[Nfbnet-members-list] Louisiana Center Buddy and STEP Programs
Eric Guillory
eguillory at louisianacenter.org
Thu Jan 28 02:51:19 UTC 2016
BUDDY PROGRAM 2016
Putting the Pieces Together
Come and join us for a summer of fun and learning!
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 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.
[]
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.
The Louisiana Center for the Blind will sponsor
one session of the Buddy Program in 2016. Program dates are July 17-August 6.
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
<http://www.louisianacenter.org>www.louisianacenter.org
for more details and to apply. Please also feel
free to contact our Director of Youth Services,
Eric Guillory before April 8. Please email Eric
at
<mailto:eguillory at louisianacenter.org>eguillory at louisianacenter.org
or call 800-234-4166.
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.
[]
[]
2016 SUMMER TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT PROJECT (STEP) Program
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, swimming, and
various other outings--will foster
self-confidence and independence in young blind
teenagers. During the week of June 30 through
July 5, 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.
Training will begin June 12 and conclude August
6. Please visit
<http://www.louisianacenter.org>www.louisianacenter.org
to learn about more program specifics and to complete an application.
Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee that
every applicant will be granted enrollment, and
applicants must have an open case with their
states vocational rehabilitation agency or other
funding entity to cover program costs.
Questions? Please call our Director of Youth
Services, Eric Guillory at 800-234-4166 or email
him at
<mailto:eguillory at louisianacenter.org>eguillory at louisianacenter.org.
"Together, we are changing what it means to be
blind." Check out STEP and find out how.
[]
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