Posts Tagged ‘Parents and Children’

Reservations Going Fast for EHC Summer Sessions

The schedule is up and reservations are going fast for our Summer Sessions at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind and Visually Impaired. From babies to gray-hairs, there is a session designed for you! There is even a new session of Family Camp just for residents of Napa County! And after a few year’s hiatus, we are bringing back the Deaf-Blind session!

What’s New At EHC?

• Enjoy the outdoor talent shows at our brand new redwood theater!
• Explore new hiking trails parts of the campground that haven’t been visited in years!
• We’ve upgraded our tandem bike fleet so that more campers can ride!

Sessions are listed below. For more information, visit the Enchanted Hills Camp 2013 page on our website. For questions please call us at 415-694-7310 or email us at EHC@lighthouse-sf.org.

EHC Sessions List
Chemistry Camp: May 3 – May 5
Napa Resident Family Camp: May 17 – 19 (call 415) 694-7310 for registration)
Blind Babies Family Camp: June 14 – June 16
Family Camp I: June 20 – June 23
Adults with Special Needs: June 29 – July 3
Adult/Alumni: July 5 – July 10
Family Camp II: July 11 – July 14
Kid’s Session – 3rd through 8th grade: July 15 – July 21
Family Camp III: July 24 – July 27
Teen Session – 9th through 12th grade: July 28 – Aug 3
Deaf-Blind Session: August 15 – Aug 18

New Family Camp for Napa Residents

With support from the Napa Valley Community Foundation we are launching a Napa Resident Family Camp. The Camp will be held in English and Spanish. This educational retreat is the first of its kind in Napa. The Family Retreat’s modules will use team-building exercises – including hiking, communal art projects, adaptive sports and trust exercises. The retreat will pair blind students with charismatic and successful blind mentors; facilitate substantive parent-to parent-time to share resources and experiences; and teach parents to design and advocate for Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for their children. If you or someone you know lives in Napa County and has a blind or low vision child, we hope you will jump at the chance to take part in this unique and high-quality opportunity.

The All Napa Family Camp runs from May 17th- 19th 2013. To get more information or sign-up, contact Tony Fletcher, Enchanted Hills Camp Director at 415-694-7319 or afletcher@lightHouse-sf.org.

Sing in the Season!

You are all invited to join us on Monday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. as the Junior Apprentice and Apprentice Groups of the San Francisco Boys Chorus sing at the LightHouse for the Blind. This free performance will showcase many of the songs from their Winter Concert.

When: Monday, December 10, 5:00 p.m.
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters

The Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Boys Chorus (SFBC) was founded in 1948 to provide trained singers for the San Francisco Opera. Today the chorus is led by Artistic Director Ian Robertson who also serves as Chorus Director for the San Francisco Opera. The San Francisco Boys Chorus tours extensively to Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and has performed at Giants games, Carnegie Hall in New York and in 2009 was honoured to sing at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington D.C.

We are in for a delightful performance! Please RSVP with Molly Irish at mpearson@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7334.

Survey For Mothers With A Disability

Are you a mother with a physical disability?

Do you have at least one child 3 years of age or younger?

Through the Looking Glass and The National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families is conducting a national survey of mothers with physical disabilities who have at least one child 36 months of age or younger. You must be 18 years of age or older. Eligible participants who complete the survey will have a chance to win a $250 gift certificate. The Deadline for completing the survey is December 17, 2012.

This survey is anonymous. No names or other identifying information will be asked. Take this survey now.

For more information about the survey or to request a survey be mailed to you, please call 1-800-644-2666 or email: survey@lookingglass.org.

LightHouse Launches First Annual Food and Toy Drive

Please join LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters and the blind community this holiday season in helping our needy blind and sighted neighbors as we host our First Annual LightHouse Food and Toy Drive.

From November 1 through December 15 we will be collecting canned and dried food goods for the San Francisco Food Bank, as well as toys for Bay Area blind and low vision children. New toys in original packaging are greatly appreciated. Barrels for both food and toys will be located in the downstairs lobby of LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters at 214 Van Ness Avenue.

Each donor will be registered to win a $25.00 gift certificate through Adaptations, the LightHouse store. Together we can make the holidays shine a little brighter on those in need. For more information, please contact John Liang, Director of Community Services at 415-694-7334 or jliang@lighthouse-sf.org.

Here is a listed of suggested toys proven to be the most stimulating to young children who are blind or who have low vision. These toys can usually be found at stores such as Target, Toys ‘r Us, Amazon and others.

• Manhattan Toy Skwish Color Burst
• Fisher Price Little Superstar Classical Stacker
• Edushape Sensory Balls
• OBall:
• OBall Rattle
• Mozart Magic Cube
• Any Nesting/Stacking Cups and Toys
• Toy Gyms/Playmats

Take A Survey and Be Part of A Research Study On Siblings

Carolyn Shivers, a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, is conducting a study of adolescent siblings of children with and without disabilities. She needs a nationwide sample and would like your help.

If you are a family with two children between the ages of 12 and 18 then you are eligible to participate in this survey. Parents are asked to take a 20 minute survey while children are asked to take a 15 minute survey. Participants will be entered in a drawing for one of 40 $50 Target gift cards. You will have approximately a 1 in 10 chance of winning a gift card.

Description
We are interested in how having a brother or sister impacts adolescents. We invite parents and siblings to fill out an online survey. Families with and without children with disabilities are welcome to participate. One adolescent and one parent will be asked to take the survey and respond to questions about himself or herself and his/her family.

For more information please contact Carol at 330-704-6291 or via email at:
carolyn.m.shivers@vanderbilt.edu.

Blind Parents: Be Empowered!

Join the National Federation of the Blind of California blind parents group for their first-ever seminar. This seminar promises to be informative and interactive. You will:

When: Saturday June 9, 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: California School for the Blind Theater, 500 Walnut Avenue, Fremont, CA 94536

For more information or to RSVP please contact Angela Fowler via email at: fowlers@syix.com or call 530-902-0987. Lunch will be provided. Childcare will not be provided.

For more information about the National Federation of the Blind of California please visit: www.nfbcal.org.

American Action Fund Free Braille Books Program

The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF) is making its free braille books for blind children available online as downloadable BRF files.

Since 1997, the AAF has provided popular and award-winning children’s books, including titles from popular series, to blind children throughout the United States, as well as to libraries and other organizations that serve blind children.

The books have been and will continue to be distributed by mail, but now readers and libraries will be able to download them from the American Action Fund website. The BRF files are ready to be used on braille notetakers and other braille-aware devices.

For more information visit their site.

NFB California Announces 2012 Blind Parents’ Seminar

On Saturday, March 10, 2012, the National Federation of the Blind of California will conduct its first-ever Blind Parents’ Seminar. There will be informal discussions on a wide variety of topics ranging from self-advocacy to gaining and maintaining your child’s respect for you as a blind parent. There will be plenty of time to network with other blind parents and ask questions. Parents are encouraged to bring their children.

When: Saturday, March 10, 2012, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: California State Capitol, Room 317, 1400 10th St., Sacramento, CA 95814

There is a parking garage at 10^th and K. Parking is approximately $5 for the duration of the seminar.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Angela Fowler at 530-902-0987 or via email at fowlers@syix.com.

Junior Blind of America Student Transition & Enrichment Program Open House Feb. 23, 25

Junior Blind’s Student Transition & Enrichment Program (STEP) is rolling out new workshops in Northern and Central California this March for youth ages 16 to 22! Upcoming open house events talk more about how these workshops can help kick-start your future.

Who: Blind and low vision teens, parents and family members, TVIs, counselors and service providers

Where: Junior Blind of America’s new office, 11th floor, The Leamington Building, 1814 Franklin Street (cross street is 19th), Oakland, CA 94612 (one block from the 19^th Street BART station and near several AC Transit bus lines)

Dates and Times:
Thursday, February 23, 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.
or
Saturday, February 25, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Details:
It will be a casual setting. Guests do not need to stay the entire time. There will be light refreshments and giveaways.

For more information on these Open House dates or to request a Junior Blind presentation for students, parents and teachers in your area, please call Richard Rueda at 888-400-4522, ext. 460, or visit www.juniorblind.org.