:
Date of Birth: <br><br>
Grade in school: <br><br>
Cause of blindness: <br><br>
Visual
acuity:
Right
eye:
Left
eye:
Field:
<br><br>
Has your child ever been away from home (y/n): <br><br>
<u>BLINDNESS SKILLS TRAINING</u> <br><br>
Does your child read braille (y/n)? <br><br>
If yes, uncontracted or contracted? <br><br>
Words per minute reading: <br><br>
<br><br>
What does your child use to write braille? (slate & stylus, Brailler,
Braille Note, Pacmate,
etc.) <br><br>
Does your child use a cane (y/n)? <br><br>
Has your child had any computer training? <br><br>
<br><br>
If yes, using which program for accessibility (i.e., JAWS, Window-Eyes,
Zoom Text, etc.)? <br><br>
Has your child ever worked with any hand tools (i.e., hammer, click rule,
etc.)? (y / n) <br><br>
If yes, which ones? <br><br>
<br><br>
Hobbies/interests:<br><br>
<br><br>
Does your child know how to swim? (y / n) <br><br>
<br><br>
Please provide additional detail: <br><br>
<br><br>
Does your child require any floatation devices?(y / n) <br><br>
Please provide additional detail: <br><br>
<br><br>
What are your child's favorite foods (including breakfast)?<br><br>
<br><br>
What are your child's least favorite foods? <br><br>
<u>MEDICAL INFORMATION</u> <br><br>
Does your child take any medications on a regular basis? (y / n) If yes,
please fill in the fields below: <br>
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<b> <br><br>
Medication 1:<br>
</b>Medication
name:
Frequency and Dosage: <br><br>
Reason for medication: <br><br>
<br><br>
Does your child administer the medication independently? <br><br>
Additional comments:<br><br>
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</div>
<b>Medication 2:<br>
</b>Medication
name:
Frequency and Dosage: <br><br>
Reason for medication: <br><br>
Does your child administer the medication independently? <br><br>
Additional comments:<br><br>
<div align="center"><br>
</div>
<b>Medication 3:<br>
</b>Medication
name:
Frequency and Dosage: <br><br>
Reason for medication: <br><br>
Does your child administer the medication independently? <br><br>
Additional comments:<br><br>
<i> <br><br>
If there are additional medications, please attach a separate sheet.</i>
<br>
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Does your child have any allergies? If yes, please explain:<br><br>
<br><br>
Does your child have any dietary restrictions? If yes, please
explain:<br><br>
<br><br>
Please list any other questions or concerns that you may have, or
information that you would like us to have:<br><br>
<br><br>
Up to 10 children will be accepted into the program. Unfortunately we are
unable to accept all the individuals applying to the Buddy Program as we
receive more applications than space available. <br><br>
While the Buddy Program is supported primarily through grants, this does
not cover the entire cost for operating the program. If your child is
accepted into the Buddy Program the individual fee for this year will be
$400.00. This fee can be paid through your state rehabilitation agency,
your child’s school by inclusion in the IEP, individually, or any other
source(s). If you would like assistance in working with any of these
agencies please let us know. Some scholarships for fee waivers may be
available. Please contact us for further information. <br><br>
<br><br>
Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian: _______________________ Date:
__________ <br><br>
TAKE A TOUR** We invite you to take a tour of our facilities and
learn more about our program. Please call (612) 872-0100, or our
toll-free number 1-800-597-9558, to arrange a visit. <br><br>
<div align="center">Bottom of Form<br><br>
</div>
<b><i>Please print this form using your browser's print function
and mail it to:</i> <br><br>
<div align="center">BLIND, Inc. <br>
Attn: Charlene Guggisberg<br>
100 East 22nd St.<br>
Minneapolis, MN 55404 <br><br>
<i>or fax it to:<br>
</i>(612) 872-9358<br><br>
</b><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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<x-tab> </x-tab>David
Andrews and long white cane Harry.<br>
E-Mail: dandrews@visi.com or david.andrews@nfbnet.org<br>
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