[Nyabs] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Louisiana Center for the Blind Summer Programs

[Kathryn Carroll]

Hey all,

Just forwarding this message about a great program. At the NFB New York 
City Chapter meeting this month, our President Alex Castillo gave a 
great presentation of his experience at LCB.

Kathryn

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[Nfbnet-members-list] Louisiana Center for the Blind Summer 
Programs
Date: 	Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:04:50 -0600
From: 	David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
To: 	nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org




*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’ 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.

*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 
<mailto: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 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 4­including 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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