Offers programs to promote self-sufficiency in students with visual impairments. Provides year-round recreational opportunities and daily living instruction through the Sports, Habilitation, Arts and Recreation Program (SHARP). Teen-to-Work provides a six-week residential program to prepare high school students for employment and independent living. Also provides college readiness services including FAFSA form assistance, independent living skills, and obtaining course materials in accessible formats. Also offers a 9 month transition program for young adults to prepare them for their future career called success, opportunity, advocacy, and responsibility (SOAR). Provides a media center and library with adapted materials such as braille and large print textbooks.

Foundation for Blind Children Independence Programs | Foundation for Blind Children Independence Programs

Libraries or other centers located in community organizations that house a collection of materials which may focus on a particular topic or activity such as parenting, preventive health care or woodworking; or which may be more general in nature. Staff with expertise in the subject may be available to answer questions or help people with their research. Materials may be used at the center or, in some cases, checked out and used elsewhere.

Agency Based Libraries/Resource Centers

Programs that provide training for individuals who have physical or sensory limitations and/or for their caregivers which focuses on the care and utilization of the particular type of assistive technology product they require and changes the devices might require in their lives. Assistive technology training may deal with cognitive/learning aids, computer access aids, assistive technology software, control and signaling aids, daily living aids, hearing augmentation aids, mobility aids, prosthetic/orthotic/seating devices, recreational aids, speech aids and/or visual aids.

Assistive Technology Training

Sports and games whose rules of play or playing formats have been changed to allow people with functional or cognitive disabilities to play.

Adapted Sports/Games

Programs that assist people who have disabilities to learn the basic skills of daily living through individual and group counseling and instruction, experience and practice in coping with real or simulated life situational demands; or through the use of assistive devices, special equipment and specialized assistants. Services include but are not limited to training in the ability to travel about the community alone; to live independently in a private residence; to maintain health through self-care and use of medical services; to live within personal income; to maintain acceptable grooming and appearance; to deal with legal, family or social problems; and to cope with other requirements for successful independent living.

Independent Living Skills Instruction

Programs that seek out and create job opportunities for young people.

Youth Job Development

Programs that provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to obtain academic, vocational and/or independent living skills instruction at the postsecondary level with the objective of participating in college classes, improving their social and communication skills, enhancing their independence and employability, forming friendships with their peers, developing age-appropriate recreational and leisure pursuits and/or meeting other individualized objectives which reflect their interests and goals. The programs may be available on college and university campuses, as part of adult and continuing education programs or offered at community colleges, technical/trade schools or special centers where students may be regularly enrolled, auditing courses, participating in internships or taking noncredit courses that do not lead to a degree or other academic credential. Some programs have a supported living component and most have special support services which help students succeed in the academic, vocational, residential or other settings in which they are involved.

Postsecondary Opportunities for People With Disabilities

Libraries or other organizations that maintain collections of books, magazines and other reading materials in a large type format that are made available on a loan basis to residents of the community who have visual impairments. Also included are organizations that distribute copies of large print books, magazines and other reading material that people can keep.

Large Print Materials/Collections

Libraries or other organizations that maintain collections of books, magazines and other reading materials in Braille, a system that uses raised dots to represent numerals and letters of the alphabet which can be identified by the fingers, that are made available on a loan basis to community residents who are blind or who have visual impairments. Also included are organizations that distribute copies of books, magazines and other reading material in Braille format that people can keep.